Highlanders send off Aaron Smith with rousing rally to edge Queensland in Super Rugby Pacific
May 26, 2023 GMTDUNEDIN, New Zealand (AP) — Replacement scrumhalf Folau Fakatava dashed from a scrum in the final minute to score a match-winning try for the Dunedin-based Highlanders who kept alive their playoff hopes in Super Rugby Pacific with a 35-30 win Friday over the Queensland Reds.
Chiefs beat Crusaders to assume Super Rugby title favoritism
April 30, 2023 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Hamilton-based Chiefs left no doubt they are title favorites in Super Rugby Pacific when they stretched their winning start to the season to nine matches with their second win over the defending champion Crusaders.
Chiefs stay unbeaten in Super Rugby; Blues, Rebels also win
April 29, 2023 GMTHAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) — Flyhalf Damian McKenzie improved his chances for a place in New Zealand’s World Cup squad by leading the Hamilton-based Chiefs to a 34-24 win over the defending champion Crusaders on Saturday in Super Rugby Pacific.
Hurricanes, Waratahs win close Super Rugby Pacific matches
April 28, 2023 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Wellington-based Hurricanes took a major step toward securing a home playoff by holding on to beat the second-place ACT Brumbies 32-27 Friday in a 10th-round match in Super Rugby Pacific.
Chiefs, Crusaders meet in Super Rugby Pacific showdown
April 27, 2023 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The match on Saturday between the first-place Chiefs and defending champion Crusaders could be the most momentous of the regular season in Super Rugby Pacific.
It pits the Hamilton-based Chiefs, unbeaten in eight matches, against the Christchurch-based Crusaders who have won a Super Rugby title in some form in each of the last six years and currently are in third place with a 6-2 record.
Rugby Australia returns surplus in wake of COVID-19 chaos
April 26, 2023 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Rugby Australia has returned from the brink of budget despair during the COVID-19 pandemic to announce a surplus for 2022.
RA chairman Hamish McLennan announced the surplus of 8.2 million Australian dollars ($5.5 million) for last year after the annual general meeting in Sydney on Wednesday, saying “the last two years have been a wild ride for us.”
Blues beat Waratahs 55-21 in Super Rugby Pacific
April 22, 2023 GMTAUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Fullback Zarn Sullivan came off the bench and scored two tries to help the Auckland-based Blues beat the New South Wales Waratahs 55-21 in Super Rugby Pacific on Saturday.
Chiefs unbeaten, Crusaders also win in Super Rugby Pacific
April 21, 2023 GMTHAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Hamilton-based Chiefs showcased their handling skills in teeming rain to beat the Fijian Drua 50-17 Friday and stretch their winning start in Super Rugby Pacific to eight games.
Injuries bite as Super Rugby heads downhill towards playoffs
April 20, 2023 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Super Rugby Pacific heads into the second half of its season with a downbeat series of matches in round nine.
First-place Chiefs, Hurricanes meet in Super Rugby Pacific
April 13, 2023 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The match on Saturday between the Hamilton-based Chiefs and Wellington-based Hurricanes will bring together the two best teams in Super Rugby Pacific but not, apparently, the best players in New Zealand.
Sandeep Sharma holds nerve as Royals beat Super Kings in IPL
April 12, 2023 GMTCHENNAI, India (AP) — MS Dhoni scored a brisk 32 not out off 17 balls but failed to apply the finishing touch as the Rajasthan Royals held on for a three-run victory over the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday.
1st-place Chiefs win 6th straight Super Rugby Pacific match
April 2, 2023 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Hamilton-based Chiefs have validated their top placing in Super Rugby Pacific by extending their winning start to the season to six games with a composed 20-13 win over the Auckland-based Blues.
Chiefs extend win streak to 6 games in Super Rugby Pacific
April 1, 2023 GMTAUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Winger Emoni Narawa scored two first-half tries for the Hamilton, New Zealand-based Chiefs who extended their winning start to the Super Rugby Pacific season to six matches Saturday with a 20-13 win over the Auckland-based Blues.
Highlanders, Crusaders win in Super Rugby Pacific
March 31, 2023 GMTAUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — The Dunedin, New Zealand-based Highlanders dominated the second half after a tight and high-scoring first half to beat Moana Pasifika 45-17 on Friday in a sixth-round match in Super Rugby Pacific.
Blues beat Western Force 30-17 in Super Rugby Pacific
March 26, 2023 GMTAUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Giant winger Mark Telea produced another outstanding performance as the Auckland-based Blues beat the Western Force 30-17 Sunday in the last match of the fifth round of Super Rugby Pacific.
Super Rugby Pacific diminished as All Blacks, Wallabies rest
March 26, 2023 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Hamilton-based Chiefs are the only unbeaten team after the weekend’s fifth round of Super Rugby Pacific which produced another series of mediocre matches, some in which mediocrity was self-inflicted.
Crusaders beat ACT, Chiefs still unbeaten in Super Rugby
March 24, 2023 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Leicester Fainga’anuku scored two tries Friday to bring his tally to five in his last two matches as the Crusaders produced a 35-17 win over the previously unbeaten ACT Brumbies in Super Rugby Pacific.
All Blacks job puts Robertson’s Crusaders role in spotlight
March 23, 2023 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The ACT Brumbies and Christchurch-based Crusaders will meet Friday in a fifth-round match in Super Rugby Pacific which might attract more attention on the coaches than the players.
Highlanders beat Force 43-35 for 1st win in Super Rugby
March 19, 2023 GMTINVERCARGILL, New Zealand (AP) — The Highlanders held on in a tight match of tit-for-tat scoring to beat the Western Force 43-35 Sunday and claim its first win of the season in Super Rugby Pacific.
Struggling Crusaders, Blues to meet in Super Rugby Pacific
March 16, 2023 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Christchurch-based Crusaders and Auckland-based Blues meet Saturday in what should be one of the marquee matches of the Super Rugby Pacific season — a repeat of last year’s final.
Fijian Drua edge Crusaders in huge Super Rugby Pacific upset
March 11, 2023 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Fijian Drua have pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of Super Rugby, beating the defending champion Crusaders 25-24 with a penalty two minutes after the fulltime siren on Saturday.
Ardie Savea banned 1 week for throat-cutting gesture
March 7, 2023 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea was suspended for one week on Tuesday for his throat-cutting gesture at an opponent in a Super Rugby Pacific match.
Savea will miss the home match against the Blues this Saturday.
Brumbies hold on to beat Blues in Super Rugby classic
March 5, 2023 GMTThe ACT Brumbies clung to a five-point lead through all of the second half to beat the Auckland-based Blues 25-20 Sunday and stay unbeaten after two rounds of Super Rugby Pacific.
The Brumbies scored three tries including a penalty try to lead 25-20 at halftime and held on through a second half which often played at frantic pace in searing heat to claim an important win for an Australian team over a New Zealand opponent.
Ardie Savea faces hearing after throat-cutting gesture
March 4, 2023 GMTMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — All Blacks back-rower Ardie Savea will appear before a judicial tribunal on Monday after making a throat-cutting gesture at an opponent during a Super Rugby Pacific match.
Savea sorry for throat-slitting gesture in Hurricanes win
March 3, 2023 GMTMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — All Blacks flanker Ardie Savea apologized for making a throat-slitting gesture toward an opponent after receiving a yellow card during a win for his Wellington-based Hurricanes team in Super Rugby Pacific on Friday.
Tries galore in Super Rugby Pacific opening round
February 26, 2023 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Law changes designed to speed up matches in Super Rugby Pacific appear at first glance to have been successful. Matches in the tournament’s first weekend generally were fast-paced and high-scoring.
Fiji Drua, Blues and Hurricanes win in Super Rugby Pacific
February 25, 2023 GMTAUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — The Fiji Drua had the last say in a match which saw 11 tries to edge Moana Pasifika 36-34 Saturday on the opening weekend of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
The Drua trailed 19-5 in the first half and didn’t lead in the match until the 77th minute when replacement winger Taniela Rakuro scored the try that gave them a narrow and thrilling win.
Eddie Jones looks to Super Rugby for Wallabies pointers
February 23, 2023 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Super Rugby Pacific begins on Friday, carrying more importance in a World Cup year in which it will be part of the limited preparation of the national teams.
The tournament may be more important still for returning Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones, whose relatively short lead-in to the World Cup kicking off in September means the Super Rugby season will be his first chance to accurately map the Australian rugby landscape.
Eddie Jones at Super Rugby season launch, already scouting
February 15, 2023 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Eddie Jones is already in Rugby World Cup selection mode.
The launch Wednesday was for Australia’s five franchises in the Super Rugby Pacific competition, which kicks off next week.
Super Bowl week was back to its normal wildness this year
February 12, 2023 GMTPHOENIX (AP) — From Super Bowl opening night to the night before the big game, the party was on all week long.
The frenzy was back in full force this year after COVID-19 restrictions limited the wild, zany atmosphere that surrounds the most-anticipated and most-hyped week on the sports calendar.
UEFA strips Russian city Kazan of hosting Super Cup game
January 25, 2023 GMTNYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA stripped Russia of hosting rights on Wednesday for the season-opening Super Cup game in August because of the country's ongoing war in Ukraine.
The city of Kazan, which was a 2018 World Cup host, was due to stage the curtain-raising game between the winners of this season's Champions League and Europa League.
Inter’s Super Cup celebration ruined with loss to Empoli
January 23, 2023 GMTMILAN (AP) — Inter Milan’s Italian Super Cup celebration was ruined with a 1-0 home loss to Empoli in Serie A on Monday.
Milan Skriniar was sent off with two yellow cards in the first half to leave Inter with 10 men, and 19-year-old Tommaso Baldanzi scored for Empoli midway through the second half following a poor effort from Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana.
MATCHDAY: United looks to go 2nd; Milan derby in Super Cup
January 17, 2023 GMTA look at what’s happening in European soccer on Wednesday:
ENGLAND
Manchester United can climb into second place in the Premier League — for a day, at least — by beating Crystal Palace away for a 10th straight win in all competitions.
Milan faces Inter for Super Cup 3 weeks before Serie A derby
January 16, 2023 GMTThe Italian Super Cup between AC Milan and Inter Milan should serve as the appetizer for the main course next month.
The city rivals face each other at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday with the first trophy of the Italian season at stake, but they will also likely have one eye on their Serie A clash at San Siro on Feb.
Barcelona hopes Super Cup win is turning point after woes
January 16, 2023 GMTMADRID (AP) — Maybe the tough times are finally over for Barcelona.
With a big victory over its main rival on Sunday, Barcelona got back to celebrating — and to feeling good about its future again.
Barcelona wins Super Cup for 1st trophy with Xavi, no Messi
January 15, 2023 GMTMADRID (AP) — Barcelona's title drought with coach Xavi — and without Lionel Messi — is finally over.
Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-1 on Sunday to win the Spanish Super Cup at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and give its fans reasons to celebrate again after a revamping process that began following Messi's departure for Paris Saint-Germain and the arrival of former player Xavi as coach in 2021.
Madrid beats Valencia on penalties in Super Cup semifinal
January 11, 2023 GMTRIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Real Madrid will get another chance to celebrate a Spanish Super Cup title in Saudi Arabia.
Madrid defeated Valencia 4-3 in a penalty shootout in Wednesday's semifinal and will try to win its third Super Cup title in the Middle East nation on Sunday.
Madrid begins defense of Super Cup title in Saudi Arabia
January 10, 2023 GMTMADRID (AP) — The Spanish Super Cup is returning to Saudi Arabia with defending champion Real Madrid and Valencia looking to get back on track and Barcelona and Real Betis hoping to maintain momentum.
Egypt says basketball stands partly collapse, injuring 27
December 24, 2022 GMTCAIRO (AP) — At least 27 people were injured when stands partly collapsed Saturday during a basketball game in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, health authorities said.
Officials said part of the seats fell on spectators at the Super Cup match between Cairo’s Al-Ahly and Ittihad of Alexandria following a stampede in the stands.