Sport Comment: Unions must reject this Anglo-French plot October 20, 2013 HANDS up who really understands what’s going on at the moment in the seemingly never-ending power struggle that has been enveloping European club rugby since William Webb Ellis first picked up the Heineken Cup and drank from it. It’s a battle borne of a lack of leadership within the hierarchy of the sport and a [...]
Hatton tips Frampton to be world champion October 20, 2013 BRITISH super-bantamweight boxer Carl Frampton will “definitely” become world champion, according to retired Ricky Hatton. Frampton stopped Jeremy Parodi of France in round six on Saturday in front of an 8,500 sell-out crowd at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast to earn a title shot against Kiko Martinez next year. And Hatton, himself a multiple former [...]
Skipper Sinfield tells team: hard work starts now October 20, 2013 ENGLAND captain Kevin Sinfield has told his team-mates to prepare for the “biggest week of their lives” as they look to get over their shock warm-up defeat to Italy ahead of the Rugby League World Cup curtain-raiser against Australia. Steve McNamara’s team were beaten 15-14 at Salford City Stadium on Saturday night against opponents ranked [...]
Tsonga doubt for finals spot October 20, 2013 FORMER ATP Tour finals runner-up Jo Wilfried-Tsonga is in danger of missing this year’s event at London’s O2 Arena after slipping outside of the top-eight qualification spots. French compatriot Richard Gasquet won the Kremlin Cup final yesterday and accumulated enough ranking points to leapfrog Tsonga in the race to feature in London. The completed line-up [...]
England can hammer injury-hit Australia 5-0, predicts Botham October 20, 2013 FORMER Ashes winner Ian Botham believes England’s cricketers are capable of achieving a 5-0 whitewash of Australia in the upcoming series. England comfortably held onto the coveted urn during this summer’s series, winning 3-0. Yet due to a one-off quirk of the international fixture list, they must now travel to Australia to defend the Ashes [...]
Second track gold for Trott October 20, 2013 BRITISH cycling star Laura Trott won a second gold medal at the European Track Championships last night. Trott, who claimed two golds in last year’s Olympic Games, was declared victorious in the omnium yesterday despite ending level with Kirsten Wild of the Netherlands, on 15 points. The 21-year-old Brit was found to have a better [...]
Sykes claims World Superbike Championship October 20, 2013 BRITAIN’S Tom Sykes sealed the World Superbike Championship in Spain yesterday, coming third in the opening race of the final round. The 28-year-old, who races for the Kawasaki team, said the emotion of the occasion was overwhelming. “I was shedding a few tears on the slowing down lap, I was shaking,” Sykes said. “I’m absolutely [...]
Lorenzo closes in on Marquez October 20, 2013 MOTORSPORT: The MotoGP world championship could go down to the wire after rankings leader Marc Marquez was disqualified from yesterday’s Australian Grand Prix. The race was won by Marquez’s fellow Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo who now trails his countryman by just 18 points with two races to go. Marquez’s punishment was for failing to pit in [...]
Burton takes gold in Glasgow October 20, 2013 JUDO: Britain’s Euan Burton won gold in the -100kg category at the European Judo Open in Glasgow last night, defeating fellow Briton Ben Fletcher. The 34-year-old Scot has moved up a weight level since crashing out of last year’s -81kg at the Olympic Games. He is a key medal hope for next year’s Commonwealth Games.
France can land another Champion Stakes but value with Morandi not Cirrus October 17, 2013 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS DAY FRANKEL has lit up tomorrow’s QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot for the last two years but his retirement has left the door open for a new name to make the headlines. Many are expecting admirable French gelding Cirrus Des Aigles to do just that with [...]