• The Canadian Press

    Canadian rugby sevens men face relegation battle at HSBC SVNS season finale in Madrid

    SINGAPORE — For the second year in a row, Canada's men will have to fight to retain their status as a core team on the world rugby sevens circuit. The Canadian men wrapped up another disappointing outing Sunday, beaten 17-12 by Samoa in the 11th-place playoff at the HSBC Singapore SVNS. It marked the sixth time in seven events this season — and the fifth straight tournament — that the rebuilding Canada side finished last. The Canadian men now head to Madrid for the final event of the season May

  • The Canadian Press

    Aston Villa slips up in race for Champions League after 1-0 loss at Brighton

    LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — A bad week for Aston Villa got worse on Sunday after a surprise 1-0 loss at Brighton in the race for the top four in the Premier League. Unai Emery's team lost 4-2 at home to Olympiakos in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semifinal on Thursday. And on a day when Villa could have secured its place in next season's Champions League, it suffered another setback. Joao Pedro's 87th-minute goal at the Amex Stadium gave hope to fifth-place Tottenham in its pursu

  • The Canadian Press

    Pedro's late goal seals 1-0 win for Brighton against Aston Villa

    BRIGHTON, England (AP) — Joao Pedro scored an 87th-minute winner as Brighton beat Aston Villa 1-0 in the Premier League on Sunday. Victory for Brighton ended its six-match winless run in the league and also dented Villa's bid to secure a top-four finish. Fourth-place Villa travelled to the Amex Stadium knowing a win would have secured Champions League qualification next season if Tottenham lost to Liverpool later in the day. But after losing 4-2 against Olympiakos in the first leg of the Europa

  • The Canadian Press

    Nylander defends Leafs' core after playoff exit, Toronto again picks up the pieces

    BOSTON — William Nylander stood in a solemn visitors locker room at TD Garden just before midnight. The Maple Leafs had battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories — including one that required extra time — in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss. Nylander's message was emphatic. "Look, I don't think there's an issue with the core," the winger sai