Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 26 February 12:30 pm

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

# We begin with rugby: Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus described prop Steven Kitshoff as a true team man after he announced his retirement yesterday. The 33-year-old was forced to call it quits due to a serious neck injury. Kitshoff played 83 Tests for South Africa since his debut in 2016 and is a two-time World Cup champion. Erasmus says he earned enormous respect from his team-mates and coaches because of his high work ethic, and will always remain a fine ambassador of what the Springboks stand for.

More rugby news: Veteran New Zealand centre Ma’a Nonu will play for French Top 14 club Toulon until the end of the season. The 42-year-old represented the team twice in the past. Nonu played 103 Tests for the All Blacks and was part of the team that clinched the World Cup in 2011 and 2015. He will fill in for Setariki Tuicuvu, Gabin Villiere and Antoine Frisch, who are all injured. Nonu is due to play against Lyon on Saturday. Toulon is currently second on the Top 14 log.

# Cricket: Afghanistan’s coach, former England batter Jonathan Trott, says his players realise all too well that things aren’t correct in their home country. He reacted to about 200 British politicians asking earlier this year for the English team to boycott today’s Champions Trophy match against the Asian country in Lahore, Pakistan. They were concerned because of the oppression of women’s rights under the Taliban regime, including their participation in sport. Trott says his players have the ability to bring about change. Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat.

# Motorsport: MotoGP world champion, Jorge Martin, has been ruled out for an indefinite period after undergoing surgery yesterday for fractures to his left hand. The Spaniard injured his hand during a training session in his home country on Monday. The 27-year-old had undergone surgery earlier this month after breaking his right hand and foot in a crash in Malaysia. Martin’s new team, Aprilia, says the surgery was a success and the recovery time will be assessed in the coming days.

# And finally, soccer: The Premier League race to secure Champions League qualification for next season is intensifying. Chelsea thrashed Southampton four-nil at Stamford Bridge to go fourth in the Premier League table, just their third win in eleven games. Aston Villa suffered a four-one defeat to Crystal Palace, a major blow in their hunt for a Champions League spot. Brighton strengthened their bid for European qualification by beating rivals Bournemouth two-one, and moving just three points off a top-four place. 

Stay tuned for more news………….