BRIhEeFaLdYline
Revised calendar
LONDON - World Rugby has recommended a revised international calendar following the disruption due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the sport’s ruling body said on Wednesday. A temporary international window between October 24 and December 5 has been proposed by World Rugby’s executive committee. The Six Nations Championship can resume at the end of October and a new set of international matches involving the northern hemisphere teams can be played in Europe from November 14 to December 5. With uncertainties surrounding international travel in the southern hemisphere, the committee has proposed this year’s Rugby Championship is hosted in one country over a six-week period between November 7- December 12. Southern hemisphere rugby’s governing body SANZAAR has said its preferred host for the competition is New Zealand.
Cowan for Force
SYDNEY - Former Wallabies prop Pek Cowan had only one thought when the Western Force were included in the domestic Super Rugby AU competition - he was coming home to play for the only professional Australian side he had ever known. Cowan was a foundation member of the Force in 2006 and only left when the team was controversially dumped from Super Rugby in 2017. He has been playing in Japan since then. The novel coronavirus outbreak, however, forced rugby to shut down globally before Rugby Australia was able to organise their own domestic competition and invited the Force to join their existing four sides. “As soon as I heard that we might have the opportunity to play Super Rugby again I thought there was no other team I would love to be a part of,” he said.
Fiorentina holds Milan
MILAN - Inter Milan twice hit the post and were also foiled by goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Fiorentina on Wednesday which helped leaders Juventus move evercloser to a ninth successive Serie A title. Inter forward Romelu Lukaku headed against the post in the first half and Alexis Sanchez also saw a shot touched onto the upright by Terracciano in the second half. The result meant that Juventus, who lead with 70 points and have four games left, can wrap up a ninth successive title by winning at Udinese on Thursday. Atalanta, second with 74 points, and Inter, third with 73, have three games each to play and Juventus have a better head-to-head record with both of them.
League champions
LIVERPOOL, England - Champions Liverpool geared up to lift the Premier League trophy with a 5-3 win over Chelsea in a goal feast at Anfield on Wednesday to ensure they went an entire league season unbeaten at home. Naby Keita opened the scoring with a thunderous effort, Trent AlexanderArnold made it 2-0 with a curling free kick and they added another through Georginio Wijnaldum’s half-volley from close range, before Olivier Giroud pulled one back on the stroke of halftime. Roberto Firmino restored the three-goal advantage in the 55th minute but Chelsea scored through Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic to threaten a dramatic comeback before Alex OxladeChamberlain put the result beyond doubt.