Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 21 February 12:30 pm

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

# We start off with Rugby: The Springbok Women’s Sevens team is aiming for a top-eight finish in the World Series to confirm their core status for next season. They managed one win in Dubai in the opening leg of the series, none in Cape Town and two in Perth last month. South Africa is in the same pool as Ireland, New Zealand and Brazil for the Vancouver leg of the series this weekend. Springbok Women’s Sevens player, Marlize de Bruin, says losing to Brazil seven-nil last month was hard to take:

And in more Rugby news, English rugby won’t move to Wembley, and renovations to Twickenham will start in three years’ time. The Rugby Footbal Union rejected a proposal for the home of English rugby to be moved to the famous soccer stadium. According to reports, it would cost about 15.8-billion-rand to revamp Twickenham, that was built in 1909, which would be unaffordable. Instead, essential work could be done to the tune of 7.1-billion-rand, which would still require a loan. This would also require the approval of the RFU’s council members.

# Tennis: South Africans, Isabella Kruger and Lilitha Ndungane, are through to the second round of the WIPHOLD International in Pretoria. Kruger progressed after her opponent, Indy de Vroome, of the Netherlands, was forced to retire while trailing, 3-6, 3-0. Eighteen-year-old Ndungane defeated compatriot, Kaitlyn Ramduth, 6-0, 6-1. Reigning Wimbledon junior champion, Clervie Ngounoue, of the US and tournament favourite, Laura Pagossi, of Brazil are also through to the second round.

# Soccer: The next Africa Cup of Nations will be played in the middle of the year, and not in January as was the case the last two tournaments. Africa’s governing body, the C-A-F, reportedly reached an agreement with hosts Morocco that it would be played between July and August 2025. The agreement apparently has the support of world governing body FIFA, despite the dates clashing with FIFA’s Club World Cup in North America. Dates for the Afcon qualifiers weren’t announced yet.

# And finally: Cricket: India’s fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, has been rested for the fourth Test against England in Ranchi, starting on Friday. The world’s number one-ranked men’s Test bowler is the leading wicket-taker in the series so far with 17. The Board of Control for Cricket in India says the decision to rest Bumrah has been taken keeping in mind the amount of cricket he has played in recent times. Fast bowler, Mukesh Kumar, who was released from the team for the third Test, has joined up with the squad in Ranchi.

Stay tuned for more news………….