Category News

European Challenge Cup

Perpignan (17) 41

Tries: Hall, Diaby, Joseph, Chinarro, penalty try, le Corvec Cons: Kretchmann 3 Pen: Kretchmann

Dragons (0) 17

Perpignan eased to a bonus-point win against fellow league strugglers Dragons in their European Challenge Cup opener.

Both sides went into the contest on miserable runs of form, but the French Top 14 side ended an 11-game losing streak at Dragons’ expense.

Despite an early red card, the hosts led at half-time with tries from James Hall and Mahamadou Diaby.

Jefferson Joseph and Bastien Chinarro added to a second half onslaught, while Dragons showed some fight with scores from Joe Westwood and Will Austin.

Dragons made a bright enough start, but squandered a try-scoring opportunity when hooker Sam Scarfe failed to tap the ball before taking a penalty two metres out.

Instead Perpignan drew first blood, charging down a poor clearance before sending the ball out wide to flying Fijian Tavite Veredamu, who passed inside for Hall to touch down.

But the hosts were dealt a blow when centre Duncan Paia’aua was shown a 20 minute red card for a dangerous high tackle on Scarfe, who was forced to leave the field just 15 minutes into his first professional start.

Sloppy Dragons failed to capitalise on numerical advantage while Perpignan looked much more threatening in attack and crossed for a second try, courtesy of a charging Diaby.

Dragons continued to chip away after the break and when another try scoring opportunity presented itself on 50 minutes, Rhodri Williams fumbled at the breakdown, allowing Joseph to run a length-of-the-field try.

The visitors responded five minutes later, a solid line-out allowing replacement hooker Austin time to wrap around and pick out a perfect pass for Westwood.

But they were pegged back when Chinarro broke through the middle of a five metre line-out to score his side’s bonus-point try.

Austin then turned provider to try scorer, catching an overthrown Perpignan line-out to dive over for his first in Dragons’ colours.

Perpignan’s forward pack then got in the action and were awarded a penalty try 10 minutes from time, with returning Wales international Ben Carter shown a yellow card for collapsing the maul.

With gaps opening up, the dangerous Joseph made another stunning break from inside his own half before some neat hands found le Corvec who touched down for the try of the afternoon.

Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia said:

“We played a good Perpignan side today, they won most of the collisions, they created pressure, but also we need to be better around doing the basics well and keeping hold of the ball, things like that.

“We got a couple of tries at the end there, but we were chasing the game.

Perpignan: Petaia; Veredamu, Duguivalu, Paia’aua, Joseph; Kretchmann, Hall; Tetrashvili, Malolo, Roelofse, Le Corvec, Chinarro, Diaby, Ritchie (capt), Dvali.

Replacements: Montgaillard, Devaux, Fakatika, Lagvilava, Van Tonder, Aprasidze, Poulet, Fahy.

Dragons: C Evans; Inisi, Richards, Westwood, Dyer; O’Brien, R Williams; Martinez, Scarfe, Yendle, Screech, Carter (captain), Lewis-Hughes, Young, Martin.

Replacements: Austin, Kelleher-Griffiths, Hunt, Langton-Cryer, Keddie, Hope, De Beer, E Rosser.

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)

Assistant referees: Riccardo Angelucci & Luca Bisetto (Italy)

TMO: Giuseppe Vivarini (Italy)

Red card: Duncan Paia’aua (15)

An international footballer has been arrested in central London on suspicion of assault and affray.

Police said an incident took place during the early hours of Saturday in the West End.

The player, 29, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of two counts of assault and one count of affray.

Police told BBC Sport they were called to the incident at 00:47 GMT on Saturday following reports of an assault.

The alleged victim was taken to hospital with injuries, which police said were not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening.

The player has been released on bail while police enquiries continue.

In the UK the name of someone arrested is rarely released or confirmed by police.

This approach was brought in following the Leveson Inquiry into the British media in 2012. It said arrested suspects should only be named in “exceptional and clearly identified circumstances”.

Fiorentina say they have taken security measures to protect players, staff and their families after they received “unacceptable and shameful” threats.

The threats were received following the club’s 3-1 loss at Sassuolo on Saturday, which left winless Fiorentina bottom of Serie A after 14 matches.

The club condemned the threats in a statement and said it “expresses its full solidarity and support for the players and their families”.

The statement added: “Behaviour of this kind has no place in football or in any area of our society. The club immediately contacted its players and the relevant authorities to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to protect the safety of the players, the staff, their loved ones and the families involved.

“ACF Fiorentina, while thanking the many supporters who have already shown affection and support regarding these regrettable events, reiterates that there will never be any room for intimidation, hatred or violence.

“Our commitment to protecting our players and their families remains steadfast.”

Following the club’s eighth league loss of the season, the wife of Fiorentina defender Dodo shared death threats which had been aimed at her and her family on social media.

Dana White insists he never said anything “negative” or “derogatory” about Tom Aspinall after the Briton suffered an eye injury during his fight with Ciryl Gane last month.

Aspinall retained his heavyweight title when the bout was deemed a no contest following an eye poke from the Frenchman – an incident which has left him with “persistent” double vision.

In the post-fight news conference, UFC president White said “only Tom knows what happened” and that he “didn’t want to continue”.

Aspinall, who said he couldn’t see following the eye poke, said he was “disappointed” by White’s reaction on his YouTube channel.

When White was asked about Aspinall’s comments following UFC 323 in Las Vegas on Saturday, White said “things can be taken out of context”.

“I know Tom said I haven’t even talked to him and all this stuff but we have people all over him right now checking up on him and making sure he’s good,” said White.

“I’m not a doctor – I’m just saying what I heard. I said Tom’s eyes are good, he’s going to take some time, heal, that’s all I said.

“Never once did I say anything negative about him in a derogatory way. I’m sure he’s upset, fired up and he’ll get better and we’ll get him back there.”

After Aspinall’s bout with Gane, White said he was keen to book a rematch but it is unclear when Aspinall will be fit to return.

Aspinall has still not returned to training and has said he may require surgery on his eyes.

Defending champion Shaun Murphy will play Wu Yize in the first round of the 2026 Masters at Alexandra Palace.

World number one Judd Trump will face Ding Junhui in a repeat of this week’s UK Championship quarter-final, which the Englishman won 6-2.

Mark Selby or Ronnie O’Sullivan will face Xiao Guodong or Neil Robertson depending on the result of Sunday’s UK Championship final.

Two-time Masters winner Robertson takes on eight-time champion O’Sullivan or Selby, who has won the event three times, in the standout tie of the round.

Shaun Murphy v Wu Yize

Mark Selby/Ronnie O’Sullivan v Xiao Guodong

Neil Robertson v Mark Selby/Ronnie O’Sullivan

Kyren Wilson v Si Jiahui

Judd Trump v Ding Junhui

Mark Williams v Mark Allen

John Higgins v Barry Hawkins