MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Kevin Foote will take over as interim head coach of the Melbourne Rebels for the Trans-Tasman Super Rugby season to replace Dave Wessels. The Rebels issued a statement Tuesday announcing Foote would be elevated from his role as assistant coach. Wessels quit as head coach last week after the Rebels finished out of the 2021 Super Rugby AU playoffs with a record of three wins and five losses. Melbourne will host the Auckland-based Blues on May 15 in the first match for both clubs in the new Trans-Tasman tournament.
Sri Lanka eyes victory in 2nd test after Bangladesh collapse
May 1, 2021 GMT
PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP) Sri Lanka is eyeing its first test win in more than a year at Bangladesh’s expense after finishing day three 259 runs ahead on Saturday.
Bangladesh, in reply to Sri Lanka’s 493-7 declared, was building nicely at 214-3 but collapsed to be all out for 251. Left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama triggered the turnaround and became the fifth Sri Lankan to claim a 5-for on debut as he took 6-92.
With a first-innings lead of 242, Sri Lanka was 17-3 at stumps in the second test.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Dave Wessels quit as head coach of the Melbourne Rebels on Friday and won't take the team into trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition that begins next month. The Rebels missed the Super Rugby Australia playoffs after finishing fourth in the five-team domestic tournament. The South Africa-born Wessels said it's time to “pass the baton” to someone else. He joined the Rebels in 2017 following two seasons with the Western Force after the Perth-based club was dropped from the Super Rugby competition.
Inbee Park tied for lead at LPGA event in Singapore
April 30, 2021 GMT
SINGAPORE (AP) Hee Young Park birdied her final hole Friday to move into a tie for the lead with Inbee Park at the HSBC Women’s World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club.
Hee Young Park (68) and No. 2-ranked Inbee Park (69) had two-round totals of 11-under 133 at the LPGA event.
Inbee Park said she felt relieved after a birdie on the seventh hole.
“It was a little betrayal of my putter today,” Inbee Park said. “Misread a few putts, but I still feel like I fought pretty well, especially the front nine.”
NZ Rugby votes to sell commercial share to US investors
By STEVE McMORRANApril 29, 2021 GMT
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) New Zealand Rugby will move ahead with a plan to sell a 12.5% stake in its commercial rights, mainly the All Blacks, to U.S. investors after winning the support of provinces at its annual meeting Thursday.
New Zealand’s 26 provincial unions voted unanimously in favor of the proposal to sell the stake to California-based Silver Lake Partners for 387.5 million New Zealand dollars ($279.2 million), valuing the rights at NZ$3.1 billion ($2.2 billion).
The only remaining obstacle to the private equity deal is the New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association. The union representing professional players has expressed concern about several aspects of the sale, including the possible commercialization of traditional and cultural symbols such as the silver fern and All Blacks’ haka.