Hughes bat
KATHMANDU- A cricket bat used by the late Phillip Hughes is to be taken to Mount Everest, the Cricket Association of Nepal said yesterday.
A bat, as well as some of his playing shirts, are to be taken up the world's highest mountain to honour the Australian player who died in November after being hit in the neck by a ball during a Sheffield Shield match in Sydney.
"I'll be carrying the bat up to Everest," said Churim Sherpa, a mountaineer, who holds the record of climbing Everest twice in a single season.
"Climbing Everest is always a risky task."
Vatuvei rated
AUCKLAND - Manu Vatuvei rated it as the icing on the cake, having sporting superstar and fellow giant winger Jonah Lomu present him with a special memento from his 200th NRL match.
Former All Black Lomu came on to the field after the Warriors' 32-22 win over the Wests Tigers in Auckland on Saturday night to hand Vatuvei a framed photo.
The picture was of Vatuvei before the start of the match, leading the team out with two of his daughters.
"That definitely topped the night," he said of the surprise presentation.
"Jonah was a man I idolised when I was a kid and to see him come and take time out from his busy schedule — you can't ask for more."
Last laugh
SYDNEY - Stormers coach Allister Coatzee had the last laugh after plotting a Super Rugby boilover against the NSW Waratahs, despite resting influential captain Duane Vermuelen.
The defending champion Waratahs face a fight to make the finals after crashing to a 32-18 home loss to the resurgent Stormers at Allianz Stadium.
Resuming after an Easter weekend bye, the Waratahs were off their game on Saturday night, conceding four tries and a bonus point to the visiting South Africans while slipping to 10th on the table.
The defeat leaves the titleholders seven points adrift of Australian conference leaders the Brumbies entering the halfway point of the competition and with plenty of work to do to remain in touch with the top six.
Under fire
SYDNEY - South Sydney are again under fire for their attitude towards violence against women, with chairman Nick Pappas asked to explain his support for a convicted rapist.
According to Fairfax Media, the NRL have asked the Rabbitohs for a "please explain" after Pappas provided a character reference for rapist Luke Lazarus.
Last month Lazarus was sentenced to five years in prison for a vicious sexual assault in a Kings Cross alleyway in May 2013.
That support for Lazarus came after Souths were heavily criticised for allowing Kirisome Auva'a to continue to play last year and be a part of their grand final win, despite his pleading guilty to assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
Auva'a last month failed in a bid to appeal his suspension from the NRL.