Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 2 July 12:30 pm

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

# Today we kick off with rugby: Springbok assistant coach Tony Brown expects a physical and intense battle against Ireland at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday. Ireland has not played in South Africa since 2016 when they won their first-ever local Test against the Boks. The match will be the Boks’ second Test of the season, after defeating Wales 41-13 at Twickenham in London just over a week ago. Brown says they are wary of the threat Ireland poses:

Meanwhile, Springbok number eight Jasper Wiese is off to Japan. The Urayusa D-Rocks announced the signing of the World Cup winner for the next season. He left England’s Leicester Tigers at the end of the previous season after relocating from the Cheetahs in 2020. The Japanese club is coached by former Springbok Johan Ackerman. Wiese is still serving a six-match ban for foul play during Leicester’s Premiership game against Exeter Chiefs last month, meaning he won’t be available for the Boks’ next four Tests.

# Tennis: Twenty-four-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic says he is confident about the health of his knee ahead of his first-round match at Wimbledon today. The Serb had surgery to repair a torn meniscus after withdrawing before his French Open quarterfinal match less than four weeks ago. The 37-year-old will face Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva in the first round, as he begins his quest for a record-equalling eighth title. Djokovic says he has had a good week of training:

Meanwhile, the Russian lucky loser Erika Andreeva took Aryna Sabalenka’s place at Wimbledon after the world number three withdrew due to a shoulder injury. The two-time Grand Slam champion from Belarus reached the semi-finals at the All England Club in 2021 and last year. Sabalenka was regarded as one of the favourites after winning the Australian Open earlier this year. She says she is heartbroken over the decision, but promises to be be back stronger than ever next year.

# And finally: The National Arm-wrestling Championships in Paarl drew over 120 competitors from across South Africa. Held at Klein Parys Vineyards, the event was the largest in the South African Armwrestling Federation’s 22-year history. Rafeeq Joseph of Cape Viperz won the 75-kilogram left-arm division. Women also competed, with Nataly Barbosa winning the senior 80-kilogram left-handed division. Event organiser, Sean Christie, says the sport has a growing appeal:

Stay tuned for more news………….