England Rugby Manager EDDIE JONES will consult England men's national football team Manager GARETH SOUTHGATE about his side's experience in Russia at the World Cup "before deciding whether to allow his players' wives and girlfriends to attend" Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan. The FA "did not put a ban on partners attending the World Cup," and the players' families stayed at hotels near the team during the tournament (London TELEGRAPH, 9/22). ... The charity boxing fight between All Black SONNY BILL WILLIAMS and Australian reality TV star STU LAUNDY was labeled "unsafe" by Australian government officials. The bout will raise money for the homeless in Australia and New Zealand. The event "could be in jeopardy" after Australia Shadow Minister for Sport LYNDA VOLTZ said that the fight between Williams, a former professional boxer, and a reality star is "risky and unfair" (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 9/23). ... DAVID WARNER scored a match-winning century and STEVE SMITH made 85 "as the banned duo returned to competitive cricket in Australia." Former Australia captain Smith and ex-vice captain Warner were banned from int'l and state cricket for a year in March for ball-tampering (BBC, 9/22). ... WBC world heavyweight champion DEONTAY WILDER will fight Britain's TYSON FURY on Dec. 1 in the U.S., with the venue yet to be finalized, the pair announced on Saturday. Wilder and Fury agreed to the fight in August and both "confirmed the date of the bout on social media" (REUTERS, 9/22).
EMOTIONAL RETURN: ALEX FERGUSON made an "emotional return" to ManU on Saturday "for the first time since the club's legendary former manager had emergency brain surgery." Ferguson, who managed ManU for 27 years, "was left fighting for his life" after being rushed to the hospital in May. He received a "thunderous" 60-second standing ovation from ManU and Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters. Smiling "broadly," Ferguson waved and applauded back at the fans before clenching his fists in the salute that "often passed as his goal celebration." He said, "I'm really good. Obviously it's been a long journey and I'm gradually making steps forward, doing what my son tells me and what the doctors tell me, so, yeah, I'm really good" (AFP, 9/22).
