RWC

• "We are excited to partner with a legendary global sports franchise like the Springboks.
• This investment in the Springboks represents a unique opportunity for us to match the on-field success of the team with the resources needed to establish and sustain the franchise as a global powerhouse.
• Ackerley Sports Group is an expansion of the investment practice established in 2002 by Ted and Christopher Ackerley at Ackerley Partners and includes four other members of the team, including their London-based partner, Timothy Kirkwood, who is overseeing the Springbok's relationship.
• The South African national rugby union team known as the Springboks is the country's national team governed by the South African Rugby Union.

• "This year, we honored our vendor partners who have gone above and beyond for our customers and for Lowe's," said Bill Boltz, Lowe's executive vice president of merchandising.
• "These vendor partners have put our customers' needs first, consistently bringing innovation and value to market, delivering on their commitments and contributing to our success.
• Our priority is to help our partners grow their business with Lowe's and we deeply appreciate the partnership cultivated with each vendor over the years."
• Lowe's named overall vendor and innovation partners of the year and divisional category winners for each of its three merchandising divisions: building products, hardlines and home décor.

• Close to the final whistle, with France now up 96-0, the Namibian desert turned yellower still.
• Wayne Barnes, who will referee the RWC final between New Zealand and South Africa this weekend, is also a barrister by trade.
• As such, he will know where the onus should lie when critical decisions need to be taken in a trial between two elite teams.

Unfair and unsafe

• The spectacle is lost whenever there is a mismatch in numbers.
• In a collision contest, 14 against 15 hurts the game; 13 against 15 is unwatchable – and dangerous.
• As one would expect, it is generally the weaker of the two teams, already struggling to put up a defence, that concedes penalties and haemorrhages players.
• It is also unsafe.

Bad rules mean bad results

• It put Dupont out of the quarterfinal with South Africa, and may have accounted for France’s knife-edge loss in that game.
• If they are specified in the rules, the rules need revisiting.
• Yes, rules are central to the integrity of the game.
• When calls are marginal and the impacts disproportionate, however, the rules need to change.

Rugby can learn from other codes

• Each week of the playing season the AFL tribunal assesses the citations and dishes out penalties where warranted – typically suspensions – based on thorough, defended inspection.
• Read more:
  Professional men's rugby has major financial issues which need to be tackled

  Rugby union would be improved if sendings off were reserved for genuinely bad actors.

• If the offence occurs elsewhere, rugby could borrow from AFL, with a penalty given 50 metres closer to the offending team’s goal line (up to the five-metre line).
• No matter where on the field the crime occurred, a penalty try should be awarded between the posts.

Hopes for a fair final

• This will be especially important at the Stade de France in Paris this weekend when the All Blacks and South Africa both go for a record fourth Rugby World Cup title.
• Only if the case is beyond doubt on the visible evidence should there be an unlevel playing field for ten or more minutes.

Clive Thompson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

• SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ushur , the leader in AI-powered Customer Experience Automation™ (CXA), today announced a strategic partnership and joint solution with Rex Wallace Consulting and Decision Point.
• Rex Wallace Consulting (RWC) is a strategy consulting firm with deep experience in helping health plans improve quality and Star Ratings.
• Yvonne Daugherty, Global Head of Industries at Ushur, said: “We are very pleased to partner with Rex Wallace Consulting and Decision Point to deliver a unique approach that rapidly addresses high value health plan business needs to improve quality of care, HEDIS® gap closure, CAHPS, health equity, SDOH and more.
• “We are thrilled to partner with both Ushur and Rex Wallace Consulting to accelerate our ability to support health plans in achieving their experience and quality goals,” said Saeed Aminzadeh, CEO of Decision Point.