Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 26 May 12:30 pm

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

# We begin with rugby: Versatile Springbok Cheslin Kolbe says he always believed he would return to Cape Town eventually. His departure from his Japanese club was confirmed yesterday, and he will play for the Stormers again from July. The 32-year-old double World Cup winner made his debut for South Africa in 2018 and played 49 Tests since, scoring 136 points. He left the Stormers for French outfit Toulouse in 2017, and moved to Japan in 2023. Kolbe says it’s huge to return to the team where it all started for him.

Meanwhile, Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote has made several rotational and injury-enforced changes to his match-23 for the second round of the Under-20 International Series against Fiji in Cape Town today. Loose forwards Risima Khosa and Vuyo Gwiji have been ruled out, and are replaced by Quintin Potgieter and Luke Cannon. Jordan Steenkamp replaces Lindsey Jansen at left wing, while fit-again midfielder Christian Vorster is preferred at outside centre. Luan Giliomee returns at fullback. The Junior Boks thrashed Chile 97-0 in the opening round last week.

# Soccer: Governing body SAFA says discussions over World Cup bonuses for Bafana Bafana players are still to be finalised. SAFA vice-president Linda Zwane says they will engage players once at camp ahead of the tournament. Bafana currently has one confirmed warm-up match against Nicaragua at Orlando Stadium on Friday. Zwane stresses no issues will remain unresolved before the squad departs for Mexico later this month:

# Tennis: World number one Jannik Sinner starts his quest for a career Grand Slam in Paris today. The French Open crown is the only Grand Slam title missing from the Italian’s trophy cabinet, and he has a very good chance to rectify that in the absence of his great rival, Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. The defending champion suffers from a long-term wrist injury that will also keep him out of Wimbledon. Sinner plays Frenchman Clement Tabur, 165th in the world ranking, in the first round at Roland Garros.

Meanwhile, Frenchman Gael Monfils and Swiss Stan Wawrinka suffered defeats in the opening round of their final appearance in Paris. They are retiring at the end of the year. Monfils lost to compatriot Hugo Gaston, while 2015 champion Wawrinka lost to Dutchman Jesper de Jong. In the women’s draw, four-time champion Iga Swiatek of Poland dispatched Australian wildcard Emerson Jones in the first round. There were also victories for Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina and Italian Jasmine Paolini.

Stay tuned for more news………….