Sports Chat for 12 June 2025
An update on what's happening in the sports world with Nathan Rarere.
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RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Big boost: Wimbledon champions to receive record $6.7 million
Barbora Krejcikova kisses the Wimbledon trophy after her win in the women's singles in 2024. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Wimbledon has increased its prize money for this year's championships to NZ$120 million, a 7 percent increase on 2024 and double what they offered a decade ago, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) said. The singles champions will receive NZ$6.7m each, the highest across all Grand Slams and a 11.1 percent increase on the prize money Carlos Alcaraz and Barbora Krejcikova took home last year . Singles players who exit the first round will receive $148,000, a 10 percent increase on last year. Doubles prize money has also increased by 4.4 percent, mixed doubles by 4.3 percent and the wheelchair and quad wheelchair events by 5.6 percent. The increase also comes after the world's top players called for significant improvements in prize money at the four Grand Slams as a way to ensure a more equitable distribution of revenue. "We have listened to the players, we have engaged with the players," AELTC chair Deborah Jevans said. "But the focus on just the prize money at the four events, the Grand Slams, does not get to the heart of what the challenge is with tennis. "The challenge with tennis is the fact that the players don't have an off-season which they want, they have increasing injuries that they're speaking about." Jevans added that Wimbledon was willing to engage and talk with the tours to try and find solutions but there has not been any proposal as to how the tour would be able to change its structure. Carlos Alcaraz plays a forehand at Wimbledon in 2024. Photo: John Patrick Fletcher The AELTC also said the doubles finals on the weekend would start at 1pm local time and the singles finals at 4pm. Such a change could potentially change playing conditions - like having the roof closed and the lights switched on - if the match runs long and well into the night. The French Open final this month where Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner lasted five hours and 29 minutes, but Bolton said the change in timing would ensure an "improved experience" for all. "Whether that's the doubles finalists having greater certainty over their schedule, whether it's the fans having the opportunity to experience a day which builds to the crescendo of the singles finals or ensuring that we have our champions crowned in front of the widest possible audience," she said. This year's championships also marks a break with an age-old tradition where line judges will be replaced for the first time with the electronic line calling system that is in place at tournaments worldwide. Bolton said "the time is right to move on", adding that many line judges would return in different roles as match assistants, with two assigned per court. "They're extra eyes and ears, the assistant to the chair umpire... We've got about 80 of those across the Championships. "They'll also provide one of the parts of our resilience in the event that the electronic line calling system goes down at any point in time." - Reuters
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Sports Chat for 13 June 2025
The Super Rugby semi-finals get underway in Christchurch on Friday. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
Super Rugby semifinals: History favours Chiefs and Crusaders
The Chiefs host the Brumbies on Saturday night. Photo: Michael Thomas / action press Chiefs v Brumbies Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday, 14 June FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton Live blog updates on RNZ Crusaders v Blues Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday, 13 June Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch Live blog updates on RNZ It is semifinal time in Super Rugby with three New Zealand sides and an Australian team seeking to cement their place in the final. The Crusaders and Chiefs are hosts and favourites to beat the defending champion Blues and ACT Brumbies respectively, but the visitors have plenty of reasons to be motivated and will fancy their chances of an upset. Photo: Jeremy Ward/Photosport The Chiefs were beaten by the Blues last Saturday but still advanced to the semifinals by virtue of being the highest ranked loser from the opening round of the playoffs. Chiefs lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi said they're determined to make the most of their second chance. "We were top of the table coming into the playoffs which gave us a lifeline and we can't waste it," Ah Kuoi said. "We've got to be grateful that we're here and make sure we nail that opportunity." The Chiefs, beaten finalists the last two seasons, haven't won a title since 2013, and Ah Kuoi said that, and last week's defeat, has them fired up for Saturday night's do or die clash with the Brumbies in Hamilton. "For us there's no motivation needed besides the fact that it's a semifinal," he said. "We know what's going to be coming, we know they're going to be coming hard for us at home. "We're trying to make sure our home field is a fortress and that didn't happen last week. We're trying to make amends and also do one better than the previous years." Naitoa Ah Kuoi. Photo: Jeremy Ward / Photosport History is against the Brumbies but they will be buoyed by the Blues victory over the Chiefs as the Australians seek to win their first Super Rugby title since 2004. The Brumbies have lost four straight semifinals in New Zealand and haven't won a final four playoff since 2013. They're also underdogs with the bookies. First-five Noah Lolesio said the Blues proved the Chiefs could be beaten at home. "It shows that if you show up physically with the right mindset, you put yourself in a good position to win," Lolesio said. "That's where our heads are at as a team. We know, backs and forwards, it's going to be a physical battle." Noah Lolesio scores a try. Photo: Mark Metcalfe / Getty Lolesio has extra motivation to keep the Brumbies season alive. The Wallabies playmaker is heading to Japan at the end of the year, leaving the Super Rugby team he's been with since 2020. "I'm giving everything into this game and this weekend if selected. Knowing that it could be my last," Lolesio said. "This organisation [Brumbies] have been so good to me every year since I came to Canberra as a 17-year-old. "The last three or four years have led to this moment and I can't wait." On Friday night, the Crusaders host the defending champion Blues and history is also against the visitors. The Crusaders have never lost a playoff game at home, winning all 30 finals matches in Christchurch. If they beat the Blues they will secure a record eighth home Super Rugby final. Coach Rob Penney said the Crusaders love playing in front of their fans. "Hopefully get a great crowd in," Penney said. "That always gives the boys a real impetus and a lot of energy. The Crusader crowds, there's none better." Photo: Joseph Johnson/ActionPress Blues coach Vern Cotter insisted they're not intimidated by the Crusaders home playoff record. "That's the key thing. Going down to Canterbury, we're aware of their record. Thirty without losing. One day they're going to lose and they've got the pressure of that on top of them. "They're going to lose one day. When I was [coach] at [French club] Clermont, we won 77 [home] games in a row and, in the end, the pressure was heavy. "One day we knew it was going to happen. They're on 30 and one day its going to happen. Will it be this week? I don't know but the boys will be up to push it as best they can." Cotter believed the defending champions will rise to the occasion. "The guys know how to win big games," Cotter said. "That's what it's about, winning big games and enjoying it. Enjoying helping each other. It could be 80 minutes, it could be longer. We're actually looking at extra time stuff, so the boys are preparing themselves for a rugged evening." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
