Desportivo de Chaves secures signing of defender Léo Alaba for the 2026/27 season

The second round of the Currie Cup tournament will begin this weekend, with the Sharks XV team playing two away matches. Specifically, they will play against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Friday at 17:00.

Situation after the first round

Both teams secured one of the top two positions in the table following their intense victories in the first round. The Sharks defeated the Pumas 26-24, while the Cheetahs beat the Lions 29-27 on Sunday.

Coach's comments

Coach Mike Woolls expressed satisfaction with the result against the Pumas, noting that such a victory helps build confidence, cohesion, and belief in the team. He adheres to the principle of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it,' making only one mandatory change to the squad: Danilo Bota replaced Johannes Potgieter, who sustained a knee injury early last week.

Strategy and potential

Woolls noted that the team has not undergone significant changes because he believes that the more players play together, the better the collective becomes. He added that Danilo, who came from the Stormers, possesses huge potential, is a very physically fit player, and could become a valuable asset to the team after adapting to the system.

Goals for the upcoming match

For Woolls and his team, the priority is continuous improvement throughout the tournament. He views the game against the Cheetahs as an opportunity to strengthen team spirit, find cohesion, and gauge their strength against a strong side. Woolls anticipates a physically demanding confrontation, as the Cheetahs are an established team with experienced players, but he is confident that his group can match them physically.

He emphasized that the team's focus is on self-improvement and consistent play, as winning this tournament is not achieved in one or two rounds, but requires consistently high results. Woolls also highly praised the positive culture within the group, which is supported by captain Tom Dyer and his leadership group.

The Iranian men's national basketball team has improved its standing in the latest FIBA world rankings, moving up two places to rank 26th globally. This occurred after the conclusion of the third window of the Asian qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

World Ranking Update

According to the updated data published by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the United States maintains the leading position with 920.7 rating points. The top ten leaders include Germany, Serbia, France, Canada, Spain, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, and Lithuania.

Iranian Team's Achievements

Iran improved its ranking to 26th place, accumulating 455.7 rating points, and continues to hold fourth place in Asia, trailing Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. This growth resulted from Iran securing its spot in the next stage of the World Cup qualification. The Melli team achieved two consecutive victories against Syria in the second and third qualification windows, as well as winning an important match against Jordan.

Team's Future Plans

In the upcoming qualification window, Iran will face a challenging schedule, playing against Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines as part of the continued fight for a spot in the 2027 FIBA World Cup. The latest ranking reflects Iran's strong recent performances and strengthens its status among the leading basketball powers in Asia on the path to the World Cup.

Following a recent series of one-day matches against England, Indian players maintain dominance in the fresh ICC ODI rankings. Captain Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma hold their positions among the top five players in the world.

ODI Rankings Positions

Gill is now just one ranking point away from taking first place. After scoring 188 points in the three-match series against England, he has accumulated 801 ranking points, which is one point less than Daryl Mitchell of New Zealand, who holds the top spot with 802 points. Virat Kohli secured third place with 767 points, and Rohit Sharma placed fourth with 758 points.

Changes Among English Players

Experienced English player Joe Root benefited from strong performances in the series against India. He was named Player of the Series and moved up four places to take eighth position in the rankings. His teammate Ben Duckett made a significant jump of 11 places, reaching joint 19th place, while Jacob Bethell rose five places to occupy 64th place.

Other Ranking Changes

India's new T20 captain, Shreyas Iyer, also gained an advantage in the ODI rankings, moving up two places to take 13th place. In the bowlers' rankings, Indian star spinner Kuldeep Yadav lost ground, dropping out of the top 10 to 11th place. Rashid Khan from Afghanistan remains the leader of the bowlers' list.

News for Bowlers

English fast bowler Jofra Archer climbed one spot after taking five wickets in the series against India, now occupying third place. Above him in the list is Abberar Ahmed from Pakistan.