SA clubs force Irish star to up his game

Munster playmaker JJ Hanrahan says South African teams have brought a new level of physicality and pace to the URC, making every cross-continent clash demanding.

One of the competition’s most seasoned campaigners has described the SA clubs as “unbelievably challenging” but “a great addition”. catcross.biz

This is the sixth year that the Stormers, Bulls, Sharks and Lions have been involved in the multi-nation tournament. Overall, they have claimed 162 wins in ‘north vs south’ matches, compared with 94 northern wins.

They began the new season by recording a clean sweep of victories in the opening round of matches, three of the four being bonus-point wins.

Now they face another round of cross-continent contests this weekend. One of those sees the Bulls taking on Munster at Thomond Park on Saturday night.

Hanrahan is well aware of just how tough a test the South African sides pose. “They’ve added hugely, it’s incredibly competitive,” said the 34-year-old.

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“It’s four extra teams and all of high quality. They bring a different dynamic to the game in terms of their physicality and their pace, with the size of their men, the speed of their backs.

“We might not have always faced that in years gone by. So I think it’s brilliant, to be honest with you.

“You get an opportunity to face people that you don’t normally face, you’re going to parts of the world you might not have normally gone to, so I think it’s a great addition.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s unbelievably challenging, but a very good addition.”

Munster kicked off their URC campaign with a 26-20 home defeat to the Glasgow Warriors, after leading 17-17 at the break. Hanrahan, who landed four shots at goal, said: “There was a lot to take from it.

TEAM: Bulls rejig backline for Munster battle

“I think [coach] Clayton [McMillan] summed it up really well after the game when he spoke about green shoots.

“That’s probably the main thing for us. There was a lot of focus on what we were trying to build in pre-season in terms of some of our game.

“We didn’t get it all right. There was lots of stuff that we missed out there as well and we’ve addressed that as a team and how to improve on those things.”

The County Kerry-born Hanrahan is now in his third spell at Munster having also played for Northampton, Clermont Auvergne, the Dragons and Connacht.

As he prepares for another outing at Thomond Park, he has spoken about the huge role the team’s loyal fans play.

STATE OF THE URC: Unbeaten SA teams go again

“The supporters are always excellent and the people that turn up week in, week out are absolutely unbelievable,” he said. “They were unbelievable again last weekend.

“Something Paul O’Connell always used to talk about was that the fans want to see it in your actions and in your attitude.

“Hopefully we showed glimpses of that at the weekend. We didn’t get the result, but we felt them throughout the whole game.

“We want to keep building on that and they [the fans] can see us and see the effort we’re putting in on the training field, the effort we’re putting in on the Monday to Friday and hopefully we will be able to bring that out on a Saturday.”

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images

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Grand Theft Auto VI launches in less than two months, and fans are already asking what Rockstar does next.

This week’s favorite answer is L.A. Noire 2. Nothing has been confirmed.

An old leak resurfaces

The claim comes from a 2023 leak first posted on 4chan. Fans dug it up over the weekend, and it spread fast across forums and social media.

Why take it seriously? Several of its GTA 6 details have since proved true.

The leak said Rockstar once planned four protagonists before settling on two. Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson recently confirmed that. It also described the game’s relationship mechanic correctly.

One caveat: the four-protagonist detail had already appeared in an Axios report a year earlier.

What the leak claims

According to the post, the next Rockstar game is an L.A. Noire sequel with:

1. A San Francisco setting
2. A story built around the Zodiac Killer, who terrorized the city in the 1970s
3. A 2030 release

Rockstar and Take-Two have confirmed none of it.

Why it’s not far-fetched

L.A. Noire was made by Team Bondi, led by Brendan McNamara. The studio folded soon after launch.

McNamara later founded Video Games Deluxe, which brought the game to VR. In 2025, Rockstar bought that studio and renamed it Rockstar Australia.

Much of that team worked on L.A. Noire, McNamara included.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has also left the door open. In April 2026, he said there was nothing to announce on L.A. Noire, but that the company’s teams keep looking at its older series. Any announcement, he added, would come from Rockstar.

The only sure thing

Right now, Rockstar’s future is GTA 6. It launches on November 19 and will get updates for years.

New details keep coming, like the fact that refuelling in GTA 6 takes about 10 seconds.

Rockstar is also publishing Remedy’s Max Payne remakes. Whether an L.A. Noire sequel follows is a question only Rockstar can answer.

Paris Saint-Germain Women vs OH Leuven Women meet at Campus PSG in Poissy on Thursday, 1 October 2026 in Matchday 2 of the UEFA Women’s Champions League league phase. Kick-off is at 21:00 CEST and 21:00 SAST, or 19:00 UTC.

Both teams started the league phase with a point. PSG drew 1-1 away to Real Madrid after Sakina Karchaoui equalised from the penalty spot, while OH Leuven held Roma to a 0-0 draw. The clubs also drew 0-0 when they met in Paris in December 2025.

For the Paris Saint-Germain Women vs OH Leuven Women live score, confirmed lineups and match statistics, follow SP Score once the match begins.

Match information	Details
Competition	UEFA Women’s Champions League 2026/27
Stage	League Phase – Matchday 2
Date	Thursday, 1 October 2026
Kick-off	21:00 CEST / 21:00 SAST / 19:00 UTC
Venue	Campus PSG, Poissy
PSG coach	Paulo César
OH Leuven coach	Arno Van den Abbeel

Paris Saint-Germain moved the match from the Parc des Princes to Campus PSG because of operational constraints. The Poissy venue will therefore host PSG’s first home league-phase match of the 2026/27 competition.

Paris Saint-Germain Women vs OH Leuven Women results leave both clubs on one point before Matchday 2. PSG conceded in the second minute against Real Madrid but recovered to draw 1-1. OH Leuven kept Roma scoreless in a 0-0 draw.

Team	Matchday 1	Points
Paris Saint-Germain	Real Madrid 1-1 PSG	1
OH Leuven	OH Leuven 0-0 Roma	1

PSG have not lost in six matches in all competitions this season, recording four wins and two draws while scoring 12 goals and conceding three. OH Leuven are unbeaten in five European matches this season, with three qualifying wins followed by two draws.

READ ALSO: The rise of women’s football

Paris Saint-Germain Women vs OH Leuven Women team news centres on the players who have featured during the opening European matches. PSG can call on Mary Earps in goal, with Griedge Mbock, Elisa De Almeida, Olga Carmona and Sakina Karchaoui among the defensive options. Vitória Yaya, Jennifer Echegini and Romee Leuchter give Paulo César options further forward.

Karchaoui arrives in strong European scoring form. She has four goals in her last five Women’s Champions League appearances including qualifying, and her penalty against Real Madrid secured PSG’s point on Matchday 1.

OH Leuven have Femke Bastiaen, Jada Conijnenberg, Hannah Eurlings, Sara Pusztai and Jill Janssens among the players available from their European campaign. The Belgian side reached the league phase through qualifying and then kept a clean sheet against Roma in their opening league-phase match.

Paris Saint-Germain Women vs OH Leuven Women lineups will be confirmed shortly before kick-off. PSG have several players with direct experience of this fixture: Earps, De Almeida, Karchaoui, Mbock, Olga Carmona and Leuchter all featured when the teams drew 0-0 in December 2025.

OH Leuven also return with players who experienced that goalless meeting. Their selection will show whether Arno Van den Abbeel keeps the defensive structure that shut out Roma or changes the side to add more threat in transition. The official starting elevens should be used once released.

Paris Saint-Germain Women vs OH Leuven Women H2H consists of one previous competitive match. The teams drew 0-0 in Paris on 9 December 2025 in the 2025/26 Women’s Champions League league phase.

Date	Fixture	Result	Competition
9 Dec 2025	Paris Saint-Germain vs OH Leuven	0-0	UWCL League Phase
1 Oct 2026	Paris Saint-Germain vs OH Leuven	Upcoming	UWCL League Phase

OH Leuven left Paris with a clean sheet in that first meeting. The Belgian club later finished its debut European league phase with six points and reached the knockout phase play-offs, where Arsenal ended its campaign.

Paris Saint-Germain Féminine vs Oud-Heverlee Leuven Women stats show that neither side has lost in Europe this season. PSG also enter the fixture unbeaten across all competitions, while OH Leuven have avoided defeat through qualifying and Matchday 1.

Stat	Paris Saint-Germain	OH Leuven
Matchday 1	1-1 vs Real Madrid	0-0 vs Roma
League-phase points	1	1
European status	Unbeaten	Unbeaten
Previous H2H	0-0	0-0

PSG have gone five Women’s Champions League matches without defeat including qualifying. OH Leuven have also gone five European matches unbeaten this season. The difference so far is attacking output: PSG scored away to Real Madrid, while OH Leuven’s first league-phase match ended without a goal at either end.

Sakina Karchaoui is PSG’s clearest form player in Europe. Her four goals across her last five Champions League appearances including qualifying add an attacking threat from the left, and she was PSG’s scorer against Real Madrid.

Mary Earps gives PSG experience in goal, while Griedge Mbock and Elisa De Almeida are central to the defensive options available to Paulo César. Romee Leuchter provides a focal point higher up the pitch.

For OH Leuven, the defensive unit will again be important after the clean sheet against Roma. Hannah Eurlings, Sara Pusztai and Jill Janssens are among the players who can help turn defensive recoveries into attacks when PSG push forward.

Paris Saint-Germain Women vs OH Leuven Women prediction discussion has to account for the 0-0 draw between these teams last season. PSG have more Champions League experience and have started the new season unbeaten, but OH Leuven have already shown they can deny PSG space and protect their goal for 90 minutes.

PSG need to improve on the chances they created in the previous meeting. Karchaoui’s runs from the left, Leuchter’s movement through the middle and the timing of PSG’s midfield support can force OH Leuven to defend across the full width of the pitch.

OH Leuven’s route into the game is clear from their recent results: stay compact, protect the central areas and use the moments when PSG commit players forward. Their clean sheets against PSG last season and Roma on Matchday 1 show why the first goal could have a major influence on this match.

Paris Saint-Germain Women vs OH Leuven Women live coverage starts with kick-off at 21:00 CEST and 21:00 SAST, or 19:00 UTC. PSG’s match information lists Disney+ for the fixture; broadcast availability can differ by territory, so viewers should confirm the authorised service available where they are.

The confirmed lineups will be available before kick-off. During the match, live coverage will provide the score, goals, substitutions, cards and match statistics. Authorised highlights can be checked after the final whistle where rights permit.

The UEFA Women’s Champions League match is on Thursday, 1 October 2026.

Kick-off is at 21:00 CEST, 21:00 SAST and 19:00 UTC.

The match is at Campus PSG in Poissy. Paris Saint-Germain moved the fixture from the Parc des Princes because of operational constraints.

It is Matchday 2 of the 2026/27 UEFA Women’s Champions League league phase.

PSG drew 1-1 away to Real Madrid. OH Leuven drew 0-0 at home to Roma.

Yes. Their first competitive meeting finished 0-0 in Paris on 9 December 2025.

PSG’s match information lists Disney+ for the fixture. Broadcast availability varies by territory, while live-score coverage provides match events and statistics.

Paris Saint-Germain Women vs OH Leuven Women gives both clubs an opportunity to turn their opening league-phase draw into a first win. PSG arrive unbeaten in all competitions and have home advantage at Campus PSG, while OH Leuven have not lost in Europe this season and already held PSG scoreless in their previous meeting.

Karchaoui’s scoring form, PSG’s ability to break down a compact defence and OH Leuven’s record of clean sheets are the clearest factors going into the match. Both teams begin Matchday 2 on one point, making the result important to their early league-phase position.

For more football coverage, visit SportPesa South Africa Blog. 18+. Gambling is addictive. Play responsibly.

La FIFA a annoncé que la cérémonie de tirage au sort de la Coupe du monde Féminine 2027 aura lieu le 11 décembre 2026 à partir de 13h30 à Rio de Janeiro et que la période de dépôt des demandes d’accréditation média est désormais ouverte.

Le tirage au sort final de la Coupe du Monde Féminine de la FIFA Brésil 2027 aura lieu le vendredi 11 décembre 2026 au Musée d’Art Moderne (MAM Rio) de Rio de Janeiro, à partir de 13h30 heure locale.

Cet événement réunira les représentants des équipes qualifiées, ainsi que les nations encore en lice pour les dernières places disponibles dans le tournoi, dans l’un des lieux culturels les plus emblématiques du Brésil.

La période d’accréditation des médias est ouverte jusqu’au 30 octobre 2026. Tous les candidats doivent posséder un compte FIFA Media Hub valide pour finaliser leur demande d’accréditation.

Les représentants des médias qui ne disposent pas encore d’un compte FIFA Media Hub approuvé peuvent s’inscrire via le lien suivant : media.FIFA.com/registration.

Le processus de billetterie pour les médias sera ouvert plus près de l’événement et sera géré via le FIFA Media Hub et l’application FIFA Media.

A noter que toutes les demandes d’accréditation sont soumises à approbation. Les candidats retenus seront avisés par courriel et recevront des renseignements supplémentaires ultérieurement.

Par ailleurs, la FIFA a négocié des codes de réduction promotionnels avec une sélection d’hôtels participants à l’intention des représentants des médias accrédités. Ces offres seront valables jusqu’au 15 novembre 2026. Les réductions peuvent varier selon l’établissement et seront appliquées aux tarifs en vigueur au moment de la réservation.

Toutes les réservations doivent être effectuées directement auprès des hôtels participants via leurs sites web officiels. La disponibilité, les modalités de paiement, les conditions de modification et d’annulation sont soumises aux conditions générales de chaque hôtel.

Aussi, en raison de la situation centrale du MAM Rio et de son excellente desserte, aucun service de navette dédié aux médias ne sera mis en place.

Un nombre limité de places de stationnement sera réservé aux représentants des médias accrédités. Plus de détails concernant la disponibilité et les modalités d’accès seront communiqués ultérieurement.

Le MAM Rio bénéficie d’une situation centrale et est facilement accessible en taxi, en VTC et en transports en commun, offrant un accès pratique depuis les principaux quartiers de Rio de Janeiro.

Informations relatives aux visas :

Les représentants des médias internationaux sont responsables de l’obtention des visas nécessaires pour se rendre au Brésil.

Les exigences en matière de visa varient selon la nationalité et le type de passeport. Les demandeurs doivent consulter le tableau du Régime général des visas brésilien (QGRV), géré par le ministère brésilien des Affaires étrangères (MRE), afin de déterminer si un visa est requis et de vérifier les conditions d’entrée applicables.

Les ressortissants éligibles d’Australie, du Canada et des États-Unis peuvent faire une demande via la plateforme officielle de visa électronique brésilien.

À propos du MAM Rio

Fondé en 1948, le Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro (MAM Rio) est l’une des principales institutions culturelles d’Amérique latine et un monument emblématique de l’architecture moderne.

Situé sur les rives de la baie de Guanabara, au sein du parc Flamengo, le musée a été conçu comme un centre de création artistique, d’éducation et d’expérimentation, et a joué un rôle important dans le façonnement de l’art brésilien moderne et contemporain.

Conçu par le célèbre architecte Affonso Eduardo Reidy et entouré de jardins créés par le paysagiste Roberto Burle Marx, le MAM Rio allie un cadre emblématique à un riche patrimoine culturel. Il abrite aujourd’hui l’une des plus importantes collections d’art de la région et accueille régulièrement des événements d’envergure nationale et internationale

L’article CM féminine 2027 : Tirage au sort le 11 décembre prochain est apparu en premier sur Foot Afrique.

John Dobson and Ruhan Nel hailed the impact that Siya Kolisi has already had on the Stormers, but “the rugby contribution” is what the team needs in Edinburgh on Friday night.

Kolisi, who linked up with the team in Galway last week after completing his national duties, will make his return to the club and 119th appearance starting at openside flank at Hive Stadium in round two of the URC.

Dobson was impressed by Kolisi’s desire to play in the win against Connacht. He could’ve replaced the injured Evan Roos and Marcel Theunissen, but Dobson declined because of concerns over his hamstrings and the 4G surface at The Sportsground.

TEAM: Siya back for reshuffled Stormers

Speaking from Scotland on Thursday after naming his team for this week, the director of rugby shared how Kolisi has developed since he last coached him while highlighting the 35-year-old offers the team something different at six.

“Rugby-wise, we needed Siya. We have two other Springbok sixes in Paul [de Villiers] and Deon [Fourie], and neither was available this week,” Dobson told reporters.

“He’s not an out-and-out stealer; he gets turnovers through his tackling and counter-rucking.

“In terms of leadership, he’s got a big role to play, probably around the integration of the Springboks and setting standards. I could see him in the warm-up last week … His presence, just the smile and the songs and everything, it lifts the team.

TEAM: Schoes laces up for Edinburgh again

“But there’s no question that the rugby contribution is what we’re after and what we need tomorrow.

“What I can’t get over with Siya, and it’s going to sound like a silly point, is the size of him. He’s an openside flank, maybe not the world’s most traditional openside flank, but he’s a big beast.

“He’s certainly a bigger man than he was when he left here. He’s a really big presence, and I think that’s going to be useful on the 4G.”

Nel noted that Kolisi was his captain when he made his Stormers debut, and described the two-time World Cup winner’s player management and team culture buy-in as “unbelievable”.

After the Stormers’ win in Ireland, clips of Kolisi and his fellow players celebrating with the team’s song ‘Impi yamaStormer’ went viral.

“It’s Siya, I don’t even have to rave about it,” skipper Nel said.

Photo: @THESTORMERS/X

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