The Springboks do it again, 4 time world champs!

                               

In a thrilling display of grit and determination, on October 28th 2023 South Africa etched their names in Rugby World Cup history once again, defeating New Zealand 12-11 in a nail-biting final at Stade de France in Saint-Denis (Paris), France. This triumph marked South Africa's fourth Rugby World Cup title, cementing their position as one of the sport's most dominant teams. From the outset, the match was a tense affair, with both teams showcasing their defensive prowess. South Africa's resolute defense, led by captain Siya Kolisi, proved to be a formidable obstacle for the All Blacks, who struggled to break through their unwavering wall of green and gold. South Africa's flyhalf Handre Pollard proved to be the difference-maker on the night, maintaining his 100% kicking record in Paris and guiding the ball through the posts with four crucial penalties. His accuracy and composure under immense pressure were instrumental in maintaining South Africa's lead throughout the match.  

How a US billionaire's investment will grow the sport of squash worldwide

This summer (2023) it was announced that billionaire investor Mark Walter has made a major investment in the sport of squash (likely over $10 million). Walter, who is the co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chelsea Football Club, has acquired a stake in Squash Media & Marketing (SMM), a commercial entity created and managed by the Professional Squash Association (PSA). The investment is part of a larger strategy to grow the sport of squash globally. 

Q&A with Amanda Sobhy

(Author's note: Squash recently got voted into the 2028 Olympics sports program for Los Angeles; so let's look back at this Q&A article was first published in 2014)

Amanda Sobhy is Team USA's number 1 female squash player and is currently ranked number 7 on the world professional tour. She hails from Long Island, New York, and is now based in Boston. 

Q&A with Amr Shabana

(Author's note: Squash recently got voted into the 2028 Olympics sports program for Los Angeles; so let's look back at this Q&A article was first published in 2011)

This week I had the privilege of sitting down with Egyptian squash legend, Amr Shabana.  I have never met anyone with such a record of achievement in the game and so I was a little nervous asking some of these questions as I was not exactly sure how Shabana would respond.  I was very relieved that Amr is not only a genius on the squash court but he is also a total gentleman, a great conversationalist, and has a real love for squash that is conveyed in the passion with which he speaks about the game.  Oh, and he knows more about the history of the international game than anyone I have ever met.  Hands down.

Q&A with Nick Matthew

(Author's note: Squash finally made the cut and will appear in the OLYMPICS(!) in Los Angeles in 2028. For the next week let's look back at 3 of the most popular interviews with squash pros, all of whom would have almost certainly earned Olympic medals had squash made an earlier appearance in past Olympic Games. The first in this series, below, was published in 2012.)

Nick Matthew is easily one of the best English professionals in the history of the game of squash, a sport invented in the country of his birth.  He was PSA world number one for all of 2010, has been world champion twice, has two Commonwealth individual gold medals and has led his English compatriots to the World Teams title twice, and the European Teams title seven times.  On American soil he has won North American Open twice and the US Open once.  Unfortunately though, he has never won the Tournament of Champions (ToC) in New York.