National Sports

Canada rugby coach Kingsley Jones is feeling bullish about his team these days. Its qualifying road to the 2027 World Cup has been set and the 21st-ranked Canadian men's schedule is filling up, starting Aug. 25 against No.

MIES — Canada has risen two spots in the FIBA men's basketball rankings, despite failing to medal at the Paris Olympics. FIBA released the new rankings Thursday, with Canada moving up to No. 5. The Canadians jumped from No. 15 to No.

TORONTO — Growing up, Max Ferrari was told he was too small or too slow to excel at soccer. "Not really talked about when I was younger, getting looked off a lot, I think, was a good thing in the end for me," Ferrari said. "It really pushed me.

EDMONTON — The UFC is returning to Edmonton on Nov. 2 for a Fight Night event at Rogers Place. Third-ranked flyweight Erin Blanchfield will take on No.5-ranked, and two-time former strawweight champion, Rose Namajunas in the main event.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Daulton Varsho hit a three-run home run, Jose Berrios dominated over seven innings and the Toronto Blue Jays finished off a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with a 9-2 victory on Wednesday night.

INNISFAIL, Alta. — Team Ontario has defended its title in the Inter-Provincial Team competition at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship at Innisfail Golf Club. Team Ontario edged runner-up Team B.C.

WILLIAMSPORT — The Kuei-Shan Little League team from Taiwan finished fourth in last year's Little League World Series.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Hideki Matsuyama is starting the PGA Tour’s lucrative post-season without his caddie and coach after they were victims of a robbery during a stopover in London from the Paris Olympics, Golf Digest Japan reported.

VANCOUVER — The time was right for Nathan Rourke to return to the Canadian Football League. After spending more than 18 months bouncing around with four NFL teams, the 26-year-old from Victoria decided he wanted to play again for the B.C. Lions.

OTTAWA — Peter Baxter, the longtime athletic director at Wilfrid Laurier, has been appointed to Football Canada's board of directors. The governing body of amateur football in Canada made the announcement Wednesday.