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All Blacks and Flying Fijians will play rugby test in San Diego in July – WTOP News

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All Blacks and Flying Fijians will play rugby test in San Diego in July – WTOP News


SAN DIEGO (AP) — New Zealand is playing a home test abroad for the first time when it faces South…

SAN DIEGO (AP) — New Zealand is playing a home test abroad for the first time when it faces South Pacific rival Fiji at San Diego State’s Snapdragon Stadium on July 19.

It will be the first time the All Blacks and the Flying Fijians meet at a neutral site, as well as Fiji’s inaugural visit to the United States.

The All Blacks have played exhibition matches in the United States since 1906, including a 53-6 victory against the U.S. at what was then known as San Diego Stadium in October 1980. That stadium was replaced by 35,000-seat Snapdragon Stadium, which opened in 2022.

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“It’s a massive step for New Zealand rugby, bringing a home test over to the States,” said Ma’a Nonu, the All Blacks great who recently re-signed with the San Diego Legion, a founding member of Major League Rugby.

Given most American rugby fans have seen the All Blacks only on TV, “coming to the States is pretty exciting when the All Blacks touch down here,” Nonu said at a news conference Wednesday.

The All Blacks narrowly missed a record fourth Rugby World Cup title in October, losing the final to South Africa 12-11. Fiji beat Australia for the first time in 69 years and made the quarterfinals, equaling its best ever finish.

Fijian great Waisale Serevi, a member of the World Rugby Hall of Fame, said the test match will be huge for his country, as well.

“Giving Fiji the opportunity to play them on neutral ground, for a small country, is a blessing for Fiji,” Serevi said. “It’s an honor and a privilege for Fiji to be invited.”

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The test will help promote the sport in the United States, which will host the men’s Rugby World Cup in 2031 and the women’s championship in 2033.

“It’s been a long-held ambition for New Zealand Rugby and part of our wider strategy to increase the visibility and understanding of rugby in North America and to build our brand presence ahead of the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033, respectively,” New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson said in a statement.

The San Diego match is one of 14 test matches the All Blacks will play in nine countries in their first season under new coach Scott Robertson.

Robertson’s first tests in charge will be against England at Dunedin on July 6 and in Auckland on July 13. Then they fly to San Diego to face Fiji.

New Zealand will play home Rugby Championship tests against Argentina at Wellington on Aug. 10 and Auckland on Aug. 17. It will then play world champion South Africa at Johannesburg on Aug. 31 and Cape Town on Sept. 7.

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

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© 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.



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San Diego, CA

City considering cutting funding to resource center for those experiencing homelessness

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City considering cutting funding to resource center for those experiencing homelessness


Last week Mayor Todd Gloria released the budget proposal for the 2027 fiscal budget. Protected homeless services is among his top priorities mentioned in the proposal. However, some of the reductions he’s proposing could impact thousands of San Diegans experiencing homelessness.

Located on 17th and K Street, the Neil Good Day Center offers an array of services to nearly seven thousand people experiencing homelessness. The services include giving them a place to shower and do laundry, and connecting them to a case manager, among others.

“These are critical services that are helping people off the streets, but really better their lives and their health and their employment situation as well,” Deacon Vargas with Father Joe’s Villages said.

Deacon Jim Vargas heads Father Joe’s Villages, which runs the center. He said through their prevention and diversion strategies, they’ve managed to keep nearly one thousand individuals from falling into homelessness.

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“So by helping them pay rent, or helping them with their utilities, or helping them to reunite with family,” Vargas said.

Right now, the city allocates at least $850,000 per year to the Neil Good Day Center, according to Vargas.

But the future and funding for these services are in limbo because of Mayor Todd Gloria’s proposed budget cuts.

“The impact to those whom we’ve been serving  the Daily Center would be very severe,” Deacon Vargas said.

In a statement to NBC 7, Mayor Todd Gloria said in part, “We must find more efficient and cost-effective ways to address this crisis and prioritize funding for programs that provide shelter beds and maximize resources to programs that place people into permanent housing.”

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Since it’s still at a proposal stage, Deacon Vargas said it’s unclear how the city will decide to move forward.

However, Deacon Vargas said services would be significantly reduced because they would be forced to operate solely on a budget of about half a million dollars they receive from philanthropy.

“The hours would be cut. Some days would be cut. We would have showers that might be impacted because they’re given seven days a week and we’d close two days a week, then the showers would be five days a week, the case management,” Deacon Vargas said.

Deacon Vargas is certain of one thing.

He would like to continue offering services at the Day Center, even if the city goes through with the funding cuts.

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“As we work with individuals at the Day Center and at Father Joe’s Villages, the community becomes healthier as a result of it,” Deacon Vargas said.

The budget also recommends additional cuts to homeless services, but does not give specifics as to where those cuts would be.



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San Diego, CA

Game 21: San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Angels

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Game 21: San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Angels


San Diego Padres (14-7) at Los Angeles Angels (11-11), April 19, 2026, 1:07 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Angel Stadium – Anaheim, Calif.

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

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San Diego, CA

Solans, Luna, Guilavogui help RSL beat slumping San Diego, extend unbeaten streak to 6 games :: WRALSportsFan.com

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Solans, Luna, Guilavogui help RSL beat slumping San Diego, extend unbeaten streak to 6 games :: WRALSportsFan.com


— SANDY, Utah (AP) — Sergi Solans had two goals and an assist, Diego Luna added a goal and two assists, and Real Salt Lake beat San Diego FC 4-2 on Saturday night to extend its unbeaten streak to six games.

Morgan Guilavogui scored his first goal in MLS and had an assist for Real Salt Lake (5-1-1). The 28-year-old designated player has five goal contributions in his first six career games.

RSL hasn’t lost since a 1-0 defeat at Vancouver in the season opener.

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San Diego (3-3-2) has lost three in a row and is winless in five straight.

Luna opened the scoring in the fifth minute when he re-directed a misplayed pass by Duran Ferree, San Diego’s 19-year-old goalkeeper, into the net.

Moments later, Solans headed home a perfectly-placed cross played by Luna from outside the right corner of the 18-yard box to the back post to make it 2-0. Solans, a 23-year-old forward, flicked a header from the center of the area inside the right post and past the outstretched arm of Ferree to make it 3-1 in the 37th minute.

Guilavogui slammed home a first-touch shot to give RSL a three-goal lead in the 45th.

Marcus Ingvartsen scored a goal in the 14th minute and Anders Dreyer converted from the penalty spot in the 66th for San Diego.

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Ingvartsen has five goals and an assist this season and has 10 goal contributions (seven goals, three assists) in 16 career MLS appearances.

Rafael Cabral had three saves for RSL.

Ferree finished with five saves.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

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