Aseza Hele, a key player for the South Africa women's rugby team, has become an inspiration after helping her team reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time. Hele, who started playing rugby in 2014, became emotional when a young fan from England asked to swap jerseys with her. Her journey reflects the growth of women's rugby in South Africa, despite limited resources compared to the men's team.
Key Facts
Aseza Hele scored a hat-trick against Brazil and a crucial try against Italy in the Women's Rugby World Cup.
Hele received a social media message from a young fan in England wanting to swap jerseys.
Hele started playing rugby in 2014 and got her first international appearance five years later.
The South Africa women's team reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.
Hele grew up in the same area as Siya Kolisi, a famous men's rugby captain.
The women's team faces challenges such as fewer players and less funding compared to the men's team.
Siya Kolisi has been a strong supporter of the women's team, encouraging more people to attend their games.
UFC chief Dana White had a heated exchange with a reporter during a news conference for a boxing match between Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Terence Crawford in Las Vegas. This event marks White's debut in boxing promotion, backed by a Saudi venture. The match will be global, broadcast through Netflix.
Key Facts
Dana White, UFC chief, got into an argument with a reporter during the news conference.
The argument was about White's new role in boxing, specifically his plan to amend the Muhammad Ali Act.
The Muhammad Ali Act is a U.S. law from 2000 that protects boxers' rights.
White's involvement in the event represents his first boxing promotion, with support from Saudi Arabia.
The boxing match between Alvarez and Crawford will happen at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Terence Crawford aims to become the first male boxer to be an undisputed champion in three weight classes.
The event will be shown globally on Netflix, reaching a potential audience of over 300 million.
Great Britain's tennis team must win their Davis Cup match against Poland to remain in the top group for next year. Key players like Jack Draper are unavailable due to injury, but Cameron Norrie leads the team. The match is crucial because losing could mean getting relegated to a lower group.
Key Facts
Great Britain plays Poland in Gdynia for the Davis Cup.
Jack Draper, ranked world number seven, is out due to injury.
Cameron Norrie, ranked 34th, will play against Poland's Tomasz Berkieta, ranked 545th.
Great Britain needs to win this match to stay among the top teams in the Davis Cup.
Poland's top players are injured, affecting their team's strength.
The British team's captain emphasized respecting and being professional towards their opponents.
Jack Draper will miss the rest of the tennis season due to arm injury.
Team dynamics and scheduling challenges impact player participation in the Davis Cup.
Wayne Rooney, a former Manchester United player, talked about partying with Manchester City players after a significant defeat in 2011. In his podcast, Rooney discussed various memorable moments from Manchester derbies, including his iconic overhead kick goal. He also shared insights from a conversation with Shaun Wright-Phillips about footballing families.
Key Facts
Wayne Rooney partied with Manchester City players after United lost 6-1 to City in 2011.
The 6-1 match was a notable game in the history of Manchester derbies.
Rooney scored an overhead kick in February 2011, earning the "Goal of the 20 Seasons" award.
Rooney's favorite derby memory is a 1-0 win in 2007 when United moved close to winning the league.
Rooney and Shaun Wright-Phillips discussed the pressures faced by children of famous footballers.
Wright-Phillips shared experiences of his daughter facing criticism and how he advised her.
Armand "Mondo" Duplantis is a Swedish pole vaulter who has broken the world record multiple times since 2020. Known for his impressive jumps and fan following, he grew up in Louisiana, practicing pole vaulting in his backyard. Duplantis continues to push the limits in his sport with aspirations to set new records.
Key Facts
Armand Duplantis, also known as Mondo, is a record-breaking pole vaulter.
In February 2020, Duplantis set a new world record of 6.17 meters, previously held by Renaud Lavillenie.
He improved his own record to 6.18 meters just one week later and has continued to break it since.
By August 2025, Duplantis reached a height of 6.29 meters at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Duplantis is over 20 centimeters ahead of other competitors, with plans to attempt 6.30 meters at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Growing up in Louisiana, he practiced with his family in their backyard, helped by his father, Greg, a former pole vaulter.
Besides athletics, Duplantis is popular on social media and has released a music single.
The article discusses classic cricket matches between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup. It highlights two memorable matches from 2010 and 2014 where each team had thrilling moments. The article revisits these games to set the stage for upcoming encounters.
Key Facts
India and Pakistan are known for their intense cricket rivalry, particularly in the Asia Cup tournaments.
In the 2010 Asia Cup, held in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, India defeated Pakistan in a close match thanks to key performances by Harbhajan Singh and others.
The 2010 match ended with India scoring 271 runs in response to Pakistan's 267, with Harbhajan Singh securing the win with a six.
In the 2014 Asia Cup, hosted in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan both had one win and one loss before their match.
Pakistan's Shahid Afridi hit two key sixes in the last moments of the 2014 game to clinch victory for his team.
These matches are considered classics due to their thrilling finishes and the high stakes for both teams.
Yoane Wissa, a professional soccer player, survived an acid attack before moving to play in England's Premier League. A woman was convicted for her part in the attack and sentenced to 18 years in jail. Wissa showed resilience by continuing his career, eventually joining Newcastle United from Brentford.
Key Facts
Yoane Wissa was attacked with acid in July 2021, which threatened his sight and career.
The attacker was convicted and sentenced to 18 years in prison for the assault and attempted kidnapping.
Wissa showed resilience by returning to soccer after the attack.
Wissa previously played for Lorient and joined Brentford in the Premier League.
In a recent transfer, Wissa moved from Brentford to Newcastle United for £55 million.
There was controversy over Wissa's departure from Brentford, with disputes about how it was handled.
Newcastle United aimed to recruit players eager to join, making Wissa a good fit.
During the first round of the BMW PGA Championship, golfer Matt Fitzpatrick had a golf ball incident. After his ball went missing during a weather delay, he was allowed a penalty drop instead of losing an extra stroke. Fitzpatrick ended the day at six-under-par, two strokes behind leaders Ludvig Aberg and Tom Vaillant.
Key Facts
Matt Fitzpatrick reported a missing golf ball after hitting it into the bushes at the 18th hole.
A member of the public claimed to see two people running with a golf ball, likely Fitzpatrick's.
Fitzpatrick was granted a penalty drop, potentially saving him a stroke.
Ludvig Aberg and Tom Vaillant led the tournament at eight-under-par.
Heavy rain and lightning caused a delay, affecting the completion of some rounds.
Casey Jarvis had a series of five birdies and finished one stroke behind the leaders.
Rory McIlroy had a mixed round, ending five strokes back from the lead.
Other key performances included Justin Rose, Viktor Hovland, and Shane Lowry, all finishing five under par.
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has been loaned to Trabzonspor, a Turkish club, for the rest of the 2025-26 season. The loan occurred as the transfer window in Turkey was about to close, and Onana was not playing in Manchester United's recent Premier League matches.
Key Facts
Andre Onana is a goalkeeper who played for Manchester United.
He joined Trabzonspor on loan for the 2025-26 season.
Onana did not play in Manchester United's first three Premier League games this season.
The loan move depends on international clearance and registration.
Onana was previously with Inter Milan and joined Manchester United for £47.2 million in July 2023.
During his time at Manchester United, Onana made 102 appearances.
Onana was part of the team that won the FA Cup in 2024.
Manchester United recently signed a new goalkeeper, Senne Lammens, from Royal Antwerp.
Bangladesh won against Hong Kong by seven wickets in their first match of the Asia Cup T20 tournament. Litton Das was the highest scorer for Bangladesh, making 59 runs, helping the team reach the target of 144 in 17.4 overs.
Key Facts
Bangladesh played against Hong Kong in the Asia Cup T20 and won by seven wickets.
Litton Das, the captain of Bangladesh, scored 59 runs.
Hong Kong scored a total of 143-7, with Nizakat Khan contributing 42 runs.
Bangladesh lost two early wickets before Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy had a partnership of 95 runs.
Towhid Hridoy remained not out with 35 runs and hit the winning run.
In Hong Kong's batting, Nizakat Khan and Zeeshan Ali had a 41-run partnership.
Pace bowler Tanzim Hasan Sakib took 2 wickets for 21 runs in four overs.
This match is a part of the Asia Cup T20, which also includes teams like Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
The article discusses the upcoming Manchester derby at Etihad Stadium. Football expert Chris Sutton and guest Tommy Longhurst, frontman of the band Only The Poets, make predictions for Premier League games, including this match. Longhurst shares his love for his hometown team, Reading, and their past Premier League achievements.
Key Facts
The 197th Manchester derby will happen at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Chris Sutton is predicting outcomes for all 380 Premier League matches this season, competing against AI, readers, and guests.
Tommy Longhurst, from the band Only The Poets, shares his predictions for Premier League games.
Longhurst is a fan of Reading FC and recalls the team's previous success in the Premier League.
Reading FC has been in League One since 2023 but hopes to return to higher divisions with new ownership.
Only The Poets plan a concert at O2 Academy Brixton in February 2026, shortly after releasing their debut album.
AI uses Microsoft Copilot Chat to make score predictions for Premier League games.
A correct prediction of the match result earns 10 points, and predicting the exact score earns 40 points.
Filippo Ganna won a shortened time trial stage in the Vuelta a España cycling race, while Tom Pidcock remained third overall. The stage was reduced in length due to security concerns following protests. Joao Almeida gained time on the race leader, Jonas Vingegaard, but remains in second place with two stages left.
Key Facts
Filippo Ganna won the individual time trial stage of the Vuelta a España.
The stage distance was cut from 27.2km to 12.2km because of security concerns due to protests.
Tom Pidcock kept his third place in the overall race standings.
Joao Almeida, who is in second place overall, reduced the time difference to Jonas Vingegaard, the race leader.
Hundreds of protestors, along with increased police presence, were present during the race.
Two protestors were arrested for trying to jump barriers.
Ganna finished the time trial one second ahead of Jay Vine and eight seconds ahead of Joao Almeida.
Scotland's women's rugby team aims to renew their rivalry with England as they face off in the Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final. Historically, England has dominated the matches between the two, and Scotland's last wins were in 1998 and 1999. Scotland's team, which has made improvements in recent years, is facing challenges due to leadership changes and contract uncertainties.
Key Facts
The Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final between England and Scotland will take place at Ashton Gate, Bristol on Sunday, 14 September.
The last time Scotland's women's rugby team defeated England was in 1998 and 1999.
Donna Kennedy, the player with the most caps for Scotland, recalls the past matches as being very competitive.
England has won 32 out of the 34 total matches against Scotland.
Scotland's women's team has moved up in world rankings from 12th in 2019 to 6th in the current standings.
Scotland's head coach, Bryan Easson, will leave his position after the World Cup campaign.
Scotland's rugby infrastructure struggles with fewer players and less investment compared to England.
The Celtic Challenge, a competition started in 2023, is expected to help Scottish rugby teams improve.
Ange Postecoglou has become the new manager of Nottingham Forest after Nuno Espirito Santo was dismissed. Postecoglou, previously at Tottenham, aims to create exciting football and win trophies with his new team. His first game in charge will be against Arsenal.
Key Facts
Ange Postecoglou is the new manager of Nottingham Forest.
He replaced Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked after 21 months.
Postecoglou was previously sacked by Tottenham, where he led them to a Europa League win.
He is known for his attacking style and hopes to excite fans.
Postecoglou believes he has nothing to prove in his new role.
His first match as Forest manager will be against Arsenal.
He has a history of winning titles in his second season managing clubs.
Postecoglou aims to leave a lasting positive impact at every club he joins.
The Vuelta a Espana, a major cycling race in Spain, faces disruptions due to protests by pro-Palestinian groups. These protests have caused the race stages to be cut short or disrupted, prompting concerns about safety. Despite the disruptions, race organizers plan to continue the event until its scheduled finish in Madrid.
Key Facts
Protests during the Vuelta a Espana have happened multiple times, affecting the race schedule.
Some stages of the race have been shortened or interrupted due to the actions of protestors.
Riders are concerned about their safety, but the race organizers have stated that they intend to finish the race as planned.
Thursday's time trial stage was reduced from 27.2 km to 12.2 km for safety reasons.
The protests are linked to Israel-Premier Tech, a team involved in the race, due to recent events in Gaza.
Israel-Premier Tech is co-owned by a Canadian-Israeli businessman with ties to the Israeli government.
The team has been in top-level cycling since 2020 and includes well-known cyclists like Chris Froome and Michael Woods.
Newcastle United cancelled tickets bought by a school 200 miles away for a game against Barcelona. The tickets came from unauthorized reselling, and affected season ticket holders lost their tickets without a refund.
Key Facts
Newcastle United cancelled 45 tickets for their game against Barcelona.
The High School of Dundee, located about 200 miles away, purchased the tickets.
The tickets were originally sold by fans through unauthorized reselling.
The club cancelled the season tickets of the fans who resold them.
These tickets will be available again to Newcastle United supporters.
A school spokesman said the school bought the tickets in good faith.
Lisa Mole from the Newcastle United Supporters Trust commented on the matter.
Spanish Sports Minister Pilar Alegria has suggested that Israeli sports teams should face bans similar to those imposed on Russian teams after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This suggestion follows protests against the participation of the Israeli team, Israel-Premier Tech, in the Vuelta a Espana cycling race. The protests are linked to Spain's strong opposition to Israel's military actions in Gaza.
Key Facts
Spanish Sports Minister Pilar Alegria compared Israel's participation in sports to the bans on Russia after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Protests in Spain have targeted the Israeli cycling team, Israel-Premier Tech, at the Vuelta a Espana race.
Israel-Premier Tech is a private cycling team, not a national team, and is owned by a billionaire.
The protests have led to some stages of the Vuelta being shortened for security reasons.
The Spanish government's stance on the Gaza conflict is one of the strongest pro-Palestinian positions in Europe.
Israeli military actions in Gaza are a response to a cross-border attack by Hamas, resulting in high civilian casualties.
Pilar Alegria suggested the cycling governing body, UCI, should decide on the ban against Israel-Premier Tech.
Former Premier League referee David Coote has pleaded not guilty to a charge involving an indecent image of a child at a court in England. The charge followed police recovery of a related video in February. Coote received conditional bail and will appear in court again on October 9.
Key Facts
David Coote is a former Premier League referee.
He is accused of making an indecent image of a child.
Coote entered a not guilty plea at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court.
Police found a video related to the charge in February.
Coote was granted conditional bail and must return to court on October 9.
He was fired from refereeing in December after a video showed him making derogatory remarks.
Coote was banned by UEFA from officiating until June 2026 due to a separate video.
Coote publicly identified as gay in January, stating this had influenced past decisions.
England's Football Association (FA) has charged the Premier League club Chelsea with 74 rule violations. These charges relate to the club's dealings with football agents, intermediaries, and third-party investments from 2009 to 2022, especially between the 2010-11 and 2015-16 seasons.
Key Facts
Chelsea faces 74 charges from England's Football Association.
The charges concern rules about football agents, intermediaries, and third-party player investments.
The alleged rule breaches occurred between 2009 and 2022.
Most of the issues happened during the 2010-11 to 2015-16 seasons.
Chelsea reported the issues themselves after a change of ownership in May 2022.
The club was sold by Roman Abramovich to an investment group in 2022.
Chelsea claims to have fully cooperated by providing all necessary information to the FA.
The club aims to work with the FA to resolve the issue quickly.
Jailed footballer Lucas Akins is included in Mansfield Town's squad list for the season. Akins started serving a 14-month sentence in April after pleading guilty to causing a cyclist's death due to careless driving. He may return to play for Mansfield before Christmas if released early on license.
Key Facts
Lucas Akins is a football player for Mansfield Town, a League One team.
In April, Akins began a 14-month jail sentence for causing a cyclist's death by driving carelessly or inconsiderately.
He might be released halfway through his sentence, with the remaining months spent under supervision.
Akins has been named on the squad list, meaning he could play this season once released.
Mansfield Town stated they will decide on Akins's future once he is out of jail.
Akins joined Mansfield from Burton Albion in January 2022 and has played over 150 matches for them.
He played a match for the team just hours after pleading guilty in court.
