CAPE TOWN - South Africa's World Cup winning squad are using the score from last year's final in Japan to launch a campaign to feed people left destitute by the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
A total of 100,000 raffle tickets are being sold at 32.12 South African rand ($1.76) which will pay for food parcels and soup kitchens.
The Springboks beat England 32-12 in last November's final to win the World Cup for a third time and many of their top players have already launched their own initiatives to collect food for the hungry, notably captain Siya Kolisi.
In return, those who buy tickets have a chance to win a host of memorabilia from the tournament donated by the players -- a total of 44 prizes (32 + 12).
"When I made the call for the squad to make donations, they were all in within a matter of hours – boots and all!" said coach Rassie Erasmus.
"We talked a bit last year (during the World Cup) about what pressure was – not having a job, having a family member murdered – and now this pandemic has put millions out of work and left as many struggling every day to put food on the table," he added.
South Africa has enforced one of strictest lockdowns which has taken a heavy toll on the economy, already in recession before COVID-19 struck, and increased daily hardships for millions of poor.
The country has recorded 286 coronavirus deaths, with 16,433 confirmed cases, the health ministry reported on Monday. ($1 = 18.2246 rand) (Editing by Christian Radnedge)
-reuters-
WELLINGTON - World Rugby has postponed all rugby union test matches scheduled for July because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global governing body said on Friday.
Most cross border and domestic club competitions have been suspended since March as countries moved to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, and the July test window had long been under threat with many nations expecting games to be postponed.
Travel bans, strict quarantine protocols and player safety concerns meant "cross border international rugby competition cannot be hosted in July", World Rugby said in a statement.
It was too early to determine whether matches in the November window would be affected at this stage, WR said, with a decision contingent on advice from governments and health organisations.
South Africa Rugby Chief Executive Jurie Roux said health concerns were the priority.
"Any solution will have player health, welfare and appropriate return-to-play protocols at heart," Roux said in a statement.
"It would be inappropriate to comment on potential solutions during a fluid and important consultation process."
World champions South Africa were due to host Scotland and Georgia in July.
New Zealand were due to host Wales and Scotland but may now look at playing more games against neighbours Australia later in the year with both countries having slowed COVID-19 cases to a trickle.
"From a New Zealand point of view, we are taking a pragmatic approach to the international test programme," NZ Rugby Chief Executive Mark Robinson said in a statement.
"We are working hard to explore any and every opportunity ... and watching with keen interest any Government discussions on a possible trans-Tasman bubble with Australia."
The Wallabies had tests against Ireland and Fiji scheduled for July, while World Cup runners-up England were due to return to Japan for two matches.
"It is a pity that we cannot start this year's Japan national team matches, because we lost a valuable opportunity to play Wales and England," Japan coach Jamie Joseph said in a statement.
"However, considering the global coronavirus infection situation, it is unavoidable, and it is now time to stay at home and with family."
-reuters-
SYDNEY - More than 100 staff cleared their desks at Rugby Australia's shiny offices near Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday and Wednesday in a troubling portent of an uncertain future for the game in the wake of the coronavirus shutdown.
Already cash-strapped after five years of only modest success on the field and ructions off it, the suspension of all professional sport to help contain the pandemic has come as a perfect storm for rugby union's governing body in Australia.
While other unions around the world have been forced to cut costs, and USA Rugby are making the tactical move of filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy, few face a future as bleak.
Twice world champions and World Cup finalists as recently as 2015, the Wallabies are undoubtedly one of the powers of the international game.
In response to the crisis, Rugby Australia Chief Executive Raelene Castle agreed to a 50% pay cut before announcing on Tuesday that 75% of RA staff would be laid off for three months with those remaining working shorter hours on reduced wages.
RA's 2019 accounts have yet to be signed off because of the uncertainty but Castle said in announcing the layoffs that they faced a "worst case scenario" of A$120 million ($73.54 million)losses in revenue, a devastating amount for a body of its size.
Former Wallaby Rod Kafer, now a television pundit, said on Wednesday the roots of the crisis predated the coronavirus pandemic and called for wholesale changes at the top.
"This concept for the rugby community that 'everything's okay, just trust us' when the CEO says we're staring down a A$120 million hole? How did the board allow the game to get into that position?" he told Fox Sports TV.
"We know rugby was sick a long time before the coronavirus came along. Rugby's been sick for years, people have been calling for change and it hasn't occurred. And yet, the same people who've taken us off the cliff are still in charge."
LEGAL BATTLE
This year was already going to be tough financially for RA due to the usual reductions of revenue following a World Cup year being compounded by the financial fallout from the lengthy battle over Israel Folau's sacking last May.
The decision to spurn the offer of an extended broadcast deal from long-term partners Fox Sports and take the rights to market has also left them potentially exposed when the current four-year, $285 million contract expires at the end of 2020.
Castle and her team have started negotiations over what are now inevitable player salary cuts with the Rugby Union Player's Association (RUPA) and their chief executive, Justin Harrison. "Yesterday, we commenced formal discussions with RUPA with a genuine desire to find a fair and reasonable solution on a short term pay deal with the players for the three-month period from now until June 30," Castle said in a statement on Wednesday.
"We believe the information we have shared, including information on future cash projections, provides the players with enough information to develop a position."
Former Wallabies lock Harrison earlier said Rugby Australia were being nowhere near as transparent as they should be about the extent of the crisis facing the game.
"Australia's professional rugby union players are still waiting on detailed financial information from Rugby Australia after talks in Sydney today, still not provided after three weeks of requests," he said in a statement on Tuesday.
"Although RA provided no assurances, RUPA looks forward to the opportunity to assess that information in the near future."
Kafer said he thought that even after halving her A$800,000 salary, Castle would still be earning more than 95% of players.
"Taking the game to the point of insolvency is what this management team and board have done," he added.
"It is time for drastic change, the rugby community ... has watched this train smash over the last few years and has called for change. Now's the time to demand it."
($1 = 1.6319 Australian dollars) (Additional reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by Peter Rutherford and Pritha Sarkar)
Reuters
TOKYO - Rescuers in Japan worked into a third day on Tuesday in an increasingly desperate search for survivors of a powerful typhoon that killed nearly 70 people and caused widespread destruction.
Hagibis slammed into Japan on Saturday night, unleashing fierce winds and "unprecedented" rain that triggered landslides and caused dozens of rivers to burst their banks.
By Tuesday morning, national broadcaster NHK put the toll at nearly 70, with more than a dozen missing. The government's confirmed death toll was lower, but it said it was still updating its information.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said there was no plan to slow rescue operations, with around 110,000 police, coast guard, firefighters and military troops involved.
"Currently in damaged areas rescue work and searches for the missing are continuing around the clock," Abe told parliament.
"Where rivers flooded, work is ongoing to fix spots where banks broke, and water is being pumped out where floods occurred," he added.
The prime minister's office said more than 3,000 people have been rescued in the wake of the disaster, which affected 36 of the country's 47 prefectures.
RAIN PROMPTS NEW WARNINGS
Government officials warned that more rain was expected throughout the day Tuesday in several parts of the country affected by the typhoon.
"Because of the heavy rain so far, water levels at rivers have risen and ground has softened in some places," said chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga.
"We ask people not to drop their guard and to remain fully alert," he told reporters.
Hagibis crashed into land packing gusts up to 216 kilometers (134 miles) per hour, but it was the storm's heavy rain that caused the most damage.
At least 176 rivers burst their banks, including in central Nagano, where a levee breach sent water from the Chikuma river gushing into residential neighborhoods and submerging bullet trains in a depot up to their windows.
Deaths were reported across many prefectures and included a man whose apartment was flooded, a municipal worker whose car was caught in rising waters and at least seven crew aboard a cargo ship that sank in Tokyo bay on Saturday night.
By Tuesday morning, some 34,000 households were still without power, and 133,000 homes had no water.
Tens of thousands of people spent Monday night in government shelters, with many unsure when they would be able to return home.
GOVERNMENT PLEDGES AID
The government pledged to offer financial support to affected regions, without specifying how much aid it would set aside.
"Support for the victims of the disaster is an urgent task," Abe said.
"There are concerns that the impact on daily life and economic activities may be long-lasting."
Among the areas affected by the storm was the Fukushima region, where several bags containing soil and plants collected during nuclear decontamination efforts were washed away.
"Ten bags out of 2,667 were swept into a river during the typhoon, but six of them were recovered yesterday," environment ministry official Keisuke Takagi told AFP, adding that the remaining four bags had been found and would be collected soon.
"Residents must be worried about the environment, but there are no reports that the bags were broken, so there will be nothing to worry about once they have been recovered safely," he said.
Hagibis caused transport chaos over a holiday weekend in Japan, grounding flights and halting train services.
By Tuesday, things were largely back to normal, though some flights remained cancelled and train services were partially disrupted where tracks or train stock were damaged by the storm.
The typhoon also caused disruption to sporting events, delaying Japanese Grand Prix qualifiers and forcing Rugby World Cup organizers to cancel three matches.
A crunch fixture pitting the hosts against Scotland went ahead on Sunday night, with Japan winning its first ever quarter finals spot.
source: newa.abs-cbn.com
South Africa want to beat Australia for only the second time in seven Tests Saturday and avoid being labelled one-match wonders after a stunning triumph over New Zealand.
A seesaw season for the Springboks under new coach Johan 'Rassie' Erasmus has brought four wins and four losses with a thrilling 36-34 victory in Wellington this month the highlight.
Before inflicting a rare home defeat on the world champions, the South Africans were lacklustre in away defeats by Argentina and Australia.
Erratic form has left them with little chance of winning the Rugby Championship for the first time as they trail the All Blacks by six points with two rounds remaining.
But home fixtures against Australia in Port Elizabeth, and New Zealand in Pretoria next Saturday, offer South Africa an opportunity to build momentum.
"We do not want to be known as one-match wonders," stressed scrum-half Faf de Klerk ahead of the showdown with struggling Australia at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in the coastal city.
"All the gloss of defeating the All Blacks in Wellington will disappear if we deliver a mediocre performance at home to the Wallabies and lose.
"Having celebrated the victory in New Zealand, the focus quickly shifted to plotting a victory over the Wallabies."
De Klerk, who plays for English Premiership club Sale Sharks, was recalled this season after being left out in the cold last year by previous coach Allister Coetzee.
His inconsistent form in seven consecutive starts for the twice former world champions this year has matched that of a team which has ranged between brilliance and mediocrity.
- 'Spoken a lot about consistency' -
"We have spoken a lot about consistency," said De Klerk. "It is not just about winning, but improving our individual performances."
Erasmus has made four personnel changes -- three injury enforced -- from the Wellington starting line-up for the southern hemisphere championship fifth-round match.
Cheslin Kolbe comes in on the right wing for Jesse Kriel, who switches to centre in place of Lukhanyo Am and partners Andre Esterhuizen, a replacement for Damian de Allende.
Tendai 'The Beast' Mtawarira wins his 105th cap as loosehead prop with Steven Kitshoff dropping to the bench and Sikhumbuzo Notshe takes over from Warren Whiteley at number eight.
Australia coach Michael Cheika has also made four personnel changes after a 23-19 loss to Argentina in the Gold Coast -- their first home defeat by the Pumas in 35 years.
Losing relegated the Wallabies to a record-low seventh in the world rankings midway through a season in which they have won only two of seven Tests.
Skipper and flanker Michael Hooper has recovered from an injury and returns to a reshuffled back row with Ned Hanigan also called up and David Pocock switching to number eight.
Adam Coleman replaces Rory Arnold at lock and tighthead prop Taniela Tupou makes his run-on debut with Allan Alaalatoa relegated to the bench.
Cheika resisted media calls to begin with fly-half Bernard Foley, giving versatile Kurtley Beale a third straight start as playmaker.
Centre Reece Hodge is upbeat ahead of the first match between the countries in Port Elizabeth since 1963 when South Africa triumphed to draw a four-Test series.
"They had a great win over the All Blacks but their supporters, like ours, are going to demand consistency."
source: news.abs-cbn.com
