Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 24 November 12:30 pm

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

# We start with rugby: Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx says being named World Rugby’s Player of the Year is humbling. The 31-year-old beat compatriots Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ox Nché to the award, as well as France’s Louis Bielle Biarrey. The double World Cup winner is also the first hooker to win the award since Ireland’s Keith Wood won the inaugural award in 2001. Marx says this award belongs to the team as well:

Meanwhile, Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus won’t have the wealth of a huge squad to pick from for Saturday’s final tour match against Wales in Cardiff. The match falls outside the international window, and many of the players are returning to their clubs. Erasmus confirmed only 24 to 25 players will be available for the encounter at the Principality Stadium, where South Africa will try and conclude the tour undefeated following victories over Japan, France, Italy and Ireland. He will announce his team on Thursday.

# Soccer: Banyana Banyana coach, Desiree Ellis, says she will use the international friendly match against Morocco next Tuesday to assess individual performances. This is in preparation for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. South Africa officially qualified for the continental tournament after a 1–0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo last month. Ellis has picked a 26-player squad to travel to Morocco on Friday. She says the friendly match will also provide players with valuable exposure to different tactical setups and competitive match intensity ahead of WAFCON.

# Tennis: Italy secured a historic third consecutive Davis Cup title when beating Spain 2-0 in front of their home crowd in Bologna. 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini served 13 aces on his way to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Pablo Carreno Busta in the opening match of the tie. Flavio Cobolli earned a hard-fought three-sets victory over Jaume Munar to secure Italy’s success. Cobolli says this is a special moment in his career:

# And motorsport: Championship leader Lando Norris and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri were both disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix after their cars failed post-race technical checks. Skid blocks on both cars were found to be less than the minimum depth after Norris finished second and Piastri fourth. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the race with Mercedes’ George Russell upgraded to second and his teammate Kimi Antonelli moving up to third. Norris now leads Piastri and Verstappen by 24 points in the championship.

Stay tuned for more news………….