Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 24 June 12:30 pm

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

# We start off with rugby: South Africa is marking a moment in history today, celebrating 30-years since the Springboks’ historic 1995 World Cup final victory over New Zealand at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. The 15–12 victory became a unifying moment for the newly democratic nation. The Boks have won the coveted Webb Ellis Trophy three more times since – in 2007, 2019 and 2023 – but the 1995 triumph remains the most symbolic. The Boks kick of this season on Saturday when they face the Barbarians in Cape Town.

Meanwhile, Bok assistant coach Tony Brown says the match against the Barbarians will be an ideal test for the team, setting the tone for the season ahead. This is the first encounter between the Springboks and the Barbarians since 2016. Brown says aspects of the Boks’ playing style will evolve this season as they look to improve:

# Soccer: Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has named a 26-player team for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which begins in Morocco next Saturday. Only 14 of the players were in the Wafcon-winning squad three years ago. Seventeen-year-old JVW FC duo Casey Gordon and Bonolo Mokoma are the youngest members of the squad. South Africa is in Group C alongside Ghana, Mali, and Tanzania. Ellis says selecting the final team was a challenge:

# Cricket: The West Indies Women beat South Africa by six wickets in the third and final T20 in Barbados and clinch the series 2-1. Twenty-year-old Miané Smit scored an unbeaten 59 as the Proteas posted 147 for six. In reply, captain Hayley Matthews struck 65 off 50 balls as the home side reached the target with nine balls to spare. This is the first time the West Indies have beaten South Africa in a bilateral series in 12-years.

# And finally, motorsport: McLaren says 19-year-old Alex Dunne will replace Lando Norris for the first practice at the Austrian Grand Prix on Friday. He will be the first Irish driver to take part in an F1 weekend in 22 years. Dunne, who has been a member of the McLaren driver development programme since May last year, leads the Formula 2 championship in his rookie season. Team principal Andrea Stella says it’s great to give him valuable time behind the wheel of an F1 car as part of his development.

Stay tuned for more news………….