Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 30 April 12:30 pm

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

# We start with rugby: The Stormers will face the rest of the United Rugby Championship without Springbok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and teenage star Markus Muller, who made his debut for the Cape Town team last weekend. Reinach sustained a knee injury against Glasgow Warriors and is expected to miss the Boks’ Nations Championship Tests against England, Scotland and Wales. Muller fractured his finger, rendering him unavailable for the Junior Boks in the current Under-20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.

# Cricket: Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj has joined Indian Premier League team Mumbai Indians as replacement for injured New Zealand bowler Mitchell Santner. Thirty-six-year-old Maharaj went unsold at this year’s IPL auction after playing for Rajasthan Royals previously, and for Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 since last year. He took 31 wickets in his last 30 T20 matches. Mumbai says they are delighted to welcome Maharaj, for his experience makes him exactly the kind of player the team thrives on. They are currently ninth on the table.

More cricket news: Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu describe their participation for New Zealand in the women’s T20 World Cup as their final mission. All three announced their retirements after the tournament in England and Wales, starting in June. Coach Ben Sawyer says the trio had distinguished careers and it’s a rare and special occasion to have them retire at the same tournament. Captain Amelia Kerr’s group include ten players who beat South Africa in the final of the 2024 tournament.

# Golf: Several LIV Golf players have reportedly reached out to the PGA Tour to discuss a potential return. This comes as Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will reportedly no longer fund LIV after this season. Major winners Jon Rahm from Spain, Americans Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson, and Australian Cameron Smith are among the players who compete on the tour. Golf Digest reports a path back to the PGA Tour will exist, though the conditions are expected to be considerably more restrictive than those granted to American Brooks Koepka.

# And soccer: Afghanistan’s women’s team is allowed to return to international action after last playing officially five years ago. The Taliban’s return to power in 2021 led to restrictions on women’s rights, including a ban on sport. This forced many women to leave the country. World governing body FIFA officially recognised Afghanistan under an amendment allowing the registration of a representative team under exceptional circumstances if it isn’t recognised by its member association.

Stay tuned for more news………….