The decision by an African head of state to exclude Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth summit in Abuja is the heaviest diplomatic setback yet suffered by Mugabe and a graphic token of his growing world isolation. It coincides with the IMF taking steps to expel Zimbabwe because it is failing to get to grips with its economic meltdown.

The South African Rugby Players Association has come out in support of Brian van Rooyen in his campaign to win the presidency of the South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) on Friday. The association also called on managing director of SA Rugby Rian Oberholzer and the current president of Sarfu, Silas Nkanunu, to resign.

English Premiership strugglers Leeds United have earned a reprieve in their fight to avoid falling into administration, it was reported on Thursday. Leeds, with £78-million in debt blamed on former chairperson Peter Ridsdale, are set to announce an agreement with their American bond holders.

Holders Liverpool and last year’s beaten finalists, Manchester United, have both failed to reach the last eight of this year’s tournament after unexpected fourth round defeats on Wednesday. Liverpool went out at the hands of Bolton, who won a five-goal thriller at Anfield courtesy of Youri Djorkaeff’s last-minute penalty.

In a nail-biting finish to their Standard Bank limited-overs match at Mercedes-Benz Park on Wednesday, the Border Bears beat the Eastern Province Jumbos by 11 runs. Steady rain, which began falling during the supper break, caused more than two hours to be lost.