Sports
France Dominates Argentina in Thrilling Olympics Men’s Sevens Clash
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In an electrifying display of skill and teamwork, France defeated Argentina to secure a place in the semi-finals of the Olympics men’s sevens rugby tournament, thrilling a passionate Parisian crowd. The match was not only a sporting contest but also a chance for France to assert its dominance over Argentina, following tensions between the two nations.
Aaron Grandidier, a London-born wing with an English father and a French mother, was the star of the show, scoring two spectacular tries that contributed to France’s 26-14 victory. His performance set the tone for jubilant celebrations as Les Bleus advanced to the next stage of the competition.
The backdrop to this rivalry stems from recent football encounters, where French fans were upset by Argentina’s perceived excessive celebrations after their 2022 World Cup win. This led to a hostile reception for the Argentine team at the Stade de France during the Olympic event, adding intensity to Thursday’s quarter-final.
The French team harnessed the energy of their home crowd, with back-rower Andy Timo scoring the opening try just two minutes into the match. Grandidier then followed with two impressive tries down the right wing, while Rayan Rebbadj added the conversions, giving France a commanding 21-0 lead at halftime, despite key player Antoine Dupont starting on the bench.
Argentina mounted a spirited comeback in the second half with tries from Rodrigo Isgro and Marcos Moneta, narrowing the gap to 21-14. Joaquin Pellandini’s successful conversions added to the tension, but France held firm to secure their victory.
Next, France will face South Africa, who delivered a stunning 14-7 victory over New Zealand, in the semi-finals on Saturday. Meanwhile, Ireland’s quest for an Olympic medal came to a heart-wrenching end as they fell 19-15 to the reigning two-time gold medalists, Fiji. Despite leading 15-12 in the second half, Ireland couldn’t withstand Fiji’s late surge, which set up a semi-final clash with Australia.
The Wallabies demonstrated their prowess with an 18-0 triumph over the United States in the last quarter-final match of the day. With the semi-finals set, rugby fans are eagerly anticipating the thrilling encounters ahead as the tournament continues to showcase the best of the sport on the Olympic stage.
Sports
Warren Gatland to Step Down as Wales Head Coach
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Warren Gatland is set to leave his role as Wales head coach after a record-breaking 14 consecutive Test match defeats, bringing an early end to his second tenure in charge.
Although the 61-year-old was contracted until the 2027 Rugby World Cup, he was already expected to step down after the Six Nations. Now, his departure will come midway through the tournament, with Wales still set to face Ireland on 22 February in Cardiff, Scotland on 8 March, and England on 15 March.
Possible successors include former Australia coach Michael Cheika, Glasgow’s Franco Smith, and Ireland interim boss Simon Easterby.
Gatland, who enjoyed a highly successful 12-year first stint with Wales—winning three Grand Slams and leading the team to two World Cup semi-finals—returned in December 2022 to replace Wayne Pivac. However, his second tenure has been marred by poor performances, with Wales suffering their worst losing streak in 144 years of international rugby. The 22-15 loss to Italy last weekend cemented their decline, dropping them to 12th in the world rankings.
In total, Gatland has overseen 151 Tests across both spells, with 76 wins, 73 losses, and two draws. His recent record stands at just six victories in 26 matches, a win ratio of only 23%.
Sports
Tiger Woods Withdraws from Genesis Invitational Following Mother’s Passing
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Tiger Woods has pulled out of this week’s Genesis Invitational, stating he is “still processing” the recent death of his mother, Kultida Woods.
The 15-time major champion, who had initially planned to participate, announced his withdrawal on social media, saying, “I planned to tee it up this week, but I’m just not ready. I did my best to prepare, knowing it’s what my mom would have wanted, but I’m still processing her loss.”
Woods’ mother, Kultida, passed away on February 4. Just days later, tournament organizers had confirmed Woods’ participation in the event, which is now being held at Torrey Pines instead of its usual Riviera Country Club venue due to wildfires in Los Angeles.
Woods has not played a PGA Tour event since The Open at Royal Troon last July. His competitive appearances have been sporadic since a 2021 car accident left him with severe leg injuries, and he underwent additional back surgery in September. Most recently, he played alongside his son, Charlie, in a 36-hole event in December and participated in an exhibition for the Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL), which he co-founded.
As the tournament host, Woods hopes to attend the Genesis Invitational later in the week but has not committed to a specific timeline. The event benefits his TGR Foundation, which supports youth education initiatives.
Fans and fellow players have expressed their condolences and support for Woods as he navigates this difficult time.
Sports
Tottenham’s Radu Dragusin Suffers Season-Ending ACL Injury
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Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee. The 23-year-old sustained the injury during Spurs’ Europa League clash against Elfsborg last week and will undergo surgery.
Dragusin is expected to be sidelined for at least six months, though recovery from ACL injuries can sometimes extend to a year. Tottenham confirmed that their medical team will monitor his rehabilitation to determine his return timeline.
The Romanian international had become a key figure for Spurs, starting 21 of their last 23 games. His absence adds to an already extensive injury list, which includes Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner, Wilson Odobert, Cristian Romero, and Dominic Solanke. However, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies have recently returned to action.
Dragusin joined Tottenham from Genoa in January 2024 in a £25 million deal. To bolster their defensive options, Spurs signed Austria international Kevin Danso on loan for the remainder of the season, with an option to buy for £21 million. They also made an ambitious £70 million bid for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, which was rejected, but secured the signing of 19-year-old attacker Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich.