Category: 6. Sports

A total of 11 tries – six of them scored by the on-fire Julia Schell – represented an almost perfect opening weekend for Canada. Top of Pool B already, a second RWC 2025 win on Saturday for the world No.2 ranked side would send them through to the quarter-finals, with a match to spare. A luxury that has seen head coach Kevin Rouet make six changes to his starting XV.

Wales head honcho Sean Lynn has also rung the changes – seven of them in total – but last Saturday’s chastening 38-8 defeat to Scotland means the fresh-faced Welsh XV have it all to do. It is simply win or bust for Lynn’s line-up, for whom July’s RWC warm-up win against Australia is their only victory in their past eight matches. 

Kick-off: 12:00 BST, Saturday, 30 August

Venue: Salford Community Stadium, Manchester

If you have a ticket already, check out former England star Harriet Millar-Mills’ Guide to Manchester for all the top tips to making the most out of your trip. 

How to watch: Head here to get a last-minute ticket.

Or check out our Global Guide to the TV options in your area. 

Canada team

Canada’s key player: There is no doubt Alex Tessier is one the great players at RWC 2025 and all those at the Salford Community Stadium are in for a treat. Combining pace, power and adroitness, Wales will have to shut Canada’s star-turn down in they are to have a hope. Easier said than done against a player who also knocked over a conversion v Fiji last weekend. 

Wales team 

Wales’ key player: With both co-captains from the opener v Scotland, Alex Callender and Kate Williams, ruled out through injury this is a huge game for openside flanker Bethan Lewis. A member of dominant English club side, Gloucester-Hartpury, the new skipper will be looking for her all-action, winning style to rub off on a highly motivated, if young match-day squad.

Recent head-to-heads: 

21.10.2023 CAN 42-22 WAL 

27.08.2022 CAN 31-3 WAL 

21.11.2021CAN 24-7 WAL

What they said: 

Canada head coach, Kevin Rouet: 

“We have to expect a lot of fight, Wales is never an easy game for us, it’s always an 80-minute grind so we are prepared for threat. They have said it is like a final for them so you never know what you could expect from that. We just have to be confident with who we are and our preparation, go with the game plan.

“We expect a lot from them and they need to expect a lot from us.”

Canada inside-centre and captain, Alex Tessier:

“It was a good week of prep again for us. We broke the ice last week, for some of us it was the first World Cup game ever and for some it was our fourth World Cup ,so it’s different but the same. It was a calm, collected and decent prep and we knew what to expect.

“We looked at their last match, which was against Scotland, so we’re definitely looking at the opportunities that might be there for us, where Scotland capitalised on them last weekend.”

Wales head coach, Sean Lynn: 

“We had these honest conversations and the girls have reacted positively this week. We all know that performance just wasn’t good enough on Saturday and it’s about putting that to bed and making sure we’ve had a real good training. It’s been a really good, positive session and good energy. It’s just making sure on Saturday we’re putting pride back in that jersey. 

“If I’m asking the players to be brave, then I’d be brave with it as well. Those individuals (Tilly Vucaj, 19; Branwen Metcalfe, 18; Seren Lockwood, 18 – all named on he bench) even though they are 18 (sic), have been training and performing very well.”

Wales new captain, Bethan Lewis: 

“We’ve got a young group of leaders. People are learning, there’s a bit of change and naturally, people are putting themselves out there. So, no, I don’t think there’s a lack of leadership. I have every trust in the girls, [Alex Callender] and Kate [Williams], and then the leaders this weekend who step up when they need (to).

“My plan is not to change anything, just be myself.”

The defeat at Grimsby is the first time United have lost to fourth-tier opposition. Amorim did not shirk media duties afterwards and spoke to in-house station MUTV on his bleak assessment of the situation.

“Let’s focus on the next game and then we have time to think about things,” he said.

“We have a job to do, a job to prepare, and then we will stop and think things through.”

The Portuguese manager opted not to clarify his comments, which even inside Old Trafford have been interpreted by some as the 40-year-old considering his future.

It is not the first time this has happened. It was reported he offered to resign at one stage last season, although this has never been confirmed. In the summer, Amorim described his desire to do a good job and emotional response when he doesn’t as “an ego thing”.

He is bound to be asked about his comments when he speaks to the media on Friday afternoon before his side’s Premier League game against Burnley at Old Trafford the following day.

Immediately after the international break United go to Etihad Stadium for the first Manchester derby of the season. Chelsea visit Old Trafford the following week, while a trip to old rivals Liverpool looms on 19 October.

He will also be asked to expand on his claim that his players “spoke really loud today what they want”. Even within the dressing room, which appeared so supportive of Amorim during a pre-season notable for the unity in the camp, there is uncertainty over what the former Sporting coach was saying.

Few players who started last night’s game put forward a convincing case for selection against Burnley, including midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who completed the full 90 minutes, and goalkeeper Andre Onana, whose mistake for Grimsby’s second goal made a bad situation worse.

Eyebrows were also raised at £73.7m forward Benjamin Sesko being the last outfield player to take a penalty for United in the marathon shootout, which extended to 13 shots for each side.

Sources have said the decision was taken as Sesko, who was completing his first competitive 90 minutes since 19 April, was experiencing cramp due to a pitch that had become heavy with rainfall.

Hasaranga is not a part of the Sri Lanka squad for their tour of Zimbabwe which begins with the first ODI in Harare on Friday, with the island nation playing one more ODI and three T20Is after the tour-opener.

Hasaranga had suffered a hamstring injury during their series against Bangladesh which Sri Lanka lost at home. He finds a place in the squad for the Asia Cup in which Sri Lanka have also named two young batters in Kamil Mishara and Nuwanidu Fernando.

Along with Hasaranga, Sri Lanka have Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana among spin bowling options.

Sri Lanka, who suffered a heavy defeat in the last Asia Cup final against India which was held in ODI format in their backyard in 2023, are placed in Group B along with Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Hongkong.

Before the Super Four stage, Sri Lanka will face Bangladesh on September 13, Hong Kong on September 15 and Afghanistan on September 18.

Squad: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera (wk), Nuwanidu Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana.

There was something in the Paris water once the main card action got underway inside the Accor Arena. Three insane knockouts made the night one to remember, and all warranted a Performance of the Night bonus when the night had concluded. 

Farès Ziam got things started with a nasty knee knockout over Matt Frevola in the third round. As the two were clinched up against the cage, Frevola tried to spin around to gain control, and that’s when Ziam threw a knee straight to the jaw of Frevola, putting him out instantly. The Paris crowd went absolutely nuts. 

See What You Missed From Dana White’s Contender Series

And that wouldn’t be the last time they celebrated, as France’s Morgan Charriere was the next to make the walk to put on a show once again for the fans. For the second year in a row, “The Last Pirate” delivered in Paris as he earned a clean knockout over Gabriel Miranda less than 30 seconds into the second round. 

The final knockout on the main card prior to Moicano’s victory ended on the wrong side of things for the French fans, but it was an amazing moment for Bryan Battle. The welterweight thrived in enemy territory facing Kevin Jousset, who was born in France. After a back-and-forth scrap in the first round, “The Butcher” turned up the heat in the second as Jousset started to slow down, and once he got him up against the cage he started to rain down the punches, putting a stop to the contest and taking the momentum away from the French crowd. 

Chris Duncan Kicks Things Off In Style  

Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev has been fined $42,500 by the U.S. Open for his actions during and immediately after his first-round loss to France’s Benjamin Bonzi on Sunday night in New York.

The total fines, issued by tournament referee Jake Garner, included $30,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct and another $12,500 for racket abuse.

With Medvedev facing match point in the third set, Bonzi missed on his first serve and was preparing for the second when a photographer appeared to mistakenly step onto the court.

Chair umpire Greg Allensworth announced that Bonzi would be given another chance at his first serve “because of the delay caused by an outside interference.”

Medvedev was not happy. The 2021 U.S. Open champion berated Allensworth at the chair and insulted him while leaning into a microphone to address the crowd. Even as he was walking back onto the court, Medvedev used arm gestures to encourage the crowd to continue expressing its displeasure with the decision, although he eventually motioned for the fans to calm down.

“I just expressed my emotions, my unhappiness with the decision,” Medvedev said later. “And then the crowd did what they did without me, without me asking them too much. And it was fun to witness.”

The disruption lasted for roughly six minutes. Medvedev ended up winning that point and set, then won the next set as well. Bonzi recovered in the fifth set for a 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4 win, after which Medvedev was seen repeated destroying a racket by smashing it on the court and against a sideline chair.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Ajaya Babu Valluri won gold while Harjinder Kaur lifted bronze as Indian weightlifters continued their medal run at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2025 in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

Competing in the men’s 79kg category, Ajaya Babu lifted a total of 335kg (152kg snatch+183kg clean and jerk) for the gold medal and edged past Malaysia’s Muhammad Erry 333kg (150kg+183kg) and Nigeria’s Adedapo Adeleke 306kg (141kg+165kg).

The gold medal also helped Ajaya Babu qualify for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year. The winners in each senior weightlifting category earn automatic spots for the Glasgow 2026 Games.

Ajaya Babu had a shaky start, missing his opening attempt at 148kg. However, he cleared the same weight on his second try. On his third attempt, Ajaya pushed himself further and successfully lifted 152kg, giving him the lead in snatch.

Ajaya was flawless in clean and jerk, registering all three lifts as valid. He began with 176kg, increased to 180kg on his second attempt, and sealed the gold with a strong 183kg in his final lift.

In the women’s 69kg final, Harjinder Kaur showed grit to secure the bronze with 222kg (99kg+123kg). After missing her opening snatch at 95kg, she steadied herself to clear the same weight on her second try. Her best of 99kg came off on the third attempt.

In clean and jerk, Harjinder recovered from an initial no-lift at 123kg to succeed on her second attempt before falling short at 128kg. Nigeria’s Islamiyat Adebukola claimed gold with 236kg (105kg + 131kg), while New Zealand’s Olivia Selemaia won silver with 223kg (100kg + 123kg).

The 30th edition of the championships features over 300 lifters from 31 nations.

Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Mirabai Chanu had kicked off India’s campaign on Monday, winning gold in the women’s 48kg and securing qualification for the next year’s Commonwealth Games.