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Newcastle bring in centre Clark on short-term deal
Newcastle Falcons have signed centre Max Clark on a three-month deal.
Previously of Bath and Welsh sides Dragons and Cardiff Blues, Clark had been training with Saracens.
The 29-year-old played for them in the Premiership Rugby Cup last month and most recently for Ampthill in the Championship.
Clark will be available to play in Newcastle's Premiership game at home to former club Bath on Saturday.
Source: Barça's Camp Nou return faces 2025 delay
Barcelona are already working internally on the possibility of a return to Spotify Camp Nou being delayed until next season, a source told ESPN, despite president Joan Laporta insisting the intention remains to play there from March.
Barça originally planned to be back at their Camp Nou home by November to mark the club's 125th anniversary, but that date has passed.
Laporta has said the club now hope to be back in the stadium by March, coinciding with the knockout phase of the Champions League, but a source said even that date looks unlikely.
Progress in redeveloping and modernising the ground has been slowed due to the fact more work was required on the second tier than initially planned.
The pitch, meanwhile, will require up to three months to be properly installed to ensure it is at the level required to host elite football.
The playing surface is still covered in machinery, though, as the revamp of the stadium continues, meaning the installation of the pitch has still not begun.
Laporta is targeting a March date because once Barça have played a home knockout game in the Champions League, they cannot change the venue where their home matches are played in Europe.
The only window to switch stadiums is between the league phase and the knockout stages, per UEFA's regulations, although there are no such restrictions domestically in LaLiga.
Barça are planning on a staged return to Camp Nou. They will initially return with the attendance capped at around 60,000 as work continues.
The stadium should then be completely finished by the summer of 2026, with the capacity increased to around 105,000, the highest in Europe.
Barça left Camp Nou in 2023 and have been playing at the Olympic Stadium in the city since. They recently extended the lease on the stadium until March and would be able to prolong their stay again if required.
Vini after The Best win: They tried to diminish me
Vinícius Júnior hit back at his critics after winning FIFA's The Best men's player of the year award on Tuesday, accusing his detractors of trying to "invalidate" and "diminish" him.
Real Madrid and Brazil forward Vinícius, 24, took the 2024 prize -- which is voted on by a combination of national team coaches and captains, journalists, and fans -- with 48 points, ahead of Manchester City midfielder Rodri who earned 43 points and Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham with 37 points.
It comes after Rodri beat Vinícius to the Ballon d'Or, which is organised by France Football and UEFA, leading Real Madrid to boycott the ceremony in protest.
"Today I write to the child who has seen so many idols lift that trophy," Vinícius posted on Instagram. "His time has come. Or rather, my time has come. The time to say ... yes, I am the best player in the world and I have fought hard for it.
"They have tried and tried to invalidate me, to diminish me. But they are not ready. No one is going to tell me who I should fight for, how I should behave. When I was at São Gonçalo, the system didn't care about me. It almost swallowed me up.
"I won for myself, for my family. With a lot of support along the way: Flamengo, Real Madrid, the Brazilian national team, my hundreds of teammates over the years ... the people who accompany me every day in my routine, those who admire me ... The best player in the world."
Vinícius won The Best -- for the first time -- after a 2023-24 season which saw him help Madrid win a LaLiga and Champions League double.
Barcelona's Aitana Bonmatí won the women's award, with Carlo Ancelotti being named men's coach of the year.
In October, Vinícius reacted to missing out on the Ballon d'Or: "I'll do it 10x if I have to. They're not ready," he wrote.
Madrid's delegation had opted not to travel to the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris when it emerged that Rodri was likely to win, with none of the club's multiple nominees or officials attending.
President Florentino Perez criticized the Ballon d'Or voting system -- which involves 100 journalists from different countries -- in a speech at Madrid's AGM last month, saying "nobody knows who they are" and arguing the award should be "independently organised" and voted on by "people who are well-known."
Neymar was among the stars to praise Vinícius after his triumph on Tuesday, encouraging his compatriot to "keep flying" in an Instagram story.
Liverpool's Slot admits trying to influence ref calls
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has admitted that he has tried to influence referees in games this season, adding that his attempts have not worked.
The former Feyenoord coach talked of wanting to create a siege mentality at Anfield in order to make officials give his team more favourable calls.
"You try to influence as much as you can," Slot said in a news conference on Tuesday. "The mistake I have made two times already here, and one or two times in Holland, is sometimes you think that creating an atmosphere that the whole world is against you can lead to some positive decisions at the end of the game.
"But here, until now, in the Chelsea game and the Fulham game for the whole 90 minutes it stayed the same. It wasn't like after I tried to influence things a bit, the referee all of a sudden gave us one or two free kicks.
"No, he just kept the whole game the same. I know that it doesn't work, but sometimes you think: 'Can I influence that a bit?' But it didn't help at all."
Slot took over from Jürgen Klopp at Anfield in the summer and is to serve a touchline ban during Liverpool's clash with Southampton on Wednesday in the Carabao Cup after accruing three bookings so far this season.
The Dutch coach said the disciplinary record is at odds with his normal manner, though added he can get emotional during games.
"You always reflect but I think, in general, I am calm," he said. "I don't know if it is smart to say this, but there is also a limit for me -- let's put it that way. And then I can get emotional and, unfortunately, that limit is only reached by refereeing decisions or the decisions my players make."
Sipke Hulshoff, Slot's first assistant, is set to lead the coaching staff on the sideline for the game with Southampton, who will be looking to rebound after losing 5-0 to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday and firing their head coach Russell Martin.
Ruben Amorim has told Marcus Rashford he wants him to stay at Manchester United.
Rashford has suggested he's ready to leave and pursue a "new challenge" after a 20-year association with the club.
Amorim, however, insisted the 27-year-old can find that challenge at Old Trafford as he looks to return United to the top of European football.
"We have here a new challenge," Amorim told a news conference on Wednesday.
"It's a tough one. For me it's the biggest challenge in football because we are in a difficult situation and I already said this is one of the biggest clubs in the world. This is a really new challenge and the biggest one. I really hope all my players are ready for this new challenge."
Rashford's comments came just days after he was dropped from the squad for the 2-1 derby win over Manchester City.
"For me, personally, I think I'm ready for a new challenge and the next steps," Rashford, who admitted it was "disheartening" to be left out at the Etihad Stadium, told journalist Henry Winter. "When I leave it's going to be 'no hard feelings.'"
Amorim revealed he is yet to speak to the England forward, who was given a day off on Tuesday, and will decide after training on Wednesday whether he will be part of the group which travels to London for the Carabao Cup quarterfinal against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.
Alejandro Garnacho was also dropped from the squad at the Etihad but is available to face Spurs after training on Sunday and Monday.
"It's the same situation for all the other players," Amorim said.
"If they train well then I have to make a choice. We will see at the end of training.
"I want the best of each one of them [the players] and that is the key point for me. I just want to win and to help the team be better.
"We are better with Marcus Rashford, that is simple and we will try different things to push Marcus to the best levels he showed in the past. And that's all.
"This kind of club needs big talent and he's a big talent, so he just needs to perform at the highest level and that is my focus. I just want to help Marcus."
Brendon McCullum: Jacob Bethell's emergence is 'a good problem to have'
"He has a bit of class about him," McCullum said, having been impressed by Bethell's calmness and maturity. "I'm pretty disorganised with stuff; I'm always looking for my car keys or phone charger, but Bethell always has his.
"He is one of those guys who is very meticulous with his preparation and planning which then lets his flair and creativity show on the big stage. He is a guy we can't be more happy with after what he has achieved in this series and I think he has shown that international cricket is for him."
A broken thumb sustained prior to the second day's play of a warm-up match against a Prime Minister's XI in Queenstown ruled Cox out of the tour. Shorn of another full-time gloveman, England turned to their vice-captain Pope, who obliged, dropping down three spots to six to concentrate fully on the role. Thus Bethell, the spare batter, was given an opportunity to flex at the business end of the batting order.
Both Bethell and Pope left New Zealand on Wednesday morning to join their Big Bash League teams, Melbourne Renegades and Adelaide Strikers, respectively. But it was 24 hours earlier that their situations came to a head at Seddon Park through the prism of their ugly dismissals.
Pope's dismal attempt to ramp Matt Henry, costing him his off stump for 17, drew the most ire. Legendary Kiwi commentator Ian Smith, who was on air with Sport Nation NZ at the time, was particularly scathing: "Sit him down in a cold dark room and put some electrodes on his head and say 'what were you thinking Ollie?'"
Bethell, meanwhile, had shown impressive gumption to survive a blistering spell from 6ft4in quick Will O'Rourke, before scything the retiring Tim Southee to deep point. It was the second chance at a first professional century Bethell has spurned on this trip after falling four short in Wellington last week.
The messaging throughout the tour has been that Pope will resume the position he has owned since the start of Ben Stokes' tenure in 2022. Though he averages a tidy 40.28 in that slot, Bethell's tighter technique and assurance at the crease is regarded by some as a better fit for three compared to Pope's general freneticism.
All this presents a conundrum when Smith returns to the fold. England's next Test engagement comes in May, a one-off four-day match against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge. And while no decision needs to be taken just yet, McCullum admitted Pope's spot is no longer guaranteed because of Bethell's strong first impressions.
"Look, it is a good problem to have," McCullum said. "We were all a little unsure whether Beth could play at three when we asked him to do it but we saw the talent in him and he has performed very well against a very good bowling line-up.
"They are good problems. We will work it out. Popey has done really well for us and to have now Beth there as well, you are adding some depth to your batting stocks. They are good decisions to have and we will not make them in the next few days. When we get together again in a few months' time we will work all that stuff out."
Results have been mixed, with nine wins and eight losses across the 17 Tests, amounting to three series victories and two defeats. Nevertheless, McCullum feels the squad is now better equipped to take on the challenges that lie ahead next year.
"The emergence of [Brydon] Carse, Bethell, [Gus] Atkinson and Jamie Smith. We have got other guys who have taken on different roles as well. The skipper got injured in this Test which we don't think will be too bad but even his continued development as a captain and leader in the group is being backed up as an allrounder as well.
"Overall, I think we're a better team than we were back then (January), albeit we had some guys who did well for us. Now I think we have a team which is capable of being able to take on the best teams in the world, and soon we will find out."
The new year also brings new scope for McCullum as the white-ball teams come under his control. After a short break, his first duty will be a limited-overs series in India ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in February. Naturally, he is enthusiastic about the prospect of bringing his Test ethos to England's ODI and T20I squads, after a year of failure at both World Cups.
"I'm excited by it, we'll find out, right?" he said. "There's not too many times in life you take things on with meat on the bone and that's why I took on the Test job initially.
"I'm excited about it, with Jos [Buttler] there as captain. There's something there to work with. Get it right and we could achieve some pretty cool stuff over the next couple of years."
Vithushan Ehantharajah is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo
Bartlett and Peirson raise Heat to deflate Stars
Brisbane Heat 163 for 2 (Peirson 72*, Bryant 36*, Stoinis 1-20) beat Melbourne Stars 162 for 6 (Harper 46, Clarke 32, Bartlett 3-25) by eight wickets
Missing English recruit Tom Alsop (quad), star import Colin Munro (hamstring), as well as star quicks Spencer Johnson (toe) and Michael Neser (hamstring), Heat handed debuts to Daniel Drew and Tom Whitney.
In better news for Stars, allrounder Glenn Maxwell has declared himself a certain starter for Friday night's clash with Adelaide Strikers at the Adelaide Oval. Maxwell, 36, injured his hamstring playing in a T20 for Australia in November in a major blow for his ambitions of being picked for next year's Test tour of Sri Lanka. But he had a bowl at the MCG before Stars played the Heat, later saying he would be fit to return against Strikers.
Heat will be next in action on Sunday when they host Strikers at the Gabba.
Wellalage dropped, Rajapaksa retained in Sri Lanka T20I squad for New Zealand tour
While no reason has been cited for Wellalage's omission, it is likely that his spin-bowling attributes would have been less useful in New Zealand's more seam-friendly conditions. Wellalage is currently taking part in the Lanka T10 tournament for Jaffna Titans.
Wickramasinghe will supplement a varied seam attack consisting of Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Asitha Fernando and Binura Fernando. Spinners Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Jeffrey Vandersay round out the squad.
The first two T20Is will take place in Mount Maunganui on December 28 and 30, before the action moves to Nelson for the final match on January 2.
Sri Lanka squad for T20I series in New Zealand
Charith Asalanka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Bhanuka Rajapaksha, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Asitha Fernando, Binura Fernando
Injured Maharaj and Mulder included in South Africa squad for Tests against Pakistan
Where they will miss him, is in the brains trust, which suggests he will remain part of the squad. "Kesh is obviously one of the senior players in the side. He is a great sounding board. He's got a huge amount of experience and he's such a calming influence in the change room as well," Conrad said. "And he's an excellent spinner. Him, KG [Kagiso Rabada] and thankfully we've got Marco [Jansen] back - they're really the triumvirate that will ensure that we get the bulk of the 20 wickets we need to win a Test match."
Rabada and Jansen are both currently fit, and part of the ODI squad playing against Pakistan, but South Africa have a quartet of other injured quicks, who could not be considered. Lungi Ngidi (hip), Gerald Coetzee (groin), Nandre Burger (lower back stress fracture) and Lizaad Williams (knee) are all out until next year, which means much hinges on Mulder's fitness.
Mulder will have another scan on Thursday morning to check on his progress, which has been described as being in the final phase of recovery in a Cricket South Africa press release. "He has started hitting balls and doing some work with Kruger [van Wyk, fielding coach] up in Pretoria," Conrad said. "I'm not going to get ahead of ourselves in terms of where he's at right now. We'll see what the scan throws out and then we'll obviously take it very conservatively. We're not going to do anything daft and rush him into action if he's not quite ready yet. But that decision will only be taken pretty much when we get together next week."
Maphaka was called up to the squad that played Sri Lanka as cover when Coetzee was injured but did not play. He is part of the ODI squad currently playing against Pakistan but has yet to debut in the format. Seven other Test players are also in the 50-over playing group: captain Temba Bavuma, Tony de Zorzi, Jansen, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Rabada and Maharaj. Rabada and Jansen both played the opening game but are unlikely to feature in all three matches as South Africa manage their bowling resources.
South Africa will have a three-day turnaround between the end of the ODIs and the start of the Tests, which leaves no time for a warm-up match and only two practice sessions which Conrad is happy with. "Teams prepare differently nowadays. Gone are the days of warm-up matches. Guys that are not involved in the ODI squad, will be playing in Titans versus the Warriors (domestic first-class) game. Whatever our preparation looks like, it's going to be good enough. And we're really looking forward to playing at Centurion. It's a ground that we play particularly well at and the guys know the conditions rather well."
In the last ten years, South Africa have only lost one Test at SuperSport Park, to India in 2021. They need one more win to guarantee a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final and two Tests to try and achieve that. They face Pakistan at SuperSport Park on Boxing Day and then at Newlands for the annual New Year's Test.
South Africa squad for Tests against Pakistan
Temba Bavuma (capt), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk)
Habs' Laine nets hat trick as road back continues
MONTREAL -- Patrik Laine posted his first hat trick with the Montreal Canadiens, as his club extended the Buffalo Sabres' winless streak to 11 games with a 6-1 victory on Tuesday night.
Juraj Slafkovsky, Joel Armia and Josh Anderson also scored for Montreal, and Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson provided two assists each and Sam Montembeault stopped 20 shots.
It has been a long road for Laine, who made his Montreal debut earlier this month. He sat out the season's first two months because of a knee injury after an offseason trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets in August via Laine's request.
"He's been working hard, coming to the rink every day, trying to get better," Suzuki, Montreal's captain, said of Laine. "He's been doing the right things over and over again, and I'm happy that he got rewarded."
Laine was skating in his second preseason game for Montreal in September when he collided knee-on-knee with Toronto Maple Leafs forward Cedric Pare. Though Laine said at the time the injury "could have been much worse," it still set him up for a lengthy recovery.
Laine, 26, was limited to only 18 games last season while rehabbing a broken clavicle and then spending time in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program from January to July.
He has had some form of injury nearly every season since the Winnipeg Jets selected him second overall in the 2016 NHL draft. Despite that history Laine made the most of his time in Columbus, averaging a point per game over two seasons in 2021-23.
But his start with the Canadiens has been strong. He now has six goals, and all three Tuesday night came on power plays. It was his 11th career hat trick, and despite sitting out the start of the season, Laine is already tied for fourth in goals on the team.
"Great passes," Laine said of what his teammates are feeding him on the power play. "They seem to find me, and you have to be able to be open. Tonight was just my turn."
Montreal coach Martin St. Louis was a bit more complimentary.
"We were talking about passion [for the game] this morning, I think that answered it right there," St. Louis said, when asked about Laine's enthusiasm for being on the Canadiens. "When a player has that love, that passion, they're going to work a lot harder at it. They're going to commit to everything."
Dylan Cozens scored for struggling Buffalo and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 15 saves on 21 shots. Backup James Reimer stopped all six shots that he faced after entering to start the third.
The loss came a day after Sabres owner Terry Pegula flew to Montreal for a team meeting.
Armia scored only 19 seconds into the game, capitalizing on a wide-open net after Sabres defenseman Owen Power mishandled the puck off the end boards.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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