Sydney FC match winner Lacey's Welsh connections
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The Guardian
26 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Lions accused of blocking Pasifika XV star in eligibility row on eve of series
The British & Irish Lions have been accused of running scared on the eve of the first Test against the Wallabies amid a disagreement over the availability of Pete Samu for next week's First Nations & Pasifika XV tour match. Samu, who last season represented Bordeaux before joining the Waratahs for the next Super Rugby season, has been blocked from playing in Tuesday's game and is said to be 'devastated' by the head coach, Toutai Kefu. The fixture has replaced the scheduled match against Melbourne Rebels, who went bust last year, and the Lions have pointed to the regulations that state that only players from Australia's Super Rugby sides, as well as in some cases Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika, can be selected. Samu played for the AUNZ Invitational XV in Adelaide last week but as he was ineligible for the Waratahs in the 2025 Super Rugby season. A Lions source has said that the tourists did not bring Samu's ineligibility to light but that is strongly disputed by Rugby Australia. Kefu, who played against the Lions for Australia in 2001, told the Sydney Morning Herald: 'I'm absolutely gutted, I still can't believe that they would do it, complain about it, I suppose it is what it is, but it's extra motivation for our boys. 'We're a team that's just been put together, we're facing a massive challenge as it is, so he [Samu] would have definitely strengthened us, there's no doubt about that. They must have been worried we were going to win. I don't know why they would do it.' The disagreement comes after the Lions made it clear at the start of the tour that they wanted Australia's head coach, Joe Schmidt, to release his Wallabies and ensure the Super Rugby sides were as strong as possible,so the Lions would be battle-hardened for the Tests. The irony is that Samu, who helped Bordeaux win this last season's Champions Cup, would have made the First Nations & Pasifika XV side significantly stronger. The Lions have already allegedly vetoed other players for the First Nations & Pasifika XV. Rugby Australia, however, considers Samu to be a Waratahs player and eligible for the tour match. A Rugby Australia spokesperson said: 'Pete Samu is a valued member of the Waratahs and has added greatly to the First Nations & Pasifika squad since entering camp. We had naturally hoped he would be playing in this fixture.' The Lions have drafted in a number of additional squad members including Ireland's Thomas Clarkson and the Scotland trio of Darcy Graham, Ewan Ashman and Rory Sutherland in order to rest their front-line stars for the First Nations & Pasifika match. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion Asked for his views on the Lions' decision to block Samu from playing, the assistant coach, Johnny Sexton, said: 'The Lions have blocked him? I don't know if the Lions have blocked him. It's more the rules and regulations of what was agreed before the tour. I don't think that's accurate. But, look, we're concentrating on tomorrow. I think Tuesday will look after itself. The most important thing for us as a group is concentrating on tomorrow and trying to get a good performance out there.'
BreakingNews.ie
28 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Manchester United make improved bid worth up to £70 million for Bryan Mbeumo
Manchester United have made an improved bid worth up to £70 million (€80 million) for Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo, the PA news agency understands. The 25-year-old has been a key target for Ruben Amorim's Red Devils, who made a first approach of £45m (€51 million) plus £10m (€11 million) in potential add-ons six weeks ago. Advertisement United followed that up with an improved proposal exceeding £60m a few weeks later but talks stalled as Brentford held on for a greater fee for Mbeumo. Manchester United have been desperate to sign Bryan Mbeumo (Nick Potts/PA) The Old Trafford club have now made a new offer that PA understands to be worth £65m plus an additional £5m in potential add-ons as they attempt to sign the player before their pre-season tour. Amorim's men head to the United States on Tuesday and have so far only signed Brazil international Matheus Cunha from Wolves for a fee of £62.5m. Mbeumo joined Brentford from Troyes in 2019 and has a year left on his deal, albeit there is an option to extend by a further year. Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manchester United (@manchesterunited) Tottenham, managed by former Bees boss Thomas Frank, have shown interest but the Cameroon international is understood to have expressed a desire to move to Old Trafford. United are looking to rebuild after slumping home 15th last season and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham, meaning they missed out on Champions League qualification and European football entirely. Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia are searching for new homes. Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelof have left on free transfers, while Jonny Evans has retired.
The Sun
28 minutes ago
- The Sun
Arsenal install new feature at the Emirates as first picture emerges but fans ask ‘will it win us the league?'
ARSENAL have installed electronic boards on the lower tier of the Emirates Stadium as the club continue to make improvements to the ground. The Gunners have been gradually making changes to the Emirates over the past few seasons in a bid to modernize the stadium, which was opened in 2006. 3 3 Photos circulating on social media show that the advertising boards that previously wrapped around the top of the lower tier have now been replaced by digital screens. The change follows minor improvements in recent seasons such as the addition of new big screens in the stadium's top corner, automated self-service beer queues and the new external artwork on the ground. While Arsenal fans will also be able to sip on a new pint next season after the club announced a partnership with Japanese beer company Asahi, replacing their previous deal with London-based Camden Brewery. Fans are excited by the new changes that could proceed future ambition to extend the emirates and increase its 60,000-seat capacity. Although some supporters are growing impatient with the Gunners focusing on improvements to the matchday experience and would rather see improvements to their results on the pitch. On social media, one fumed: "Will it win us the league?" While another added: "Will it prevent another trophy-less season? Nah". Champions League next season. 3 Mikel Arteta has added Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard to his squad already. While an announcement for the £52m arrival of Noni Madueke from Chelsea is expected soon. Man Utd vs Arsenal fan battle: 'Odegaard's streets ahead of bottle job Fernandes' | Stoppage Time Arteta's transfer team are also in the final stages of negotiating a move to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon in a deal worth an initial £55m. Valencia centre-back Cristhian Mosquera is also set to join the North London outfit for less than £20m as their summer spending spree continues. Arsenal are trying to get their business done early so they can get their new faces bedded in during their pre-season preparations ahead of a tricky start to the season. The Gunners' opening Premier League clash comes away at Manchester United as Liverpool, Man City and Newcastle also await Arteta's men in their first six games of the season.
