Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 1 June 12:30 pm

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

# We begin with soccer: The minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has confirmed that all 26 Bafana Bafana players have now received their visas and will travel to North America for the World Cup today. The national team was scheduled to leave the country yesterday, but an administrative visa blunder grounded the squad. The assistant coach, team doctor, head of security, and an analyst are still waiting for visas. Deputy minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe, says heads must roll:

FIFA’s board has meanwhile approved several rule changes for the tournament. The rules include five-second countdowns for throw-ins and goal-kicks, red cards for players covering their mouths during confrontations, punishments for teams walking off the pitch in protest, and mandatory one-minute off-field treatment periods. There will also be a mandatory three-minute hydration break in each half. Video assistant referees will also have new powers, including intervening for wrongly awarded second yellow cards, mistaken identity incidents and incorrectly awarded corner kicks.

# Cricket: Fifteen-year-old local batting sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, won five Indian Premier League awards after yesterday’s final in Ahmedabad. The Rajasthan Royals player won for the most valuable player, the orange cap for most runs with 776, best emerging player, super striker and the super sixes award, finishing with 72. Gujarat Titans’ South African fast bowler, Kagiso Rabada, won the purple cap for topping the wickets chart, taking 29 in 17 games. Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defended their IPL crown with a five-wicket victory over Gujarat.

# Rugby: Springbok flyhalf, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering an injury in the Stormers’ United Rugby Championship quarterfinal victory over Cardiff. Scans confirmed the 24-year-old sustained a high ankle sprain. Feinberg-Mngomezulu is facing up to three months on the sidelines, ruling him out of the Springboks’ Nations Championship matches against England, Scotland and Wales next month. He says this latest injury is a reminder that no player is immune to setbacks. The Stormers won 44-21.

And lastly, sevens rugby news: Australia was crowned champion in Valladolid, Spain, after defeating South Africa 26-19 in the men’s cup final of the Sevens World Championship tournament. Australia scored four tries to the Blitzboks’ three, but South Africa still sits top of the log after winning the first event in Hong Kong last month. The final tournament will be played in Bordeaux, France, this weekend. Blitzboks coach Philip Snyman says they were not clinical enough in the important moments:

Stay tuned for more news………….