Todays Sporting News – 4 September 2025

• SA’s four URC clubs – the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers – are set to earn a R40-million dividend each after Saru became a shareholder in the competition.
• There was no winner on stage 11 of the Vuelta a España on Wednesday, after organisers ordered the race to finish 3km from the line due to pro-Palestinian protesters causing disruption in Bilbao.
• Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime fought back to beat Australian eighth seed Alex de Minaur 4-6 7-6(7) 7-5 7-6(4) in the US Open quarterfinals.
• NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell gave a tantalising “maybe” when asked if Taylor Swift would perform the Super Bowl halftime show in February.
• Mbeumo & co tee up Eswatini WC qualifier: Led by stars such as Manchester United duo Bryan Mbeumo and Andre Onana, Cameroon will hope to further their advancements during the CAF Fifa World Cup qualifiers when they take on Eswatini at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium on Thursday.
• Mallorca suspend Rodriguez after benching complaint: LaLiga side Mallorca suspended their midfielder Dani Rodriguez and stripped him of the captaincy on Wednesday after he complained about being benched against Real Madrid. The 37-year-old playmaker, at the club since 2018, was not brought on during …
• No Bundesliga matches abroad while I am in charge, says DFL boss Watzke: There will be no competitive German matches held outside the country, as is the case with some other European nations, German Football League (DFL) boss Hans-Joachim Watzke said on Wednesday. Watzke, the chairman of the DFL supervisory board who is …
• Is £3bn Premier League spending cause for concern?: It was the transfer window when spending by Premier League clubs went into uncharted territory. Buoyed by the start of a record £6.7bn four-year domestic TV deal, and the extra revenue generated by newly expanded European club competitions, …
• Premier League ins and outs: All the completed transfers: Premier League clubs broken the single-window spending record of £2.36 billion from 2023. Here’s what all the teams did. ARSENAL. Ins: Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea, £5m), Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad, £60m), Cristhian Mosquera (Valencia, £13m), …
• Liverpool, Arsenal win transfer window; Newcastle biggest losers: For Europe’s biggest clubs and leagues, the time for transfers in 2025 has come and gone, and they won’t be able to do any more business until January. Which is probably a good thing given the overall spending record in the Premier League has been …
• ‘Liverpool’s record-breaking summer has surely made title a formality’: As the window closed on Monday, Liverpool had broken the previous British transfer record – potentially twice. They signed Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for an initial £100m, rising to a possible £116m.
• Grading each Premier League club on their summer transfer business: Over 150 senior players have been signed by Premier League clubs. Others have moved on to the continent. Much like every year, a club’s transfer window will likely be judged a success or a failure based …
• The Premier League’s record-breaking transfer window: £3.11bn spent, more than other top leagues combined: No transfer window is ever the same, but few even have similarities to the one that closed for Premier League clubs last night. It was the behemoth, the £3.11billion ($4.16bn) chaotic beast to swallow all others. Clubs spent and spent, and spent some …
• ‘Lucky’ Djokovic to face Alcaraz after battling past Fritz: Novak Djokovic set up a blockbuster US Open semi-final with Carlos Alcaraz after delivering a gritty performance to beat American Taylor Fritz.
• Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka: SL just about beat ZIM by 4 wickets, despite looking odds on to lost at one point.
• Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus stuck to his tried and tested combinations for their third Castle Lager Rugby Championship encounter against the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday, making only four changes to the starting team that beat the Wallabies in Cape Town, with Jesse Kriel retaining the captaincy.
• US Open – Naomi Osaka turned back 11th-seeded Karolina Muchova for a 6-4, 7-6 quarter-final victory in just under two hours’ time. Amanda Anisimova had a sensational 6-4, 6-3 quarter-final victory against second-seeded Iga Swiatek in 1hr 36min. Félix Auger-Aliassime defeated the eighth seed Alex de Minaur 4-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5, 7-6 (4) to reach the semi-finals.
• Football – West Ham’s official fan advisory board, which represents more than 25,000 supporters, has issued a vote of no confidence in the club’s board.
• Cycling – The Professional Cyclists’ Association has demanded better security at the Vuelta a España after protesters disrupted stages in recent days, with one rider crashing when demonstrators ran on to the road.
• This morning, three-time premiership-winning AFL coach Mick Malthouse chased off armed intruders from his Melbourne home. According to the Herald Sun, Malthouse chased the group out into an alleyway before the group attacked him. The 72-year-old sustained minor injuries from the altercation.
• The starting price for group-stage tickets to the 2026 men’s FIFA World Cup is $US60. The cost is expected to rise due to the dynamic pricing system, which adjusts ticket prices based on demand, meaning high-demand matches could cost significantly more than face value. FIFA said “the most exclusive” seats for the final will cost as much as $US6,730. The first phase of ticket sales for the tournament begins on 10 September.
• Stage 11 of the Vuelta a España finished with no winner because of pro-Palestinian protests on the course in Bilbao, Spain. Pidcock and race leader Jonas Vingegaard had broken clear of the peloton when race organisers announced in the final kilometres of the race that finish times would be recorded three kilometres before the actual line. The incident is the latest in a string of similar incidents that have disrupted the race as riders call for better security and crowd control.
• Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has named a side with three changes to take on Argentina when the Rugby Championship resumes this weekend. Captain Harry Wilson and fly-half Tom Lynagh both return from injury while Andrew Kellaway will start at fullback in place of Tom Wright, who will be out for the remainder of the year with an ACL injury. With Will Skelton returning to France for club rugby commitments, Tom Hooper will move into the second row as Wilson slots into the back row alongside Rob Valetini and Fraser McReight. The Wallabies kick off against Argentina at 2:30pm on Saturday in Townsville.
• The Oceania Cup, a field hockey tournament held every two years, begins tonight in Darwin. Australia is set to take on New Zealand three times over the next four days in men’s and women’s fixtures.
• The NBA is investigating reports that the LA Clippers secretly paid star player Kawhi Leonard $US28 million in an effort to circumvent salary cap rules.
• Alex de Minaur has been knocked out of the U.S. Open after losing to Canadian 25th seed Félix Auger Aliassime in the quarter-final.
• American Amanda Anisimova pulled off a major upset to defeat world number two Iga Świątek in straight sets (6-4, 6-3). The result marked sweet payback for Anisimova after she failed to win a single game against Świątek in the Wimbledon final in July.
• The AFL Finals begin tonight with four matches set to be played throughout the weekend.
• The race for the 2025 Carling Currie Cup semi-finals is going down to the wire, with five teams battling for the top four spots on the log, and with just one round of league fixtures remaining, the stage is set for a dramatic climax to the regular season. One match is scheduled for Friday evening while Saturday will see a busy fixture list of the remaining three games. All the weekend’s exciting action will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
• The 2025 NFL regular season kicks off tonight (8:20 pm ET, NBC) with the Dallas Cowboys taking on the Philadelphia Eagles.
• First known organism capable of giving birth to two separate species discovered; queen Iberian harvester ant mates with a different species to create an army of worker ants.
• Neurons responsible for sociability in children gradually stop driving the behavior as brains age into adulthood (More).
• DNA analysis of hundreds of ancient skeletal remains reveals a mass migration of Slavic groups into Eastern Europe during the sixth to eighth centuries.
• US stock markets close mixed (S&P 500 +0.5%, Dow -0.1%, Nasdaq +1.0%), with Nasdaq lifted by Alphabet shares rising to all-time high after antitrust ruling allowing Google to keep Chrome browser.
• US job openings fell to roughly 7.2 million in July from 7.4 million in June; figure is lowest since September 2024 and below expectations of 7.4 million.
• Macy’s shares close up nearly 21% after retailer beats earnings estimates, reports strongest quarterly same-store sales for first time in three years.
• Oil giant ConocoPhillips to lay off up to 25% of 13,000-person global workforce.
• Federal judge orders Trump administration to restore over $2.6B in research funding to Harvard, citing cuts as illegal retaliation by the White House.
• Leaked UN nuclear watchdog report says Iran increased its stockpile of near weapon-grade uranium by over 70 pounds in the weeks before Israel’s June 13 attack.
• Streetcar derails and crashes in popular Lisbon tourist location, killing at least 15 people and injuring 18 others.
• Sudan appeals for international aid after a landslide wiped out a rural village Tuesday, killing roughly 1,000 people.
• The United Rugby Championship (URC) is pleased to announce the renewal of its partnership with OFX, the global money transfer and foreign exchange specialist, as the league’s Official Currency Exchange Partner. The renewed agreement builds on a successful collaboration that has supported the URC during a period of record-breaking growth. Last season, the league achieved unprecedented engagement across attendance, broadcast audiences and digital platforms.
• Sarah Bonar is poised to earn her 50th cap as Scotland face Canada in their final match of Pool B in the Women’s Rugby World Cup on Saturday 6 September at Sandy Park, Exeter, kick-off 12pm (live on BBC 2). Head Coach Bryan Easson has made two changes to the starting XV that featured in last weekend’s victory against Fiji.
• Wales head coach Sean Lynn has named the Wales side to face Fiji in the final game of Pool B of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 at Sandy Park, Exeter on Saturday, September 6th (KO: 2.45pm).
• A massive congratulations to Team South Africa and our sailors Josh Keytel, Ben Henshilwood, Sean Van Aswegan, and Ben Madel for their incredible achievements at the Optimist African Championships. Josh Keytel successfully defended his African title, and the team finished third overall in the team event. Congratulations sailors! We’re so proud of your achievements!
• After a thrilling week of sailing at the Lipton Challenge Cup in Cape Town, history was made by the Hermanus Yacht Club, who featured in international headlines after their triumphant performance.
• Sailing to make Commonwealth Youth Games debut at Malta 2027.
• World Sailing named among global changemakers shortlisted for Sport Positive Awards 2025.
• Sailing world mourns the passing of Peter Lester at the age of 70.
• Jack Doohan has been named the most recent F1 driver associated with crashes.
• Jo Adell homered and drove in every run for the Angels in their 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night.
• The Rams are going to the Super Bowl: Las Vegas has them at 9½ wins. Bet the over. Bet it big. They will win 11 games and a weakened NFC West and a soft NFC and then.
• The Clippers forcefully denied allegations detailed in a podcast published on Wednesday that a discredited global tree-planting company paid Kawhi Leonard $28 million to pad the star forward’s contract and skirt the NBA salary cap. However, the NBA told The Times that it will start an investigation.
• Angel City winger Alyssa Thompson left for London on Wednesday afternoon as negotiations continued on a transfer that would send her from the NWSL to Chelsea of the Women’s Super League.
• Rhyne Howard scored 19 points, Brionna Jones had 16 points and 13 rebounds for her 12th double-double of the season, and the Atlanta Dream beat the Sparks 86-75 on Wednesday night to move into sole possession of second place in the WNBA standings.
• Kriel leads Boks despite Kolisi inclusion for Eden Park showdown against All Blacks.
• The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled ticketing details and headline entertainment plans for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, set to be played across four Indian cities and Colombo, Sri Lanka. In a major announcement, renowned Indian singer Shreya Ghoshal will perform at the Grand Opening Ceremony in Guwahati, ahead of the tournament opener between India and Sri Lanka. Ghoshal, who has also recorded the tournament’s official anthem, “Bring it Home,” will deliver a live performance that celebrates the energy, spirit, and unity of women’s cricket on the global stage.
• Moodie: “It’s something I’ve dreamed of”: “I remember waking up early in the morning to watch matches between the Springboks and All Blacks back in South Africa growing up, and to possibly …
• 2025 MSA OFFICIAL AND VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD: This award is about honouring them. Motorsport South Africa (MSA) is proud to once again recognise the commitment, professionalism and passion of our …
• Kolbe and Van Staden relishing Eden Park challenge: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said on Monday that the challenge of facing New Zealand at Eden Park – where South Africa last beat the hosts in 1937 …
• South Africa women’s team step up to chase Springbok success: South Africa’s women’s team are stepping out from the monumental shadow of the four-time world champion Springboks as they prepare for their …

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY:

1920 — Man o War wins the 1 5/8-mile Lawrence Realization Stakes at Belmont Park by 100 lengths, the largest winning margin in modern racing history. His time of 2:40 4/5 shatters the world record by 6 4/5 seconds for his fifth record performance of the year.

1932 — Olin Dutra defeats Frank Walsh in the final round 4 and 3 to win the PGA Championship.

1951 — Frank Sedgman becomes the first Australian to win the men’s singles title in the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association championships, beating Victor Seixas in three sets. Sixteen-year-old Maureen Connolly wins the first of three consecutive women’s titles, beating Shirley Fry in three sets.

1966 — The Houston Oilers holds the Denver Broncos to no first downs in a 45-7 rout.

1983 — Greg LeMond wins UCI World Road Race Championship in Altenrhein, Switzerland; first American cyclist to take the title.

1983 — Lynn Dickey of Green Bay completes 27 of 31 passes, including 18 straight, for 333 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Packers in a 41-38 overtime victory over Houston.

1992 — Jimmy Connors loses to Ivan Lendl 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 in his record 115th and final U.S. Open singles match.

1994 — Fu Mingxia of China becomes the first woman to win consecutive highboard world diving titles, beating countrywoman Chi Bin in Rome.

1994 — Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins becomes the second quarterback with 300 touchdown passes by throwing for five scores in a 39-35 victory over New England. Dan Marino passes for 473 yards and Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe passes for 421 yards and four touchdowns. It’s second time two opposing quarterbacks each pass for 400 yards and four touchdowns in the same game.

2002 — Argentina defeats the U.S. 87-80 in the world basketball championships at Indianapolis. It’s the first loss for a U.S. team in 59 games since the Americans began sending NBA players to international tournaments in 1992.

2005 — 20-year-old Kyle Busch becomes youngest driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race when he out duels Greg Biffle in the Sony HD 500 at California Speedway.

2006 — Tiger Woods matches the lowest final round of his career (8-under 63) in the Deutsche Bank C’ship at Norton, MA to win for the 5th straight time and 7th time this PGA Tour season.

2010 — DeMarco Murray’s career-best 218 yards rushing leads Oklahoma to a 31-24 victory for the Sooners’ 800th win.

2010 — Andy Dalton becomes TCU’s winningest quarterback, running for two touchdowns and throwing for another in the No. 6 Horned Frogs’ 30-21 victory over Oregon State. His 30th win moves him past Sammy Baugh, who had held the mark since the mid-1930s.

2017 — Madison Keys eliminates Elina Svitolina in three sets to give the U.S. four women in the U.S. Open quarterfinals for the first time in 15 years. Keys joins Americans Venus Williams, CoCo Vandeweghe and Sloane Stephens.

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY:

1916 — Longtime pitching rivals Christy Mathewson and Mordecai Brown closed their careers, by special arrangement, in the same game. Mathewson won the game 10-8.

1923 — Sam Jones of the New York Yankees pitched a 2-0 no-hitter against Philadelphia Athletics without striking out a batter. New York’s Babe Ruth had the only strikeout of the game.

1927 — Lloyd and Paul Waner became the first brothers to hit home runs in the same game, leading Pittsburgh to an 8-4 win over Cincinnati. Both homers came off Dolf Luque in the fifth inning, the only time in major league history brothers did it in one inning. Lloyd led off the inning with his second home run of the season, and a batter later Paul hit his ninth of the year. Both were bounce home runs, allowed until the 1931; now ground-rule doubles.

1928 — The Boston Braves started a grueling string in which they played nine straight doubleheaders, a major league record.

1941 — The New York Yankees clinched the pennant on the earliest date in baseball history with a 6-3 victory over Boston.

1966 — The Dodgers became the first team in major league history to draw more than 2 million at home and on the road when they beat the Reds 8-6 before 18,670 fans in Cincinnati.

1974 — Don Wilson of the Houston Astros was replaced by a pinch-hitter after pitching eight no-hit innings against Cincinnati. Mike Cosgrove pitched the ninth inning and gave up a leadoff single to Tony Perez for the only hit in the Reds’ 2-1 victory.

1985 — Gary Carter hit two solo homers to tie a major league record and singled in another run to lead the New York Mets to a 9-2 victory over San Diego. Carter’s feat followed a three-homer performance the night before as he became the 11th player in major league history to hit five home runs in two games.

1993 — Jim Abbott threw the New York Yankees’ first no-hitter in 10 years, leading them to a 4-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

1995 — Robin Ventura became the eighth player in major league history — and the first in 25 years — to hit two grand slams in one game as the Chicago White Sox beat Texas 14-3.

1998 — The New York Yankees reached 100 wins on the earliest date in major league history — five days before the 1906 Chicago Cubs and 1954 Cleveland Indians — with an 11-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox. The ’06 Cubs set the major league record for fewest games to reach 100 victories (132).

2002 — The Oakland Athletics set an AL record by winning their 20th straight game. They somehow blew an 11-run lead before pinch-hitter Scott Hatteberg homered in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat Kansas City 12-11. Oakland broke a three-way tie for the longest winning streak in AL history with the 1906 Chicago White Sox and the 1947 New York Yankees.

2017 — J.D. Martinez tied a major league record by hitting four home runs and the Arizona Diamondbacks routed the Dodgers 13-0 for their 11th straight victory. Martinez became the 18th player in major league history to hit four homers in a game, and the 16th in the modern era.