World Rugby trials TMO hub

World Rugby’s plan to overhaul the TMO system would eliminate host broadcaster influence over key decisions.

The Telegraph reports that the global governing body is trialling a centralised TMO hub that could be rolled out at next year’s World Cup.

The trial began during the Nations Cup (the tournament below the Nations Championship) and Junior World Championship, with all TMOs working remotely from Hawk-Eye’s headquarters in Basingstoke, England, rather than at the match venues. playerbros.org

The new system gives TMOs direct control of every available broadcast angle, assisted by a Hawk-Eye operator, instead of relying on TV directors to provide footage.

One of the key aims is to remove the possibility of broadcaster manipulation – accidental or otherwise – while also ensuring every TMO works with the same technology and experienced operators.

World Rugby also believes the centralised model will improve consistency between matches while reducing officiating costs, as fewer TMOs would be required and officials would no longer need to travel to every venue.

ALSO: URC hails Hawk-Eye success in TMO decisions

World Rugby has already introduced minimum standards for TMO operations at international level, with all unions required to adopt them before next year’s World Cup.

Under the new requirements, every available camera angle must be accessible to the TMO and foul play review officer, while the referee must receive footage directly from the TMO rather than via the host broadcaster.

Responsibility for selecting the replay angles will also rest with the TMO instead of the TV director.

FULL STORY

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Au Maroc, une cellule terroriste présumée vient d’être démantelée, a annoncé le Bureau central d’investigations judiciaires dans un communiqué publié lundi 6 juillet. Dix personnes ont été interpellées. Lors de perquisitions, un véhicule modifié pouvant servir pour un attentat-suicide a été découvert, ainsi que des armes blanches. L’enquête a été placée sous la supervision du parquet anti-terroriste.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus admitted that the plan was always to make wholesale changes, after only 10 players survived in the match 23 for their Nations Championship second-round clash against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening.

In all, 13 changes have been made to the side that powered to a 45-21 win over England in their tournament opener at Ellis Park over the weekend, most of them rotational.

It was a bit of a surprise to see so many changes, especially with Scotland expected to be a handful, as they proved by downing Argentina 47-38 in Cordoba last week, but Erasmus explained that this was a decision that had been made irrespective of their opposition’s performance in Argentina.

“It (Scotland’s result against Argentina) didn’t play any role (in the team selection). If we had played Italy first and England second we would have done the same thing.

“This team wasn’t picked for reason’s surrounding Scotland. It was picked for us to make sure that when we go to the World Cup next year we know who can do what, when and how.

“How players will react when they are under pressure and not under pressure. Some combinations were picked with that in mind.

“Scotland played really well (against Argentina) and are obviously a good team. They beat England in the Six Nations, so if you go by those results this weekend’s match will probably be tougher than last weekend’s.”

With captain Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth out with injury, Pieter-Steph du Toit will captain the team again as he did against England, but will shift back to the side of the scrum after he played lock over the past weekend.

Retained players

The other players who keep their place in the starting lineup are lock Ruan Nortje, flank Paul de Villiers and outside centre Jesse Kriel, while Damian Willemse, who played a blinder at fullback against England, switches to inside centre.

“Gazza (Willemse) played very well at 15, but he won’t catch a lot of box kicks at 12. He will have to play a different role for us (against Scotland). We wanted to give him a chance there because we wanted to see (Aphelele) Fassi at 15. I think that was the main reason,” explained Erasmus.

“We also wanted to give Doogz (Damian de Allende) a rest in this game, and we wanted a few senior guys in the backline. Ethan (Hooker) was another we would have liked to possibly give a run at 12 but he wasn’t ready.”

There is a new front row featuring Boan Venter, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw, a new halfback pairing in Embrose Papier and Handré Pollard, and a new back three in Fassi, flanked by Canan Moodie and Edwill van der Merwe, while Evan Roos comes in at eighthman and Cobus Wiese at lock.

“We are definitely going into this match with a much less experienced team than Scotland. So this will be a nice test for a lot of these guys to see if they can stand up when we get to big games over the next year or two,” said Erasmus.

“We certainly think most of them can do the job for us. We wouldn’t have them here if we didn’t think that.”

Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that his FIFA World Cup career has come to an end following Portugal’s Round of 16 exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Portugal’s 1-0 defeat to Spain marked the final World Cup appearance for the 41-year-old football icon, bringing an end to one of the greatest international tournament careers in football history.

World Cup Career Ends

While Ronaldo has confirmed this was his last World Cup, he has not officially retired from football.

He leaves the tournament as the only male player to score in six different FIFA World Cups, a record that underlines his remarkable longevity and consistency on the sport’s biggest stage.

No Decision on International Future Yet

Although his World Cup journey is over, Ronaldo has not announced his retirement from the Portugal national team.

Following the defeat, he said he would take time to reflect before making any decisions about his international future.

“The truth is that it was my last World Cup, and now I will have time with my family so as not to make decisions in the heat of the moment.”

Still Playing Club Football

Ronaldo also remains active at club level.

He is contracted to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr until 2027 and has not indicated any plans to retire from domestic football.

Leaving With No Regrets

Ahead of Portugal’s final World Cup match, Ronaldo acknowledged that the 2026 tournament would be his last appearance on football’s biggest stage.

“Let this be my last World Cup; it is my last World Cup, and I hope tomorrow won’t be my last match… Whatever happens, Cristiano will leave with a clear conscience… because I’ve given everything in football.”

While his World Cup story has ended, Ronaldo’s club career continues, with fans now waiting to see what the next chapter holds for one of football’s greatest players.

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Jamais deux sans trois. Après le Canada et le Mexique, c’était au tour des Etats-Unis, troisième et dernier coorganisateur de la Coupe du monde 2026 de quitter la scène en subissant la loi d’une Belgique supérieure (1 – 4), malgré la présence de … Balogun !

La Belgique de Rudi Garcia a rejoint brillamment les quarts de finale de la Coupe du monde 2026 en dominant largement au Lumen Field stadium de Seattle l’un des trois pays hôtes, les Etats-Unis (4 – 1). Une rencontre que tout le monde appréhendait en raison de la désormais affaire Folarin Balogun, le joueur américain qui a vu son carton rouge contre la Bosnie-Herzégovine suspendu suite à une intervention de … Donald Trump auprès de la FIFA !

Malgré les réactions qui ont suivi cet énième scandale orchestré par l’instance d’Infantino, les Belges ne se sont pas embarrassés de cette histoire ni du soutien de tout un stade pour imposer leur loi sur le terrain dès le coup d’envoi avec quelques tentatives déjouées par le gardien Matt Freese et cette ouverture du score de Charles De Ketelaere qui a repris seul dans la surface un centre de Nicolas Raskin (9^e).

Les Belges auraient pu renforcer leur avantage, mais les américains parviennent tout de même à égaliser sur un coup franc de Malik Tillman parfaitement transformé et détourné légèrement au passage pour prendre à défaut le gardien Thibaut Courtois (31^e).

L’exultation du stade de Seattle n’a duré que deux minutes, lorsque De Ketelaere de la tête au milieu de deux défenseurs ne signe son doublé en reprenant un centre de Leandro Tossard (33^e).

Un but qui fera mal aux hommes de Mauricio Pochettino qui lança Giovanni Reyna dès le retour des vestiaires pou booster son attaque. Mais une sortie mal négociée de Matt Freese loin de ses buts, offre une balle à De Ketelaere pour servir Hans Vanaken ajustant une frappe de loin pour secouer les filets américains pour la troisième fois (57^e).

La situation des Stars and Stripes se complique davantage avec la sortie, sur blessure, de Christian Pulisic à l’heure de jeu, remplacé par Sebastian Berhalter qui était à deux doigts de réduire le score sur une grosse frappe à la (79^e). Tout comme l’infortuné Balogun, quelques minutes après, butant sur Courtois dans un angle fermé.

Et pour embellir la victoire Belge qui d’autre que Romelu Lukaku, rentré en jeu, de le faire dans le temps additionnel en plaçant un joli tir dans l’angle opposé de Matt Freese (90^e+3^e), scellant une brillante qualification des Diables Rouges.

Ces derniers croiseront l’Espagne en quart de finale vendredi à Los Angeles, sur la côte d’ouest, et certainement sans leur milieu de terrain d’Aston Villa Amadou Onana, dont la blessure serait compromettante pour la suite de la compétition.

L’article CM : Malgré Balogun, la Belgique était plus forte est apparu en premier sur Foot Afrique.