England ponder revival of Home Nations dates January 10, 2011 A HOME NATIONS tournament involving England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland could be set to return to the sporting calendar for the first time since 1984. Football Association chiefs have held talks about reviving the competition, with new sponsors Vauxhall said to be particularly keen on the move. The FA will today confirm an agreement [...]
Real deals: The transfers that look like happening January 10, 2011 THE JANUARY transfer window is slowly clicking into gear. With time running out for managers to bolster their squads here are three deals likely to beat the deadline. STEVEN PIENAAR The South Africa international (right) is one of a quartet of Everton midfielders who would comfortably slot into a top four side. With Harry Redknapp’s [...]
Bell hopes for another crack at Aussies in one-day series January 10, 2011 IN-FORM England batsman Ian Bell hopes to have played his way into the Twenty20 side for tomorrow’s first clash with Australia after starring in the warm-up win over a Prime Minister’s XI. Bell hit an unbeaten 124 from 102 balls as England romped to a seven-wicket victory in Canberra, just three days after sealing their [...]
Saracens to sign England star Hodgson at end of the season January 10, 2011 ENGLAND fly-half Charlie Hodgson will sign for Saracens at the end of the season and end his 11-year association with Sale Sharks. The 30-year-old, capped 34 times by his country, is understood to have signed a three-year deal. Hodgson (right), who has scored a record 1,753 Premiership points, underwent surgery in August last year on [...]
Ponting concurs with Ashes post-mortem January 10, 2011 AUSTRALIA captain Ricky Ponting has thrown his weight behind calls for an in-depth investigation into his side’s Ashes humiliation. England’s 3-1 triumph was their first Down Under for 24 years and Australian chiefs are preparing a particularly rigorous end-of-term evaluation. “There’s a review after every season, of which I’m always a big part,” said Ponting. [...]
Jenkins to miss Six Nations January 10, 2011 RUGBY UNION: Wales prop Gethin Jenkins is to miss the entire Six Nations campaign with a toe injury. The Cardiff Blues loose-head will undergo surgery tomorrow and is likely to miss up to 12 weeks. “It is a massive blow to have to replace Gethin Jenkins for the Blues and Wales,” said Blues coach Dai Young.
Silkmen’s Butcher passes away January 10, 2011 FOOTBALL: Macclesfield Town have announced midfielder Richard Butcher has died at the age of 29. Butcher joined the Silkmen in the summer on a two-year deal. A Silkmen statement read: “It is with great sadness that we have to announce the untimely death of Richard Butcher. He was an exemplary professional and a likeable young man.”
Messi wins top Fifa award January 10, 2011 FOOTBALL: Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has won the inaugural Fifa Ballon d’Or. Messi, 23, won the prize – a merger of the Fifa Player of the Year prize and Ballon d’Or – ahead of his Barca team-mates Andres Iniesta and Xavi.
Torres fires Crawley through January 10, 2011 FOOTBALL: Sergio Torres’ injury-time strike handed non-league Crawley a 2-1 win over Championship side Derby in the third round of the FA Cup. With a replay looking likely, Torres side-footed in from a corner to hand Crawley a fourth-round tie at Torquay.
Dott knocks out Higgins January 10, 2011 SNOOKER: World No1 John Higgins’ Masters campaign was ended by fellow Scot Graeme Dott in the first round. Last year’s World Championship runner-up, Dott, took the final two frames to claim the match 6-4. Meanwhile, Ding Junhui edged out former world champion Mark Williams with a 6-4 victory after n scrappy display from both men.