Why France axed defence coach

The reasons for France’s decision to part ways with highly-rated defence coach Shaun Edwards have been revealed. blablasex.es

According to L’Equipe, doubts about Edwards had been growing behind the scenes for some time despite France winning three Six Nations titles, including a Grand Slam in 2022, during his tenure.

A source told the French sports newspaper that the most recent Six Nations campaign confirmed fears that the 59-year-old Englishman was no longer having the desired impact.

“The last Six Nations Championship was simply a revelation or confirmation that Edwards was no longer fulfilling his role,” the source said. “It couldn’t continue like that until the 2027 World Cup.”

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The report claims Edwards had lost some of the influence he once enjoyed within the coaching group, while concerns were also raised about his “focus, concentration and commitment”.

Those issues reportedly came to a head during recent planning meetings involving coach Fabien Galthié and his staff.

Despite being contracted through to the 2027 World Cup, Edwards was reportedly absent from coaching gatherings in Narbonne and Montpellier last month, where the future structure of the management team was discussed.

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The revelations have surprised many given France’s recent success and Edwards’ reputation as one of the game’s premier defence coaches.

Negotiations are reportedly under way between the French Rugby Federation and Edwards’ representatives to finalise his departure.

Former Western Province and Springbok flyhalf Vlok Cilliers also lost his job as France’s kicking coach.

Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images

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L’ailier gauche de Venise qui remonte en Série A, Marko Farji s’est exprimé sur le premier match de sa sélection, mercredi prochain, contre la Norvège.

L’Irak s’est incliné 2-0 pour son dernier match de préparation face au Venezuela, ces dernières heures, à Chicago. Après la rencontre, l’ailier gauche Marco Farji a réagi devant les médias irakiens sur la prochaine échéance à venir et le premier match de sa sélection dans le groupe I du Mondial dans la nuit du 16 au 17 juin face à la Norvège à la presse.

« Nous allons essayer de choquer la Norvège en Coupe du monde. Ce sera un match spécial pour moi, car c’est aussi mon pays. », a confié le joueur de 22 ans, né en Norvège et en sélection irakienne depuis 2024 avec 12 capes. Farji a également envoyé un message aux autres nations de la poule. « nous n’avons pas encore dévoilé toutes nos cartes », a-t-il ajouté.

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L’Algérie a conclu sa préparation pour la Coupe du monde de la meilleure des manières en s’imposant largement face à la Bolivie (4-0). Mais au-delà du score, ce match a surtout permis de dégager plusieurs enseignements à quelques jours du choc tant attendu contre l’Argentine. Durant la première période, les Verts ont affiché un visage […]

L’article Algérie-Bolivie (4-0) : Hadj Moussa bouscule la hiérarchie, Gouiri rassure avant l’Argentine est apparu en premier sur Shoot Africa.

This is no ordinary rematch. The Vodacom Bulls lead the head-to-head battle, but Leinster own the one result that delivered silverware.

• This is the fourth knockout clash between these giants since 2022 with the Bulls winning two semi-finals and Leinster winning the 2025 final.
• The Bulls have two playoff wins (2022 and 2024 semi-finals) to Leinster’s one (2025 final).
• Only two teams in the URC era hold a winning record against Leinster, and both are South African. The Bulls lead Leinster 5-3, while the Stormers hold a 3-2-1 record.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Why URC is breaking tradition for final

There is a staggering level of Test-level talent within both of these teams with the semi-finals match 23s including 37 internationals from South Africa and Ireland, a number of whom are World Cup winners and Test-capped British & Irish Lions. Few club games in the world can ever match this level of player.

• The Bulls named 11 Springboks in their starting XV against the Glasgow Warriors with a further five on the bench.
• Willie le Roux, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie, Marco van Staden and Handré Pollard were all part of South Africa’s World Cup win in 2023.
• Leinster named a starting XV including 14 Irish internationals and one All Black (Rieko Ioane) while 11 of their match 23 were part of the 2025 British & Irish Lions squad.
• Of those 11 players, eight of them appeared in Test matches against Australia: Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Jack Conan.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Bulls seek redemption in rematch

Leinster and the Bulls are the leading teams on either side of the URC’s Ireland vs South Africa rivalry: Leinster have the best Irish record against South African teams, while the Bulls have the best South African record against Irish opposition.

• Leinster have the best Irish record against South African teams, both by wins (15 out 16) and win percentage (57.7%). They are the only Irish side above 55%.
• The Bulls have the best South African record against Irish teams, and by a clear margin (15 wins out of 24 = 62.5%). They are the only South African side above 50% against Irish opposition.
• The 2026 final brings together the URC era’s two strongest away performers, Leinster with the league’s best away win rate and the Bulls as the only other team above 50%.
• Leinster’s home win percentage is 88.5, which is second best in the URC era to Glasgow (91.7%).

POLL: Who will win URC final?

The Vodacom Bulls seek redemption on Grand Final Friday!

Tickets on sale now: https://t.co/vaoYc0ZItM pic.twitter.com/0o5CGfYUZf

— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) June 10, 2026

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images

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Africa will make history at FIFA World Cup 2026 with 10 teams representing the continent, the largest African contingent ever seen at the tournament.

The competition kicks off on Thursday in North America, with South Africa facing co-hosts Mexico in the opening match, and for the first time Africa will have double-digit representation on football’s biggest stage.

Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia will carry the continent’s hopes at the expanded 48-team tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

It is a landmark moment for African football, coming four years after Morocco became the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final at Qatar 2022.

The increase in representation gives the continent a wider opportunity to build on that breakthrough and to challenge deeper into the competition than ever before.

Africa’s World Cup story began in 1934, when Egypt became the first team from the continent to appear at the finals.

For decades, African representation remained limited.

Morocco became the continent’s next participant in 1970, before DR Congo, then competing as Zaire, appeared in 1974.

Tunisia followed in 1978, before Algeria and Cameroon represented Africa at the 1982 tournament.

By 1986, Algeria and Morocco carried the continent’s hopes, while Cameroon and Egypt featured in 1990.

The 1994 World Cup saw Cameroon, Morocco and Nigeria represent Africa, before the continent had five teams for the first time in 1998: Cameroon, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Tunisia.

That five-team representation continued in 2002, with Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia, before Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Tunisia qualified for the 2006 tournament.

Africa’s previous record came in 2010, when six teams appeared at the World Cup hosted by South Africa.

Algeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa were all present, with Ghana going on to reach the quarter-finals before losing to Uruguay on penalties.

In 2014, Africa was represented by Algeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria.

Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia qualified in 2018, while Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia carried African hopes in Qatar in 2022.

Morocco’s run to the semi-finals in Qatar changed the global perception of African teams at the World Cup.

The Atlas Lions defeated Belgium, Spain and Portugal on their way to the last four, giving African football its strongest statement yet at the tournament.

Now, with 10 teams involved, the continent has more chances to create another historic run.

Cape Verde’s qualification is one of the standout stories of the 2026 tournament, with the island nation set for its first World Cup appearance.

DR Congo also return to the global stage for the first time since 1974, adding another powerful storyline to Africa’s participation.

South Africa’s return is also significant. Bafana Bafana are back at the World Cup for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010, and they will open the competition against Mexico in a fixture rich with history.

Ghana, Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt and Côte d’Ivoire all bring World Cup experience, while Cape Verde and DR Congo add freshness and renewed energy to the African challenge.

For the continent, the 2026 World Cup is not only about numbers.

It is about whether African teams can turn record representation into record performance.

The expanded tournament offers more places, but it also brings greater expectations.

After years of near misses, dramatic exits and unforgettable moments, Africa arrives in North America with its strongest presence yet.

From Egypt’s first appearance in 1934 to 10 teams in 2026, the journey has been long, difficult and historic.

Now the continent has another opportunity to show that its place at the World Cup is not just growing in size, but also in ambition.

African participation at the FIFA World Cup

1934: Egypt

1970: Morocco

1974: DR Congo

1978: Tunisia

1982: Algeria, Cameroon

1986: Algeria, Morocco

1990: Cameroon, Egypt

1994: Cameroon, Morocco, Nigeria

1998: Cameroon, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia

2002: Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia

2006: Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Tunisia

2010: Algeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa

2014: Algeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria

2018: Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia

2022: Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia

2026: Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia

SOURCE: CAF ONLINE

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