World Sports

As over 20 major universities descend on Philadelphia this weekend to participate in the 6th Annual Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC), the game’s popularity in the United States has never been stronger. Spurred in part by the growth of the game on both the amateur and collegiate levels, as well as the development of a number of professional properties, there is ample indication that rugby is ready to become…

The NBA playoffs and Steph Curry’s daughter joining in on press conferences weren’t the only things happening in the sports world this week. In fact, a handful of athletes with Las Vegas ties made sports headlines this week — all in the baseball world. Las Vegans Bryce Harper and Kris Bryant faced off in the major leagues for the first time this week when the Washington Nationals paid a visit…

From the moment he made a century on his England Test debut, it appeared Alastair Cook was destined for greatness. During the second Test against New Zealand at Headingley on Saturday, England captain Cook, 30, overtook Graham Gooch’s tally of 8,900 runs to become his country’s most prolific batsman in Test cricket. BBC Sport looks at the different sides of Cook and how they shaped…

From the moment he made a century on his England Test debut, it appeared Alastair Cook was destined for greatness. During the second Test against New Zealand at Headingley on Saturday, England captain Cook, 30, overtook Graham Gooch’s tally of 8,900 runs to become his country’s most prolific batsman in Test cricket. BBC Sport looks at the different sides of Cook and how they shaped…

As over 20 major universities descend on Philadelphia this weekend to participate in the 6th Annual Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC), the game’s popularity in the United States has never been stronger. Spurred in part by the growth of the game on both the amateur and collegiate levels, as well as the development of a number of professional properties, there is ample indication that rugby is ready to become…

The “damaging events” of the past week convinced Football Association vice-chairman David Gill to reject a place on Fifa’s executive committee while Sepp Blatter is president. Gill did not attend Saturday’s first executive committee meeting following Blatter’s re-election to a fifth term. “My professional reputation is critical to me,” said Gill in a statement. Prince William, who is president of the Football Association, praised…

A game official walks into a gym and draws cheers from athletes. No, really. “The Sisters” hear it often. Siblings Michelle Schneider and Jacki Wincek are rare female officials working Minnesota high school adapted soccer, floor hockey and softball games. They bring a deep knowledge of the rule book while encouraging and educating athletes during games. “I do it for the kids, and I take pride in my job,” said…

In the course of an intraoffice chat about some social-media stuff you wouldn’t care about, we shared a bunch of our favorite sports GIFs. Turns out there are a lot of very good sports GIFs. But I think the GIF of an unconscious Nuggets mascot being lowered to the court might be my favorite. There are no actual sports going on right now and it’s miserable. So: what is your…

FIFA and official licensee Electronic Arts announced today that EA SPORTS™ FIFA 16 will feature 12 Women’s national football teams for the first time in the game’s history when it launches later this year.   The game which is due for North American release from 22September 2015 onwards, will feature the women’s national squads of Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, and the United States of…

By MAE ANDERSON, AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department’s targeting of FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, has put a spotlight on the powerful role that marketing firms play in the global sports arena. Such firms act like talent agencies: They work with athletes, teams and athletic associations to sign sponsorships and advertising deals. In some cases, they buy and resell media and licensing rights. Big…

FIFA and official licensee Electronic Arts announced today that EA SPORTS™ FIFA 16 will feature 12 Women’s national football teams for the first time in the game’s history when it launches later this year.   The game which is due for North American release from 22September 2015 onwards, will feature the women’s national squads of Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, and the United States of…

Vice Sports editor-in-chief Tomás Ríos has left the company in what was described by a source as a mutual agreement to part ways. The Vice Sports masthead has been updated and no longer lists Ríos—or any other staffers—as it did previously. Vice launched its sports vertical last June and was immediately beset by problems, as Vice Sports publisher Ryan Duffy left the company as it debuted. Ríos was hired as…

Sepp Blatter has refused to resign as Fifa president following a request from Uefa chief Michel Platini. The 79-year-old Swiss held an emergency meeting with key Fifa officials on Thursday after world football’s governing body was subjected to yet more damaging corruption claims. Platini then made a personal appeal for Blatter to quit but was told it was “too late” to resign. …

Music and video metadata company Gracenote is launching a new product for a new vertical, getting into sports data for the first time. To power the new sports product the company has acquired a couple of companies — Infostrada and SportsDirect — for a combined $54 million. Tribune acquired Gracenote for $170 million last year, and since then has been pouring money into the unit after combining Gracenote’s music data…

FIFA and official licensee Electronic Arts announced today that EA SPORTS™ FIFA 16 will feature 12 Women’s national football teams for the first time in the game’s history when it launches later this year.   The game which is due for North American release from 22September 2015 onwards, will feature the women’s national squads of Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, and the United States of…

Shares in Sports Direct have jumped almost 5% after the retailer said its performance has been running ahead of expectations. The company, which was founded by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, said underlying profit before tax and earnings per share had exceeded forecasts. “This is primarily a result of our continued and prudent depreciation policy and lower interest charges,” it said. Staff were given an update on the company’s performance…

For a list of all the latest deals, check out the transfers page. Rafael Benitez, who is favourite to take over as Real Madrid manager, wants to take advantage of Raheem Sterling’s contract stand-off with Liverpool and intends to make the 20-year-old England forward one of his first transfer targets. (Daily Mirror)  Manchester City are leading the race to sign ex-Manchester…

Enlarge Julie Knight Chris Paul signing autographs at the Wyndham Championship. Chris Paul, a former standout player at Wake Forest University who now plays in the NBA, has partnered with D1 Sports Training & Therapy on the company’s new Winston-Salem location. Scheduled to open in June, D1 Winston-Salem will become the Nashville, Tenn.-based firm’s 29th location and offer a range of sports training and physical therapy and rehabilitation. As the…

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST: More now on one of the American citizens indicted. Aaron Davidson is president of Traffic Sports USA. That’s a Miami-based branch of a Brazilian sports marketing conglomerate, and the owner of that company has already pleaded guilty. Tim Elfrink of the Miami New Times has written about Aaron Davidson and joins us now. Welcome to the program. TIM ELFRINK: Thanks for having me. SIEGEL: First, tell us…

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