Latest – Auckland golfer Ryan Fox has risen to a career high world ranking of 56.
Photo: PHOTOSPORTThat’s a rise of 11 spots.
Fox has had six top ten finishes in his last nine tournaments on the World Tour.
He’s number seven in the European rankings and has banked more than $2 million in prize money this year.
There is a big gap to the next New Zealander with Daniel Hillier at 239 and Danny Lee at 252.
Fox is scheduled to play the Irish and Scottish Opens before the next major, The Open Championship.
American Scottie Scheffler remains world number one, while Spaniard Jon Rahm replaces Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland at number two.
Spain lose World Cup appeal
Spain’s appeal against their disqualification from next year’s Rugby World Cup in France for fielding an ineligible player during the 2021-22 Rugby Europe Championship has been dismissed.
The independent appeal committee said that with respect to World Cup qualification, the 10-point deduction applied to the European qualification table by the Independent Judicial Committee stands, meaning Romania qualify as Europe 2 into Pool B replacing Spain.
Portugal replaces Romania in the Final Qualification Tournament in November 2022.
The Spanish Rugby Federation’s board of directors said in April that three members of Alcobendas Rugby Club falsified a copy of the passport belonging to Gavin van den Berg, who is of South African origin, in order to make him eligible to play.
Spain secured a World Cup berth for the first time since 1999 after finishing second in the Rugby Europe Championship but were disqualified from next year’s tournament for fielding Van den Berg in two matches in the qualifiers.
-Reuters
Watford call off trip to UAE
England football club Watford have cancelled a friendly match against the Qatar national team, after two supporters’ groups voiced concerns about the country’s human rights record.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The two groups — Women of Watford (WOW) and Proud Hornets — had urged the club to display its support for “all human rights, the LGBT+ community and women’s rights” at the game but the fixture will no longer take place.
“The game was never finalised and it became abundantly clear this was a game not to play; as such, the schedule was revised,” a club spokesperson said in a statement to British media.
Homosexuality is illegal in the Gulf state while Human Rights Watch says Qatari laws discriminate against women and LGBT individuals.
“WOW and Proud Hornets are delighted that Watford FC has listened to our concerns and cancelled the game with Qatar,” the two groups said in a joint statement.
“We look forward to continuing our discussions with the club on all equality, diversity and inclusion issues.”
Watford were relegated from the top-flight Premier League last season after finishing 19th in the standings.
-Reuters
Deadline looms for Kyrie Irving
Brookly Nets guard Kyrie Irving is expected to decline his option for the 2022-23 NBA season, setting up a possible exit to free agency.
Photo: AFPIrving’s deadline to exercise his $56.5 million option for next season is Thursday. ESPN reported the two sides are likely to meet to discuss a contract, but that meeting could take place after the option deadline passes.
Initial reports of unrest between the two sides appeared to be confirmed when general manager Sean Marks said the franchise would have to weigh whether to bring Irving back.
The Nets made Irving a “real offer” in the past week, per ESPN, but the Nets are hesitant to offer a four-year contract.
Irving reportedly provided the Nets a list of teams to whom he would approve a sign-and-trade deal, which piqued the interest of Kevin Durant, ESPN reported. Durant is expected to stay in Brooklyn but could request a trade if the Nets are unable to build a winning roster around him.
Irving averaged 27.8 points and 5.8 assists per game in 2021-22, though the sample size was limited due to his stance on the COVID-19 vaccine. Irving wasn’t allowed to play home games until the final month of the regular season.
-Reuters
Daley outraged by FINA decision
Olympic diving champion Tom Daley said he is “furious” at governing body FINA’s decision to restrict the participation of transgender athletes in elite women’s competitions.
Photo: AFPDaley, who came out as gay in 2013, was speaking at the British LGBT Awards, where he was named Sports Personality of the Year after winning gold in the 10 metre synchronised platform diving event at the Tokyo Olympics.
Transgender rights has become a major talking point as sports seek to balance inclusivity while ensuring there is no unfair advantage.
“I was furious,” he said of FINA’s decision, which bans athletes who have been through any part of male puberty from elite women’s competition.
FINA also said it would create a working group to establish an “open” category for transgender athletes as part of its new policy, which covers events in swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming, high diving and open water swimming.
“You know, like most queer people, anyone that’s told that they can’t compete or can’t do something they love just because of who they are, it’s not on,” the 28-year-old said.
-Reuters
Wales at full strength for Boks
Wales are at full strength ahead of the first test against South Africa at Loftus Versfeld this weekend after prop Tomas Francis recovered from a back problem and flyhalf Gareth Anscombe belatedly arrived in the country.
Wayne Pivac Photo: PHOTOSPORTThe full squad were put through their paces today with the recovery of Francis a particular boost for coach Wayne Pivac as his side comes up against what the latter describes as the best front row in world rugby.
Anscombe had been allowed to stay at home an extra 48 hours to try and be present at the birth of his second child, son Theo, who as it happened was delivered as the flyhalf was in the skies on his way to South Africa.
“It’s been a whirlwind 24 hours. I tried to stay behind to be there only just to miss it. I landed in South Africa to news of my baby son just being born,” Anscombe said in a social media post.
Wales, who went on safari over the weekend, have settled in well on the Highveld ahead of the first test, with further matches in the series to come in Bloemfontein (July 9) and Cape Town (July 16).
–Reuters
