Scott Edwards steps down as Netherlands captain; leadership passed to all-rounder Bas de Lille

Young players, scrum-half Imad Khan and junior flanker Bok Yakin Ahmed, will feature as starting midfielders for the Stormers team in the match against the All Blacks. This match will take place on Friday and will open the tour known as the 'Greatest Rivalry in Rugby'.

The Stormers team intends to entrust its future to young stars, including Springbok junior world champion Yakin Ahmed and promising scrum-half Imad Khan, as part of the start of the 'Greatest Rivalry in Rugby' tour at the DHL stadium.

The match, which will be held in the Mother City on Friday, is expected to be a bright start to the series, as the Cape Town team is ready to challenge New Zealand through its scrum play, maul, and attacking line.

International Rugby

According to IOL Sport, Ahmed, who recently led the Junior Boks to a world title in Georgia, will make his debut in the Stormers starting lineup against the second strongest team in the world. Instead of choosing a more experienced scrum-half to support the 20-year-old player, rugby director John Dobson has opted for the young 22-year-old Khan to play alongside Ahmed.

This will particularly excite fans of the Cape Town team, as this duo is considered the next generation of stars in the Mother City. In the absence of Springboks such as Kobus Reinach, Sasha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse, they will be responsible for leading the Stormers' attacking plan against the dangerous All Blacks.

Flanker Feinberg-Mngomezulu appears ready to return to the Springboks squad after injury when they face Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday. Stormers reserve flanker Yuri Matty, who performed brilliantly at the start of last year's United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign, remains on the bench and is not expected in this confrontation.

This will be a real test for Ahmed and Khan. Although the latter has gained valuable experience in the URC, this will be a completely new challenge for Ahmed. Nevertheless, the Stormers management is excited about the opportunity to unleash these two former school stars against the Kiwis.

Ahmed impressed throughout the Junior World Cup and took control of the championship team after returning from suspension. He was involved in a dangerous tackle during the South Africa 'A' team game against Zimbabwe in June. However, since returning to the pitch, he has continued to impress with his attacking skill, tactical passing, and resilience in defense.

These performances likely secured him a spotlight role in the 'Greatest Rivalry in Rugby', as the Stormers decided not to risk him in the Currie Cup, despite giving opportunities to young stars Marcus Muller and Danny Kruger. Instead, Ahmed was kept in reserve before the match against the All Blacks.

This is a huge opportunity for the young midfield pair to demonstrate their abilities before the start of the new URC season. Since Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Willemse, and Reinach will be absent due to participation in the Springbok squad at the beginning of the club season, strong performances against New Zealand could solidify Ahmed's and Khan's leading positions when the URC begins.

If Barcelona decides to extend the contract with Ferran Torres, the club is obliged to pay Manchester City a sum of 8 million euros. This information was reported by journalist Matteo Moretto in the publication Marca.

This footballer moved to the Catalan club in January 2022, and the terms of this transfer were recorded in the agreement between the parties. According to available data, Torres' current contract with Barcelona will be valid for another year.

However, the club has not taken any practical steps to extend the agreement over the past few months. Because of this, the footballer understands that he is not among the club's priority plans.

Although there is a possibility that Ferran Torres will spend the next season with Barcelona, interest from PSG could change the situation. According to reports, negotiations with the Parisians are expected early next week.

Ferran Torres is ready to leave the team because he feels that he is not valued enough in Catalonia.

La Liga President Javier Tebas commented on FIFA's rejection of plans to sell part of the World Cup rights to private investors, calling for Gianni Infantino to step down from his post.

Tebas noted that the withdrawal of the privatization proposal for the competitions is a positive development. However, he considers it a serious mistake to believe that this resolves the management problems within the organization. He emphasized that such decisions should not restrict confederations, national associations, leagues, players, and other participants in the football system.

In Tebas' opinion, the problem is much deeper. He recalled several events that cannot be forgotten: the cancellation of red cards following political interference, the investigation initiated by the US Congress against Gianni Infantino, allegations of historical corruption in FIFA, disputes related to World Cup ticket prices, as well as unilateral decisions regarding the international calendar and new tournaments made without consulting stakeholders.

He stated that the problem lies not in one project, but in the management system itself, which concentrates power in the hands of a few, weakens control mechanisms, and limits the voices of those directly affected by the decisions.

For this reason, Tebas believes that Gianni Infantino should not remain FIFA president. He insists on the need for new leadership capable of restoring trust in world football, modernizing governance, and making decisions that take into account the sporting, economic, and social consequences after consulting all stakeholders.

Tebas published these thoughts on his social media page, adding that the cancellation of one proposal does not erase past events.

It was previously reported that FIFA abandoned its plan to sell part of the World Cup rights to private investors, which caused sharp criticism in the world of football.