Sports
Fantasy Rugby Championship launches for 2025 competition
Following the success of Fantasy Super Rugby Pacific, fans can now take their passion for the game to the next level with the announcement of Fantasy Rugby Championship.
Led by New Zealand Rugby in collaboration with Rugby Australia, Unión Argentina de Rugby, SA Rugby and SANZAAR, this is the first official Fantasy game for the Southern Hemisphere’s premier international competition, The Rugby Championship (TRC).
Global pre-registration for the game starts today, 10th June, with the game officially launching in August ahead of TRC starting. Fans will have the chance to draft their ultimate XV from the best players across New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina, and to compete for bragging rights all tournament long.
New Zealand Rugby’s General Manager of Brand and Marketing Kerry McKenzie, says the expansion of Fantasy into the international test space marks a significant step in building deeper connections between fans and rugby.
“We’ve seen outstanding engagement in Fantasy Super Rugby Pacific in its first year. Bringing that same energy to The Rugby Championship opens up a huge opportunity to connect with fans in the four Rugby Championship nations,” said McKenzie.
“This is about creating new ways for fans to follow their favourite players and test their rugby knowledge against mates, colleagues, and the global rugby community.”
The game will have similar attributes to Fantasy Super Rugby Pacific, so the 70,000 Fantasy SRP players should have a head start, however over the coming weeks, budding players will be able to start learning more about how the game will work.
Rugby Australia’s Director Commercial & Marketing, James Durbin echoed the excitement, noting the unique storytelling and rivalry that Fantasy enables. “Fantasy rugby brings fans closer to the action. They’re thinking about player stats, matchups, and form in a whole new way.
“It’s a fun, competitive, and social layer that complements the live games and builds momentum week to week.”
Miguel Dupont, Unión Argentina de Rugby’s Commercial Director noted: “Rugby has always been about pride, identity, and connection in Argentina.
“We are excited to see how Fantasy engages fans with the tournament in a more interactive way – not only supporting Los Pumas but learning about and celebrating great players across all nations. It’s a powerful tool to grow our rugby culture and bring more fans into the game.”
Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby, said: “South African fans are some of the most passionate and knowledgeable in the world. They love to debate selections, analyse performances, and back their instincts.
“Fantasy Rugby Championship gives them the perfect platform to put their rugby IQ to the test. It’s exciting to see this innovation in the international game.”
With new faces and familiar stars set to light up the tournament, fans can now pre-register and be first to play at www.playfantasyrugby.com/rugby-championship
Sports
Former Illini basketball sharpshooter Luke Goode engaged to Illinois volleyball star Kayla Burbage
Love is in the air for two of Champaign’s top athletes in recent years. Former Illini men’s basketball wing Luke Goode popped the question to Illinois volleyball middle blocker Kayla Burbage, the couple shared via Instagram on Wednesday.
“Proverbs 18:22: ‘He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord,’” Goode wrote. “Going into the New Years as future Mr. and Mrs. Goode!”
Goode spent the first three years of his college career in Champaign, graduating from the Gies School of Business in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in finance. After his sophomore season was cut short due to a foot injury, Goode bounced back as a junior, playing in all 38 games for the 2024 Elite Eight team. That season, the 6-foot-7 sharpshooter averaged 5.7 points and shot 38.9% from three on just over four attempts per game.
Last season, Goode spent his final year of eligibility playing for his home state Indiana Hoosiers before turning pro. He is currently suiting up for the South Bay Lakers in the NBA G League. In 11 games so far as a rookie, Goode is putting up 7.6 points and 3.0 rebounds in just above 20 minutes per game.
Burbage just finished up her final season of college volleyball. After spending her freshman campaign at Missouri, Burbage decided to make the move to Champaign. As a sophomore and junior, Burbage played in every match on Illinois’ schedule: 60 total. A shoulder injury sidelined the 6-foot-4 North Carolina native for her senior season, but she returned for a graduate year in 2025. In her final season at Huff Hall, Burbage ranked second in total blocks (82.0) for the Illini and had the fifth-most kills on the team (98).
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North Texas’ first women’s professional volleyball team will officially launch its inaugural season on Saturday, Jan. 10.
DALLAS — For North Texas volleyball fans, Saturday’s season opener represents more than just a first serve, it’s the beginning of something the region has been waiting for.
The Dallas Pulse, the region’s first women’s professional volleyball team, will open its inaugural season Saturday, Jan. 10, hosting the Indiana franchise at Comerica Center in Frisco.
The matchup marks the first Major League Volleyball game played by a Dallas-based team and is a milestone moment for the metroplex.
The Pulse will play 14 home matches during the 2026 Major League Volleyball season, giving local fans a consistent opportunity to support a women’s pro team built in their own backyard.
- Saturday, Jan. 10 – Indy
- Thursday, Jan. 15 – San Diego
- Thursday, Feb. 5 – Omaha
- Sunday, Feb. 8 – Grand Rapids
- Thursday, Feb. 19 – Indy
- Sunday, Feb. 22 – Grand Rapids
- Friday, Feb. 27 – Orlando
- Friday, March 13 – Columbus
- Sunday, March 15 – Atlanta
- Saturday, March 21 – San Diego
- Thursday, March 26 – Atlanta
- Friday, April 17 – Columbus
- Friday, May 1 – Omaha
- Sunday, May 3 – Orlando
Leading the team into its first season is head coach Shannon Winzer, who was named to the role in September. The January debut places Dallas at the center of the league’s early growth as women’s professional volleyball continues to gain momentum nationwide.
The timing feels right for North Texas. The region has long been a volleyball hotbed, producing elite athletes through nationally recognized club programs, championship high school teams and top-tier collegiate programs. Until now, many of those players, and the fans who followed them, had no local professional team to rally behind.
Dallas Pulse leadership told WFAA that they hope to change that.
Season ticket deposits are currently open, and the Pulse holds the No. 1 overall pick in the Major League Volleyball Draft scheduled for Nov. 24, giving the team a chance to add a cornerstone player ahead of its debut season.
Major League Volleyball is also preparing for future growth, announcing plans to add expansion teams in Washington, D.C. and Northern California in 2027.
LONG BEACH, Calif. — UC San Diego men’s volleyball will prepare for the upcoming season with four exhibitions this weekend as part of the North American Challenge. The event will be hosted by Long Beach State on Friday and Sunday at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid.
The Tritons will play two Canadian sides, Alberta and Calagry. They will play each team once on both days of the challenge.
SCHEDULE
Friday, Jan. 2
- 2 PM – vs Calgary
- 4:30 PM – vs Alberta
Sunday, Jan. 4
- 12:30 PM – vs Alberta
- 3 PM – vs Calgary
Live stats for all four matches will be available HERE. Fans interested in attending matches can purchase tickets through Long Beach State HERE.
UP NEXT
The Tritons open the 2026 season at home next Tuesday, Jan. 6. Jessup will visit LionTree Arena for a match that begins at 7 PM.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world’s preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
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