Latest news with #rugbyplayers
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Cruel and heart breaking for Fagerson'
It's a sad reality that many players achieve their ultimate goal of being selected for the Lions, only to see injury snatch that dream away before they get their hands on that famous red jersey. It happens every four particularly cruel that's it's happened to Zander Fagerson, though. He was the only Scot out of eight selected for the 2021 tour to South Africa that did not see any action in the Test the day it was announced he had been selected for this summer's tour to Australia, Fagerson spoke to BBC Scotland of how he felt he had not done himself justice four years ago, hampered by niggling injury problems, and the drive he had to go Down Under to show the best of heart breaking he will not now get the chance to do that.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NZ teenager dies after taking part in rugby-inspired craze
A teenager has died in New Zealand after taking part in a rugby-inspired craze that sees participants sprint into each other head-on with no protective gear, police said Tuesday. Fuelled by social media and sometimes playing out in front of large crowds, the "run-it-straight" challenge has swept across New Zealand and Australia. Organised run-it-straight competitions offer thousands of dollars in prize money but the trend has ignited fears of concussion and other serious injuries. A 19-year-old died in New Zealand's North Island after playing the game with friends over the weekend, police said in a statement. "The man suffered a serious head injury when tackled and was taken to hospital by friends," police inspector Ross Grantham said. "Tragically, he passed away in hospital on Monday night. "We would urge anyone thinking about taking part in a game or event like this to consider the significant safety and injury risks." Grantham said the teenager had been taking part in an "impromptu game among friends", rather than a planned event. "The tackle game played by the group of friends was based on a social media-driven trend where participants compete in full-contact collisions without protective gear." - 'Horrendous' - Organised run-it-straight events have drawn interest from ex-professional rugby players. Former Leicester, Montpellier and Fiji winger Nemani Nadolo was a celebrity participant at one event earlier this year. Experts have likened the craze to a combat sport, warning that participants face serious concussion risks. One organised competition based in Australia described it as the "world's fiercest, new collision sport". It involved one runner and one tackler charging into each other from 20 metres (65 feet) apart, the competition said. A run-it-straight event in New Zealand's largest city Auckland was briefly halted last week when a participant started convulsing on the ground, local media reported. Brain injury charity Headway has condemned the competitions. "There's some horrendous and really distressing videos," chief executive Stacey Mowbray told national broadcaster Radio New Zealand. "Going into seizure, having obvious brain injury, that's what we can see." Rugby and other sports are grappling with an emerging body of evidence linking head contact with degenerative brain disease. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, is known to cause violent moods, dementia and depression. Injuries from head blows have also been linked to other disorders such as motor neurone disease, early onset dementia, epilepsy and Parkinson's disease. sft/lec/pst
News24
27-05-2025
- Sport
- News24
NZ teen dies after taking part in rugby-inspired social media craze
A teenager has died in New Zealand after taking part in a rugby-inspired social media craze that sees participants sprint and crash into each other, police said Tuesday. The 'run-it-straight challenge' has gone viral on social media across New Zealand and Australia, attracting huge crowds to events where participants charge each other head-on with no protective gear. READ | World's Strongest Man Rayno Nel happy to carry Mzansi on his back: 'It's life-changing' A 19-year-old died from a 'serious head injury' in New Zealand's North Island after playing the game with friends over the weekend, New Zealand Police said in a statement. 'The man suffered a serious head injury when tackled and was taken to hospital by friends,' police inspector Ross Grantham said. 'Tragically, he passed away in hospital on Monday night. 'We would urge anyone thinking about taking part in a game or event like this to consider the significant safety and injury risks.' Organised run-it-straight competitions offer thousands of dollars in prize money and have drawn interest from ex-professional rugby players.
News24
21-05-2025
- Sport
- News24
UCT student Ntokozo Makhaza on cloud nine following Springboks alignment camp call-up
Makhaza is among the country's top 54 players for the Springboks alignment camp. This achievement marks an important milestone for him and university rugby in SA. Makaza says he aims to absorb everything he will be exposed to at the camp. From Varsity Cup to the Springboks! This is the story of Ntokozo Makhaza, the 23-year-old University of Cape Town (UCT) student, who earned a spot in the Springboks alignment camp that is set to begin on 22 May. This achievement marks a significant milestone for Makhaza and university rugby in South Africa. According to UCT spokesperson Velisile Bukula, Makhaza's spot in the camp has ranked him among the country's top 54 players eligible for national selection, an achievement for someone who has not yet joined a professional rugby team and is still finishing his degree at UCT. Born in Harrismith in the Free State, Makhaza grew up playing soccer but switched to rugby in primary school, where he fell in love with the sport. Inspired by players such as Patrick Lambie, he found his place on the field as a fast backline player. The youngster excitedly said that, when the Springbok management contacted him, he thought they wanted to congratulate him on the Varsity Cup season. I'm a bit nervous but excited. I'm just happy and motivated to see that people are watching and monitoring varsity rugby. It inspired me to believe more that the dreams I have are possible. Ntokozo Makhaza He said if anyone had told him a few years back or even at the beginning of this year that he would be part of the Springbok alignment camp he would have laughed at them. 'To me, it's an honour, and I'm privileged and humbled.' Makhaza is looking forward to everything he will be taught and exposed to at the camp. 'To be in the camp is an awesome opportunity for learning for me. My main goal is to learn and absorb as much as I can so that, when I join the Cheetahs, I'm better than when I was here at UCT. I'm always looking to improve, and I know the camp will provide me with a lot of detail; I will find a lot of growth there,' he explained. Bukula said the Springbok invitation was an added milestone for Makhaza as he dominated the 2025 Varsity Cup, guiding the UCT Ikey Tigers to victory and receiving both player of the year and backline player of the year honours for the second consecutive year. In this year's Varsity Cup, Makhaza scored 32 points in the Varsity Cup final against Stellenbosch University, leading UCT to the championship and finishing the season with 155 points. They're giving youngsters a chance, and I want to make the most of that. It's about learning, growing and giving my best. Ntokozo Makhaza Makhaza is set to join the Free State Cheetahs in July for the upcoming Currie Cup season. The manager of UCT Sport and Recreation, Mark Bashe, explained that Makhaza's selection was a historic moment for UCT and university sport in SA. 'This achievement proves that when a student athlete performs at an exceptional level, they are not only recognised by our coaches and provincial selectors but also by national coaches. It's virtually unheard of for a player to be invited to a Springbok alignment camp without first playing for a professional team.' He added that he was thrilled and incredibly proud of Makhaza, as he had gone directly from a university player to being signed by the Cheetahs and now catching the eye of Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus. 'This shows that UCT Rugby is developing top-tier talent capable of competing on the national stage,' he said. Makhaza is pursuing a degree in psychology and social development at the university. He is one course short of completing his degree and is set to graduate early in 2026.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Will Stuart has earned his place in Andy Farrell's Lions squad, writes NIK SIMON - get to know the Bath prop who has PTSD from another sport, shies away from the limelight and refused to watch his big call-up!
1.30pm, Thursday, May 8th was a time that had been marked in most rugby players' calendars for months. Reminders had been sent to tune into the TV, perch nervously on the edge of the sofa and watch Andy Farrell name his Lions squad live on air. In that career defining moment, as every contender held their breath, Will Stuart was pottering around in his back garden, cutting up panels of wood. Pencil behind his ear, measuring tape at the ready, his biggest focus was on how to avoid splinters.
