Arsenal trio among six on player of the year shortlist

LONDON, England, June 5, 2026 – Arsenal’s Declan Rice, Gabriel and David Raya have been nominated for the Professional Footballers’ Association men’s player of the year award alongside Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki.

Earlier this month, Fernandes, 31, won the Football Writers’ Association’s men’s footballer of the year award.

That award is often an indicator of who is the frontrunner to be named the PFA player of the year. blablasex.es

The Portugal midfielder registered a record 21 Premier League assists to help United finish third.

Midfielder Rice, defender Gabriel and goalkeeper Raya were all key players for Arsenal, who won the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.

Striker Haaland bagged 27 goals to win the league’s golden boot, while Cherki enjoyed a successful first season in the Premier League.

Former Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah won the award last year after scoring 29 times to help the Reds win the Premier League.

The winners will be honoured on Tuesday, 25 August at the 53rd annual PFA Awards Ceremony in Manchester.

The post Arsenal trio among six on player of the year shortlist appeared first on Capital Sports.

Springbok fever is soon set to take hold of South Africa as the world champions will soon be back in action as their 2026 season kicks off against the Barbarians on 20 June.

However, before the real business of Test rugby once again takes centre stage, it is always interesting to reflect on some miscellaneous facts and figures.

With this in mind, the outstanding Springbok history website Bokhist has kept track of where all Springbok players were born, with 72 hailing from Cape Town – perhaps unsurprisingly.

There have been 46 players born in Pretoria, and 43 in Johannesburg, with Gauteng another understandable hub of talent.

Yet, it’s fascinating to see that as many as 36 Springbok players were born in the relatively small Western Cape town of Paarl. Having said that, it does stand to reason when considering the powerhouse Paarl rugby schools that have always been a hotbed for talent.

Tied fifth on the list are Bloemfontein, Kimberley and Port Elizabeth – where 27 players have been born – while 26 hail from Durban.

check out the full list of where most Springbok players born

2026 fixtures (kick off times in SA time)

• Saturday 20 June: Springboks v Barbarians
  • Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
  • Kick-off: 15:00

Nations Championship

• Saturday 4 July: Boks v England
  • Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
  • Kick-off: 17:40
• Saturday 11 July: Boks v Scotland
  • Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
  • Kick-off: 17:40
• Saturday 18 July: Boks v Wales
  • Venue: Kings Park, Durban
  • Kick-off: 17:40

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (v All Blacks)

• Saturday 22 August: Boks v All Blacks
  • Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
  • Kick-off: 17:00
• Saturday 29 August: Boks v All Blacks
  • Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
  • Kick-off: 17:00
• Saturday 5 September: Boks v All Blacks
  • Venue: FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
  • Kick-off: 17:00
• Saturday 12 September: Boks v All Blacks
  • Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA
  • Kick-off: 18:00 (Expected)

Once-off Test

• Sunday 27 September: Wallabies v Boks
  • Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
  • Kick-off: 11:30

Nations Championship (End of Year Tour)

• Saturday 7 November: Italy v Boks
  • Venue: Venue TBC
  • Kick-off: 16:00
• Friday 13 November: France v Boks
  • Venue: Stade de France, Paris
  • Kick-off: 22:00
• Saturday 21 November: Ireland v Boks
  • Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
  • Kick-off: 19:30
• 27–29 November: Finals Weekend
  • Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
  • Kick-off: TBC

Orlando Pirates are expected to face increasing pressure to sell Relebohile Mofokeng after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, regardless of how he performs for Bafana Bafana.

The 21-year-old enjoyed another outstanding season for the Buccaneers, scoring 11 goals and providing nine assists across all competitions.

His performances have further strengthened his reputation as one of the most exciting young talents in South African football.

Having spent four years with the club’s senior setup, many supporters believe this could be the ideal time for “President ya ma 2K” to take the next step in his career and move abroad.

According to transfer analysts, Mofokeng is currently valued at around R68 million, which is just over €3 million. That valuation however, could rise significantly depending on his performances at the World Cup.

How much can Orlando Pirates get for Mofokeng?

The answer will largely depend on what Mofokeng does on football’s biggest stage.

If Hugo Broos’ side progresses beyond the group stage, the young winger could find himself attracting serious interest from clubs across Europe and beyond.

Bafana Bafana‘s opening match against Mexico could be particularly important. With a global audience expected to tune in, a standout display from Mofokeng would instantly place him in the spotlight.

Just two or three impressive performances at the tournament could be enough to attract clubs willing to spend substantially more than his current market valuation.

In that scenario, Pirates could find themselves negotiating offers well above R100 million.

While a fee in the region of R200 million may be ambitious, a successful World Cup campaign could certainly push his value into record-breaking territory for a South African-based player.

Mofokeng is still waiting for a defining performance in Bafana Bafana colours, but major tournaments have a habit of creating stars overnight.

Mofokeng may have played his last match for Pirates

A goal, an assist, or a Man of the Match display on the world stage could dramatically change both his profile and transfer value.

Although a R200 million transfer remains unlikely at this stage, a fee exceeding R100 million would not be unrealistic if Mofokeng becomes a regular starter and delivers strong performances during the World Cup.

How much should Mofokeng go for?

La Direction générale des élections a proclamé dans la nuit du 4 au 5 juin 2026 les résultats provisoires des législatives et communales du 31 mai. Des élections qui se sont déroulées dans un contexte particulier, en l’absence des partis historiques comme l’UFDG ou le RPG, dissous en mars dernier, et qui avaient appelé au boycott. Sans surprise, c’est la mouvance présidentielle qui remporte l’essentiel des sièges à l’Assemblée nationale et dans les conseils communaux.

Ireland have followed the Springboks’ lead in securing the long-term services of head coach Andy Farrell.

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The 50-year-old signed a contract extension with the IRFU which will keep him in charge through to the 2031 World Cup in the USA.

There had been speculation that Farrell could replace Steve Borthwick as England head coach after the 2027 World Cup.

But the IRFU has moved to retain one of the game’s most highly regarded coaches for another four years.

“I am incredibly proud to continue this journey with Irish Rugby,” Farrell said. “It is a privilege to work with such a talented group of players and staff, and to represent the supporters whose passion and unwavering support drive this team forward and inspire us every time we take the field.”

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In December, SA Rugby extended two-time World Cup winning coach Rassie Erasmus’ contract until 2031, along with his key lieutenants.

Farrell succeeded Joe Schmidt in 2019 and has overseen one of the most successful periods in Irish rugby history.

Under his guidance, Ireland won Six Nations titles in 2023 and 2025, including a Grand Slam in 2023, while consistently holding a place among the world’s top-ranked teams. However, Ireland have still failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals at a World Cup.

Farrell also enhanced his reputation on the international stage by guiding the British & Irish Lions to a series victory in Australia in 2025.

ALSO: Kiwi to ref Boks vs England at Ellis Park

IRFU CEO Kevin Potts welcomed the extension, describing Farrell as a “world-class coach and exceptional leader” whose influence extends far beyond results on the field.

Farrell said: “What excites me most is the increasing strength and investment in pathways and the quality of talent coming through.

“There is a real confidence in the system that has been built across the provinces and age-grade programmes, and I believe the best is yet to come.”

Photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

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