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Sports

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Sports

‘It’s in our blood’: Lebanon, Ukraine and Syria rugby league teams fly the flag despite horrors of war at home

Players from war-torn countries say they are determined to ‘give people hope’, ‘put the country on the map’ and ‘wear the badge with honour’ By No Helmets Required There are many reasons for a country to not play rugby league. Being at war does not seem to be one of them. Last Sunday, a few miles apart in Sydney, Syria and Lebanon played international fixtures on contrasting stages. Syria hosted a series of friendlies at the humble home of Bankstown Bulls, before Lebanon played an all-time World Cup classic against France in a frenzied CommBank Stadium. A few days earlier, Ukraine had played a

The Guardian
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Sports

Whirlwhind year from Wolverhampton to Hong Kong for Leger heroine Osborne

Classic success resulted in contract to ride for outstanding female jockey at high-profile meeting Saffie Osborne’s year began with a ride on a 150-1 chance in a race worth £7,000 at Wolverhampton on 6 January, when she trailed in last of the seven runners. Its final chapter will open on Sunday in the decidedly glitzier surroundings of Sha Tin racecourse in Hong Kong, where Osborne has 10 rides on an 11-race card, and the 10 months in between have been transformational for the 24-year-old. A first top-10 finish in the Flat jockeys’ championship was the reward for Osborne’s consistency througho

The Guardian
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Sports

Senior England players ‘fight to protect’ Steve Borthwick and deny rift

Team meet to discuss Times article on squad disharmony Jamie George says criticism will get best from England England’s senior players have circled the wagons around Steve Borthwick and denied he oversaw a toxic environment over the summer, insisting they will “fight to protect” the under-fire head coach in Sunday’s autumn opener against Australia. Jamie George, who captained the side for England’s three summer Tests, and the returning skipper, Maro Itoje, called a squad meeting on Friday morning to discuss an article in the Times that portrays a group of players fed up with Borthwick’s man ma

The Guardian
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