Champions Cup qualification for United Rugby Championship (URC) teams will return to meritocracy, URC boss Martin Anayi has confirmed, but the ‘Destination Final’ won’t. Qualification for the 2024/25 Champions Cup season will be decided by the top-ranked sides rather than the current qualification that rewards the geographical pool winners. Cardiff won the Welsh Shield this season to secure Champions Cup rugby for 2023/24 despite finishing 10th on the overall table. Top eight teams to qualify However, the URC are set to return to the old format that the top eight teams will qualify for the Champions Cup rather than the geographical pool winners and the next top four teams. “It’s…

Turkish giants Fenerbahce have confirmed an agreement with Lyon and Mathieu Valbuena for the player’s transfer. Click Here: Palestine soccer tracksuit A €3m agreement was reached between the two clubs and the French international will sign for Fener on a three year contract this afternoon. The 32-year-old was told to leave Lyon this summer after his salary became too exorbitant for the club to handle. The contract that the Turkish side have offered Valbuena is enormously generous for someone of his age.

Pat Lam insists he “hasn’t got a problem” with Saracens’ team selection against Bath that played its part in Bristol Bears missing out on Champions Cup qualification. The Bears did all they could on Saturday to seal the last remaining spot for elite European competition next term, beating Gloucester 36-21 with a bonus point. However, their rivals for eighth place, Bath, picked up a bonus-point victory of their own as they beat a second-string Saracens 61-29 at the Recreation Ground. That ultimately meant Johann van Graan’s men secured Champions Cup rugby in 2023/24 after finishing above Bristol in the Premiership on points difference. Was always going to be tough Speaking…

Former Wolfsburg man and Swiss international goalkeeper Diego Benaglio has signed a 3-year deal with AS Monaco after being a free agent. Benaglio, 33, has been brought in as cover for Danjiel Subasic, with French youth international Paul Nardi having signed an extension with Monaco before heading back to Cercle Brugge for another loan spell. Benaglio played 259 times for Wolfsburg. Click Here: David Silva jersey sale

Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones has played down the supposed difference in quality between his side and the All Blacks ahead of their Bledisloe Cup opener. Incredibly Jones was the last boss of Australia to hold the coveted trophy as they beat the All Blacks in Sydney to secure a 1-1 draw to retain the silverware in 2002. Since then, it’s been a sea of black in the history books as New Zealand have dominated the fixture for the last 21 years, making the Cup very much their own. Tasman doesn’t create supermen Jones though, is looking to buck that trend and insists there’s nothing “magical” across the Tasman Sea…

Highly-coveted full-back Ferland Mendy has chosen Lyon as his next club, according to the latter club’s president, Jean-Michel Aulas, in an interview with L’Équipe. “I spoke to the President of Le Havre last night. He is in agreement now with our offers. The player has chosen Lyon. In the coming days, the deal should happen.” Mendy had concrete proposals from Bordeaux & Lille. Click Here: new zealand rugby jersey

Wales hooker Dewi Lake has penned a new deal with the Ospreys, the Welsh region has confirmed. Click Here: wexford gaa jerseys The explosive hooker has committed to his services to the side in a further boost following the recent re-signing of fly-half Owen Williams. Future captain “I’m really happy to have signed a new deal. There’s something special about playing for a team that represents your home region, and that’s exactly what the Ospreys mean to me,” Lake said on confirmation of his contract. “It’s an honour to don the jersey week in and week out, and I feel proud to be part of a legacy that includes some…

Bordeaux are exploring two targets as possible replacements for the recently-departed to Napoli man Adam Ounas, according to L’Équipe. Those two individuals are Hernani, the 25-year-old FC Porto man and EA Guingamp’s versatile attacker Yannis Salibur, The latter’s contract is up in 2018, but would prefer a move to the Premier League. Click Here: wallabies rugby jersey

Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham has made several changes to his starting line-up for Friday’s clash against the Fijian Drua in Canberra, with Wallabies lock Darcy Swain set to make his first start of the season. Swain will form part of a new second-row as he packs down alongside 29-year-old Scotsman Sam Thomson, who is set to make his Super Rugby Pacific debut for the Brumbies. Familiar look to pack The rest of the pack has a familiar look to it, with Allan Alaalatoa captaining the side from tighthead prop, with fellow Wallaby James Slipper starting at loosehead prop and Lachlan Lonergan at hooker. Meanwhile, Rob Valetini and Rory Scott…

Marseille have turned down the opportunity to sign 36-year-old Cameroonian centre forward Samuel Eto’o, according to our colleagues at Foot Mercato. Click Here: Mercedes Racing Suit The Antalyaspor striker was offered to Marseille on a two-year-contract with a salary worth €4m a year. Marseille have also turned down the chance to sign Gabriel Barbosa from Inter Milan, who was offered to the Ligue 1 side by his agent.