Latest news with #Men
Extra.ie
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Extra.ie
World Rugby announces €20 tickets for 2027 Rugby World Cup
It's just over two years away now until the Men's Rugby World Cup returns to Australia for the first time since 2003. It seems like only yesterday South Africa won their second World Cup title in-a-row after a dramatic final against the All Blacks in Paris. A lot has changed since then and Ireland will hope to finally get past the quarterfinal barrier. France 2023 was arguably one of Ireland's best World Cup displays, with a memorable win over eventual winners South Africa along with thrashings of Scotland, Tonga and Romania. A quarterfinal against New Zealand saw Ireland eliminated in an epic encounter. South African captain Siya Kolisi lifts the trophy. Pic:However, Ireland will look to go one better in the newly expanded tournament. World Rugby have announced that there will be over 2.5million tickets available to fans, the most for any Rugby World Cup. They have also vowed to make it the most accessible World Cup ever. Over a million tickets will be on sale for less than $100AUD across the tournament, which works out at about €56. Prices will start at $40AUD(€22.55) for pool stage matches and $65AUD(€36.65) for Wallabies matches. Dan Sheehan celebrate. Pic: Christian Liewig – Corbis/Getty Images For those interested in going, you first have to register interest at Then, after the Rugby World Cup draw in December 2025 and schedule announcement a month later, tickets will be available in a closed presale in February for those who have registered interest. Then, in May 2026, a three-week general application phase will open to all supporters worldwide, offering the chance to request tickets for any match with a ballot system implemented for oversubscribed price categories to ensure fairness. World Rugby are also offering a Superfan Pass. This pass, priced at $750AUD allows fans to buy up to four tickets for any match, including the opening match and final. They go on sale August 5 2025.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Exclusive: GameStop, PSA launching digital "Power Packs"
Yahoo Sports AM is our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it every weekday morning. 🚨 Headlines 💔 Shooting at NFL HQ: Four people were killed by a gunman on Monday in the midtown Manhattan skyscraper that houses the NFL's corporate offices, as well as top financial firms. The gunman then shot and killed himself. ⚾️ Betting scandal expands: Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, one of the top arms on the trade market, has been placed on paid leave in connection with MLB's ongoing sports betting investigation, joining teammate Luis Ortiz. 🏈 Coach Prime's diagnosis: Deion Sanders announced that he was diagnosed with bladder cancer earlier this year, but has since been "cured" after having his bladder surgically removed. He said he'll likely have a portable toilet on the Colorado sidelines this fall. ⚾️ Harper gets heated: Bryce Harper reportedly told Rob Manfred to "get the f*** out of our clubhouse" when the commissioner brought up the potential implementation of a salary cap as part of the next CBA. The current labor deal expires at the end of next season. 🏀 New-look Luka: Luka Dončić showed off his new physique on the cover on Men's Health. "My whole body looks better," said the Lakers star, who's adopted a gluten-free, low-sugar diet. 💵 Exclusive: GameStop, PSA launching digital "Power Packs" GameStop's collectibles business has boomed since partnering with trading card grading and authentication company Professional Sports Authenticators (PSA) last fall to turn its storefronts into grading submission centers. Now, the two companies are expanding their partnership with a digital collectibles experience called "Power Packs," Yahoo Sports has learned. What's new? Power Packs is a new GameStop trading card platform that "bridges the thrill of card collecting with the convenience of the digital world," says Nat Turner, who is the CEO of Collectors Universe (which owns PSA) and sits on the GameStop board. Invites to the beta version of the platform go live today, according to GameStop. How it works: The experience begins with a collector purchasing a virtual Power Pack, revealing a PSA-graded trading card securely stored in the PSA Vault. From there, they have three options: Sell the card back instantly (with values powered by Card Ladder's dynamic pricing) Keep it in the PSA Vault (with options to store it there, sell directly on eBay or potentially receive a PSA Instant Offer) Ship the card home (for a fee) More details: Power Packs have five price tiers ($25, $50, $100, $500, $1,000) that offer varying chances of pulling cards of certain values. Football and Pokémon cards will be available at launch, with plans to add more categories in the future. Acquired cards are managed through the Power Packs website ( when it goes live) and payouts can be sent via direct deposit or added to the user's Power Packs balance. Hot new trend: Repacks have emerged as a popular offering recently, allowing collectors to buy packs curated by individuals or hobby-related businesses rather than sealed boxes directly from the manufacturer. They typically contain a number of lower-value cards worth less than the price of the repack but offer the chance at "chases" worth much more, per cllct. PSA sees Power Packs as a way to bring more transparency to the space. "The existing repack landscape is full of individuals who are creating these things on their own. They're not thinking about the end consumer. They're thinking about how much money they can generate," says Tommy Paderes, GM of Power Packs at PSA. "This is our foray into creating a fun experience while utilizing the trust and transparency that comes with PSA grading. GameStop really wanted to bring this to life, and it was a natural fit knowing that we could build the technology and they could deliver it to the mass market." A shift in strategy: GameStop played a starring role in the 2021 "meme stock" frenzy and has undergone a dramatic transformation since then, pivoting from a video game retailer to a hybrid entity with an increased focus on collectibles (sales jumped 55% YoY in the first quarter to $211.5 million) and cryptocurrency (they bought $500 million of Bitcoin in May). "We've moved the business from a big reliance on hardware and software to collectibles," said CEO Ryan Cohen during a recent interview on Fox Business Network. "We're selling a ton of trading cards, both sports and TCG. It's a much more durable business." Since partnering up nine months ago, GameStop stores have facilitated grading of over 1 million cards by PSA. That partnership is now going digital as PSA embraces the future of the hobby (virtual experiences) and GameStop embraces the future of its business (fewer brick-and-mortar locations). What's GameStop up to? The company declined comment for this story but did post a video last night teasing this announcement as part of something called "Push Start Arcade," which could hint at a larger initiative around digital gaming and virtual wallets. The company's cult-like following is already speculating about what this all could mean. 🏀 The oldest team in NBA history With 40-year-old Chris Paul officially in the fold, the 2025-26 Clippers are on track to be the oldest team in NBA history with an average age of 33.2 years old, as noted by Yahoo Sports' Tom Haberstroh on the latest episode of "The Big Number" NBA podcast. Oldest teams since the merger: 2025-26 Clippers: 33.2 (weighted for playing time) 2000-01 Jazz: 32.0 1997-98 Rockets: 32.0 1997-98 Bulls: 31.7 1999-00 Jazz: 31.5 What they're saying: "The Hakeem Rockets, the Jordan Bulls, the Stockton and Malone Jazz … these were the most ancient NBA teams ever … and they look like children compared to this Clippers team," said Haberstroh. Roster breakdown: Paul is expected to be part of a core Clippers rotation that also includes James Harden (who will be 37 by the start of next season), Brook Lopez (37), Nicolas Batum (36), Kawhi Leonard (34), Bogdan Bogdanović (33), Bradley Beal (32) and Kris Dunn (31). Zigging when others are zagging: The Clippers plan to trot out a historically old squad during a time when the NBA is getting younger and more athletic. Look no further than the 2025 NBA Finals, which featured the lowest average age on record (25.5 years old) and crowned the youngest champion (24.7) in a half-century. It's a bold strategy, to say the least. Here's Tom: "It's such a different roster than where the league seems to be headed. … If you look at age trends over the last decade or so, older teams are winning more in the regular season, but the further you go into the postseason, it gets younger and younger than in previous generations. So I feel like this Clippers team is built for the No. 1 or No. 2 seed … but not necessarily for winning the title." Watch: Full episode (YouTube) ⚾️ Is this the worst call in baseball history? Orioles pitcher Zach Eflin threw a pitch right down the middle of the plate… and umpire Brian Walsh called it a ball. I was watching this live and couldn't believe my eyes. Never been more confused by a call in my life. 📊 By the numbers 🏀 23 minutes Seattle's Skylar Diggins recorded her first career triple-double (11 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists) on Monday in less than 23 minutes of game action, the lowest minutes total ever in a WNBA triple-double. ⛳️ $21.94 million LIV Golf's Joaquin Niemann, who won his fifth event of the season this past weekend in the U.K., has now made more in on-course earnings this year ($21.94 million) than PGA Tour money leader Scottie Scheffler ($19.2 million). 🌭 9-9-9 J.J. Watt dominated the viral "9-9-9 Challenge," eating nine hot dogs and drinking nine beers during a nine-inning Brewers game. In fact, he finished with 3.5 innings to spare… and still had room for a postgame meal. Built different. 🌎 The world in photos 🇺🇸 Foxborough, Massachusetts — All 32 NFL teams have reported to training camp, and there's no shortage of intrigue and storylines so far. 🇫🇷 La Gacilly, France — The fourth edition of Le Tour Femmes (Women's Tour de France) is underway. Current leader: Marianne Vos of the Netherlands. 🏴 Bridgend, Wales — The Women's Open tees off this week at Royal Porthcawl, which comes in at No. 65 on the World's Top 100 Golf Courses list. 📺 Watchlist: Tuesday, July 29 ⚾️ Rays at Yankees | 7pm ET, TBS The AL East takes center stage today, with the Yankees hosting the Rays in primetime and the Orioles hosting the Blue Jays in a split doubleheader (12:35pm ET, MLB; 6:35pm). Watch out for Toronto, whose lead atop the division has grown to 5.5 games — their highest since 1993, when they went on to win the World Series. More to watch: 🏀 WNBA: Aces at Sparks (10pm, NBA) … Los Angeles has the league's longest active winning streak at five games. ⚽️ Leagues Cup: Six matches (7-11pm, Apple/FS1) … 18 MLS clubs and 18 Liga MX clubs battle it out in the fifth edition of the tournament. Today's full slate → ⚾️ MLB trivia Cal Raleigh is the betting favorite to win AL MVP (-135 at BetMGM) for the first time this year, leapfrogging an injured Aaron Judge. Question: Raleigh would be just the third catcher this century to win MVP. Who were the other two? Hint: AL Central, NL West. Answer at the bottom. 💔 Remembering Ryno Cubs legend Ryne "Ryno" Sandberg, one of the best second basemen and humblest superstars in MLB history, passed away Monday at age 65 after a battle with cancer. Immortal words: From Sandberg's Hall of Fame induction speech in 2005… "The reason I am here, they tell me, is that I played the game a certain way, that I played the game the way it was supposed to be played. I don't know about that, but I do know this: I had too much respect for the game to play it any other way. And if there is a single reason I am here today, it is because of one word: 'Respect.'" "I was taught you never, ever disrespect your opponent or your teammates or your organization or your manager. Make a great play — act like you've done it before. … Hit a home run — put your head down, drop the bat, run around the bases. Because the name on the front is a lot more important than the name on the back." "A lot of people say this honor validates my career, but I didn't work hard for validation. I didn't play the game right because I saw a reward at the end of the tunnel. I played it right because that's what you're supposed to do — play it right and with respect. If this validates anything, it's that learning how to bunt, and hit and run, and turn two is more important than knowing where to find the little red light on the dugout camera." No. 23 forever: The Cubs unveiled a Sandberg statue outside Wrigley Field last year and will honor him the rest of this season by wearing a jersey patch with his No. 23 and signature. Trivia answer: Joe Mauer (2009 AL MVP with the Twins) and Buster Posey (2012 NL MVP with the Giants) We hope you enjoyed this edition of Yahoo Sports AM, our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Australia 2027 to be most accessible Rugby World Cup in history, organisers vow
Rugby World Cup organisers have promised their Australia 2027 event will be the biggest and most accessible tournament in history with a million tickets costing less than AUD$100 (€56). More than 2.5 million tickets will be made available with tickets for pool matches, up for grabs in a closed pre-sale to supporters who register on starting today until the end of January 2026. They will start at just AUD$40 (€22.50) with children's tickets available from AUD$20 (11.25). The pre-sale period will be open during February with a three-week general application phase next May. 'This ticketing program has been designed with one simple principle: put the fans first,' World Rugby chair Brett Robinson said. 'For the first time in over two decades, Men's Rugby World Cup returns to Australian shores, and we're determined to make it bigger, bolder, and more accessible than ever before. 'With more than 2.5 million tickets available, a wide range of pricing options, and innovations like the Superfan Pass, we're giving every fan — whether lifelong supporter or first-time attendee — the chance to be part of something truly special. 'Rugby World Cup 2027 is more than a tournament; it's a celebration of everything great about our game. It's about reigniting the love for rugby, inspiring a new generation, and showcasing our values to the world. We want every ticket, every cheer, every moment to help grow the game worldwide.' Ireland supporters will learn their team's pool opponents this December when the draw is made based on seedings based on world rankings set after November's Autumn Nations Series of Test matches. The match schedule is scheduled to be announced next January with an expanded 24-team tournament featuring an additional Round of 16 knockout round. Seven Australian cities will stage matches, with the opening match in Perth, Western Australia on October 1. Townsville and Brisbane in Queensland, Newcastle in New South Wales, Adelaide in South Australia, and Melbourne, Victoria will also host matches as well as Sydney, including the final on November 13. Organisers on Tuesday also announced a Superfan Pass offering guaranteed access to buy up to four tickets for any of the 52 matches, including the final. On sale from August 5, there will be 2,027 passes made available at €489 (AUD$750). Launching their ticketing programme three days after the British & Irish Lions and Australia played their second Test in front of 90,307 supporters at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin insisted the governing body had not missed a trick staging the 2027 World Cup final at the iconic stadium and the showcase match would be in Stadium Australia, currently known as Accor Stadium, where this Saturday's third Lions Test will be played. 'The amazing thing here is it's such a competitive environment between states and cities for sports content,' Gilpin said. 'Sydney put their best foot forward and were an amazing host of the semi-finals and final in 2003. 'I had the privilege of being here then. They will be again in 2027. What we saw on Saturday is that rugby can make some noise in Melbourne as well. We're looking forward to Melbourne being part of that tournament. 'There's a stadium in Perth that wasn't there in 2003 that's amazing. The venue landscape is really exceptional. We're excited to get access to those great venues.' Read More Garry Ringrose ruled out of Lions' third Test against Wallabies
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Why an ex-Google CEO is deep in Ukraine's battlefield strategy
When Elon Musk cut Starlink coverage in Kherson in 2022, Ukraine's forces lost key communications mid-counter-offensive. Earlier this year, Maxar, a major satellite imagery provider, also pulled out after US President Donald Trump suspended military aid. These incidents left Ukraine scrambling for alternatives as Russia ramped up missile and drone assaults. Into this vacuum stepped Eric Schmidt . The former Google boss has now taken on a direct role, not as a donor or advocate, but as a defence tech supplier. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Data Science Management Design Thinking Artificial Intelligence Data Science Degree Project Management Technology Others CXO Finance PGDM Leadership Digital Marketing Operations Management Healthcare Cybersecurity MCA Public Policy MBA Data Analytics Product Management others Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK DABS India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 30 Weeks IIM Kozhikode SEPO - IIMK-AI for Senior Executives India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Prof Cert in DS & BA with GenAI India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Postgraduate Cert in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIT Madras CERT-IITM Advanced Cert Prog in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Schmidt's AI drones hit their targets Earlier this month, Schmidt met President Volodymyr Zelensky in Denmark. Together they announced a long-term co-production deal between Ukraine and Swift Beat , the defence tech company Schmidt now backs. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Spoiled kid took 3 subway seats while his mom ignored it, so a heroic stranger Kingdom Of Men Undo According to Ekonomichna Pravda, Swift Beat has already supplied three types of drones to Ukrainian forces. The models remain unnamed for security reasons, but they include interceptor drones, medium-range strike UAVs and FPV kamikaze systems. Officials told the outlet that these drones have taken down around 90 percent of Russian Shahed drones they encountered. Live Events 'These drones are extremely accurate in identifying Russian drones in the night sky,' a Ukrainian military source told Ekonomichna Pravda. They added that the drones rely on advanced AI to detect and destroy their targets, and that their secure communication systems have so far resisted Russian electronic warfare. A representative from one Ukrainian brigade confirmed this, noting that Swift Beat's kamikaze drones 'include a proprietary communication system resistant to Russian electronic warfare'. Ukraine shifts from dependency to partnership Unlike earlier arrangements with Western firms, the Swift Beat deal is being described as a genuine partnership. Ukraine gains highly accurate systems for frontline defence. In return, Swift Beat gets a chance to trial and refine its technology under live conditions. Zelensky announced in early July that the agreement would involve joint ventures between Ukrainian manufacturers and Swift Beat, with the aim of producing hundreds of thousands of drones by 2025. 'This is a co-production agreement between Ukraine and the United States. There will be several initiatives focused on various drone types. But the key element is the timeline: hundreds of thousands this year, and more next year,' Zelensky said. He noted that interceptor drones would remain the main priority. Praise, but also skepticism Schmidt is not just helping from afar. He has become a regular presence in Ukraine's defence circles, meeting with then Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and other senior figures. According to one Ukrainian defence official, Schmidt 'understands well what is happening' on the ground and 'believes that AI, drones, and autonomous systems will shape the future of warfare'. Still, not everyone is convinced that Schmidt's role is entirely altruistic. 'He says he's not making money on this, but we know he wants his drones battle-tested,' one industry insider told Ekonomichna Pravda. Others are concerned that Swift Beat's rising influence could edge out local developers. Ukraine's defence sector, though grateful for international support, remains cautious about long-term dependency. Despite these concerns, the results on the battlefield speak for themselves. Schmidt's drones have quickly become some of the most effective systems Ukraine has at its disposal. What is Swift Beat? Little is publicly known about Swift Beat. The firm does not disclose many technical details, but its website suggests it builds autonomous systems. These could include satellite-free navigation tools, drone-tracking software, and other automation technologies. With Ukrainian skies now a major theatre of war, Swift Beat's AI systems are playing a central role. As drone warfare becomes the norm, this partnership may shape not only Ukraine's defence, but the future of combat itself.
Extra.ie
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Sacha Baron Cohen debuts shockingly ripped new look
Well, this wasn't on our bingo cards for 2025 — Sacha Baron Cohen has unveiled his new muscular physique and needless to say, people have gone wild! The actor took part in an interview and photoshoot for Men's Fitness and joked that his new ripped body wasn't an AI generated image. Sharing the photos to his Instagram stories, he wrote: 'This is not AI, I really am egotistical enough to do this. Some celebs use Ozempic, some use private chefs, others use personal trainers. I did all three.' Sacha Baron Cohen on the cover of Men's Fitness UK. Pic: Simon Needham/ In another post, he said he was 'hard launching my mid-life crisis' and 'debuting my new character: Middle-aged man who replaced beer with protein shakes.' The new look was actually for his role as Mephisto in the MCU series Iron Heart (and likely in other projects down the line), but it also comes shortly after the 53-year-old split from wife and fellow actor Isla Fisher in 2023, after more than two decades together. Sacha Baron Cohen in the new issue of Men's Fitness UK. Pic: Simon Needham/ Shortly after the Borat star posted the images, the comments were flooded with messages from people who were stunned by his transformation, which he reportedly only had three weeks to achieve. One person wrote: 'Divorce is the best type of protein,' while another shared: 'Lord have mercy.' Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher. Pic: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock A third commented: 'DAMNNN !!! 😱 Sacha THE ROCK Baron Cohen,' while a fourth said: 'Supreme Leader is now in Supreme Shape.' Even Chelsea Handler couldn't get over his new look, and spawned the AI references by asking: 'Is this AI?' Sacha Baron Cohen as Borat. Pic: George Pimentel/WireImage Sacha worked with celebrity trainer Alfonso Moretti after getting his number off Matthew McConaughey, and the fitness expert commented on the post also, writing: 'For anyone that thinks this is Ai, you're right. Completely. 'Ai as in Absolutely incredible! This Friday you'll learn how committed and disciplined Sacha is and how hard he worked to achieve this. 'It's none sense to suggest these images are Ai, manipulated or photoshopped. I have the raw images and video. Sacha EARNED every accolade for this transformation. FULL STOP.'
