Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 30 May 12:30 pm

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

# We kick off with Rugby: Three new players have been included in the Junior Springboks’ training squad for the final preparation camp ahead of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Italy next month. The players are flyhalf, Ian van der Merwe, hooker, Shaun Schürman, and loosehead prop, Rambo Kubheka. Returning to the squad are Jaco Grobbelaar, Arno van der Merwe, Stephanus Linde, Jaco Williams and Alzeadon Felix. The Junior Boks will train for the next three weeks in Stellenbosch before the 30-man squad flies out to Italy on June 24th.

# Meanwhile, South Africa’s Griffin Colby and Quinton Immelman have been included in the list of match officials for the upcoming Under-20 Championship. Colby will do duty as a match referee whilst Immelman will be involved as a television match official. The match official panel includes ten referees and five TMOs. The world’s best 12 teams will play matches across four cities in Italy starting on June 29th until July 19th. South Africa is in Pool A alongside defending champions England, Australia, and Scotland.

# Soccer: Egyptian outfit Al Ahly has appointed former Orlando Pirates boss José Riveiro as their new head coach. The Spaniard was granted an early release from his contract with the Buccaneers, departing with 80 wins, 26 draws and 26 defeats in 132 matches. Riveiro will be thrown straight into the deep end with the FIFA Club World Cup starting on June 14 in the USA. Al Ahly, Africa’s most successful club, are in Group A with Inter Miami, Palmeiras and FC Porto.

# Tennis: Three-time champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia is through to the third round of the French Open, defeating France’s Corentin Moutet, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6. German third seed Alexander Zverev came from a set down to secure a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Dutchman Jesper de Jong. Australian world number nine Alex De Minaur and Czech 19th seed Jakub Mensik have been knocked out. In the women’s draw, Americans Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys eased into the third round with straight-set wins. 

# And finally cricket: The Royal Challengers Bengaluru are through to their first Indian Premier League final since 2016 after an eight-wicket victory against the Punjab Kings. Josh Hazlewood and Suyash Sharma took three wickets each as Punjab were bowled out for 101 in 14.1 overs. In reply, Phil Salt scored an unbeaten 56 off 27 balls as RCB reached the target with ten overs to spare. Punjab will play the winners of today’s match between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians on Sunday, with the victors making the final.

Stay tuned for more news………….