Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman join Australia SailGP team as co-owners
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman became co-owners of the Australia SailGP team.
The Deadpool & Wolverine stars joined driver and chief executive Tom Slingsby in leading the team's rebrand after several successful seasons, winning three championships in its four seasons. The team will be called the BONDS Flying Roos, with the Australian underwear company BONDS as its title partner.
"We're incredibly excited to set sail together in this new adventure," Reynolds and Jackman said in a joint statement released through SailGP.
"Hugh brings a deep love for and pride in his home country, as well as being an avid fan of sailing. He will also be bringing his overly clingy emotional support human along for the ride. Apologies in advance to Australia. No comment on whether we're writing this in our BONDS. No further questions."
Parliament punishment, free money?, getting wicked again (Source: 1News)
ADVERTISEMENT
It's the latest sports venture for Reynolds, who along with fellow Hollywood actor Rob McElhenney is a co-owner of Wrexham, one of the world's oldest football clubs. Reynolds and McElhenney were also among a group of investors in the Alpine Formula One team in 2023 and were part of an investment group that acquired Colombian club La Equidad earlier this year.
The BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team is expected to make its debut at the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix starting June 7.
Slingsby, an Olympic gold medallist, said in a release that Jackman and Reynolds bring "unmatched star power, a love for storytelling, and a sharp sense of [humour] that fits perfectly with our team".
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
2 hours ago
- NZ Herald
SailGP New York: How Black Foils adjusted to SailGP's unexpected three-month break
A three-month break between events was not what anyone involved in SailGP expected. But after the wingsail on the Australian boat collapsed during racing in March's regatta in San Francisco, safety took priority. Over the past few months, the league has been assessing and addressing the equipment after
Otago Daily Times
5 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Thoughts on return after an eventful hiatus
Some things ... Hello again! The good news for the 17 dedicated readers of this column is that it is back, more or less on a weekly basis, now the man who writes it is not knee-deep in Highlanders stories. (And, er, is back from a lovely Australian holiday.) The bad news is you can expect roughly 437 mentions of Liverpool being champions of England between now and February. On that note, here are 29 things that have happened, or that I have been pondering, since the column last appeared: 1. The Highlanders claimed the wooden spoon. Oof. Did not see that coming, to be honest. They played good rugby — some really good rugby — at times. Four or five of their players were consistently brilliant. But, as one noted rugby brain told me recently, they just lost too many of the small moments. Their inexperience in some positions showed, and they lacked a couple of real game leaders to take control. Last is not good, and while most supporters will move on quickly, it will not be pleasant if results do not significantly improve next season. 2. The Chiefs are the best team in Super Rugby, by miles. Hard to see them being stopped. If it has to happen, let it be the Hurricanes, not the Crusaders. 3. Super Rugby continued its year of resurgence. The rugby has been good, new stars have emerged, and there has been plenty of uncertainty. Match attendance increased 6% despite regular season games dropping from 84 to 77, and television and digital viewership went up. Significantly, it has been the second-highest scoring season — an average of 58 points per game — with a historically low average of 2.1 penalty attempts per game. Hard to complain. 4. Just 16 days until Scott Robertson names an All Blacks squad for a second season. The Highlanders will clearly have at least one new test cap (Fabian Holland). Fingers crossed for Timoci Tavatavanawai. Elsewhere, it is hard to imagine too many new faces. Chay Fihaki, perhaps. Du'Plessis Kirifi? 5. In my last column in March, I wrote the Warriors were "miles off the pace". Oops. Sorry, Wahs fans! They have rattled off a bunch of wins and sit pretty just two points off the top of the NRL table. 6. My beloved Penrith Panthers . . . well, let's just say a fifth straight premiership was always going to be unlikely. 7. The Otago Nuggets have parted company with Jose Perez — one of the weirdest, most interesting basketball players I have seen — and become rooted to the bottom of the NBL table. Both the Nuggets and their sister team, the Hoiho, still face an uncertain future as they seek new owners. 8. In the least surprising development since Jacinda Ardern's autobiography was released with 792 references to "kindness", the Indian Panthers have been booted out of the national league. This whole shambles has been one of the great stains on the history of New Zealand sport, and some people should be feeling really embarrassed. 9. No doubt you read my thoughts on the NBA finals in yesterday's paper. Should be a good series. But my Knicks are not far away. ... that have been 10. If you are only good as your last game, the Southern Steel are awful. But the 70-45 loss to the Pulse was an early outlier in a season that is already suggesting the Steel are vastly improved from recent years. 11. I will take some convincing that a two-point shot belongs in netball. 12. What is with netball and its persistence with calling players out of retirement? The Steel raised a few eyebrows when 40-year-old assistant coach Liana Leota came off the bench in the opening game. Now an Australian team has called in Silver Ferns great Casey Kopua, a staggering six years since her retirement. Are there no decent players coming through the ranks? 13. One last netball thought. The national boss might think things are going swimmingly but there has to still be a concern that the future beyond 2026 looks so uncertain thanks to the new broadcasting deal. 14. Great to hear a new $15 million roof could be coming for the Edgar Centre. It is the best asset in this city, and needs to be protected. 15. I waited this long. Did you hear Liverpool are champions of England for a 20th time? Bliss. 16. Arsenal again looked good and won nothing. Chris Wood had the greatest season by a New Zealand footballer. Spurs are "champions of Europe", ha ha. And Manchester United . . . ye gods. 17. You had to feel for Auckland FC. They were wonderful in their inaugural season, deservedly won the minor premiership, and were unlucky to fall in the playoffs. Like every normal football fan, I would rather the A-League just had a plain old league format. 18. The Phoenix appear to be in freefall. Really worrying. 19. Liam Lawson has been busy. He was demoted by Red Bull — who never really gave him a chance — and after a rugged start with Racing Bulls, he appears to be finding his feet. Hopefully he continues to progress. 20. My cousin in Canada and a work colleague are all-in on the Edmonton Oilers winning ice hockey's Stanley Cup, as am I. Lessgooo Oilers. 21. Closer to home, those were two fantastic ice hockey world tournaments held in Dunedin. This newspaper did a sterling job covering them, too. At which point I humbly highlight the sports department's contribution to the Otago Daily Times being named metro paper of the year at the Voyager Awards. We are still covering things other papers have abandoned. ... on my mind 22. And the prize for the stupidest sport-related activity goes to . . . this "run it straight" nonsense. Just shut it down, please. 23. Can we also shut down any talk of the major boys' secondary schools in Otago and Southland abandoning a really good southern schools rugby competition in favour of an over-blown South Island First XV league, designed purely and futilely to attempt to maintain an arms race with the big North Island schools. I don't like it at all. 24. The best book I have read this year has been Spearhead , the amazing story of a tank crew in World War 2. The only sports book has been Not Everything Counts But Everything Matters , the yarn with Penrith coach Ivan Cleary. Not bad. 25. Cricket remains undefeated as the sport with the coolest scorelines. In case you missed it, the Richmond Fourth XI won the toss and fielded in a Middlesex County League game last month. Not such a brilliant decision, as the North London Thirds rattled on 426 for five off just 45 overs. In reply, Richmond were all out for two. Yes, two. One run off the bat, one from a wide. Off 5.4 overs. Brilliant. 26. Rory McIlroy completed the career grand slam with a dramatic and long-awaited win at the Masters. Awesome to watch. 27. Naomi Osaka's tragic tale continued when she crashed out of the French Open, teared up, and sounded extremely down on herself. She just seems so unhappy to be playing tennis at times. 28. Miami quarterback Cam Ward was taken at No 1 in the NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans. The best names in the draft included Aireontae Ersery, Omarr Norman-Lott, Princely Umanmielen, Upton Stout, Zeek Biggers, Gunnar Helm, LaJohntay Wester, Aeneas Peebles, Konata Mumpfield, Dante Trader jun and Lathan Ransom. 29. As mentioned, The Last Word is just back from a trip to Australia. A bit of Melbourne, the amazing Great Ocean Rd and Murray River, and a bit of Adelaide. Did not attend any sport but went to Les Miserables in the Rod Laver Arena, and noted the ratio of Aussie Rules coverage to all other sport in a major newspaper (six pages to two).
Otago Daily Times
5 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Dunedin collective to take ownership of teams
Mystery group to the rescue. After weeks of uncertainty, there is positive news for the Otago Nuggets and Southern Hoiho. In a statement released yesterday by the New Zealand National Basketball League, Sports Entertainment Group (SEN) says it intends to transfer ownership of the Nuggets and Hoiho "into the hands of a passionate collective of local Dunedin community supporters". It did not go further into the ownership structure or who was behind the passionate collective. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of next month. SEN's Australian sponsorship team will continue to support both teams through to September 2028, the statement said. General manager of the Nuggets and Hoiho Angela Ruske said it was "incredibly good news for basketball in Otago". "The Nuggets and Hoiho are more than just teams — they bring our community together through high-energy entertainment, inspire our youth, and create meaningful pathways for local players, coaches, and officials. They also contribute economically by drawing supporters and teams from around the country to Dunedin. "SEN has done a very good job in laying the foundation, and there's a real sense of passion and purpose to build on that legacy and take both teams to new heights. "Having local ownership brings a deeper connection and commitment to our region," she said. In the statement, SEN chief executive Craig Hutchison said his organisation was pleased to be able to provide some certainty for the clubs' players, staff, stakeholders and fans. "We flagged that our aim was to sell the teams to leaders motivated to maintain and grow them within the Otago region — a region that loves its basketball and takes great pride in its national teams, backed by an amazing and passionate fan base. "We believe both clubs are in the perfect hands, with strong local support and a deep understanding of what these teams mean to the community." Transfer of the ownership is subject to approval by the NBL's commission. — APL
