South Africa have defeated Scotland 42-28 in a thrilling Nations Championship encounter in Pretoria to deny the visitors a historic first victory on South African soil.
The double world champions were made to work tirelessly for their win by Gregor Townsend’s resurgent side.
Scotland had arrived in the southern hemisphere full of confidence after already dispatching England, France and Argentina in impressive fashion earlier this year.
That hard-earned momentum looked precarious early on as the powerful hosts raced into a commanding 14-0 advantage.
Scottish resilience stuns world champions
The visiting side refused to capitulate and produced a stunning fightback to level the match by half-time.
However, the Scots were ultimately left to regret their failure to capitalise on a crucial numerical advantage early in the second period.
Springbok forward Ben-Jason Dixon was sent to the sin-bin, but the away side could not convert their temporary dominance into points.
Late surge secures Springbok victory
The home side appeared to finally shatter Scottish resistance with a devastating 10-minute spell either side of the hour mark.
Three quickfire tries restored a comfortable cushion for the reigning global champions.
Refusing to yield, Townsend’s men mounted another stirring comeback through well-worked scores from Josh Bayliss and Ben White.
Those late efforts closed the deficit to a single converted try, setting up a nervous finale for the expectant Pretoria crowd.
The tense atmosphere was only lifted when Jesse Kriel crossed for a decisive breakaway try to guarantee a hard-fought result.
Former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland has been posthumously diagnosed with Stage 1 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) following his tragic death at the age of 24.
Boston University’s CTE Center confirmed the diagnosis after the 24-year-old’s family donated his brain for medical research.
The American football player died by suicide in November 2025 after a high-speed police pursuit in Texas.
Family seeks to raise awareness
A statement released by his relatives and girlfriend, Catalina Mancera, explained that sharing his medical status provides vital context about his underlying struggles.
“While this diagnosis does not change the tragedy of his passing, it provides important context about some of the struggles he may have been facing,” the family’s statement read.
“We share this information to help people understand what NFL and other high contact sport athletes might be struggling with.”
Researchers at the BU CTE Center emphasised that suicide is a deeply complex issue and a post-mortem diagnosis should not be viewed as the sole cause.
A history of mental health challenges
Records indicate the former Western Michigan collegiate star had documented concerns regarding his mental well-being dating back to 2020.
Previous incidents required him to temporarily surrender a firearm to authorities until he received clearance from a medical counsellor.
In a separate distressing episode, the athlete was hospitalised after being found on railroad tracks expressing severe distress.
The tragic final hours of his life involved driving at speeds exceeding 145 mph before crashing his vehicle and fleeing on foot.
Ongoing research into brain trauma
Stage 1 represents the earliest manifestation of CTE, a progressive degenerative brain disease found in individuals with a history of repetitive head impacts.
Dr Ann McKee, director of the Boston University CTE Center, noted that the medical team was not surprised by the findings.
“We have found this progressive brain disease in nearly half of the athletes we’ve studied who have died before the age of 30,” Dr McKee explained.
She added that studying the earliest stages of the disease brings scientists closer to diagnosing the condition in living patients.
Former Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold has become a free agent after clearing waivers on Monday following his arrest on felony charges in Florida.
The 23-year-old was released by Detroit last week after facing allegations of armed robbery and kidnapping.
Despite his ongoing legal issues, he is expected to visit several NFL teams who have reportedly expressed interest in securing his services.
Bail conditions and restrictions
The defensive back was released from custody last Tuesday after posting a $1m (£790,000) bond set by Hillsborough County Judge Christopher Sabella.
Under the stringent conditions of his release, the former Alabama standout is strictly prohibited from contacting six co-defendants or any witnesses involved in the case.
He has also been ordered to remain confined to his residence in Tallahassee, Florida, and was forced to surrender his passport.
However, court exemptions have been granted allowing him to travel for professional football activities, including playing, training, and visiting prospective franchises.
Abduction allegations detailed
Authorities accuse the American of orchestrating the abduction and severe assault of three men.
Prosecutors allege the victims were targeted because the player wrongly suspected them of stealing $100,000 in cash and luxury items from an Airbnb rental in Tampa.
According to court details, six associates carried out the crimes by holding and pistol-whipping the victims.
Officials have noted that the athlete was not physically present during the violent attack.
Impact on Detroit’s defence
Detroit selected the highly-rated prospect in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft to heavily bolster their secondary.
His sudden departure leaves a significant void in the Lions’ defensive lineup, as he was slated to start on the outside opposite veteran D.J. Reed.
The rookie had two years and $4.8m remaining on his initial professional contract before his sudden release.
England full-back George Furbank has been ruled out of the Test match against South Africa in Johannesburg after being rushed to hospital with appendicitis.
The 29-year-old was due to start at Ellis Park in what would have been his first international appearance since 2024.
However, the Harlequins-bound playmaker began suffering symptoms following the captain’s run and will no longer feature against the Springboks.
Head coach Steve Borthwick now faces a significant selection headache as he attempts to end a four-match losing streak.
Replacement options for Borthwick
Freddie Steward, the squad’s other specialist full-back, is currently nursing an ankle injury and remains unavailable.
This leaves Marcus Smith as the most likely candidate to be promoted from the replacements bench into the starting XV.
The late withdrawal is a major disruption to the attacking plans formulated for this gruelling Nations Championship itinerary.
Continuation of injury woes
This latest medical emergency marks another cruel setback for a player who recently led Northampton Saints to the Premiership title.
The versatile back broke his arm at the end of 2024 before enduring a heavily disrupted 2025 season plagued by recurring calf and knee issues.
A subsequent concussion also kept him out of the start of the Six Nations, a tournament that yielded England’s worst-ever championship campaign.
Following the clash in Johannesburg, the national side will travel to face Fiji and Argentina later this July.
Will Jordan scored twice as New Zealand defeated France 34-32 to win a captivating nine-try thriller in the inaugural Nations Championship opener in Christchurch.
The prolific wing struck in the seventh and 71st minutes to secure a triumphant start to Dave Rennie’s tenure as head coach.
His crucial brace also moves the dynamic attacker within just two scores of Doug Howlett’s all-time record of 49 tries for the national side.
Roigard shines in attacking spectacle
Cam Roigard delivered an outstanding performance at scrum-half, crossing the whitewash twice for the southern hemisphere giants.
Back-row forward Peter Lakai was also on target during a high-octane encounter that showcased relentless attacking intent from both tier-one nations.
The reigning Six Nations champions ultimately fell agonisingly short of a rare victory on New Zealand soil despite a spirited and clinical fightback.
Depleted France denied by disallowed try
Damian Penaud, Antoine Hastoy, Theo Attissogbe and Matthieu Jalibert all scored for the visitors to keep the scoreboard pressure firmly applied.
However, the European heavyweights were notably missing the tactical influence of absent star names Antoine Dupont and Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
The touring side thought they had seized the momentum in the second half when Fabien Brau-Boirie touched down, but the effort was ruled out for a prior knock-on by Max Spring.
Next fixtures in the tournament
This newly launched competition continues next weekend as the global rugby calendar enters its second round of pivotal fixtures.
The All Blacks will remain on home soil to host Italy, while a bruised French squad must travel across the Tasman Sea to face Australia.
Former Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson has revealed he was diagnosed with ALS in 2025 during a televised interview on Monday.
The 39-year-old shared the news using a speech-generating device based on recordings of his own voice.
He explained that doctors believe he has a sporadic case of the progressive neurodegenerative disease, as he has no family history of the condition.
‘I chose to fight’
“At first, you’re in shock. Then you realize you have two choices. You can give up, or you can fight. I chose to fight.”
The 2009 NFL Offensive Player of the Year is currently participating in a clinical trial as part of his medical treatment.
His wife, Brittany, noted that they initially mistook his early symptoms of a weakened grip for a football-related nerve injury.
“It’s continued to progress much faster than I ever imagined,” the former player added.
A record-breaking NFL career
Nicknamed ‘CJ2K’, the American football star cemented his legacy in 2009 by rushing for 2,006 yards in a single campaign.
That remarkable season saw him break the NFL’s all-time record for yards from scrimmage with a staggering total of 2,509.
He spent a decade in professional football, starting with six consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons for the Titans before later spells with the New York Jets and Cardinals.
Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk pledged the franchise’s ongoing support, stating his on-field leadership and community impact have permanently written him into the team’s history.
Raising awareness for others
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) attacks nerve cells controlling voluntary muscle movement and currently has no known cure.
By making his diagnosis public, the former running back hopes to highlight the rapid speed at which the disease can impact the human body.
He recalled that just over a year ago he could lift his seven-year-old daughter to blow out her birthday candles, a physical feat he can no longer perform today.
“I want people to know that I’m still me. ALS has changed what my body can do, but it hasn’t changed who I am.”
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has accused his former agent of exacerbating his ongoing dispute with the franchise in a newly released online video.
The 27-year-old posted a three-and-a-half-minute clip to YouTube on Saturday, detailing a permanent breakdown in relations with the team.
He specifically pointed to his former representative, Ryan Williams, as the root cause of the fractured relationship.
The frustrated playmaker also claimed that general manager John Lynch recently visited his home unannounced to apologise for the actions of head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Offering no evidence for the visit, the pass-catcher stated the situation felt unsafe for him and his wife.
Desire to join Washington Commanders
During the broadcast, the unsettled star deliberately held up a football bearing the Washington Commanders logo.
He has made no secret of his wish to reunite with his former Arizona State college teammate, quarterback Jayden Daniels.
However, Washington cannot publicly express any interest in the player without violating strict NFL tampering regulations.
“We is not cool. We won’t be cool, and I will never be stepping in that building.”
He added that his only planned return to the 49ers facility would be as an opponent when Washington visits California on 19 October.
Contract voided after serious knee injury
The roots of this bitter standoff trace back to a devastating knee injury suffered during the 2024 season.
San Francisco voided the remaining guaranteed money on his four-year, $120m contract last July after he failed to attend mandatory rehabilitation sessions.
The All-Pro target had sustained a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus in his right knee, which required extensive medical attention.
Following his refusal to report to the team facility, the NFC West franchise placed him on the reserve list in December.
With veterans scheduled to report to training camp on 25 July, a final resolution to this high-profile standoff appears imminent.
The parents of former NFL running back Doug Martin have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Oakland, alleging excessive police force and delayed medical care caused his death last year.
The 36-year-old was experiencing a mental health crisis last October when responding officers allegedly pinned him face down on the ground.
The lawsuit alleges this physical restraint was a “substantial factor” in causing his death.
The federal complaint also accuses ambulance provider Falck USA of taking more than 15 minutes to respond and failing to provide prompt treatment upon arrival.
Police cite break-in and struggle
Authorities previously stated the ex-pro athlete became unresponsive following a brief physical altercation while they attempted to detain him for an alleged break-in.
Responding officers reportedly believed the two-time Pro Bowler was either resting or pretending to be asleep when they moved him onto his side. Medical assistance was only requested when the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers star remained completely unresponsive.
The Oakland Police Department has declined to comment on the pending litigation, confirming only that their investigation into the incident remains active.
The Alameda County Coroner’s Office is still awaiting final autopsy results after the grieving family requested additional independent testing.
A celebrated career curtailed
Selected 31st overall in the 2012 NFL Draft, the former Boise State standout made an immediate impact during his rookie season.
He rushed for 1,454 yards and scored 11 touchdowns during his debut campaign.
The California native achieved first-team All-Pro honours in 2015 and was recently named among the top 50 players in Buccaneers franchise history.