Nintendo confirms the Switch 2 is getting a price hike this September

In today’s FY26 earnings report, Nintendo delivered the news no one on the fence wanted to hear. The Switch 2 is jumping from $450 to $500. The change hits the US, Canada, and Europe in early September. The Japanese home market will feel the sting even earlier on May 25, with the console jumping by ¥10,000 to ¥59,980. Japanese players will also see price bumps on older Switch models and Switch Online subscriptions.

The company wraps the decision in standard PR phrasing, citing “changes in market conditions” and a shifting “global business outlook” in their official press release, but the underlying numbers are brutal. Nintendo is taking a massive hit on hardware. Surging production costs and US trade tariffs are hammering the bottom line, with the company estimating that hardware costs alone will eat up around ¥100 billion (roughly $640 million) of their earnings in the next financial year. Analysts have been expecting a price correction for months, noting that a $50 hike is actually on the lower end of what the market feared.

The Switch 2 just capped off a massive first year with nearly 20 million units sold, but Nintendo is already bracing for a slowdown. Their forecast for the upcoming year has been dialed back to 16.5 million consoles. Investors might be getting what they want with higher margins per box, but Nintendo knows exactly what this means: the new price tag is going to cost them momentum. hiddenlangkawi.club

The Stormers have selected a new centre pairing and moved Damian Willemse to fullback for Friday night’s Vodacom URC match against Cardiff at the Arms Park.

Willemse started at No 12 in the 38-38 draw against Ulster in Belfast last week.

Into the midfield come Jonathan Roche, who returns from a long injury lay-off, and Wandisile Simelane, who moves from the right wing to outside centre. Suleiman Hartzenberg gets the No 14 jersey.

In the forwards, Paul de Villiers starts at openside flank, while Neethling Fouché returns in place of Sazi Sandi at tighthead and captains the team in the absence of injured duo Deon Fourie and Ruhan Nel.

With Fourie out, JJ Kotze is selected as backup hooker to André-Hugo Venter.

VENTER: No freebies from ‘desperate’ Stormers

There is also a welcome return to the match 23 for Bok lock Salmaan Moerat after a long absence due to toe surgery. He and Marcel Theunissen provide lock cover.

Stefan Ungerer and Jurie Matthee again cover the backline.

TEAM: Cardiff forced into changes for Stormers showdown

The Stormers face a second consecutive outing on the dreaded 4G turf against seventh-placed Cardiff, who are still in a scrap to make the playoffs.

The Stormers sit second, a single point behind the Glasgow Warriors who are away to Ulster at the same time on Friday night.

DOBBO: Sacha’s ‘party’ days are over

STORMERS – 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché (c), 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Bench: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Keke Morabe, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Jurie Matthee.

Weekend teams

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images

The post Stormers rejig backline for Cardiff clash appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

The head coach of Ghana’s U-17 national team, Prosper Narteh Ogum, has shared his thoughts ahead of the Black Starlets’ U-17 AFCON opener against Algeria this Thursday.

The Black Starlets are set to battle the North Africans in a high-stakes Group D opener at the Mohammed VI Football Academy, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 GMT. While Prosper Ogum expressed immense confidence in his squad’s capabilities, he remains wary of the challenge Algeria presents.

Ghana has previously secured two U-17 AFCON titles

“We respect every opponent, but we also maintain great belief in our own quality and the level of our preparation,” Ogum noted. “Our primary focus is to take the tournament one match at a time and ensure we give our absolute best in every single game.

“We are anticipating a highly competitive and tactical encounter. Algeria is a formidable side with strong organizational structures both defensively and offensively. Opening matches are inherently difficult because every team is desperate to start their campaign on a positive note,” he told CAFOnline.

He further emphasized that tactical discipline and mental composure would be the decisive factors in determining the eventual outcome of the encounter.

“We must remain disciplined, focused, and clinical whenever scoring opportunities arise. I believe it will be an excellent contest between two very strong teams.”

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Ghana will be aiming to launch their U-17 AFCON campaign with a victory as they look to progress from a formidable Group D lineup. With Senegal and South Africa completing the group, Prosper Ogum admitted that the path forward would be challenging.

“It is definitely an incredibly competitive group because all four teams have earned their right to be here and possess genuine quality,” Ogum told CAFOnline.

“Senegal is the defending champion from 2023, Algeria is exceptionally organized, and South Africa boasts a very strong football culture. At this advanced stage of the competition, there are simply no easy games.”

The tournament is scheduled to take place between May 13 and June 2, with the top 10 finishing teams qualifying as CAF representatives for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar

Lions Rugby Company has confirmed that it has received communication from the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) regarding the decision to sanction Lions and Springbok prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye for a period of 18 months following an anti-doping rule violation.

LIONS RUGBY CONFIRM SUSPENSION VIA STATEMENT

The Lions Rugby Company, together with MyPlayers – The Rugby Players’ Organisation, will deliberate on the appropriate next steps. During this time, the Lions Rugby Company will continue to support Ntlabakanye as he navigates the process ahead.

As a result of SAIDS’ decision, Ntlabakanye’s period of ineligibility commenced on 13 May 2026, which rules him out of this weekend’s Round 18 Vodacom United Rugby Championship fixture against Munster.

No further comment will be made by the Lions Rugby Company or the player until the process regarding the way forward has been concluded.

The ban will be effective from 13 May 2026, and it will rule him out of the World Cup next year.

THE VIOLATION EXPLAINED:

Last year, it came to light that Ntlabakanye had tested positive for the non-performance-enhancing banned substance Anastrozole, and which was apparently prescribed by “a specialist physician early in 2025 for medical reasons”.

Yet, athletes are generally given very little leeway under the principle of strict liability as the responsibility ultimately rests with them to double check everything they take.

Complicating matters further is that Ntlabakanye actually volunteered the information in good faith that he had also taken dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a ‘non-specified’ and ‘performance-enhancing’ substance.

LIONS WERE ALREADY PREPARING FOR THE WORST FOR THIER SPRINGBOK

Recently, the Lions opted to bolster their front row stocks with the recruitment of former Junior Springbok prop Corne Weilbach.

“We believe and hope for the best for Asenathi. If it doesn’t turn out that way, though, that is one of the reasons why (Weilbach) joined us recently,” coach Ivan van Rooyen admitted.