Brands: The Pools

It took him six tournaments to get there, but when Masande Mtshali finally scored his first try in a Blitzbok jersey on Saturday night in Dubai, the 20-year-old forward almost missed this very significant milestone in his short sevens career. Leinster scored at the death in Galway to stay on top of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship log, but it…

The gilded Trump name may no longer sell New York real estate. But, 5000 miles away, investors are raising millions in a bet that the former US president's brand retains its international cachet. In South America, they're resurrecting a project left for dead: a Trump tower in Punta del Este, the Uruguay resort city known as a playground for the…

The head of World Rugby has admitted the organisation did not get it right with the 2023 World Cup seedings and pool stage draw, but he says there was a very clear reason for it. Alan Gilpin, chief executive at World Rugby, was speaking at a press briefing in Paris, on Tuesday, after the announcement of a new rugby calendar and an expanded World…

The pools have been drawn for the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens (5-7 April 2024) at the Hong Kong Stadium, the sixth of eight tournaments on the HSBC SVNS, and the full schedule has now been confirmed. Robbie McRobbie, CEO of Hong Kong China Rugby, spoke in anticipation of an incredible weekend of rugby action, with the event on track to be a first…

The pools have been drawn for the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens next month, with 12 teams featured in both the men's and women's competitions. On the men's side, France, who recently won the Sevens tournament in Los Angeles, leads Pool A alongside traditional heavyweights Fiji and Australia, as well as Canada. Great Britain tops Pool B while current…

The new format is intended to increase competitiveness by creating a Six Nations or Rugby Championship-like tournament for tier-two countries ahead of the 2027 World Cup, which has been expanded to 24 teams from 20. World Rugby unveiled its Pacific Nations Cup format on Tuesday, announcing that the revamped six-team tournament would take place over…

World Rugby has confirmed that the United States and Canada will join the Pacific Nations Cup, as the competition has expanded from four to six teams. The North American duo join the tournament that already features Eddie Jones' Japan, and the Pacific Island trio of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Rugby fans can mark the dates for this exciting annual…

The Pacific Nations Cup has had a revamp, with two new teams added and a new pool structure feeding a playoff that will culminate in a grand final played in either Japan or the USA each year. The pools are determined by location, so the Pasifika teams - Samoa, Tonga and Fiji - will make up pool A while Japan join newcomers Canada and the USA in…

World Rugby has unveiled its Pacific Nations Cup format, with the revamped six-team tournament to take place over five weekends from Aug. 23 to Sept. 21. The new format is intended to increase competitiveness by creating a Six Nations or Rugby Championship-like tournament for tier-two countries ahead of the 2027 World Cup, which has been expanded…

World Rugby has announced the pools for the third round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Wellington at the end of January. The draw for the next stop on the series was made at the end of the HSBC Cape Town Sevens, which was won by England after a dramatic final against South Africa. Cape Town winners England are drawn in Pool A with Kenya,…

World Rugby has announced the pools for the third round of the World Rugby Sevens Series in Wellington at the end of January. The draw for the next stop on the series was made at the end of the Cape Town Sevens, which was won by England after a dramatic final against South Africa on Sunday. Cape Town winners England are drawn in Pool A with Kenya,…

Antoine Dupont probably only played about eight minutes in total across two games on Day One at SVNS Vancouver but the Frenchman certainly stole the show with those brief appearances. Dupont, 27, was the only substitute on the opening day that the ground announcer addressed by name, which prompted a deafening cheer from the thousands in…

World Rugby has announced the pools for the fourth round of the World Rugby Sevens Series in Sydney next weekend. The draw for the next stop on the series was made at the end of the Wellington Sevens, which was won by South Africa who beat Fiji, 26-5 at the Westpac Stadium. The Blitzboks are drawn in Pool A with England, Kenya and Japan. Olympic…

Sierra Leone will be out to conquer a February curse that hasreared its head for a quarter-century of Kentucky Derby betting history. His Grade 2 Risen Star triumph Saturday in the slop at FairGrounds vaulted Sierra Leone to the top of the Derby futures market. In fixed-oddswagering in Nevada, he shortened from 18-1 to best odds of 7-1 at Circa…

The Junior World Championship kicked off in Auckland today with Wales, South Africa and England topping the pools after day one. In Pool B we saw one of the fastest tries from a kick-off ever, as Wales got off to a flyer vs Fiji, scoring after just 7 seconds. The opening day included big wins for South Africa, who beat Scotland 61-5, England who…

The Springbok Sevens conceded valuable ground to their opponents in the race to automatic qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games with their joint-12th placed-finish at the HSBC Singapore Sevens on Sunday, but more disappointing was the fact that they could not sustain the good effort from Hong Kong last weekend. The Blitzboks started the…

The action in the Rugby Europe Championship sevens first leg in Lisbon last weekend was fast and furious - and now we have three days of more of the same to look forward to in Krakow, Poland between Friday and Sunday. Germany won the men's and Poland the women's event in Portugal, but there are plenty of sides on both of their tails who are looking…

The HSBC France Sevens came to a dramatic close on Sunday evening in Toulouse with New Zealand women and men securing double gold, while the All Blacks Sevens joined the Black Ferns as 2023 Series champions. It is the third time the teams in black have achieved such a tournament double this season, having claimed dual gold in Sydney in January and…

Outsider Iphiko's win at Turffontein on Jan 20 at generous odds of $81 would have sent some happy punters home in Singapore. But, for the South African racing fans who saw the name of the race, that win would have made them feel even happier and prouder. Slated as Race 5 at Turffontein, but as Race 9 in Singapore (as a joint simulcast with…

Ulster and Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey feels that the gulf in budgets and the new format of the Investec Champions Cup doesn't mean the competition is contested on a level playing field. Toulouse, with a budget of over £30 million, put Ulster to the sword last Saturday night scoring seven tries at Kingspan Stadium to leave Dan McFarland's side…

World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin said on Tuesday holding the draw for the 2027 World Cup in January 2026 was a "compromise" but would be better than the situation for the current competition. The draw for this year's Rugby World Cup in France was held in December 2020, nearly three years before the tournament kicked off, leading…

Specifically, there's a lot of excitement around the Dubai leg of the series due to its reputation for high-energy matches and enthusiastic crowds of sports fans. The Dubai stop is a key battleground for teams vying for the ultimate prize: a place in the Olympic Games Paris 2024. As the host country, France has automatically secured its spot. Other…

The two SA Sevens teams will both face the US on the opening day of the HSBC SVNS Cape Town on Saturday, with the pools announced shortly after the Blitzboks claimed a fifth consecutive title in Dubai on Sunday. The Blitzboks, who beat Argentina 12-7 in the Dubai final, will run out in the Mother City as the top seeds for the tournament in pool A,…

France could take on either Chile or Uruguay as part of Les Bleus' visit to Argentina later this year, with an announcement reportedly set to be made this coming Monday. According to Rugby Rama, the La Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) and French Rugby Federation (FFR) are currently in discussions over the availability of players on the…

How to Bet on Horses - Multiple-Race Wagers - Pick 3 Betting Pick 3 betting is offered at all major racetracks and requires you to pick the winners of three consecutive races on one ticket. Most racetracks offer both early and late Pick 3 wagering, and some tracks offer rolling Pick 3 betting throughout the entire racing card. Like the Daily…

It is a welcome return to 7s Rugby as the 2020 season was wiped out in its entirety following the emergence of Covid-19, as teams look forward to getting back on the field. The sevens structure has also undergone a rebrand with its new identity now closer aligned to the Rugby Europe XV's competitions, with the Trophy and Conference divisions…

The campmates have now been reunited after a few nights in Snake Rock MIRROR SHOWBIZ EDITOR MARK JEFFERIES ROUNDS UP TONIGHT'S'IM A CELEBRITY...' Roman Kemp and Jacqueline Jossa are now joint-favourites to win I'm A Celebrity 2019, according to The Pools. The radio DJ won the camp over and UK viewers with his impression of TV hosts Ant McPartlin…

With the Rugby World Cup only 6 months away and the qualifying complete, it's time to take an early look at odds to win the pools and the tournament. The World Cup is set to kick off in New Zealand on September 9th. Early indications are that the recent earthquake tragedy in Christchurch will not affect the event the spectacle and the RWC 2011 will…

Woodbine hosts the Grade I Queen's Plate this Sunday The 2021 edition of the Queen's Plate could well be a family affair six of the 13 entries being trained by a member of the Attard family. Neil Monnery has a quick overview of some of the live betting options ahead of handicapping the race later in the week...

The five South African teams in the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup will be geared up for a fresh challenge this weekend as they enter round one of the respective European competitions, which will mark the beginning of the internationals season for the Toyota Cheetahs, and a mental switch from the Vodacom United Rugby Championship for…

Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges has declared Sunday's Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) "one of the best - if not the best - days of racing" the city has ever seen. Hong Kong's three genuine superstars wowed the biggest HKIR crowd since before the pandemic and anti-government protests, with Golden Sixty showing…

Sebastian Cancelliere of Glasgow Warriors scores the opening try during the Investec Champions Cup match between Glasgow Warriors and Northampton Saints at Scotstoun Stadium on December 08, 2023. Austin Healey gave a glimpse into why this season's Investec Champions Cup is set to deliver unmissable action until a winner is crowned at the Tottenham…

Sam Warburton cannot see past a French club to win this season's Investec Champions Cup, the newly rebranded elite competition that, like many of us, he still refers to as "Europe" even though this is the second year of the inclusion of South African teams. Warburton, as one of the liveliest minds in the punditry world, can make a case…

The Sharks head into uncharted waters while the Lions and Cheetahs resume their hunt for European Challenge Cup glory this weekend, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld. Eighteen clubs will start the competition with eight representatives from the United Rugby Championship, six from the TOP 14, two from the Premiership, plus two invited teams, namely the…

Robust centre Manu Tuilagi is in line to make his return this weekend for Sale Sharks against Stade Francais at the AJ Bell Stadium. Tuilagi has not played since England's bronze medal match at the Rugby World Cup where he suffered a hand injury. In his absence, Sale has had a strong start to the season, leading the Premiership for a fair portion…

France has won more EPCR Champions Cup titles than any other nation, including each of the past three. Can the run of success continue for the 2023-24 competition, too? The addition of South African clubs through the United Rugby Championship did little to slow down France's recent dominance of Europe's top continental rugby competition, with La…

Champions Cup primed for a bold renaissance Harry Kane has been keeping a close eye on the launch of European club rugby this season. Not literally, of course - he is off in Germany, apparently finding it a doddle to score goals across swathes of the Bundesliga. But when clubs gathered at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to launch the Investec Champions…

It took him six tournaments to get there, but when Masande Mtshali finally scored his first try in a Blitzbok jersey on Saturday night in Dubai, the 20-year-old forward almost missed this very significant milestone in his short sevens career. Leinster scored at the death in Galway to stay on top of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship log, but it…

The bumper twelve race programme gets underway at 12h00 - the gates open at 11h00 - and with an anticipated crowd of 10000 expected to enjoy the top-class horseracing in a wide variety of facilities, it is recommended that guests arrive early. Parking is available infield via the Wetton Road entrance. If you have made a late decision to go racing,…

Addressing your thoughts, questions and statements about Hong Kong racing. Have something to say? Send a tweet to @SCMPRacingPost. So what impact will Betfair have on Hong Kong racing? To recap, for the first time in 16 or so years, Betfair will host markets on races at Sha Tin and Happy Valley, giving punters in Australia and the United Kingdom a…

POOL DRAW: The two South African Sevens teams will both face the USA on the opening day of the HSBC SVNS Cape Town next Saturday, with the pools announced shortly after the Springbok Sevens team claimed a fifth consecutive title in Dubai on Sunday. The Blitzboks, who beat Argentina 12-7 in the Dubai Final, will run out in the Mother City as the top…

The two South African Sevens teams will both face the USA on the opening day of the HSBC SVNS Cape Town next Saturday, with the pools announced shortly after the Springbok Sevens team claimed a fifth consecutive title in Dubai on Sunday evening. The Blitzboks, who beat Argentina 12-7 in the Dubai final, will run out in the Mother City as the top…

Nearly a month after the monumental clash between the Springboks and the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup final, Sarah reflects on what the historic win could teach rowing and the wider sporting community. Rugby is a wildly different sport from rowing, but the determination and perseverance of the Springboks are inspiring for any athlete. The 2023…

Warren Gatland fired a shot at the teams in the "stronger side" of the Rugby World Cup draw, insisting they should have done better in the last World Cup to secure a decent seeding three years ago as he said that not many teams will want to face a Wales team with "confidence and momentum". Much has been made of the draw, made back in late 2020…

The Grade 2 Clark Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs is everything a handicapper would want out of a year-end graded stakes for older horses worth $600000: a competitive group featuring a pair of 3-year-olds taking on older horses and an array of pace scenarios that should guarantee a fair shot for all. One of the 3-year-olds trying older…

Multiple FanDuel Racing accounts were able to take advantage of a glitch that debited balances only the base cost of a wager rather than the total cost of the wager during a several-hour period Wednesday afternoon. The glitch was noticed when five super-exotic wagering pools at four different racetracks handled a historic amount of money, but…

These are the latest rugby headlines on Tuesday, October 17. Australia boss Eddie Jones is set to come clean about his coaching future after being heavily linked with a return to the Japan job. The Wallabies' horrific World Cup campaign, which saw them eliminated at the pool stage, was made worse by rife speculation that Jones had held talks with…

Max Woodward leads Hong Kong's push this weekend for a place at the Paris Olympics, and is hoping third time proves to be a charm at the Asian qualifiers in Japan. The 33-year old has led the team since 2015, but said he did not think he would be taking another shot at Games glory after his side's bitterly disappointing failure in 2019, when they…

Even though the official Equibase chart for race 4 on Wednesday at Churchill Downs does not show a Super High 5 payout, the Louisville, Ky., track confirmed Thursday morning that the track paid out the pool "as is" at about 5 p.m. EST Wednesday. Churchill Downs handled $751000 on the Super High 5, a historic total given that the track handled…

Braving a jump off the top diving platform at the local swimming pool, or retreating back down the ladder in shame, has been a rite of passage for many Australian children. But it may be a thing of the past. Casualties of concrete cancer and a shift in pool priorities from fun to fitness have seen diving platforms slowly disappear from suburban…