The China Mail - Sports (English)

In South Africa some hearts still beat for the All Blacks

When New Zealand play Ireland in the Rugby World Cup quarter finals on Saturday, Dylan Moodaley, a 32-year-old South African from Cape Town will don his favourite All Blacks t-shirt and cheer on for his country's bitter rivals.

Read more

French prop Baille primed for 'big moment' against South Africa

Over the years France have produced a host of battle-hardened props who have been able to put their hand up to be the best in world rugby.

Read more

Irish World Cup dream threatened by Barrett's Gaelic Games schooling

Beauden Barrett seeks revenge against the Irish in Saturday's Rugby World Cup quarter-final but the All Blacks star owes a debt of gratitude to Ireland because he learned the basic skills thanks to -- Gaelic football.

Read more

Four key India-Pakistan battles at World Cup

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan meet in a blockbuster clash at the World Cup on Saturday.

Read more

Fiji's rugby leader formed in France and aiming to down England

When Fiji take on England in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals in Marseille on Sunday, host country France will be willing them on to win.

Read more

Kelce questionable for Chiefs' NFL clash with Broncos

Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce is listed as questionable for the Super Bowl champions' clash with the Denver Broncos on Thursday.

Read more

Phillies blast six homers to rout Braves in MLB playoffs

Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos each smashed two of Philadelphia's record six home runs and the Phillies ripped Atlanta 10-2 on Wednesday in the Major League Baseball playoffs.

Read more

Messi doubtful for Argentina qualifier with Paraguay

Lionel Messi is doubtful for Argentina's South American World Cup qualifier against Paraguay on Thursday despite "looking good" in training, according to coach Lionel Scaloni.

Read more

PGA Tour gives three-month doping ban to South Korean An

South Korea's An Byeong-hun was suspended for three months by the PGA Tour on Wednesday for violating its anti-doping policy with a cough medicine available over the counter in his homeland.

Read more

Mum first priority before Pakistan, says India's Bumrah

India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah says seeing his mother again takes priority over Saturday's blockbuster World Cup clash against arch-rivals Pakistan.

Read more

Fiji's Matavesi a doubt for England quarter after father's death

Fiji hooker Sam Matavesi is a doubt for the team's Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against England this weekend after having returned home following the death of his father.

Read more

Scotland game important but not 'revenge' says Spain coach

Spain coach Luis de La Fuente said his team were not out for "revenge" against Scotland on Thursday but victory would "almost" book La Roja's place at Euro 2024.

Read more

Kohli, Naveen bury IPL hatchet with World Cup hug

India superstar Virat Kohli and Afghanistan fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq put an ugly IPL episode behind them with a warm embrace during their World Cup clash on Wednesday.

Read more

Dupont '100 percent' for France's World Cup quarter-final with Springboks

France's talismanic captain Antoine Dupont is "100 percent" ready to face defending champions South Africa in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final, scrum coach William Servat said.

Read more

De Kock braced for battle of 'big egos' against Australia

South Africa batsman Quinton de Kock predicted that Thursday's high-profile World Cup clash with old rivals Australia will be decided by a battle of "big egos".

Read more

Rohit's record ton powers India to World Cup win over Afghanistan

Captain Rohit Sharma on Wednesday surpassed compatriot Sachin Tendulkar with a record seventh World Cup century to lead India to a crushing eight-wicket win over Afghanistan.

Read more

Top seed Alcaraz dumped out by Dimitrov in Shanghai last 16

Grigor Dimitrov fought back to beat top seed Carlos Alcaraz in three sets and reach the quarter-finals on Wednesday in the latest upset at the Shanghai Masters.

Read more

Rohit passes Tendulkar for most World Cup tons as Afghanistan wilt

India captain Rohit Sharma on Wednesday surpassed compatriot Sachin Tendulkar as his record seventh World Cup century kept his team on course for a commanding win over Afghanistan.

Read more

Zheng downs Sakkari to reach Zhengzhou last eight

Zheng Qinwen underlined her status as the future of Chinese women's tennis with a 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 win over sixth-ranked Maria Sakkari at the Zhengzhou Open on Wednesday.

Read more

'Very different' England will run out against Fiji, vows George

Jamie George vowed that a "very different" England would take to the pitch for the World Cup quarter-final against Fiji on Sunday than the one that edged Samoa in their final pool match.

Read more

What to look out for in Euro 2024 qualifying

The road to Germany resumes this week as Euro 2024 qualifying kicks back into action with a number of teams in position to clinch qualification.

Read more

Dimitrov stuns top seed Alcaraz to reach Shanghai last eight

Grigor Dimitrov fought back to beat top seed Carlos Alcaraz in three sets and reach the quarter-finals on Wednesday in the latest upset at the Shanghai Masters.

Read more

Farrell sticks with winning formula for 'the big boy stuff'

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell said it was "the big boy stuff now" after naming an unchanged team for Saturday's World Cup quarter-final with New Zealand.

Read more

France's Dupont trains with headguard before World Cup quarter-final

France's hopes that skipper Antoine Dupont will be fit to face South Africa in the World Cup quarter-final this weekend were given a major boost on Wednesday when the scrum-half trained for the second day running with a headguard.

Read more

Shahidi, Omarzai guide Afghanistan to 272-8 against India

Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai hit half-centuries as Afghanistan reached 272-8 against hosts India in their World Cup clash on Wednesday.

Read more

Farrell sticks with winning formula as Hansen passed fit

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell selected the same starting XV for Saturday's World Cup quarter-final with New Zealand that whipped Scotland 36-14 last weekend.

Read more

Cummins sees World Cup as 'physically taxing' for bowlers

Australia captain Pat Cummins described the World Cup as the "most physically taxing" format for fast bowlers as batsmen pile up record scores around India.

Read more

Chaotic start to Cricket World Cup a fresh blow for ODIs

Poor spectator turnout, a scheduling fiasco and a dubious outfield have cast a shadow over the Cricket World Cup in India, as the 50-over game itself faces an existential crisis.

Read more

Farrell sticks with winning formula for New Zealand quarter-final

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell selected the same starting XV for Saturday's World Cup quarter-final with New Zealand that whipped Scotland 36-14 last weekend.

Read more

'Born winner' Rooney hired as new Birmingham manager

Former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney was hired as the new manager of Championship club Birmingham on Wednesday.

Read more

Gatland, Wales' Great Redeemer, eyes third World Cup semi-final

Warren Gatland has again underlined his coaching credentials by leading Wales into a fourth successive World Cup quarter-final, introducing a much-needed clarity to transform a misfiring team into contenders in a timeframe not thought possible.

Read more

Shafique making habit of great first impressions

Abdullah Shafique has a habit of making great first impressions, the latest of which came on Tuesday when he became the first Pakistan batsman to make a century on his World Cup debut in an epic pursuit against Sri Lanka.

Read more