Latest news with #WorldCup2027
Reuters
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Springboks leave out experienced trio for Australia tests
July 23 (Reuters) - South Africa have named their squad for the two Rugby Championship tests at home to Australia next month as they begin the defence of their title, with no place for double World Cup winners Lukhanyo Am, Faf de Klerk and Makazola Mapimpi. The experienced trio are on a stand-by list in case of injury as coach Rassie Erasmus named a 37-player group on Wednesday to meet the Wallabies in Johannesburg on August 16 and in Cape Town a week later. Recent new caps Ethan Hooker (utility back), Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Boan Venter (both props), Marnus van der Merwe (hooker) and Cobus Wiese (utility forward) have all been included. Bath prop Thomas du Toit has been granted a compulsory two-week rest as agreed with the English Premiership, while number eight Jasper Wiese, the brother of Cobus, is serving a four-week suspension. Erasmus has already used almost 50 players in three tests this year as he looks to add depth to the squad with the 2027 Rugby World Cup in mind. "It's always challenging to reduce the squad, especially given how the expanded group of players put up their hands (in wins over Italy and Georgia this month), but we always said we would select a smaller, more manageable squad during the Rugby Championship," Erasmus said. "We probably have three players who can cover each position. One of our key pillars as a team is to build squad depth, and there is no better way to see what some of the younger players are capable of than to expose them to some of the top teams in the world." The Springboks have also invited three players from South Africa's victorious side at the recent Under-20 World Cup to train with the team to gain experience. They are loose-forward Bathobele Hlekani, wing Cheswill Jooste and scrumhalf Haashim Pead, the stand-out performer in the tournament. South Africa squad: Forwards: Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Marnus van der Merwe, Marco van Staden, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese. Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Edwill van der Merwe, Morne van den Berg, Grant Williams, Damian Willemse.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Abby Wambach on evolution of women's soccer, what's next for USWNT
Legendary USWNT forward Abby Wambach reflects on how much the women's game has grown since her 2015 retirement, and shares thoughts on head coach Emma Hayes as the team builds their roster for the 2027 World Cup. Abby Wambach on evolution of women's soccer, what's next for USWNT originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Troubled Wales rugby team names Steve Tandy new coach
CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Wales' troubled men's rugby team finally has a new coach, with Steve Tandy hired through the 2027 World Cup. The appointment was announced on Monday, with the Wales-born Tandy having just completed a southern hemisphere tour with Scotland as part of its coaching staff. He'll start on Sept. 1. 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.' __ AP rugby:
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Troubled Wales rugby team names Steve Tandy new coach
CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Wales' troubled men's rugby team finally has a new coach, with Steve Tandy hired through the 2027 World Cup. The appointment was announced on Monday, with the Wales-born Tandy having just completed a southern hemisphere tour with Scotland as part of its coaching staff. He'll start on Sept. 1. 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.' __ AP rugby:
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Troubled Wales Rugby Team Names Steve Tandy New Coach
Wales's troubled men's rugby team finally has a new coach, with Steve Tandy hired through the 2027 World Cup. The appointment was announced on Monday, with the Wales-born Tandy having just completed a southern hemisphere tour with Scotland as part of its coaching staff. He'll start on Sept. 1. 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.'
