The All Blacks will mark their 125th anniversary with a "mouth-watering clash against the Barbarians" at Twickenham in November, New Zealand Rugby said on Saturday. The All Blacks, returning to the venue of their World Cup triumph in '15, will face the "iconic invitational side," famed for its "attacking flair," for the first time since '09. NZR CEO Steve Tew said, "Like the All Blacks, the Barbarians are part of rugby's rich history and the match later this year is a fitting way to mark our 125th anniversary" (REUTERS, 5/6).
Champions League football fans have been promised 21 post-match high speed trains from Cardiff after the final to "avoid the embarrassment" of a repeat of the "Rugby World Cup travel chaos." About 60,000 travelers are "expected to pass through Cardiff Central station" following the June 3 "showpiece." Wales also wants to bid to UEFA for a second Champions League final "if this one is a success." Rugby supporters "queued for up to four hours" after the Ireland-Canada World Cup game in Sept. '15 (BBC, 5/6).
Premier League side Swansea City players will "cover the cost of 3,000 away tickets for the club's match at Sunderland next Saturday." Swansea Manager Paul Clement said after his team's 1-0 win over Everton on Saturday, "It is a shame we can't bring all the fans" (BBC, 5/6).
Fighting between rival fans delayed the start of the Greek Cup final between PAOK Salonika and AEK Athens on Saturday. Supporters "fought on a bridge leading to the Panthessaliko Stadium in Volos" two hours before kickoff, "with fans then storming the pitch." Riot police used tear gas to bring the crowd "under control." The game "eventually kicked off 30 minutes late" (BBC, 5/6).
Ilie Nastase "will not be given accreditation for this year's French Open," organizers said on Saturday. The 70-year-old is provisionally banned from all Int'l Tennis Federation events "after making allegedly racist and sexist comments during Romania's Fed Cup tie against Britain last month" (REUTERS, 5/6).
