Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 20 February 12:30 pm

Good day, let’s look at the latest sports news and scores:

# We kick off with rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has invited a group of 26 players to take part in the first in-person camp and a virtual alignment camp next month. The group features 20 overseas-based players, including Japan-based Pieter-Steph du Toit and England-based Handrè Pollard, and six South African-based players. Stormers centre Jonathan Roche has earned his first invitation to an alignment camp. In addition to this group, 56 players have also been invited to the in-person camp, which will serve as preparation for the season.

More rugby news: Flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert is ill and will miss France’s Six Nations clash with Italy in Rome on Sunday. He was in the starting-15 in the second-round clash with England after Romain Ntamack was suspended, but didn’t impress and was substituted halfway through the second half. Fullback Thomas Ramos covered the flyhalf position during training. Head coach Fabian Galthie will only announce his team tomorrow morning. France convincingly beat Wales in the first round before losing to England in their next game.

# Soccer: Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham was hit with a two-match La Liga ban by the Spanish Federation’s disciplinary committee after he was sent off for dissent. The English international was dismissed by referee Jose Munuera Montero during the champions’ 1-all draw at Osasuna on Saturday. Bellingham, who insisted he had been expressing his frustration and didn’t insult the referee, will miss league matches against Girona and Real Betis on 23 February and 2 March, respectively.

Meanwhile, Manchester United experienced a 12-percent decrease in revenue in the previous financial quarter, mainly attributed to the departure of manager Erik ten Hag. The English club had revenue of 4.6-billion-rand from October to December in comparison to 5.3-billion the year before. The dismissal of Ten Hag reportedly cost United 243-million-rand, while there was also a 42-percent decline in broadcast revenues. Commercial revenue did increase by 18.5-percent.

# And finally, tennis: Four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz is through to the Qatar Open quarterfinals in Doha, following his three-set victory over Italian qualifier Luca Nardi. The Spaniard will face Czech Jiri Lehecka next, who defeated Hungarian Fabian Marozsan 6-4, 6-2. Italian Matteo Berrettini secured back-to-back wins on the ATP Tour for the first time since October, defeating Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 7-6, 6-7, 6-4. Britain’s Jack Draper, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, and Australian Alex de Minaur are also through to the quarterfinals.

Stay tuned for more news………….