Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 1 April 12:30 pm

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

# We kick off with rugby: David Brits and Sebastiaan Jobb have been called up to join the Springbok Sevens ahead of the sixth leg of the World Series in Singapore this weekend. They are replacing the injured Quewin Nortjé and Gino Cupido, respectively. The Blitzboks struggled at the Hong Kong Sevens this past weekend, finishing in ninth place. Brits says he is confident the team can bounce back in Singapore, where they will face Great Britain and Argentina in Pool A:

Meanwhile, New Zealand Rugby and Ineos have settled their sponsorship contract dispute. The British chemicals giant was accused of breaching its six-year sponsorship deal with New Zealand Rugby. The company, owned by billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, allegedly abruptly walked away from its lucrative sponsorship agreement three years early, and failed to make its first payment this year. Both parties say whilst the details of the settlement remain confidential, they are satisfied with the outcome.

# Tennis: Miami Open champion Jakub Mensik almost didn’t play in the tournament. The 19-year-old Czech wanted to inform the tournament referee he couldn’t play his first match against Spaniard Roberto Bautista Augut due to inflammation in his knee. But the referee was on lunch and Mensik opted to visit his physiotherapist, who prescribed different painkillers. He went on to win his first match and eventually the title. Mensik’s prize money has since shot up to 55.6-million-rand, and his world ranking from 54th to 24th.

# Soccer: Coach Ruben Amorim says the energy is different at Manchester United after a mini-revival. He admits their confidence is fragile as they prepare to return to action following the international break. United, who travel to face high-flying Nottingham Forest today, are a lowly 13th in the Premier League, 12 points off the top four with just nine games to go. But they are unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions, though they exited the FA Cup on penalties at home to Fulham during that sequence.

# And finally, golf: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland is now only the second player after American Tiger Woods to exceed 1.8-billion-rand in PGA Tour career earnings. He reached the milestone when he ended tied fifth in the Houston Open. Thirty-five-year-old McIlroy won 28 tournaments since turning professional in 2010. Forty-nine-year-old Woods surpassed the milestone in 2012 and has since earned another 400-million-rand. Third on the list is another American, Phil Mickelson, who earned 1.7-billion-rand before leaving the PGA in 2022 for LIV Golf, where he reportedly earned 3.6-billion-rand.

Stay tuned for more news………….