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Dubai, Cape Town Rounds of 2021 Sevens Series Canceled Due to Pandemic

Dubai, Cape Town Rounds of 2021 Sevens Series Canceled Due to Pandemic
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Dubai, Cape Town Rounds of 2021 Sevens Series Canceled Due to Pandemic

Dubai, Cape Town Rounds of 2021 Sevens Series Canceled Due to Pandemic

The Dubai and Cape Town rounds of the 2021 World Sevens Series have been scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, World Rugby said on Wednesday.

The global governing body said it would continue to focus on delivering the remainder of the 2021 series, with a working group formed to review contingency plans and evaluate preparations for the sport's safe return.

The Dubai and Cape Town rounds had been scheduled for Nov. 26-28 and Dec. 4-6 this year.

"After a comprehensive consultation process ... it has been decided that the combined men's and women's Dubai and Cape Town rounds ... will not take place...," organizers said in a statement.

"The decisions were taken in line with relevant government and international public health authority advice and with the health and wellbeing of the rugby community and the wider public taking precedence.

"Both hosts are due to return to a full series schedule beyond this season."

New Zealand were awarded the men's and women's World Sevens Series titles after World Rugby canceled the rest of the 2020 season last month because of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Tournaments in London, Paris, Singapore, and Hong Kong were canceled on the men's tour, while the women's circuit lost rounds in the United States, Paris, and Hong Kong.

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Mbappe Suffers Knee Sprain in Blow for Real Madrid

Real Madrid's French forward #10 Kylian Mbappe sits on the bench during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 6 football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 10, 2025. (AFP)
Real Madrid's French forward #10 Kylian Mbappe sits on the bench during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 6 football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 10, 2025. (AFP)
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Mbappe Suffers Knee Sprain in Blow for Real Madrid

Real Madrid's French forward #10 Kylian Mbappe sits on the bench during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 6 football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 10, 2025. (AFP)
Real Madrid's French forward #10 Kylian Mbappe sits on the bench during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 6 football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 10, 2025. (AFP)

Real Madrid on Wednesday said that Kylian Mbappe had suffered a knee sprain, delivering a blow to their bid to reel in Liga leaders Barcelona.

"After the tests carried out today on our player Kylian Mbappe by Real Madrid's medical services, he was diagnosed with a sprain in his left knee. Awaiting evolution," the club said in a statement.

Real Madrid did not indicate how long the 27-year-old striker would be out for, but a source close to the France superstar told AFP that he would be absent for at least three weeks.

Mbappe, the leading scorer in La Liga this season with 18 goals, is therefore a major doubt for Sunday's league match at home to Real Betis, Los Merengues' first after the winter break as they trail Barcelona by four points.

He could also miss the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against arch-rivals Atletico Madrid in Saudi Arabia on January 8, as well as a league fixture against Levante and a Champions League clash with former club Monaco.

Real did not say when or how Mbappe was injured, however he had trained with the team on Tuesday.

He underwent an MRI scan on Wednesday.

Mbappe has enjoyed a stellar 2025, equaling Cristiano Ronaldo's club record 59 goals in a calendar year, and has at times carried Real Madrid, relieving some pressure on under-fire coach Xabi Alonso.

He has scored 73 goals in 83 matches for Real since making a free transfer move to the Spanish giants from Paris Saint-Germain 18 months ago.

He finished top scorer in La Liga last season with 31 goals -- four more than Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski -- and is currently seven goals clear of the next best this season, Barca's Ferran Torres.

His absence adds to those of Real defenders Daniel Carvajal, Eder Militao, Trent Alexander-Arnold, midfielder Federico Valverde, and forward Brahim Diaz who is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco.

Sports

Caballero Defends Maresca After Palmer Substitution Sparks Jeers

Football - Premier League - Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - December 30, 2025 Chelsea's Cole Palmer shakes hands with manager Enzo Maresca after being substituted. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - December 30, 2025 Chelsea's Cole Palmer shakes hands with manager Enzo Maresca after being substituted. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Caballero Defends Maresca After Palmer Substitution Sparks Jeers

Football - Premier League - Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - December 30, 2025 Chelsea's Cole Palmer shakes hands with manager Enzo Maresca after being substituted. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - December 30, 2025 Chelsea's Cole Palmer shakes hands with manager Enzo Maresca after being substituted. (Action Images via Reuters)

Chelsea assistant coach Willy Caballero defended Enzo Maresca's decision to replace Cole Palmer after the controversial substitution sparked jeered from angry fans during the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth on Tuesday.

Maresca was barraged with chants of "you don't know what you're doing" when Palmer was brought off in the 63rd minute as Chelsea chased a winning goal that would have ended their disappointing spell.

The Chelsea manager's move backfired, leaving them with just one win from their last seven league games and sparking more boos at the final whistle.

The pressure is growing on the Italian, with fifth-placed Chelsea having dropped 13 points at home from winning positions.

But Maresca, who was absent from his post-match media duties due to an illness, remains an "example" to everyone at the club according to Caballero.

"Any supporter wants to have the best players on the pitch," he said. "We want to have that as well. But Cole is coming from a long injury.

"In this case we need to find a way to find the right substitutions to go for the game and also to look after the health of our players.

"We want to have them for the rest of the season."

Asked why Maresca didn't face the media to explain his Palmer switch, Caballero said: "He didn't feel well the last two days. He was with a bit of a temperature two days ago.

"He did the last two sessions, he wanted to prepare the team. But after the game he went to the changing room and asked me to replace him because he didn't feel well.

"He's dealing well, he's very professional. He does a lot of hours every single day, even when the last two days feeling bad he was there. He loves to train and to coach. He's an example for me and all of the staff."

Bournemouth went ahead after six minutes when David Brooks finished at the second attempt following a Robert Sanchez save, before Chelsea levelled through Palmer's penalty.

Enzo Fernandez then fired the hosts in front but again the Blues could not hold their lead, Justin Kluivert equalizing before half-time after Chelsea failed to deal with a long throw-in from Antoine Semenyo.

Ghana forward Semenyo is reportedly set to join Manchester City and he appeared to say goodbye to Bournemouth's fans before leaving the pitch.

However, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is confident he will play against leaders Arsenal on Saturday.

"It's not his last game here with us," Iraola said. "I cannot say a hundred percent but I think he will play."

Sports

Depleted Man Utd ‘Lack Quality’, Says Amorim

Manchester United's head coach Ruben Amorim walks on the pitch after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP)
Manchester United's head coach Ruben Amorim walks on the pitch after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP)
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Depleted Man Utd ‘Lack Quality’, Says Amorim

Manchester United's head coach Ruben Amorim walks on the pitch after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP)
Manchester United's head coach Ruben Amorim walks on the pitch after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP)

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim said his side "lacked quality" to break down a Wolves team without a Premier League win all season in the latest blow to their chances of Champions League football next season.

Wolves secured just their third point of the campaign and snapped a 12-game losing streak as Ladislav Krejci's header cancelled out Joshua Zirkzee's deflected opener in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

United were missing captain Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo through injury, while Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo are absent due to the Africa Cup of Nations.

"We have a lack of fluidity and then lack of quality and then lack of creation of chances, and then we suffer a goal from a set-piece," said Amorim.

"These details are important to win these games in difficult moments."

United remain two points outside the top four in sixth.

But they could have been well on course for a return to European football's top table next season had they not failed to win four of their last five home games.

Amorim, though, remains confident his side will end the season strongly once they have their key players back fit and available.

"I think we are in one situation that you have a lot of players out in the same time.

"Of course, when you play Casemiro and (Manuel) Ugarte in the middle, you know that is different to when you have Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount or Bruno, that is normal. We just need to recover our players, the players from AFCON to return and then the fluidity is going to be different.

"I'm really confident when we recover all the players that we are going to be a strong team, there is no doubt in my mind."