Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 11 April 12:30 pm

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

# Firstly, golf: Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy says he is confident at where his game is at, as the Masters get underway at Augusta National in Georgia today. The Northern Irishman will get his tenth attempt to complete the career Grand Slam. He has been grouped with world number one Scottie Scheffler and Olympic gold medallist Xander Schauffele for the first two rounds. McIlroy says the lessons he has learned over the years at the Masters will hopefully serve him well:

# Rugby: Ospreys quartet Tristan Davies, Lewis Jones, Will Hickey, and Cameron Jones have joined the Cheetahs on a short-term loan. This is part of the ongoing partnership between the two clubs initiated late last year. The four will be available to play for the Bloemfontein franchise in the SA Cup in the coming weeks. Cheetahs CEO, Ross van Reenen, says by sharing talent and resources, they strengthen both clubs and enrich the rugby experience for players and fans alike.

# Olympics: The organisers of the Paris Games could be forced to cancel the swimming leg of the triathlon if the water quality of the River Seine doesn’t improve. Alarming levels of the E.coli bacterium were found during recent testing, and there’s a possibility summer rains may exacerbate the problem. The president of the Games, Tony Estanguet, says contingency plans are in place, including delaying the event to a later date during the Games. The Games start on the 26th of July.

# Tennis: Emma Raducanu returns to the Billie Jean King Cup for Great Britain after a two-year absence. The 2021 US Open champion only represented her country in 2022. British number one Katie Boulter says the young player will be welcomed with open arms. Great Britain faces France in the qualifying round this weekend, and Boulter regards the opponents, led by world number 23 Caroline (Carolien) Garcia, as favourites to win the tie. Raducanu has dropped to 302nd in the world rankings after undergoing several operations last year.

# And, netball: Netball Australia has affirmed its commitment to include transgender players despite World Netball’s ban of transgender players from elite competitions. World Netball cites fairness and safety concerns after lengthy consultation and review of research. However, Australia maintains its 2020 policy, welcoming transgender athletes in elite competitions, including Super Netball. It emphasises its dedication to providing welcoming and inclusive environments for all players.

Stay tuned for more news………….