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RUGBY fans could be forced to part with their hard-earned cash to watch the next World Cup.

The tournament – which is currently going on in France – has been free to watch in the UK on ITV since 1991.

But proposed radical reform to the tournament could potentially see the sport’s showpiece event go behind a paywall.

That’s according to the Daily Telegraph , who claim World Rugby will put the next two tournaments on the “market”.

Rugby bigwigs, however, are adamant the Women’s World Cup will remain free to air.

The finals of the men’s tournaments will also remain free to watch as UK law prevents them from going behind a paywall.

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Rugby fans didn’t hold back in voicing their disappointment at the prospect of the tournament no longer being free to watch, with one saying: “NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Another said: “Dumb simple as that.”

And another said: “Further killing off the game to a worldwide audience! Let’s hope it doesn’t happen.”

One remarked: “Great way to finish off a sport that is already struggling.”

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Another sarcastically chimed in: “Absolutely great idea I’m sure everyone will want this.”

World Rugby are contemplating putting the next two World Cups in a bid to further expand the global reach of the sport.

CEO Andrew Gilpin said: “The starting point is always going to be, ‘Can we make as much of this fantastic competition – in the case of men’s and women’s World Cups – available to the biggest audiences possible?’

“The secondary consideration to that is, ‘Can we do that in a way that provides the revenues that we need to continue to invest in the growth of the sport?’

“So, like any sports event owner, it’s finding that balance – and there is a balance to be found there – across different markets .

“So, no, we definitely won’t look at ’27 in isolation and we definitely won’t look at the UK in isolation.

“We’ll look at it as part of a broader sort of mix of opportunities.

“A brilliant, expanded, 16-team, eight-venue Women’s Rugby World Cup in ’25, much bigger scale than we’ve ever done in Women’s World Cup before, that has to be available, particularly in the UK and the home market, for free, to the biggest audience. That’s our short-term focus.”

Team Europe’s Viktor Hovland hit a hole-in-one at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club on Thursday – but the doubters are out in full force.

The Norwegian, 26, was taking part in a practice session on a par four hole the day before the tournament gets underway, with his second effort finding the target. However, well as it being his second ball, fans were quick to point out that it isn’t registered during a practise session.

Fans of Team Europe have also bemoaned that the world No. 3 didn’t save his best for the start of the tournament on Friday, with Europe going in as the slight favourites. One denier said: “Completely meaningless hole in one.”

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A second added: “You can make a hole in one on your second ball?” Another doubter added: “It was his second ball, who cares.” A third continued: “Viktorrrrrrrrrr stop that son save it for tomorrow.”

A fifth posted: “He should saved it for tomorrow….!”

A sixth then concluded: “We talkin’ about practice. Not a game, not a game. We talkin’ about practice, man.”

Will Team Europe win back the Ryder Cup? Give us your score prediction in the comments section below.

Led by captain Luke Donald, Team Europe have the strength of Hovland as well as Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm among others as they go up against Zach Johnson’s side.

Team USA can call on Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman among others as the reigning champions from Wisconsin back in 2021.

That dominant victory came after four wins from five for Europe, with the overall standings at 43 wins and 43 defeats for the United States.

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With LIV Golfers banned from taking part, Hovland and his colleague are certainly not playing golf for the cash.

Back in June at the Memorial Tournament, Hovland landed over £3million in prize money then acted as a caddy for his pal the next day.

His total career earnings now stand at just short of £40m, despite being yet to win his first major championship.

The phone was found to be missing during the practice session before the match. However, no official complaint has been lodged in the matter and the local authorities are trying their best to get back the phone of the Indian captain.

However, Rohit Sharma being casual and leaving his important stuff behind is not something new. The 36-year-old is infamous for his habit of forgetting and Virat Kohli has famously gone on record to say that Team India’s logistics managers make sure to cross-check with Rohit Sharma before allowing the team buses to leave for the airports.

Four times when India captain forgot and left behind his stuff

On the famous YouTube talk show Breakfast with Champions , Virat Kohli opened up on Rohit Sharma’s carefree attitude which has seen him leave behind his iPad, wallet, phones, and other belongings. He recalled how Rohit once left his iPad on the flight.

Rohit Sharma forgets iPad, wallet, phone: Kohli

“The number of things Rohit Sharma forgets; I have never seen anyone else so forgetful. iPad, wallet, phone, not the small things, but daily use essentials. I don’t care, I’ll get a new one. he has no idea he’s left something, the bus would’ve travelled halfway to the hotel and then he remembers ‘Oh, I left my iPad on the plane’,” Virat Kohli had said.

“It was really difficult retrieving it. The logistical manager always asks, ‘Does Rohit Sharma have all his stuff?’. Once he gets a yes from Rohit then only does the bus depart,” he added.

Rohit Sharma himself admits to being careless

The Mumbai batter himself admitted to leaving behind his wedding ring in a hotel room during an overseas tour. The ring was brought back to him minutes before the flight departure.

“Naya naya married tha yar. I was newly married. Aadat nai thi pehenne ki (I didn’t have a habit of wearing it at all times). Naya naya shaadi hua tha, toh main nikaal ke sota tha. I’ve a very bad habit of getting up late and then rushing towards the airport.

“I always tell my teammates to give me a call or knock on my door (in the team hotel) before we leave for training or the airport. Uss din aisa nai hua. Main late hogaya aur nikal gaya. (That day, I got very late and left in a hurry),” Rohit Sharma recalled on the Breakfast with Champions.

“Toh Umesh Yadav mere paas se guzre aur unke haath mein maine wedding ring dekha. Toh main bola ‘ohho, s**t yar ring’. Maine Bhajju paa ko side mein liya aur bola ‘Bhajju paa, aapke pehchaan wala banda tha hotel mein usko bolo shayad ring mil jaaye’….Dheere dheere sabko pata chal gaya. Phir Virat Kohli ne bahut bada news bana diya.”

Ajinkya Rahane recalled Rohit’s habit of misplacing things

Ajinkya Rahane has also talked about the incident once on chat show ‘What The Duck’. Rahane had revealed that he had never seen Rohit more stressed and nervous.

“I have several stories about Rohit, and this particular one is about his wedding ring. We guys were on tour overseas and when we got to the airport, Rohit realised that he had forgotten his wedding ring in the hotel room. He was in such a state of panic, he was so nervous. He went to our team manager and told him what had happened, and asked him to immediately call the hotel reception and inform them about the same,” Rahane said on chat show ‘What The Duck’.

“We were all seated in the airport lounge and about to board the flight when eventually Rohit’s ring was brought to him. I have never seen Rohit more stressed out, than on that day. No doubt he is immensely talented on the cricket field, but there are still some areas where he needs talent,” he concluded.

When Rohit Sharma forgot his passport

That is not it, Rohit Sharma once forgot to bring his passport with him while leaving Delhi for England tour. The team was asked to assemble in Delhi and Rohit Sharma arrived from Mumbai without his passport.

“We all assembled in Delhi and were supposed to leave for the UK. Our man (Rohit) came chilled, having forgotten his passport back in Mumbai. It got delivered to him just in time, else he would’ve been left behind,” Karthik said on Breakfast with Champions.

Rohit Sharma’s Ghajini acts leave teammates surprised

In one of his latest ‘Ghajini acts’, Rohit Sharma forgot his passport once again after India’s title triumph at the Asia Cup 2023 in Sri Lanka. He realised it only after the team bus was ready to leave for the airport from the team hotel in Colombo. A video of the incident went viral.

Barcelona could face a Champions League ban after being charged with bribery of referees.

According to Spanish outlet El Debate , judge Joaquin Aguirre has accused Barcelona of bribery in relation to payments of around £6million to former vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees Jose Maria Enruquez Negreira.

Spanish media including AS had previously reported that Barcelona paid €7million (£6.1m) to Negreira between 2001 and 2018 for ‘undocumented’ verbal advice that would supposedly ensure neutral treatment from referees during fixtures.

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Former presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, as well as former official Negreira and his son Javier Enriquez Romero have all been charged.

The law states that no official can receive reward for completing the performance of public duties, with the decision motivated by the stance of the Supreme Court, which classes Negreira as a person who performed a public function.

Barca president Joan Laporta has so far avoided talking about the scandal, which could result in a Champions League ban for Xavi’s side.

It had been alleged that Negreira received the cash via a shell company set up by former Barcelona director Josep Contreras, who allegedly earned 50% commission.

The update from the judge comes as a blow to Xavi and his players after the returned to form last season to beat Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid to La Liga glory.

Barca sit third in the table this time out as they look to crown their Champions League campaign with a first triumph in the competition since 2014/15.

La Liga President Javier Tebas had previously called for Barcelona president Laporta to provide an explanation for the matter, Rafael Yuste, the club’s vice-president, then offered an update .

He said on Barca TV that a law firm has been hired to start an investigation in order to have full transparency with club members, with the payments to Negreira’s Dasnil company only stopping in 2018.

After the details were made public, former referee Alberto Gimenez claims to have been called a chicken by Negreira in a ‘secret match-fixing meeting’.

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Speaking on RadioMarca , Gimenez said he had been pressured by Negreira during a meeting that took place alongside other referees.

He said: “Negreira pressured me. He met me with other referees and told me: ‘Hey chicken, be careful with what you say on television. You already understand me. Be careful’.

“There is a formula for fixing matches. It’s a fool’s trap: I’m a friend of ‘such and such’ who will support you, you give me so much and I’ll fix it for you.

“If the result is negative, the money is returned. If he wins, he is marked for life. If he loses and returns the money, he has another chance.”