Latest - Team New Zealand's prototype hydrogen foiling chase boat will launch next month.
Photo: Emirates Team New Zealand
The construction of the boat was started in August 2021 at the team's North Shore build facility, the appendage construction is in its final stages and the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powertrain installation is underway at the team's base in Auckland's Viaduct Harbour.
The prototype foiling boat is 10 metres in length, and approximately 5200kg displacement, the cruising speed will be 30-35 knots with a top speed of around 50 knots and will carry 6 crew members with a range of between 150-180km generating approximately 440kW peak power via a 400V DC system powered by the Hydrogen Fuel Cell.
Team New Zealand have committed to driving hydrogen innovation in the marine industry through working with clean technologies.
"These types of projects are extremely beneficial to keep the guys pushing the boundaries, continually learning and approaching problems with different perspectives, which all help to keep raising the bar in our design approach to the 37th America's Cup which is also progressing in parallel," TNZ head designer Dan Bernasconi said.
The design of the chase boat foil wings was largely based on AC75 technology and the Autopilot which will be used to control the ride height is TNZ proprietary technology that will be implemented in the new AC40 boats in production.
In 2024, at the 37th America's Cup, all teams must have a hydrogen-powered chase boat.
Phoenix coach sees opportunity in busy schedule
Wellington Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay said his players will be excited rather than intimidated by a heavy schedule.
The Phoenix play five A-League games in 14 days as they catch-up on games postponed in December and January due to Covid restrictions.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
They begin with Sunday night's match against Macarthur FC in Sydney, and Talay viewed the series of games as an exciting opportunity.
"There's a lot of games in a short period of time. We need to manage the boys well and get through these games as best we can. But, look, at the end of the day, when I was a player all I wanted to do was play games, so what a great opportunity this is."
Talay said new signing, the former Manchester United player Scott Wootton, could be ready for the side's midweek game against Melbourne Victory.
Wootton, who played four times for the Red Devils in the Sir Alex Ferguson era, arrived with an ongoing injury.
Talay said the English centre-half isn't ready to play against Macarthur but is expected to be able to play on Wednesday.
The coach will be able to call on goalkeeper Oli Sail for the first time since 19 December, when he suffered a hip flexor injury just 10 minutes into the fifth-round match against Sydney FC.
Ireland start strong in Six Nations
Ireland picked up where they left off in 2021 as they blew away a toothless Wales 29-7 in a one-sided Six Nations opener.
Bundee Aki Photo: Photosport
The dominant hosts scored only one try in the first half, through Bundee Aki.
Andrew Conway's quickfire double and a magnificent Garry Ringrose effort after the break saw Ireland accelerate away from the injury-ravaged visitors.
Only Taine Basham's late try saved Wales the ignominy of a scoreless defeat.
Wayne Pivac's side remain without a victory in Dublin since 2015 and have rarely looked less likely to win in the Irish capital as they were stifled throughout by an impressive Irish defence.
Given the extent of their injury list it was always going to be a tough opening assignment for the defending champions, yet the manner of their performance will provide great cause for concern as they begin preparations for Scotland in Cardiff next week.
- BBC
Scotland lift Calcutta Cup
Finn Russell slotted a penalty eight minutes from time to earn Scotland a narrow 20-17 win over England as they took advantage of a penalty try and a yellow card for the visitors to wrestle back control of an intense Six Nations game.
Finn Russell Photo: © INPHO 2021
Scotland, 10-6 up at halftime, were 10-17 down when they were awarded a penalty try after England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie batted away a high cross-field pass. He was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes.
It proved the turning-point as with the one-man advantage, Scotland won a late penalty to snatch victory and take the Calcutta Cup for a second successive year.
Ben White scored Scotland's other try while all England's points came from young flyhalf Marcus Smith, who crossed for a try and was unlucky to end on the losing side.
- Reuters
NFL to change diversity policy
The NFL will reevaluate its policies relating to diversity, equity and inclusion, commissioner Roger Goodell told the clubs days after former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against the league.
Roger Goodell Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Flores, who is Black, was fired by the Dolphins last month after back-to-back seasons with winning records, saying it was emblematic of the treatment of Black coaches, who comprise a fraction of team staff positions while 70 percent of NFL players are Black.
Goodell said he understood Flores' concerns and added they would not wait for the legal process to "reassess and modify our strategies" so they are consistent with the league's commitment to diversity.
"We have made significant efforts to promote diversity and adopted numerous policies and programs which have produced positive change in many areas," Goodell wrote in a memo sent to all league employees and clubs.
"However we must acknowledge that particularly with respect to head coaches the results have been unacceptable.
"We will reevaluate and examine all policies, guidelines and initiatives relating to diversity, equity and inclusion, including as they relate to gender."
There is currently just one Black head coach among the NFL's 32 teams.
Goodell added they were retaining "outside experts" to assist in their review while also asking current and former players and coaches for their input.
"Our goal is simple: make our efforts and those of the clubs more effective so that real and tangible results will be achieved," he added.
"We recognize the need to understand the lived experiences of diverse members of the NFL family to ensure that everyone has access to opportunity and is treated with respect and dignity."
- Reuters
Melbourne Victory back on top
Ten months after he was charged with lifting Melbourne Victory out of the doldrums, Tony Popovic's revolution has delivered its first trophy in a dramatic 2-1 FFA Cup final triumph over Central Coast.
Jason Davidson's thunderous free-kick handed Victory the advantage in the 70th minute, with Chris Ikonomidis' 95th-minute volley proving the winner before Central Coast skipper Oliver Bozanic ensured a nervous finish to the match when he scored in the 97th minute.
The triumph, Victory's second FFA Cup title after 2015, came just eight months after their first wooden spoon.
As a result of their poor 2020-21, Victory had to win a play-off to reach the Cup round of 32 before going on a barnstorming run that culminated in Saturday night's triumph in front of 15,343 fans at AAMI Park.
Popovic's first domestic final win also earned Victory a shot at the AFC Champions League, with the competition winner receiving a play-off spot - an away game against Japanese side Vissel Kobe in March.
- ABC