Global Pulse

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  • UK Athletics fined $471K over ‘wholly avoidable’ death of Paralympian

    UK Athletics fined $471K over ‘wholly avoidable’ death of Paralympian

    LONDON — A years-long legal investigation into the tragic 2017 on-site training death of Paralympian Abdullah Hayayie has concluded with UK Athletics, the national governing body for British track and field, receiving a £350,000 ($471,000) fine following its guilty plea to a corporate manslaughter charge.

    The fatal incident unfolded on July 11, 2017, at east London’s Newham Leisure Centre, where 36-year-old Hayayei was putting the final touches on his training ahead of competing for the United Arab Emirates in an upcoming international para athletics competition. During a training session, a section of a metal throwing practice cage collapsed, and a heavy metal pole struck Hayayei in the head, causing fatal injuries.

    Announcing the sentence during a hearing at London’s Central Criminal Court on Tuesday, Judge Richard Marks emphasized that Hayayei’s death was a preventable tragedy. Calling the incident “tragic, untimely and wholly avoidable”, Marks noted that this fatal accident was an event that had long been a foreseeable risk.

    Alongside the penalty for UK Athletics, 79-year-old Keith Davies — the former head of sport for the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships hosted in London — was sentenced to 175 hours of unpaid community work after pleading guilty to a breach of health and safety regulations. A retired physical education teacher, Davies either had direct knowledge of structural flaws with the training cage or should have discovered the hazards ahead of the incident, according to the judge. Marks added that an identical throwing cage at the same venue had collapsed previously, meaning the risks were already documented before Hayayei was killed.

    “This was an accident which sooner or later was waiting to happen,” the judge told the court.

    A veteran competitor who had already earned a spot among the world’s top para athletes, Hayayei had competed at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics just one year before his death, where he finished sixth in the men’s javelin event and seventh in the men’s shot put competition. The 200-kilogram (440-pound) cage that collapsed is a standard piece of throwing training infrastructure, constructed from metal poles and protective netting designed to contain stray throws from shot putters and other throwing event athletes and protect bystanders from injury.

  • Nathan Ellis shines as Australia beats Pakistan by 41 runs to level ODI series

    Nathan Ellis shines as Australia beats Pakistan by 41 runs to level ODI series

    LAHORE, Pakistan – In a tense second One Day International played on a low, slow turning pitch that tested both sides’ adaptability, Australian fast bowler Nathan Ellis delivered a career-defining performance, taking 4 wickets for just 33 runs to secure a 41-run victory for the tourists. The win levels the three-match ODI series at one game apiece, ahead of the series decider scheduled for Thursday at the same Lahore venue.

    Pakistan had claimed victory in the series opener by five wickets on a similarly spin-friendly surface in Rawalpindi last Saturday, where 17-year-old left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas made history by becoming the first Pakistani bowler ever to take a five-wicket haul on his ODI debut. For the second match, Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi won the pre-match coin toss and opted to put Australia into bat first on a track that offered sharp turn for spinners and inconsistent bounce for seam bowlers.

    Australia’s batting innings got off to a disastrous immediate start, with opener Alex Carey bowled off the very first delivery of the match from Afridi. The side’s struggles continued soon after when spinner Abrar Ahmed claimed Matthew Short via a return catch, and star batter Marnus Labuschagne again failed to adapt to the turning track, top-edging a sweep shot off Minhas for just 5 runs.

    Australian captain Josh Inglis and all-rounder Cameron Green steadied the innings with a patient 93-ball, 51-run partnership, both batters opting to rein in expansive shots to survive the testing spin conditions. Inglis reached his half-century with a deft reverse sweep boundary off Abrar before falling to a low bounce that left him bowled by Minhas for 51. Green continued his gritty innings, combining with Matthew Renshaw for a 65-run stand before holing out to long-on shortly after bringing up his own 50. Renshaw compiled a steady 43 runs off as many balls before being bowled by Haris Rauf in the 44th over, but 19-year-old Oliver Peake boosted Australia’s late total with an aggressive 31 runs off 32 balls, including two sixes, to help the side finish at 231 runs for 9 wickets at the end of their 50 overs.

    Pakistan’s bowling attack put in a strong effort, with Afridi taking 3 wickets for 36 runs, Abrar and Minhas each claiming 2 wickets, and Rauf adding 2 more. After the match, Afridi acknowledged that his side had conceded 20 to 30 avoidable extra runs in the final overs of Australia’s innings that proved costly.

    In response, Pakistan’s chase got off to a rapid start from Ellis, who picked up a wicket in his very first over when Maaz Sadaqat edged the ball back onto his own stumps. In the fifth over, he trapped Pakistan star batter Babar Azam lbw with a delivery that nipped sharply inward, leaving the hosts at 2 wickets for just a handful of runs. Pakistan’s middle order crumbled under pressure from spin bowler Matthew Short, who finished with 3 wickets for 36 runs, slumping to 78 runs for 6 wickets before all-rounder Shadab Khan and Minhas (33) rebuilt the chase with a 59-run partnership.

    Ellis broke the critical stand in the 32nd over, trapping Minhas lbw to put Australia back in control. Shadab fought on to reach his fifth ODI half-century, scoring 71 runs off 104 balls to take the chase into the final overs, but he was the last batter dismissed, stumped down the leg side by Inglis off the bowling of Tanveer Sangha. Pakistan were bowled out for 190, giving Australia a 41-run win.

    After the match, Ellis noted that the spin-focused pitches Pakistan prepared for this series against a depleted Australian side were far different from the high-scoring one-day cricket played in most international circuits right now. “It’s no secret that today it was pretty low and slow … we saw the cutters and the slow balls working a lot today, and the ball started to tail and reverse swing through the 35-to-45-over mark,” he said.

    Inglis praised Ellis’ match-winning performance, highlighting the bowler’s ability to vary his pace on the challenging surface. “You can always call on Nello on those sort of pitches, his variations are outstanding, and when you’ve got on-pace at 145 and then your slow balls at just over 100k an hour, it’s really tough,” Inglis said, adding that Australia always believed a total over 200 would put them in a strong position to win. Afridi echoed praise for Ellis, noting that the bowler’s consistent line and length stump to stump was the key to his success on the turning track.

  • After escaping the Taliban and years in exile, the Afghan women’s soccer team rises again

    After escaping the Taliban and years in exile, the Afghan women’s soccer team rises again

    AUCKLAND, New Zealand – For thousands of displaced Afghan women soccer players, the dream of representing their homeland on the international pitch seemed dead after the Taliban’s 2021 return to power, which immediately banned all women’s sports across the country and forced the entire national women’s squad into hiding. Today, that impossible dream is one step closer to reality, after FIFA granted the exiled team official eligibility to compete in global competitions – a milestone years in the making for a group of athletes who have refused to let displacement and oppression erase their passion.

    The journey began in 2021, when a urgent evacuation effort relocated 13 core members of the former Afghan national women’s team to Australia, where they spent the next five years rebuilding their lives, training relentlessly, and holding out hope that they would one day earn the right to wear their nation’s crest again. Today, the team’s roster has grown to 23 players through the Afghan Women United program, with members scattered across Australia, Europe, and the United States, all brought together for training camps and matches by head coach Pauline Hamill. This week, the full squad has gathered in Auckland, New Zealand for a intensive training camp ahead of an upcoming friendly match against a representative side from the Cook Islands.

    For the players, FIFA’s April recognition marks the end of a years-long fight that began long before the 2021 Taliban takeover. Even when the former Afghan government was in power, female players faced steep cultural barriers, constant threats of violence, and widespread pushback from conservative segments of society. Goalkeeper Fatima Yousufi, who now lives and studies in Melbourne, escaped Afghanistan with nothing but a single backpack, fleeing the threat of violence against women who dared to play sports. She recalled the crushing disappointment when the team was initially denied official status after their evacuation.

    “When we first arrived here, we had already lost everything: our families, our childhood homes, our connection to the country we loved,” Yousufi told reporters. “The only thing we had left was our identity as soccer players, as the Afghan national team. When we couldn’t play officially, it felt like we had lost the game before we even stepped onto the pitch. When we got the news from FIFA, it was the greatest thing that could have happened to us. We actually have a national team again.”

    Midfielder Mona Amini, another core team member who also resettled in Australia, called FIFA’s decision a vindication of the years of hard work and sacrifice the squad put in after their displacement. She pointed to a 2023 friendly tournament where the team defeated Libya, marking the first time the squad had played an official international match since the Taliban takeover – and the first time in three years the team heard the Afghan national anthem played before a game.

    “That moment was something I will never forget,” Amini said in a recent Zoom interview. “This recognition we have now is the result of four or five years of nonstop work, every single day. We never gave up.”

    For the team, the fight goes far beyond the soccer pitch. Back in Afghanistan, women and girls remain banned from all secondary education, public recreation, and most organized sports, with the Taliban barring women from leaving the country without a male guardian and restricting nearly all aspects of public life. The exiled players see themselves as representatives and voices for the millions of women and girls still trapped under Taliban rule, working to prove that Afghan women deserve equal access to education, sport, and public life.

    “We are here not just to play soccer,” Amini said. “We are here to be a voice for all the girls back home who cannot chase their dreams. We want to build a new generation of Afghan women soccer players, and show the whole world what we can do. The Taliban took our freedom, but they can never take our ambition or our right to do what we love.”

    Yousufi added that the team hopes to change global perceptions of Afghan women, and push for greater rights for those still living in the country. “Our team might be the one to change the way people think, and change the situation for girls and women in Afghanistan,” she said. “We all work every day to show that women and girls belong in every part of society – in education, in sport, everywhere. We have the same rights as anyone else to follow our dreams.”

  • Flintoff named Sydney Thunder men’s head coach

    Flintoff named Sydney Thunder men’s head coach

    One of English cricket’s most iconic former all-rounders, Andrew Flintoff, has secured a landmark new position: he will take the reins as men’s head coach of Australia’s Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL), marking his first senior coaching role in an overseas T20 competition. The 48-year-old, who has served as a full-time coach for England’s development side England Lions since 2024, will depart the team’s ongoing tour of South Africa earlier than scheduled to step into his new post with the Sydney-based franchise.

    While the full 2025-26 BBL fixture list has not yet been made public, England Lions are currently scheduled to remain in South Africa for a four-day match getting underway on December 18. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has given its full approval for Flintoff to take on the role, framing the opportunity as valuable professional development that will help him grow as a coaching leader. Flintoff has signed a two-season contract with Sydney Thunder, replacing outgoing former England national team head coach Trevor Bayliss in the position.

    In a statement following the announcement, Flintoff expressed his excitement for the new challenge: “I can’t wait to get over there and get started. I’m looking at this with a lot of optimism. You look at the franchise, you look at the players, you look at the support, and I think there’s something really big to build on.” The Thunder, who are captained by legendary former Australia opening batsman David Warner, finished as runners-up in last season’s BBL, falling just short of claiming the title in the final.

    Flintoff brings prior high-profile franchise coaching experience to his new role, having spent two seasons leading the Northern Superchargers men’s side in England’s domestic T20 competition The Hundred. During his tenure, he guided the Leeds-based team to consecutive top-four finishes, taking fourth place in his first season and third in his second. However, he was not retained for the 2026 edition of the tournament after the franchise was acquired by the ownership group of Indian Premier League side Sunrisers Hyderabad.

    Trent Copeland, general manager of Sydney Thunder, hailed Flintoff’s appointment as a transformative moment for the club, saying: “This is a huge day in the history of Sydney Thunder, and the BBL more broadly. Fred brings something truly unique to Sydney Thunder. He’s a global icon of the game, but more importantly he is a modern leader who understands how to build high-performance environments, connect with players as people, and set standards that last. His passion for the game, coaching itself and knowledge of Australian cricket and our Thunder program stood out during the process.”

  • Rayan Cherki’s magical skills could be just what France needs in tight games at the World Cup

    Rayan Cherki’s magical skills could be just what France needs in tight games at the World Cup

    As France prepares for its World Cup campaign, one rising star stands out as the secret weapon manager Didier Deschamps can turn to when opposing defenses lock down Les Bleus’ star-studded attacking line: 22-year-old playmaker Rayan Cherki. Fresh off a sensational debut season with Manchester City in the Premier League, the dynamic young talent has already cemented his reputation as one of the most creative and unpredictable players in modern soccer.

    In his first season in England’s top flight, Cherki dazzled crowds and coaches alike with his unorthodox skill, clinical vision, and pinpoint passing. He wrapped up the campaign ranked second in the league with 12 assists, finishing only behind established Premier League star Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United. Some of his setups have already gone down as moments of individual brilliance that left even his legendary manager in awe. In one standout match, Cherki dribbled across the 18-yard box with his right foot before delivering a blind left-footed pass — a pass played without looking toward his target — to teammate Marc Guéhi. After the play, City manager Pep Guardiola, who coached eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi during his time at Barcelona, admitted he never even saw that passing lane as an option, stunned by Cherki’s on-field creativity. Another memorable assist came via an audacious rabona pass, a cross kicked with the playing leg wrapped behind the standing leg, that set up Phil Foden for a goal.

    While Cherki is best known for his passing prowess, his finishing and close control when in front of goal are equally spectacular. On his City debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers, he opened his scoring account for the club with a stunning goal initiated by an outrageous backheel flick that showcased his flair. Like Messi, Cherki can dribble directly at opposition defenders at full speed with the ball practically glued to his feet, a skill that has drawn repeated comparisons to the Argentine great. He even notched a memorable volley on his senior debut for the French national team against Spain in last June’s Nations League, proving he can deliver at the highest international level.

    Guardiola, who has overseen some of the greatest attacking talents of the last three decades, has been unequivocal in his praise for the young Frenchman. “Rayan has something special,” he said. “He will become an extraordinary player with his mindset and mentality.”

    For Deschamps, Cherki’s greatest value ahead of the World Cup lies in his exceptional versatility, which opens up a wide range of tactical options for the French manager. Capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, right winger (his regular role at City), or advanced playmaker operating just behind the center forward, Cherki has thrived in every position Deschamps has tested him. In March’s 3-1 friendly win over Colombia, he played as a second striker behind Marcus Thuram and contributed directly to two goals. Last November, he occupied the same role behind Kylian Mbappé in a match against Ukraine. When he received his first senior France call-up in May of last year, Cherki called the moment “the beginning of a beautiful adventure” — and that adventure could well lead him to global stardom at the World Cup.

    Confidence is another defining trait of the 22-year-old, who has openly embraced his own unique skill set. When asked in a March interview with *France Football* to name Manchester City’s most technically gifted player, Cherki answered without hesitation: “Me.” He also describes himself as “one of the most unpredictable players on the planet” — exactly the kind of player a side needs to unlock a deep, organized defense that has shut down more predictable attacking threats. Like Messi, it is hard to identify Cherki’s stronger foot, with most of his most magical moments coming from his left, echoing the Argentine legend.

    Cherki is the latest standout talent to emerge from Olympique Lyonnais’ renowned youth academy, the same production line that produced 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema and gifted playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa. He made his Ligue 1 debut at just 16 years old in October 2019, and announced his talent to the world just weeks later in a French Cup match, where he scored two clinical goals, set up another with a spectacular midfield pass, drew a penalty (that his teammate missed), created a second assist, and nearly scored with an audacious lob that hit the crossbar. The mesmerizing performance for a player his age immediately put him on the scouting radar of Europe’s top clubs.

    In his final season with Lyon, Cherki led the entire league with 11 assists, and Manchester City secured his transfer last summer for just 36 million euros ($41 million) — a price that now looks like a major bargain, secured in large part due to Lyon’s severe financial struggles. Guardiola had his eye on Cherki for years before the transfer: the young Frenchman scored against City in a youth Champions League match just after turning 15, making him the youngest goalscorer in the competition’s history.

    Like Messi and the late Diego Maradona, who honed his craft on the streets of Buenos Aires, Cherki developed his exceptional balance and close control playing street soccer on the roads of Lyon in east-central France. After one season with local suburban club Saint-Priest, he joined Lyon’s academy at just seven years old, beginning the journey that has brought him to the cusp of World Cup selection.

    While Cherki is not expected to earn a starting spot in France’s opening World Cup lineups, that is a reflection of the incredible depth of talent Les Bleus possess in attack. Deschamps is expected to field a front line of Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, and prolific superstar Kylian Mbappé — the only player in history to score in both the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals, netting a hat trick in the 2022 final against Argentina.

    Deschamps will step down from his role as France manager after this World Cup, and former French captain Zinedine Zidane — the iconic midfield star who led France to victory at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, and also scored in two World Cup finals — is widely tipped to take over. Zidane, himself one of the most gifted midfielders in the history of the sport, is expected to build the future of French soccer around Cherki in the coming years. For now, Cherki heads into the tournament as the wildcard that could carry France all the way to glory.

  • Eels don’t name Mitch Moses in potential Origin blow as Bulldogs star misses training

    Eels don’t name Mitch Moses in potential Origin blow as Bulldogs star misses training

    The build-up to the second State of Origin clash and this weekend’s round of the National Rugby League has been thrown into disarray, with a wave of injury updates, unexpected selection calls and Origin selection dilemmas shaking up teams across the competition.

    The most high-profile disruption hits New South Wales Blues head coach Laurie Daley, who faces a critical selection call in his playmaker group just weeks out from Origin II on June 17. Eels star Mitchell Moses, who was in line for a recall to the Blues starting side after missing the series opener with a hamstring injury, has not been named in Parramatta’s squad for their Monday night showdown against Canterbury Bulldogs. Initial assessments had suggested the injury was minor, but the latest Parramatta injury update confirms Moses is not expected to return to competitive play until either round 15 or 16.

    This timeline rules Moses out of any chance to prove his match fitness before the Blues name their Origin II squad early next week. With Moses sidelined, 22-year-old Ethan Strange, who was thrown into the starting five-eighth role last minute after Moses’ injury two days before Origin I, is now the firm favourite to retain his spot in the side for the second clash.

    Over at the Bulldogs, captain Stephen Crichton’s absence from Tuesday’s training session sparked rumours of a fresh shoulder injury ahead of both Monday’s club clash and potential Origin selection. However, the club confirmed the rest was planned, as the side is gearing up for five days of leave following the match. Bulldogs winger and potential Origin debutant Jacob Kiraz, who also took a light session on an exercise bike instead of full training, backed up his captain’s fitness.

    “I’m sure ‘Critta’ will be sweet,” Kiraz told reporters, addressing the injury rumours. The young winger, who is currently in contention to earn his first Origin cap, said planned rest was a necessary move following a string of physically demanding matches. “It’s a long turnaround. We’ve had a couple of big games the last couple of weeks, so probably the best thing is to (rest a bit),” he explained. When asked about his own potential Origin selection, Kiraz remained focused on his club commitments: “I guess it’s always nice to hear (your name in the mix). I know it’s probably the answer none of you want to hear, but being honest, I’m just worried about the Bulldogs at the moment. The Blues had a good win and I thought (Blues rookie Tolu Koula) has been outstanding.”

    In another major selection shock, Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maguire has dropped starting five-eighth Ezra Mam following the side’s embarrassing home defeat to the previously winless St George Illawarra Dragons. Tom Duffy will step into the starting five-eighth role for the Broncos, with Xavier Willison shifting to lock, and Grant Anderson returning from injury to fill the gap left by injured starter Pat Carrigan.

    South Sydney Rabbitohs have received a major boost ahead of their upcoming clash, with star trio Brandon Smith, David Fifita and Campbell Graham all named to return to the starting side. Their returns offset the continued absence of star fullback Latrell Mitchell, who remains sidelined with his ongoing injury issue.

    The Rabbitohs’ opponents Manly Sea Eagles have been given clearance to select Blues winger Tolu Koula, who missed recent action after suffering a head knock in the opening Origin clash. Koula’s Blues teammate Haumole Olakau’atu is also set to return to the Manly side this week.

    Other key selection updates across the league include: Sydney Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase has been named in the reserves, in line for an earlier-than-expected return from injury; Newcastle Knights will field Fletcher Sharpe at five-eighth after regular starter Sandon Smith was ruled out with a calf injury; defending premiers Penrith Panthers have welcomed back their entire Origin trio – Nathan Cleary, Brian To’o and Isaah Yeo – who were rested for the previous round; and Cronulla Sharks will hand a starting start to hooker Jayden Berrell after rookie Blues representative Blayke Brailey suffered a broken arm in recent action.

  • ‘Type of player every club wants’: Connor Watson signs with the Chiefs, with star utility to spend 2027 at a rival club

    ‘Type of player every club wants’: Connor Watson signs with the Chiefs, with star utility to spend 2027 at a rival club

    In a layered player transfer deal that links three National Rugby League (NRL) clubs, versatile utility Connor Watson has secured an early release from the final year of his contract with the Sydney Roosters, clearing the way for a multi-stage move that will see him join the St George Illawarra Dragons in 2027 before linking up with the expansion Papua New Guinea (PNG) Chiefs for their historic inaugural 2028 NRL season.

    Watson, a former New South Wales representative who has built a reputation as one of the league’s most adaptable and team-first players, had been contracted to remain with the Roosters, widely known as the Tricolours, through the 2027 season. The early release approval will see him suit up for the Dragons (nicknamed the Red V) for a single 2027 campaign before his two-year deal with the PNG-based expansion side kicks in.

    The PNG Chiefs, who are preparing for their first ever NRL season in 2028, have now secured three high-profile marquee signings to build their foundational roster, following earlier acquisitions of star playmaker Jarome Luai and veteran winger Alex Johnston. Chiefs football general manager Michael Chammas emphasized that Watson’s commitment to the expansion project runs deeper than just a playing contract.

    “From the very start, Connor made it clear he wanted to be part of the PNG Chiefs and the incredible journey we’re building here,” Chammas said in a statement confirming the signing. “He and his partner Kiana recently visited Port Moresby, and they genuinely fell in love with the country, the people, and the chance to be part of something far bigger than rugby league itself.”

    Chammas highlighted Watson’s intangible and on-field value for the fledgling club, noting: “Connor is exactly the type of player every organization wants to build around. He’s selfless, tough, relentlessly professional, and commands incredible respect across the entire league. His versatility and years of top-flight experience will be absolutely invaluable as we continue putting our squad together for 2028. Every signing matters for a new club, and there’s something really exciting about watching this roster come together piece by piece. Locking in Connor as our third major signing is another key milestone in the PNG Chiefs journey. We also want to thank the Sydney Roosters for their professionalism, patience, and understanding throughout this entire process.”

    For the St George Illawarra Dragons, Watson’s one-season stint comes at a critical time, as the club is set to lose veteran starting hooker Damien Cook to the UK’s Super League ahead of 2027. Dragons chief executive Tim Watsford said the club is eager to add Watson’s proven quality to their roster, even for just one season.

    “We’re incredibly excited to welcome Connor to the club next year,” Watsford said. “He’s performed at the highest level in the toughest competitions the game has to offer, and we love everything he brings to our group. He’s a true professional, and we’re confident his addition, even for one season, will make our entire team better. We’ve identified that his combination of skill, athleticism, and versatility fills key gaps for us, and we can’t wait to see him in the Red V.”

    This structured one-year “layover” arrangement follows a similar model used in other recent NRL transfers, including deals for Jonah Pezet at Parramatta Eels and Davvy Moale at Melbourne Storm for the 2026 season. For the Roosters, the early release also creates valuable salary cap space, with the club widely expected to finalize the signing of North Queensland Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi in the coming weeks.

    In an official statement confirming Watson’s release, the Roosters said: “The Sydney Roosters today announced that Connor Watson has been granted an early release from the final year of his contract following a request from his management, allowing him to pursue an opportunity with another NRL club. Watson will remain with the Roosters for the remainder of the 2026 season and will continue to play an important role within the club’s NRL squad.”

    Watson’s arrival adds to a busy offseason of recruitment for the Dragons, who have already locked in other key 2027 signings including Luke Metcalf, Keaon Koloamatangi, Scott Drinkwater and Phil Sami.

  • ‘Messi, Maradona, Tim’: NZ footballer’s viral fan club hits 4 million

    ‘Messi, Maradona, Tim’: NZ footballer’s viral fan club hits 4 million

    A little-known New Zealand defender at the upcoming men’s FIFA World Cup has become one of the most talked-about names in global football this week, after a viral social media campaign catapulted his Instagram following from just 4,000 to more than 4 million followers in only seven days. The unexpected surge in fame comes thanks to Argentine influencer Valen “El Scarso” Scarsini, who set out last week to lift the profile of what he called the “least recognizable player” at the 2026 World Cup, zeroing in on Wellington Phoenix right-back Tim Payne, 32. By Tuesday, the grassroots social media movement had pushed Payne’s follower count past the 4 million mark, outstripping the follower base of the All Blacks — New Zealand’s world-famous national rugby union team, a cultural institution in the rugby-mad nation. If the growth continues at its current pace, Payne will soon match the total population of New Zealand, which stands at roughly 5.3 million. The viral campaign has been the top source of banter and conversation at New Zealand’s World Cup training camp in Florida, where the side is wrapping up warm-up preparations ahead of the tournament kicking off across Mexico, the United States, and Canada next week. Ranked as the lowest-placed side heading into the World Cup, New Zealand has never seen a player draw this level of global social media attention, a fact that has taken the entire squad by surprise. New Zealand head coach Darren Bazeley told local outlet Stuff.co.nz that the sudden explosion of fame has not shaken the steady 32-year-old defender, adding that Payne is handling the unprecedented attention better than most players would. “At the moment I do feel like he’s dealing with it really well, probably better than maybe some others would have,” Bazeley said. “Putting Tim up on a pedestal like that was really cool and probably not something that he, or anyone, expected.” The coach added that the squad has leaned into the lighthearted hype, with teammates constantly teasing Payne about his new celebrity status. “The players talk about it. I can hear the banter they’re having with Tim, and I think it’s amazing,” he said. Payne himself has described the outpouring of online attention as “pretty crazy,” and he is now set to meet the man who started the viral movement. Scarsini announced he would travel to Fort Lauderdale to watch New Zealand’s warm-up match against Haiti on Tuesday, with a meeting with Payne planned after the final whistle. “Guys tomorrow is the day,” Scarsini posted ahead of the match. “Let’s go watch Tim’s game v Haiti and then we’re going to meet him! Thanks to all who made it possible.” The lighthearted viral trend has spawned countless humorous memes and online comments, with many football fans drawing playful comparisons between Payne and Argentina’s two greatest football icons. One top comment on Payne’s latest Instagram post, which has racked up more than 2.1 million likes and 66,000 comments (most written in Spanish), read simply: “Messi, Maradona, Tim.”

  • For Roland Garros youth, quarter-final moment of truth

    For Roland Garros youth, quarter-final moment of truth

    The established young monarchs of men’s tennis have already been dethroned at this year’s Roland Garros, and as the tournament enters its quarter-final round on Tuesday, an even younger cohort of rising stars is preparing to leave their mark on the iconic Paris clay. Over the past two years, 24-year-old Jannik Sinner and 23-year-old Carlos Alcaraz have claimed nine of the 12 available Grand Slam titles, cementing their status as the sport’s new top elite. But an early exit has cleared the way for the next wave: Alcaraz withdrew before the tournament due to injury, while Sinner crumpled under the unforgiving Parisian heat and suffered a shock second-round defeat, opening the door for three teenagers to compete in their first ever Grand Slam quarter-finals.

    Leading the charge of this new generation is 19-year-old Rafael Jodar, Spain’s next prodigy molded in the mold of legendary clay-court great Rafael Nadal. He will face off against Alexander Zverev, the highest-seeded player remaining in the men’s draw, to kick off Tuesday’s quarter-final action. Closing out the day on Court Philippe Chatrier will be 20-year-old Jakub Mensik, a rising Czech talent, against 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca – the undisputed breakout sensation of this year’s tournament. The only 19-year-old on Tuesday’s schedule with prior Grand Slam late-round experience is women’s eighth seed Mirra Andreeva, who will contest her third consecutive Roland Garros quarter-final against Romania’s Sorana Cirstea.

    History has long proven that the French Open is uniquely welcoming to teenage prodigies. Of the five youngest men to win a Grand Slam in the Open Era, four – Michael Chang, Mats Wilander, Rafael Nadal and Bjorn Borg – lifted the Coupe des Mousquetaires at Roland Garros. Among the 16 women who have claimed a major title as teenagers, seven captured their Roland Garros crown in Paris, including tennis icons Monica Seles, Steffi Graf, Chris Evert and current world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.

    On Monday, two of the sport’s most famous teenage champions returned to Paris for the annual reunion of former Roland Garros title holders, and both shared their insights into what makes this generation of young stars so dangerous. Chang, who became the youngest men’s Grand Slam winner in history when he took the 1989 Roland Garros title at 17, now coaches 18-year-old American rising star Learner Tien. He noted that youth brings unique advantages on court, but also added that modern young players carry a heavier burden of expectations than he did decades ago.

    “In some ways it’s easier when you’re young because you don’t overthink the moment,” Chang explained. “But at the same time, a lot of these kids already have massive spotlight on them, and that brings a lot of pressure. That pressure doesn’t always let them go out and play freely. When I was 17, no one expected me to win. I got to be the underdog through the second week, and that gave me all the freedom in the world.”

    Wilander, who won the first of his three Roland Garros titles at 17 in 1982, argued that today’s teenagers hold a distinct mental edge over more experienced opponents. “You can’t find a 19-year-old playing this well that feels fear. None of them do,” the Swede said. “There’s no pressure, no nerves – I don’t think that, I know that. They don’t have a history of losing big matches yet. Losing a quarter-final doesn’t feel like the end of the world the way it does for a player who’s been around longer. That freedom lets them swing without hesitation, and that’s what makes them so tough to beat.”

    Wilander is one of the most high-profile fans of Fonseca, who has already claimed three stunning upsets to reach the quarter-finals. The Brazilian rallied from a two-set deficit to beat Dino Prizmic in the third round, followed by an even more historic upset of 23-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the round of 16, before outlasting former finalist Casper Ruud to book his spot in the final eight. Wilander called Fonseca a future great, and the teenager himself says the rising generation is ready to compete at the top of the sport long-term.

    “It’s amazing to see the next generation coming through together,” Fonseca said after his win over Djokovic. “It’s not just me, Jodar and Mensik. There’s Learner Tien, Alex Michelsen, Martin Landaluce – so many of us pushing each other to get better, putting on great matches. That can only make all of us stronger.”

    Chang, meanwhile, has been equally impressed by Jodar’s run through the draw. “On clay, he’s just taken off this tournament,” Chang said. “He’s riding this incredible wave, he’s not overthinking anything, and that’s why he’s playing such great tennis right now.” Jodar, for his part, says he is still finding his footing at the highest level, even as he advances deep into the draw. “I’m still building my game, I know I still have a huge margin for development,” he said after reaching the quarter-finals. “I’m just going to keep going out there and competing.”

    The final match of the day on Tuesday shifts focus to the women’s draw, where two Ukrainian compatriots will face off: 31-year-old veteran Elina Svitolina will take on 23-year-old Marta Kostyuk in an all-Ukrainian quarter-final. Svitolina noted that it is the first time two Ukrainian women have advanced this far in the same Grand Slam, and Kostyuk credited her older compatriot for paving the way for the next generation of Ukrainian tennis. “She’s a legend of our sport in Ukraine,” Kostyuk said. “None of us would be here without what she’s done for our country.”

  • ‘We’ve never seen anyone do it’: Ivan Cleary questions concept of dominating Origin

    ‘We’ve never seen anyone do it’: Ivan Cleary questions concept of dominating Origin

    As Penrith Panthers prepare for a highly anticipated grudge clash against the Wests Tigers, head coach Ivan Cleary has offered a striking, understated response to the growing national debate over whether his son, star halfback Nathan Cleary, has finally cemented his legacy as a dominant force in rugby league’s iconic State of Origin series.

    Nathan Cleary, one of the most decorated players in modern National Rugby League (NRL) history with four premiership titles and two Clive Churchill Medals to his name, has long been held to an unmatched standard at the representative level. For years, his stellar club form with the Panthers failed to fully translate to Origin, the sport’s most high-stakes domestic representative series, where he represents New South Wales (NSW) Blues. That narrative shifted dramatically last week, when a masterclass second-half performance from Cleary steered the Blues to a thrilling 22-20 game one victory over Queensland, pushing his career Origin winning record with the side to 50 percent.

    In that series opener, Cleary delivered a career-defining outing: he crossed for a try, nailed a clutch 40/20 kick, set up two tries from set pieces including James Tedesco’s match-winning score in the final two minutes, and converted the try to seal the result. The performance earned him his third Origin man-of-the-match award, silencing the long-time critics who questioned his big-game pedigree at the representative level. Ivan Cleary, who watched the win from the stands at Sydney’s Accor Stadium, says he has never bought into the external chatter surrounding his son’s Origin legacy.

    “I’ve always seen him do that. He’s learnt a lot over the years and has had some really good games and has had some other games where he feels like he could do better,” Ivan Cleary told reporters this week. “I don’t even know what dominating Origin is because we’ve never seen anyone do it. Even Wally Lewis back in the day, he’s probably the only one who really (went close) but did he? I don’t know. I’m just so proud of him that he’s in there for a start and that he prepares as hard as he can and plays as hard as he can. He did well last week, but it’ll all be on again in a couple of weeks.”

    Beyond the Origin conversation, the Panthers are gearing up for Sunday’s round 13 clash against the Tigers, with Nathan set to make his return to the club lineup alongside rested NSW teammates Isaah Yeo and Brian To’o. Nathan missed Penrith’s last-start thrilling win over the New Zealand Warriors, a match widely labelled the NRL game of the 2024 season, after being rested by the club following the Origin opener.

    The match also marks a potential stepping stone for Liam Martin, a Blues representative who made his first appearance in 10 weeks after a knee injury sustained in round 6. Martin had a quiet opening stint on the right edge but impressed in a second shift in the middle of the park against the Warriors, putting his name forward for a recall to the NSW starting side for Origin II at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 17.

    Ivan Cleary remained non-committal on Martin’s recall prospects, with current starting back-rowers Hudson Young and Haumole Olakau’atu unlikely to be dropped from the game two side. “He’s obviously been there a lot and understands that arena, but it’s hard to say based on what he’s just done. I’m sure he wouldn’t let anyone down,” Cleary said. “It’s been a real stop-start year for him, so I think he’s just happy to get back out there. I thought the second stint where he came back on, he was looking pretty free, so he’ll only get better.”

    As for the Tigers, the side Ivan coached across two seasons earlier in his career, the Panthers head coach warned his side would face a much-improved opposition this weekend. Wests snapped a multi-game losing streak last round with key playmakers Api Koroisau and Jahream Bula returning to the lineup, and Cleary said the club has made clear progress across the 2024 season. “They’ve definitely improved throughout the year. They’re a high-energy team who look pretty connected. When they’ve got it going, they’re a real handful, so it should be a really good game.”