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☆ Louis Rees-Zammit: Welsh rugby star agrees to NFL deal with Kansas City Chiefs: reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Cnn Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN has reached out to the Chiefs, Rees-Zammit’s agent and the NFL for comment. The 23-year-old winger is a star for Wales and his former club Gloucester but elected to leave the security of rugby for the NFL International Player Pathway (IPP) program and eventually an NFL roster. “I fancy a new challenge and what a better challenge than to be in the NFL,” Rees-Zammit told CNN’s Coy Wire earlier this month. Despite never playing American football at any organized level, Rees-Zammit is familiar with the game, having watched the sport from a young age. “My dad as a teenager in the UK, he always played American football,” Rees-Zammit explained to Wire.

Persons: CNN — Louis Rees, Rees, ” Rees, Zammit, CNN’s Coy, “ I’ve, “ Organizations: CNN, National Football League, Welsh, Kansas City Chiefs, ESPN, Chiefs, NFL, Wales, Gloucester, Irish Lions, American Locations: American

☆ Olympic sponsorship deal with beer company AB InBev criticized as ‘cynical’ and ‘an odd pairing’
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

In a room crowded with people in suits, the sponsorship deal with brewing giant AB InBev was met with beaming smiles and the clinking of beer bottles by many of those in attendance. AB InBev is the latest company to participate in The Olympic Partner (TOP) program – the highest level of Olympic sponsorship – alongside the likes of Coca-Cola, Visa and Deloitte. AB InBev said that it would not reveal the cost of its deal with the IOC. Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images for AB InBevThe IOC and AB InBev see the deal as part of a wider market demand for non-alcoholic drinks which, despite being in circulation for decades, have had a recent surge in popularity. Some brands have found ways to navigate France’s restrictive laws when it comes to alcohol advertising.

Persons: Thomas Bach gushed, ” Bach, ”, ” Andrew Misell, Kin Cheung, Sportcal, Michel Doukeris, Thomas Bach, Stuart C, Wilson, Molson Coors, ” Marcel Marcondes, “ Corona Cero, Marcondes, Bach, Garde, ” Ian Gilmore, “ Corona, ” Alex Barker, ” Barker, Xavier Laine Organizations: CNN, Olympic Committee, InBev, IOC, Corona, Cortina, Alcohol, CNN Sport, Cola, Visa, Deloitte, Health, WHO, Centers for Disease Control, University of Liverpool, ”, Getty, AB InBev, Heineken, Molson, Games, Alcohol Health Alliance, University of Derby, rugby’s, Nations, Guinness, Stade de France, French rugby, Wales, TOP Locations: London, Corona Cero, Paris, Milan, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Corona, Garde

☆ Louis Rees-Zammit: Getting a foothold in the NFL is almost impossible – even if you’re a professional athlete
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Thomas Schlachter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

‘Big NFL fan’Rees-Zammit is a Welsh international rugby union player and one of the sport’s biggest talents. Gray recalls being amazed when he first learned of the off-field work NFL players and coaches were doing. He imitates holding a chunky playbook – staggered by the sheer number of plays that NFL players need to become fluent in. According to the NFL, 37 international players have joined teams – allocated, drafted or signed as a free agent – since the IPP’s inception. “He’s a big NFL fan, he’s young … he’s right at the beginning of his journey.

Persons: you’ve, Louis Rees, Zammit, Rees, ‘, ’ Rees, ”, “, ” Rees, Warren Little, Ben Kay, CNN’s Don Riddell, ” Peter O’Reilly, Richie Gray –, –, ” Gray, Gray, there’s, Zammits, Damien Meyer, “ Rees, Warren Gatland, haven’t, Scot applauds, he’s, Frederic Dides, Jordan Mailata, Jakob Johnson, Efe Obada, Sammis Reyes, David Bada, Mailata, Mailata’s, Philadelphia . Gray, Jeff Stoutland –, Andy Lewis, Christian Wade, ” Wade, Wade, Will Rees, Kay, …, let’s, he’ll Organizations: CNN, NFL, National Football League, Welsh, rugby, Wales, Gloucester, British & Irish Lions, Lions, Lion, Gloucester Rugby, Six Nations, England rugby, TNT Sports, Netflix, IMG Academy, Rugby, CNN Sport, Toulon –, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, NCAA, Dolphins, “, Getty, Zammit’s Wales, American, –, Las Vegas Raiders, Washington, IPP, 233rd, Eagles, Buffalo Bills, Racing Locations: Britain, Ireland, Bradenton , Florida, Scottish, Zammit’s, Zammit, Australia, Philadelphia ., ”, France

☆ A World Cup Final of Rugby’s Super Heavyweights
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

PARIS—The Rugby World Cup, a tournament longer than the Summer and Winter Olympics combined, has been going on in France since the first week of September. But two months of bruising competition and occasional upsets have led exactly where history promised: The final that purists wanted to see between the two most decorated rugby nations in the world, South Africa and New Zealand. The Springboks and the All Blacks have each won the tournament three times, meaning that by Saturday night, one or the other will have been crowned champion in seven of the 10 World Cups ever held. And what makes this matchup so compelling is that these two squads couldn’t have taken more different approaches to get there.

Organizations: PARIS, The Rugby, Olympics, Springboks, Blacks Locations: France, South Africa, New Zealand

☆ World Cup expands to 24 teams amid radical new calendar
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The 2027 World Cup in Australia will expand from the current 20 to 24 teams, split into six first-round groups containing four sides each. LATER DRAWWR said the draw for the next World Cup would be made in January 2026, the latest it has ever been held before a tournament. WR said they had addressed this by the introduction of a Nations League competition, with two 12-team divisions. There will be a second division with a further 12 teams, which will be run by World Rugby. There will also be a new, annual expanded Pacific Nations Cup competition in 2024 featuring Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the United States.

Persons: ”, Sir Bill Beaumont, Beaumont, WR, Mitch Phillips, Mark Gleeson, Clare Fallon Organizations: Biennial Nations League, Rugby, Nations League, Six Nations, Rugby Championship, World Rugby, WR, Nations, Thomson Locations: PARIS, Paris, Australia, France, Japan, Fiji, Canada, Samoa, Tonga, United States

☆ Georgia looking to cause an upset at the Rugby World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Jack Hillcox | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Today, Maisashvili is in France leading Georgia at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Having lost 35-15 against Australia in its Rugby World Cup opener, Georgia hopes to bounce back against Portugal this Saturday, then against Fiji and Wales in its final pool C game. David Mdzinarishvili/ReutersThe Georgian national rugby team was formed in 1964, but was initially subsumed by the Soviet Union rugby federation. Despite making up a tiny portion of the Soviet Union, Georgian players were one of the dominant forces in the larger nation’s rugby team. The nation’s rugby team suffered after gaining independence, leading to serious lack of resources.

Persons: CNN — “, ” Levan Maisashvili, Maisashvili, Levan Maisashvili, Georgia's, Levan Verdzeuli, Nika Abuladze –, David Mdzinarishvili, ” Tony Collins, Huw Richards ’, Collins, “, Bidzina Ivanishvili, Forbes, ” Maisashvili, ”, Warren Little Organizations: CNN, rugby, Italy, –, Georgian, CNN Sport, ” Rugby, Scotland, Australia, Rugby World, Portugal, Fiji, Humble, Georgian national rugby team, Soviet Union rugby, Soviet Union, Soviet national, Institute of Sports Humanities, Rugby, Reuters, Nations, Northern Hemisphere, Rugby Championship, Southern Hemisphere Locations: South Africa, Wales, France, Georgia, Shukhuti, Soviet, Georgian, “ Georgia, Fiji, Toulouse

☆ How Fiji’s historic Rugby World Cup victory left Australia facing the prospect of early elimination
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Frank Lomani’s game-ending kick may have drifted wide of the posts, but that mattered little for Fiji’s players. As the final whistle blew on the Rugby World Cup group stage match, they could now celebrate beating Australia for the first time in the tournament’s history – and a first victory against the Wallabies since 1954. Soon after, the players huddled together and – as is a tradition for Fijian rugby teams – sang a hymn to give their thanks to God. Fiji's players form a circle after defeating Australia for the first time in 69 years. Two-time champion Australia could now be knocked out of the Rugby World Cup group stages for the first time.

Persons: CNN — Frank Lomani’s, Fijian rugby teams –, ”, Josua Tuisova, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Samu Kerevi, Olivier Chassignole, Suli Vunivalu’s, Simon Raiwalui, “, Sunday’s, Chris Hyde, Raiwalui, –, we’ve, they’ve, Waisea Nayacalevu, Francis Bompard, Fiji’s, Seremaia Bai, Bai, “ We’ve Organizations: CNN, Rugby World, Wallabies, Fijian rugby teams, Wales, Australia, Getty, Georgia, Fiji, England, Rugby, “, South, Super Rugby, New, ” Locations: Australia, Fiji, AFP, ”, rugby’s, South Africa, Portugal, Fijian, New Zealand, Argentina, Zealand, –

☆ Taika Waititi: La La Land meets lineouts – Hollywood A-lister forays into the world of rugby
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Amanda Davies | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Hollywood A-lister Taika Waititi is much more comfortable holding an Academy Award than lifting the Rugby World Cup trophy. “The only World Cup I’ve been to is the very first one in 1987 with my father and that was a very special moment,” he said. They’ve now suffered two losses in a row having lost to reigning champion South Africa in August before the World Cup kicked off. Waititi talks on the field during the Rugby World Cup 2021 New Zealand match against Australia. But the Rugby World Cup has provided some of the biggest upsets in the history of sport, notably when Japan stunned South Africa in 2015.

Persons: lister Taika, “, Amanda Davies, ”, Waititi, Webb Ellis, Alex Livesey, Marvel’s, Thor, Kiwi Waititi, Jerome Kaino, Andrew Mehrtens, Chabal, John Kirwan, They’ve, we’re, ” Waititi, Mike Hewitt, Rita Ora, Te, Matewa –, Phil Walter, “ Jojo Rabbit, I’d Organizations: CNN, Hollywood, Rugby, de Rugby, Zealand, NZR, Webb, Getty, Italy, New Zealand, Blacks, South Africa, rugby, FIFA, Australia, American Samoa soccer team Locations: France, Zealand, New Zealand, Namibia, Italy, Uruguay, Japan, South Africa, Australia, American Samoa

☆ Rugby World Cup: After triumphing with the All Blacks, Malakai Fekitoa has found a ‘new purpose’ with Tonga
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Long before he had the chance to travel to New Zealand, Fekitoa set his sights on competing for the All Blacks – undoubtedly the most famous rugby team on the planet. “It was always a dream of mine to play for New Zealand, even though I was born and raised in Tonga,” Fekitoa tells CNN Sport. Fekitoa tries to force his way through a tackle during a Rugby Championship match between New Zealand and Argentina in 2014. The change has proved particularly beneficial for Tonga, which, as well as Fekitoa, has named former All Blacks Vaea Fifita, George Moala and Charles Piutau in its squad for the ongoing Rugby World Cup in France. After the rule change, he thinks more All Blacks players will follow his lead by swapping allegiances.

Persons: Fekitoa, ” Fekitoa, Jonah Lomu, Cameron Spencer, –, haven’t, Fifita, George Moala, Charles Piutau, Leon Lord, Adam Coleman, Israel Folau, “, ”, “ I’m, I’ve, Richard Heathcote, It’s, James Crombie, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, All Blacks, New Zealand, CNN Sport, Tonga, Wellington Sevens, Wesley College, Rugby, Blacks, Fiji, Getty, Australia, Ireland, Wasps, Gloucester, Tonga –, Rugby Championship, Nations, United Rugby, Munster, Romania, Tonga’s, Tongan, Kiwi, New Locations: Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Auckland, Argentina, Europe, Monaco, France, AFP, New, England, Ireland, Italy, South Africa, Scotland, Samoa

☆ Hosts France win opening game of 2023 Rugby World Cup, beating fellow favorites New Zealand
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Hosts France won the opening game of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, beating fellow tournament favorites New Zealand 27-13 on Friday. Stephanie Lecocq/ReutersA late showFrom hours before kick off, it was obvious there was a Rugby World Cup in town in Paris. New Zealand players perform the Haka in front of the France players before their match at the Rugby World Cup. France made the man advantage count, Ramos scoring his fourth penalty of the game from close range to extend the lead to six points. And try as it might to push for a route back into the game, Ramos’ fifth penalty of the game made it a two-score match and effectively wrapped up the result.

Persons: Damian Penaud’s, Thomas Ramos, Mark Telea, Melvyn Jaminet’s, “, ” France’s Gregory Alldritt, “ It’s, ”, France's Damian Penaud, France's, Matthieu Jalibert, Stephanie Lecocq, Christian Hartmann, Telea, Ramos, Richie Mo’unga’s, Mo’unga, Les Bleus, Will Jordan, Jaco Peyper, Ramos ’, Jaminet’s Organizations: CNN, France, Zealand, New Zealand, Reuters, Rugby, Stade de France, Blacks, Stade Locations: Paris, France, ” France, Uruguay, Lille, New Zealand, Namibia, Toulouse, Haka, Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Tonga, Romania

☆ Rugby World Cup 2023: How to watch, teams and star players
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The Stade de France will host this year's Rugby World Cup final. A full list of international broadcasters is available here on the Rugby World Cup website. A total of 20 teams have qualified for this year’s Rugby World Cup and they will compete in four pools of five teams each. “It’s probably the most open Rugby World Cup we’ve seen for a long time,” former England international Ugo Monye told CNN Sport. Antoine Dupont will be a key player for France at this year's Rugby World Cup.

Persons: Etienne, David Rogers, Stan, Clive Mason, Webb Ellis, “ It’s, Ugo Monye, you’ve, Romain Ntamack, Paul Willemse, Cyril Baille, Jonathan Danty, ”, haven’t, – let’s, Stuart Hogg, I’ve, ’, Antoine Dupont, Ntamack, Fabien Galthié, Damian Penaud, Alldritt, Richard Heathcote, – Sam Whitelock, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Brodie Retallick –, Sam Kane, Dane Coles, Handré Pollard, Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Cheslin Kolbe, Makazole, Johnny Sexton, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Josh van, Owen Farrell, Finn Russell, Hogg, “, ” Russell isn’t, Levani Organizations: CNN, Rugby World, New Zealand, Stade de France, Rugby, Paris, Games, Getty, Blacks, Stade de Marseille, NBC, Stan Sport, ITV, S4C, South, CNN Fiji, England, –, USA, Africa, Africa Ireland Scotland Tonga, C Wales Australia Fiji, Japan, Japan Argentina Samoa Chile Who, – New, CNN Sport, New, Wales, Australia, Ireland, “, Scotland, Tonga’s, France, Blacks ’, Fiji, The Pacific Islanders Locations: France, New, Paris, South Africa, Ireland, Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Nice, Saint, Toulouse, United States, Australia, Sky, New Zealand, England, Argentina, Wales, Scotland, Italy, Georgia, Japan, Tonga, Samoa, Uruguay, Namibia, Romania, Portugal, Chile, Zealand France Italy Uruguay Namibia, Africa Ireland, Africa Ireland Scotland Tonga Romania, C Wales Australia Fiji Georgia Portugal, Japan Argentina Samoa Chile, – New Zealand, Fiji, darting, Zealand

☆ England's Farrell has red card overturned
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

However, Farrell argued that the offence was worthy of only a yellow card and the independent judicial committee agreed. "After reviewing all the evidence... the committee concluded that the Foul Play Review Officer was wrong, on the balance of probabilities, to upgrade the yellow card issued to the player to a red card," the committee said in a statement. In the Committee’s opinion, this mitigation was sufficient to bring the player’s act of foul play below the red car threshold. Unlike the Foul Play Review Officer the committee had the luxury of time to deliberate and consider, in private, the incident." The bans that are being put in place for foul play are not stringent enough.

Persons: Owen Farrell, Farrell, Taine Basham, Basham, Alix Popham, ” Popham, “ Farrell, Mitch Phillips, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Wales, Saracens, Ireland, Argentina, Thomson Locations: England, Wales, Fiji, Japan

☆ Dennis Ombachi: How the Kenyan rugby player learned to live with bipolar
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But it was Ombachi’s mental health that would take a bigger hit than his broken leg. With the Sevens circuit canceled and the Kenya Rugby Union terminating his contract, Ombachi suddenly was once again stuck indoors and without an income. That is one of the chief reasons he is so open with his mental health struggles. Plenty of athletes and social media figures have used their platform to speak out about mental health and partner with organizations and charities to spread awareness. Ombachi supports that work, but he also sees an important role for those with public profiles to simply embrace their struggles with mental health.

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