Latest news with #Championship-winning
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
The Currie Cup is back in the spotlight
Could Boland spring a surprise in the opening weekend? Trevor Nyakane celebrates with the rest of the Sharks team, who won the Currie Cup in 2024. Picture: Christiaan Kotze/Gallo Images The 2025 edition of the Currie Cup kicks off on Friday with a full round of fixtures and eight teams in action, all chasing glory in a few months' time. With several Springbok players out of action because of their involvement with the Rugby Championship, which gets underway in the middle of next month, and other United Rugby Championship players still resting, there is an opportunity for a number of up-and-coming players to make their mark over the next few weeks. Also, a number of players who featured for the Junior Springboks in their U20 Championship-winning campaign in Italy will get a chance to show what they can do at a higher level. Who's favoured to win this weekend? Of course there will also be an opportunity for punters to get in on the action and each week Betway will give fans a chance to bank some bucks. In the competition opener on Friday night, the Pumas are favourites at 1.16 to beat Griquas, who're at 5.50 to cause an early upset. On Saturday, the Lions are hot favourites at 1.20 to beat the Sharks, who're at 4.50 to win in Joburg, while Western Province are 1.50 to beat the Bulls in the Cape, with the visitors at 2.60 to win. In the final game of the first round, Boland, who're back in the top flight of the competition, are 3.40 underdogs, at home, to beat the Cheetahs, who're at 1.33 to win, according to Betway. It promises to be an entertaining first round of action. These Betway odds correct at time of publishing and subject to change.
RTÉ News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Transfers: Chloe Mustaki leaves Robins, Everton sign France U21 striker Thierno Barry
Republic of Ireland full-back Chloe Mustaki is a free agent after leaving Bristol City following three seasons at the club. Mustaki signed her first professional contract with the Robins in 2022, playing her part in their 2022/23 Championship-winning campaign. She suffered a hip injury in March 2024 that ended her season prematurely, with Bristol City suffering relegation from the Women's Super League. However Mustaki returned to action last season, and impressed in Ireland's two recent friendlies against the USA in Denver and Cincinnati. "I'd like to thank everyone at the club for making these past three years so memorable, both on and off the pitch," said Mustaki. "From signing my first professional contract to winning the Championship and experiencing WSL football, I've grown massively as a person and a player. I want to also thank the fans for their unwavering support. "My journey at Bristol City wouldn't have been the same without every single one of you." In the men's game, Everton have announced the signing of Thierno Barry on a four-year deal. The 22-year-old striker arrives on Merseyside for a fee in the region of £27m. Barry scored 11 goals in 35 La Liga appearances last season to help Villarreal finish fifth, securing their place in next season's Champions League. He began his youth career in France with Toulon and made his first-team breakthrough at Belgian club Beveren. The striker joined Swiss side Basel in 2023, scoring 10 goals in 36 appearances, before switching to Villarreal in the summer of 2024. The France Under-21 international was recently involved in this summer's European Championships, helping his side reach the semi-finals. Barry becomes Everton's second signing of the summer after Charly Alcaraz signed a permanent deal with the club. Belgian winger Chemsdine Talbi has become Sunderland's fourth summer signing, joining the Premier League side from Club Brugge. The 20-year-old has signed a five-year contract after the clubs agreed a fee understood to be in the region of £19.5m. Talbi arrived on Wearside on Tuesday and has completed a medical to join fellow new additions Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki as Regis Le Bris prepares for life back in the top flight.
Irish Daily Mirror
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ireland star Matt Doherty 'distraught' following the tragic death of Diogo Jota
Ireland star Matt Doherty has said he is 'distraught' for the family of Diogo Jota following his tragic death this morning. Doherty and Jota were previously teammates at Wolverhampton Wanderers before both departing in 2020, and the Irish defender took to social media to pay tribute. Doherty shared a photograph of the pair in their Wolves days and added he 'Can't believe this'. "I remember exactly what you were saying to me. Can't believe this. What a special player and person. Distraught for all your family and friends." Jota joined Wolves on loan back in 2017 when he played all but two games in their Championship-winning campaign before signing on a permanent deal that summer. He would go on to make over 100 appearances for the club before earning a big-money move to Liverpool. The Portuguese star tragically lost his life in a car accident in northwest Spain on Thursday morning, leaving the world of football reeling from the news. He was in a Lamborghini with his brother Andre when the vehicle spun off the road and became engulfed in flames. The tragedy unfolded when one of the tyres burst as the car attempted to overtake another vehicle on the A-52, according to local police, near 70 miles west of Valladolid. The crash happened at approximately 12.40am. Fire services tackled the fire that also affected nearby vegetation, working alongside emergency responders and the Civil Guard. Medical teams were quick to arrive but pronounced the Jota brothers dead at the scene. A representative for the Civil Guard in Zamora stated: "The investigation into the crash is being carried out by Civil Guard traffic officers. We believe the car suffered a blowout from the marks on the road. The full police report once it is completed will be submitted to a duty court in Zamora which has launched an ongoing judicial investigation into this crash."
Belfast Telegraph
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Armagh hero delivers his verdict on who's better, his crop or Orchard's current All-Ireland kings
Diarmaid Marsden believes that his 2002 All-Ireland-winning side had a better starting team than the current Armagh panel — but admits that they didn't have the same strength in depth. The former All-Star was speaking on the BelTel Sport podcast when he was asked which team was better between the Championship-winning squad that he played in and Kieran McGeeney's reigning champions.
Daily Record
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Scott Bain the Falkirk answer to Craig Gordon as veteran keeper brings Celtic nous
Long-running Hoops servant has plenty left in the tank for Premiership new boys at 33 John McGlynn reckons Craig Gordon still starring at 42 shows Falkirk have been shrewd in signing Scott Bain – and insists their own veteran keeper's still got plenty in the tank. The gaffer believes his Premiership new boys, especially glove rival Nicky Hogarth, will only benefit from him being drilled in the Bairns' blueprint long before signing. McGlynn handed each of them a run-out in Saturday's 60-minute Stirlingshire Cup games to tee up a final tonight against Stenhousemuir in a pre-season tournament. Bain, who turns 34 in November, signed a one-year deal after seven-and-a-half years at Celtic with the keeper admitting the chance for loved ones to see him back playing proper games, not just training, was a big factor McGlynn, who has also recruited 37-year-old frontman Brian Graham, said: 'Scotty got a number of appearances in the Premiership, he's played in Old Firm games, he's played in the Champions League. 'Yes, in recent years he's not played a lot. You've got the calibre of Joe Hart keeping him out of the team, Kasper Schmeichel. 'Celtic have signed other goalkeepers as well so it's been quite difficult to get into their first team in recent years. 'But prior to that, Celtic saw a lot in him to sign him. He played in these games I've mentioned, he did really well at Dundee and brings that experience I'm looking for. 'At 33 for a goalkeeper, you look at Craig Gordon, then he's got a lot of goalkeeping to do ahead of him. 'He fits the profile they play at Celtic, we play a similar kind of style, we're looking for options from the keeper with distribution. 'Of course, you've got to make saves but the added bonus for us is that he has experience every day training at a club like Celtic with the players they've got. The experience he's got will help us on a daily basis and obviously in games. 'I'm really pleased with these two we've got in. I wanted experience and physicality – and Brian offers all that. Scotty offers the experience, the profile of what we're looking for. 'He'll talk, he'll organise the defenders.' Bain will have a job on his hands dislodging local boy Nicky Hogarth after he started 44 games last term, keeping 20 clean sheets, to become a fan favourite. McGlynn added: 'We can't forget about Jamie Sneddon but he has been injured. As much as we'd love that to have been all over and done with, it doesn't seem like it is so it looks like he's still going to have bother with that. 'It was very important we got somebody of the calibre of Scott in. 'The competition is there. Nicky has done exceptionally well, playing in every single game last season in a Championship-winning team and he's been getting better every season. I'm sure he'll be up for the competition.'
