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South African Great: Joost鈥檚 Valiant Fight

Join Caroline Barker as she focuses on the big global sports stories of the week, including rugby union great Joost van der Westhuizen's sad death.

One of rugby union's finest players, the South African, Joost van der Westhuizen died this week at the age of 45.
Diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2011, he set up the J9 Foundation to raise funds for awareness of MND and help support families of those with the disease, dedicating as much commitment and energy as he did to his rugby career. Dr Franclo Henning - the Chairman of the Motor Neurone Disease Association of South Africa tells us how van der Westhuizen inspired others to keep battling the disease.

Million dollar pitcher

Softball player Monica Abbott is the first woman in American team sports to sign a million dollar contract. Her deal with the Scrap Yard Dawgs in Texas means she is in receipt of the most lucrative contract ever awarded to a female athlete in team sport. She tells us how she finalised the deal.

Fair play in India

India recently launched its first ever national women's football league. It may only feature six teams but it's being seen as a crucial moment for the sport in the world' largest democracy. We're with England and Manchester City Women footballer Jill Scott as she travels to Kolkata to encourage girls to take up the game

Re-united

In 1970 Bronwyn Burrell was one of a handful of women who took part in the World Cup Rally, from London to Mexico.
Now in her 70s, she's re-united with her car and one of her co-drivers to take part in this year's Lisbon Rally.
She tells us how she's preparing for her first rally in decades.

And Sporting witness

The story of one of the best-loved - but least successful - football teams in Europe: Germany's FC St Pauli. Claire Bowes has been talking to long-time fan Sven Brux about punks, politics and the most unlikely win in the club's history.

Available now

39 minutes

Last on

Sat 11 Feb 2017 10:06GMT

Broadcast

  • Sat 11 Feb 2017 10:06GMT

Podcast