New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson to step down at year's end
Robinson led New Zealand's national sport for six years, through the difficult period of the pandemic when matches often took place in empty stadiums.
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Hull FC home issues resurface with Giants loss
Betfred Super League Hull FC (4) 14 Tries: Martin 3 Goals: Charles Huddersfield (18) 30 Tries: Swift, Greenwood, Bibby, Flanagan, Lolohea Goals: Flanagan 5 Hull FC missed the chance to move back into Super League's play-off positions with a shock home loss to lowly Huddersfield Giants. They would have leapfrogged Wakefield Trinity into the sixth and final spot, but were well beaten at MKM Stadium. They have now won only one of their eight home games this season - a record that is seriously harming their play-off prospects. Tries from Adam Swift, Joe Greenwood and Jake Bibby put the visitors in a commanding half-time lead. Scores after the break from George Flanagan and Tui Lolohea confirmed the win, despite a hat-trick for Hull winger Lewis Martin. The Giants remain 11th despite the victory, but they have won three of their past five away games. Huddersfield had been hammered by Wakefield last time out, but showed fine early defence to deny Harvey Barron and then Davy Litten from scoring tries in the corners. Then Swift capitalised on his side's first good field position to put them ahead. Martin's first try got Hull on the board, but two tries in three minutes allowed the Giants to take control. Greenwood touched down after a fine little kick from Matt Frawley, before Bibby took advantage of loose play between Aidan Sezer and Jordan Rapana to run in from inside his own half. Flanagan's try and goal extended the gap to 20 points early in the second period although Martin reduced that with his second try, but Lolohea powered over straight after to restore the cushion. Martin's final try was the pick of the game which allowed some fine footwork and handling involving him and Litten, but Hull's performance was a far cry from the one which had won at Wigan Warriors seven days ago. Hull FC head coach John Cartwright told BBC Radio Humberside: "We never really got into the game. It wasn't a game you wanted to be coming from behind and chasing points. "To their credit, they got in front, they got the jump on us and were good enough to stay in front. I thought Huddersfield played really well today. (On difference from last week at Wigan): "Very frustrating, very much so. Errors again were through the roof. "That's the story of the game. Too many errors and too many soft tries. A week off coming this week may be coming at the right time." Huddersfield Giants head coach Luke Robinson told BBC Radio Leeds: "It's never nice going into a break on the back of a loss so I'm really proud of the lads. "I thought we were on an upward trajectory the past four or five weeks and the Wakefield loss felt like a step backwards. "We had some honest conversations and if I didn't get a response, I would have felt like something was wrong. "Thankfully for me, the club, everyone involved, the lads responded really, really well." Hull FC: Hardaker; Barron, Litten, Rapana, Martin; Charles, Sezer; Ese'ese, Cust, Knight, Ashworth, Cartwright, Aydin. Interchanges: Briscoe, Bourouh, Eseh, Watts. Huddersfield: Flanagan; Gagai, Milne, Bibby, Swift; Lolohea, Frawley; Powell, Woolford, Rogers, Rushton, Greenwood, Cudjoe. Interchanges: Golding, English, King, Burgess. Referee: Tom Grant.
Yahoo
an hour ago
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Lions vs Australia: Second Test kick-off time, TV channel, live stream, team news, lineups, h2h, odds today
The British & Irish Lions can this morning seal a series win as they take on Australia in the second Test in Melbourne. Andy Farrell's side appeared to be on course for a record win in Brisbane last weekend when they took a 24-5 lead early in the second half, but the Wallabies responded well to keep it competitive for much of the second Lions, though, were still comfortable in winning 27-19 and it means they can wrap up the series with a match to spare as the two sides resume battle at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. A 2-1 victory over Australia in 2013 remains the only series the Lions have won since the turn of the century and this current squad will be desperate to keep their bid for a 3-0 whitewash on track. Having beaten the First Nations and Pasifika XV in midweek, the Lions have now won all seven matches they have played on Australian soil. They are looking to become the first Lions side to go unbeaten overseas in a tour since the 1974 squad did so in South Africa. Joe Schmidt's side, though, will have taken encouragement from their second-half display in the first Test and know they will have the momentum if they can force a series decider in Sydney next week. Lions vs Australia date, kick-off time and venue The Second Test between the Lions and Australia takes place on Saturday July 26, 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 11am BST. That is 8pm local time. The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground will host the match, with more than 90,000 fans expected to be in attendance. How to watch Lions vs Australia TV channel: Live coverage of the Second Test is available via Sky Sports, who have exclusive broadcasting rights to the Lions tour in the UK this summer. Their broadcast starts at 9:30am BST on Saturday morning on both Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action. Live stream: Fans with a Sky Sports subscription can also watch the Second Test live online via the Sky Go app, while it's available to stream via NOW. Live blog: Follow the Second Test action with Standard Sport's live blog. Lions vs Australia team news Garry Ringrose has withdrawn from the Lions side after feeling the effects of concussion in training. Sione Tuipulotu has a tight hamstring, as Bundee Aki comes in at centre to partner Huw Jones as one of nine Irishmen in the starting XV. There is no change at full-back or on the wings, with Hugo Keenan, Tommy Freeman and James Lowe keeping their places, and Finn Russell is again at fly-half. Farrell has made a big call at loosehead, preferring Andrew Porter to Ellis Genge from the start, and Ollie Chessum comes in to replace in the injured Joe McCarthy at lock. Owen Farrell impressed in the midweek fixture and makes the bench to cover fly-half and centre, with Blair Kinghorn and Jac Morgan also among the replacements. Australia are significantly boosted by the return to the starting lineup of lock Will Skelton and flanker Rob Valetini. The pair both missed the first Test with calf injuries but have recovered and come straight back into the side in Melbourne. Dave Porecki starts at hooker, while Langi Gleeson is fit again after injury and is named on the bench. With Noah Lolesio missing the series due to injury, Tom Lynagh keeps his place at fly-half after making his first start last weekend. Lions vs Australia lineups British & Irish Lions: Keenan; Freeman, Jones, Aki, Lowe; Russell, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Itoje (capt), Chessum, Beirne, Curry, Conan. Replacements: Kelleher, Genge, Stuart, Ryan, Morgan, Mitchell, Farrell, Kinghorn. Australia: Wright; Jorgensen, Suaalii, Ikitau, Potter; Lynagh, Gordon; Slipper, Porecki, Alaalatoa, Frost, Skelton, Valetini, McReight, Wilson (capt). Replacements: Pollard, Bell, Robertson, Williams, Gleeson, Tizzano, McDermott, Donaldson. Lions vs Australia head to head (h2h) history and results The Lions have won seven of the nine series they have played in Australia, with the only exceptions coming in 1930 and 2001. Lions wins: 18 Australia wins: 6 Draws: 0 Lions vs Australia prediction The first Test, and indeed the series, looked like being a bit of a blowout for just over half of last week's match in Brisbane. The Lions were dominant physically and, led by some Russell inspiration, cut the Australian defence open almost at will. But Australia fought back in the second half and can take that into this match, and the availability of Skelton and Valetini is a major boost to the Wallabies pack. Farrell's decision to drop Genge to the bench suggests he wants more of an impact off the bench but that comes at a risk, with Australia potentially able to get more of a foothold in the match from the start. Both sides will believe they can be better than last week but the Lions should be confident of coming out on top, with a gulf in class evident in Brisbane. With the motivation of a series win being on the line, the Lions can be expected to keep their feet on the gas this week and they should leave themselves on the verge of a 3-0 whitewash. Lions to win by 12 points. Lions vs Australia match odds Lions to win: 2/9 Australia to win: 7/2 Draw: 22/1 Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
Yahoo
3 hours ago
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New Zealand's stunning late catches secure dramatic tri-series cricket win over South Africa
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Two spectacular catches in the last over delivered by fast bowler Matt Henry earned New Zealand a dramatic three-run victory against South Africa in the final match of the tri-series on Saturday. Michael Bracewell pulled off a sensational catch on the edge of the boundary at mid-wicket to dismiss dangerman Dewald Brevis for 31. Daryl Mitchell then dived full-length to grab a stunning two-hander off George Linde at long-on as South Africa was restricted to 177-6. Earlier, New Zealand made 180-5 with Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra both scoring 47 and Tim Seifert hitting 30 after South Africa had won the toss and elected to field. Brevis brought the target down to seven runs in the final over of the tournament's highest wicket-taker Henry, after smashing two sixes against Jacob Duffy in the 19th over that included a one-handed swipe over long-on to a wide full toss. However, Henry conceded just three runs in the 20th over to finish with 10 wickets in four games. New Zealand ended the tournament as the only unbeaten team with host Zimbabwe losing all four matches. ___ AP cricket:
