Arsenal : William Saliba entrevoit enfin le bout du tunnel

William Saliba voit enfin la lumière au bout d’une convalescence qui s’éternise. Éloigné des terrains depuis sa sortie en demi-finale de la Coupe du monde contre l’Espagne, le 14 juillet, le défenseur d’Arsenal poursuit son protocole de soins après plusieurs mois passés à composer avec des douleurs au dos. Une opération avait finalement été écartée après les examens réalisés à Londres, et le club londonien avait privilégié une prise en charge conservatrice avec un programme de soins et de repos.

Une convalescence au quotidien

Depuis le début de cette période, Saliba mène un quotidien bien éloigné de celui d’un footballeur professionnel. Chaque jour, le Français se rend au centre d’entraînement d’Arsenal pour plusieurs heures de soins, de massages et de travail physique avec les kinés, avec une ligne directrice simple : ne surtout pas brûler les étapes. Son entourage explique à L’Équipe qu’il sait désormais qu’il doit prendre son temps après avoir trop longtemps évolué avec la douleur. esporist.org

Cette longue parenthèse l’a également contraint à trouver d’autres occupations pour rythmer ses journées, entre parties de PlayStation, balades à vélo et sorties dans Londres. Mais derrière cette routine inhabituelle, le processus de récupération continue de progresser. Une imagerie réalisée récemment a confirmé une évolution favorable et, surtout, Saliba a franchi une nouvelle étape en abandonnant le vélo pour reprendre la course.

Novembre désormais dans le viseur

Le retour n’est toutefois pas encore imminent. Arsenal refuse de fixer une date trop précise et attend de voir comment le défenseur réagit à chaque nouvelle étape de sa reprise. L’objectif est d’abord de lui permettre de retrouver toutes ses capacités physiques avant d’envisager un retour à l’entraînement collectif, puis à la compétition. Cette prudence est directement liée à la durée du problème : Saliba avait reconnu avant la Coupe du monde qu’il souffrait du dos depuis plusieurs mois et qu’il n’était pas à 100 %.

Mais pour la première fois depuis longtemps, le défenseur de 25 ans peut désormais regarder vers une échéance concrète. Si sa progression se poursuit sans nouvelle alerte, son entourage envisage un retour à la compétition dans le courant du mois de novembre. Après plusieurs mois de soins, d’attente et de travail loin des projecteurs, Saliba se rapproche donc enfin du terrain. Il reste encore une dernière étape à franchir, mais le retour du Français commence désormais à prendre une forme beaucoup plus concrète.

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Stormers boss John Dobson says Lleyton Davids has rugby instincts to match his searing pace, while the ‘Robertson Express’ sees his opportunity as a dream come true.

The Cape club on Thursday confirmed the speedster has signed a contract after an impressive pre-season showing against the Bulls.

The three-time national triple jump champion scored an incredible try at Faure Street Stadium in Paarl, and Dobson said that Davids’ performance was enough to confirm that he has serious potential.

“Lleyton obviously has searing out-and-out pace having run a sub-11 second 100m barefoot, but what he showed us in pre-season is that he has a real instinct for rugby,” the director of rugby said in a statement.

RITO: ‘Our forwards go through the front door’

“This is a great example of how our recruitment system is working. While players are being identified at a young age and the Stormers Rugby Institute is developing the best talent, there is still so much untapped potential in our region.

“I saw him playing for Robertson Town live and it was clear that he has something special. Now the onus is on us to develop him as a player to ensure that he can make an impact at a higher level.

“We want to ensure that all local players, regardless of where they are playing, can see a pathway to our squad. Credit must go to all involved in making this signing happen, especially his agent Shafiek Mouton who went above and beyond.”

We’ve made it official with the ‘Robertson Express’ Lleyton Davids.

Full story: https://t.co/oeT1EWPCOy#inittogether pic.twitter.com/tV43PdKO9i

— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) October 1, 2026

Davids said that being given an opportunity like this is incredibly exciting.

“Like any local boy, I grew up watching the Stormers and training with the squad over the past months has been a dream come true,” he added.

“I have rubbed shoulders with some great players and I want to show that I can keep improving and that I belong in what is one of the strongest squads in world club rugby.”

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

The post Dobbo sees ‘something special’ in new signing appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

If Luan Giliomee’s incredible individual try in the opening round of the United Rugby Championship is anything to go by, young South African players are set to light up this season.

Giliomee was not alone in his performance. Kelly Mpeku also had a good outing for the Lions, scoring his team’s match-winning try, and Reinhardt Ludwig shone for the Bulls with stellar lineouts and two scores.

The fact that South Africa’s teams won all four games without their Springboks, including two matches in Europe, bodes well for the season.

The Springboks will be returning to their URC franchises now, and we may see some young players moved to the bench or out of the matchday 23 as a result.

But when the Nations Championship returns it will be all systems go for South Africa’s rising stars, bolstered by back-to-back World U20 Championship titles, and coming through the ranks at their franchises.

Some of the youngest include 19-year-old players Zekhethelo Siyaya, Markus Muller and Ethan Adams, the first two having already turned heads during the SA A team’s 40-0 whitewash of Zimbabwe in June.

Youngsters light up the URC

Still Junior Springboks, but a year older, are Giliomee (also a Blitzbok), Riley Norton, Esethu Mnebelele, Oliver Reid, Vusi Moyo and Yaqeen Ahmed.

All six have been invited by Rassie Erasmus to Springbok camps and are set for phenomenal futures in rugby.

Sharks coach JP Pietersen said Moyo looked like he had “played 100 games” for the Sharks already, judging by how the flyhalf commanded proceedings against the Ospreys, and slotting all six of his kicks.

He called Giliomee an “unbelievable talent” and was grateful to have him for one more game before he moves to the Bulls.

Twenty-one-year-old players Batho Hlekani, Jaco Williams and Haashim Pead are all set to build on strong seasons last year, while Jurenzo Julius (former Junior Springbok of the year), Siba Mahashe and Mpeku, all 22, could start knocking on the doors of Springbok selection.

Zach Porthen is already becoming a regular in the national side. Imad Khan will hope to return to fitness in time to leave a mark in the URC.

Players in their mid-20s, or even mid-30s, are never out of the picture, according to Erasmus’ selection policy.

But the youngest stars always light up the field with their hungry, fearless play. And we are quicker to forgive their mistakes.

Let’s hope they can live up to their potential.

EMBU, Kenya, Oct 1 – Sixteen teams will square it out for the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Eastern region supremacy, with eight boys and eight girls teams battling for titles and a ticket to the national finals.

The three-day tournament, running from Friday to Sunday, will bring together teams from the region’s eight counties.

The quarterfinals will kick off on Friday across four venues: Nembure Grounds, Kamiu Grounds, Embu Showgrounds, and the University of Embu Grounds.

The action will then move to the semi-finals on Saturday, before the two category finals take place on Sunday at Moi Stadium, Embu, where the Eastern Region champions will be crowned.

In the girls’ category, defending regional champions Syomunyu Queens from Kitui will begin their title defence against hosts Royal Queens Academy from Embu at the University of Embu Grounds, with kick-off scheduled for 9:00 a.m.

Syomunyu Queens head coach Amos Mulwa said his side is prepared for the challenge ahead, acknowledging the increased pressure that comes with being the defending champions.

“First, I want to congratulate my girls for making it to this stage. The competition has been fierce, with every team fighting for a place in the regionals. We are here to defend our title, and while we expect a tough challenge, we are ready for it,” Mulwa said.

Every team wants to beat the defending champions, but our opponents should know that it will not be a walk in the park. We are determined to retain our crown, and our focus is to stick to our playing system, take each match as it comes, and fight to the very end,” added Mulwa.

The other girls’ quarter-finals will see Dakabaricha from Marsabit take on Bridge Starlets from Isiolo at Embu Showgrounds, while Meru’s Akuune Queens face MCF Starlets from Machakos at Nembure Grounds. At Kamiu Grounds, AIC Sultan Queens from Makueni will face Mugona Girls from Tharaka-Nithi.

The boys’ quarterfinals will follow at 11:00 a.m., with the region’s emerging football talent also seeking a place in the last four.

Meru’s Makinduri Rockstars will face SMPI Academy from Kitui at Embu Showgrounds, while MAFA Academy from Isiolo will take on Kajiunduthi High School from Tharaka-Nithi at Kamiu Grounds.

At Nembure Grounds, hosts Black Cats Football Academy will face Mbuthani Secondary School from Makueni, while Golden Football Academy from Machakos will take on Abdary FC from Marsabit at the University of Embu Grounds.

For Black Cats Football Academy head coach Sammy Githinji, playing on home ground provides added motivation as the team seeks to secure the regional title.

“It is exciting to reach this stage. Safaricom Chapa Dimba is highly competitive, and every team dreams of making it to the regional finals, if not the nationals. There is pressure that comes with playing at home, but we are prepared for the task ahead. Our goal is to compete for the regional title and ensure the trophy stays in Embu,” said Githinji.

Beyond the pitch, players and coaches will participate in development clinics later in the afternoon, covering areas including financial literacy, data privacy, mental health, and AI-powered vests.

The quarter-final winners will advance to Saturday’s semi-finals, with the successful teams progressing to Sunday’s finals at Moi Stadium.

The boys’ and girls’ regional champions will each pocket Sh250,000 and earn the opportunity to represent the Eastern Region at the Safaricom Chapa Dimba National Finals scheduled for early next year. The runners-up in both categories will each receive Sh150,000.

Individual awards will also be contested, with the Best Goalkeeper and Top Scorer in each category each receiving Sh30,000.

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) will also receive Sh30,000, alongside a fully funded tertiary education scholarship under the Safaricom Citizens of the Future Programme.

The Eastern Region tournament continues to provide a competitive platform for young footballers to showcase their talent, with 382 teams registering for this season’s campaign.

The registrations comprised 272 boys’ teams and 110 girls’ teams, highlighting the growing participation in grassroots football across the region.

Meru recorded the highest number of registrations with 81 teams, followed by Machakos with 79.

Marsabit registered 51 teams, Isiolo 50, Kitui 47, Makueni 35, Tharaka-Nithi 21, and Embu 18.

Having opened their home tour with a win, the Proteas are in a good space heading into the highly anticipated Test series against Australia, according to national captain Temba Bavuma.

Though they lost the third and final one-day international (ODI) against the Australians in Potchefstroom on Wednesday, the SA team had won the first two games in Durban and Johannesburg last week, earning a 2-1 series victory.

A number of players stood up during the limited overs series, with specialist batters Bavuma, David Miller and Matthew Breetzke all scoring centuries, while Ryan Rickelton and Marco Jansen hit half-centuries.

With the ball, spinner Keshav Maharaj (the Player of the Series) and seamer Corbin Bosch were the standout performers, with both players grabbing four-wicket hauls in standout performances, while Maharaj, Bosch, Lizaad Williams and Bjorn Fortuin all took at least five wickets in the series.

“Certain batters spent time at the crease and bowlers got overs under their belt, so I think there is confidence and momentum we can take from this ODI series, and we’re happy with how we progressed over the last week or so,” Bavuma said.

Switching focus to Tests

Looking ahead to the three-match Test series starting next week, Bavuma said the players understood the historic rivalry between South Africa and Australia, which was last on show when the Proteas won the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s last year. He also acknowledged the importance of this series as part of the new WTC cycle.

The hosts were focused, however, on taking it one game and one day at a time.

“In terms of where we would like to be as a team, for us to get there we have to overcome this challenge against Australia. We have the advantage that it’s at home, and we’re going to have to use that advantage,” the skipper said.

“We know the bigger picture but that’s at the back of our minds. In front of us now is how we’re going to put our best foot forward come that first day in Durban.”

The Proteas Test squad will get together for a camp on Friday to prepare for the first match of the series at Kingsmead starting next Friday.