Troubled Wales Rugby Team Names Steve Tandy New Coach
Tandy is the full-time replacement for Warren Gatland, who left his second spell as Wales coach midway through the Six Nations in February. Gatland's departure came during a national-record 18-test losing run by Wales – the worst ever streak by a top-tier rugby nation. That losing run came to an end this month with a win in Japan. Last weekend the British and Irish Lions – touring Down Under – played a test against one of the southern hemisphere giants, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, without a Welshman in the squad for the first time since 1896.
Tandy has coached Welsh team Ospreys for six years and at Australian Super Rugby team NSW Waratahs. Abi Tierney, chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, believes Tandy can bring the good times back to a once-proud rugby nation. 'This is a keystone appointment for us and an integral part of our five-year strategy as we look to achieve sustainable success for our senior men's side,' Tierney said. 'Steve fits the bill in terms of the affinity he will be able to create with a young group of players with huge potential but also the galvanizing effect we know he can have on the whole rugby ecosystem as a proud Welshman.'
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Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Niemann, Legion XII rule LIV Golf UK by JCB to maintain dominance in 2025
ROCESTER, England: On a day of familiar winners but high drama, Torque GC captain Joaquin Niemann and Jon Rahm's Legion XIII exerted their dominance Sunday at LIV Golf UK by JCB, continuing the winning form that keeps them atop the season-long standings. Niemann won for a record fifth time this season, shooting a 3-under 68 to finish at 17 under and hold off a spectacular back-nine challenge from RangeGoats GC captain Bubba Watson. Legion XIII won their second consecutive and fourth team title of the year, this time led by their youngest player, 21-year-old Caleb Surratt, who earned the first podium finish of his LIV Golf career. With the three-shot victory, Niemann extended his lead in the individual points race to 37.64 points over Rahm and now can clinch the individual championship at next month's LIV Golf Chicago on Aug. 8-10. Niemann becomes the first player to win five times in a season; the 26-year-old from Chile now has seven LIV Golf wins, most of any individual player. 'If I play my best game, I know I can win,' Niemann said. 'I think that's the only thing that kind of matters for me, is to find that A-game more often.' After entering the final round with a six-shot advantage, Niemann admittedly didn't have his A-game on Sunday, but his steady play allowed him to build his advantage to eight shots with 10 holes to play. That's when Watson, the 46-year-old from Florida, produced the best six-hole stretch in LIV Golf history. It started with a birdie at the par-3 ninth when his tee shot landed inside 3 feet. He then eagled the par-5 10th with a brilliant driver off the deck on his second shot that finished inside 6 feet. He followed with birdies at the 11th and 12th hole, then used another driver off the deck at the par-5 13th to set up another eagle from 21 feet. He finished the amazing stretch with a birdie at the par-3 14th from 12 feet. 'It's almost like you black out,' Watson said. 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Watson ultimately shot 65 to finish solo second at 14 under, while Surratt also shot 65 to finish another stroke back, the best individual results for each player since joining LIV Golf Surratt's play was especially important on the team side, as it sparked Legion XIII to produce another final-round rally with a cumulative 14-under total on Sunday to win by eight strokes over Torque, with Rahm also shooting 65 to tie for fifth. Not only was it Surratt's first-ever top 10 finish on LIV Golf, it was the first time he had led his team in scoring after a tournament. 'It means a lot,' Surratt said. 'Shows me a lot. It's very hard to be at the top of the leaderboard out here, especially for the first time … To be able to do it on a day where I knew it was going to be really, really hard means a lot to myself.' Said Rahm: 'Getting his first top 10 and finishing third is a big deal, a big week.' 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Arab News
6 hours ago
- Arab News
Cassidy signs off in style with double win in London as Porsche clinches teams' and manufacturers' titles
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Al Arabiya
7 hours ago
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Padraig Harrington wins Senior British Open for his second senior major title this year
Padraig Harrington was so focused on his game that he didn't notice a leaderboard or see Rory McIlroy walking in the gallery Sunday at the Senior British Open. He closed with a 3-under 67 to win his second senior major of the year. Staked to a two-shot lead, Harrington made eagle on the first hole on the Old Course at Sunningdale, and no one got closer than two shots the rest of the way as he became the fifth player with a Senior British Open and a British Open title. He won by three shots over Thomas Bjorn (67) and Justin Leonard (68). 'I'm thrilled to have won but very satisfied that I've won a Senior Open with my two Opens,' Harrington said. 'The fact that only five people have ever done it is quite special. I'm quite proud that I've managed to survive this long in the game.' He joined Darren Clarke, Tom Watson, Gary Player, and Bob Charles as players to have won the British Open and the senior version. McIlroy walked around for a bit on the London-area course, though it wasn't much of a show. Harrington seized control late in the third round and never gave anyone much of a chance. Bjorn made a late charge to get within two shots, but that ended with a bogey on the 16th. 'The only time I saw a leaderboard was on 18,' said Harrington, who said he asked his caddie for an update on the 17th hole. 'Was fully focused on what I was doing.' The Irishman was surprised to hear McIlroy, who is building a home in London, was at Sunningdale for the final round. 'I didn't see him out there. Was he out there?' Harrington said. 'I had the head down all day. I never saw anybody. I had no idea.' Harrington now has 11 titles on the PGA Tour Champions, and he has won multiple times each of the last four seasons. He won the US Senior Open last month at The Broadmoor. And he nearly won the Senior PGA Championship at Congressional until a late two-shot swing gave the title to Angel Cabrera.
