O’Driscoll in chance to heal Lions scars June 1, 2009 IRELAND captain Brian O’Driscoll will have a chance to exorcise demons when he skippers the British and Irish Lions tomorrow against Golden Lions. O’Driscoll will lead the team for the first time since his ill-fated 2005 tour, when he suffered a dislocated shoulder in the first minute of the opening Test against New Zealand. The [...]
London claims more victims June 1, 2009 IT was described as the tournament that no-one wanted to win, but the fact than no one player took a firm grasp of the European Open trophy just goes to show how tough the London GC in Ash, Kent is. I’m fortunate to have won there twice and know just how difficult the back nine [...]
Legend O’Brien dies aged 92 June 1, 2009 RACING: Vincent O’Brien, considered by many to be the greatest racehorse trainer of all time, died yesterday at his home in Co Kildare, Ireland, aged 92. O’Brien, who ended his 51-year career in 1994, claimed 16 English and 27 Irish Classic victories, 25 Royal Ascot wins and 23 Cheltenham Festival successes.
High-profile Bath trio quit club June 1, 2009 RUGBY UNION: Bath joint captains Michael Lipman and Alex Crockett, and winger Andrew Higgins, yesterday resigned from the club – hours before an internal hearing into allegations they refused to take drug tests. The trio deny refusing to take tests, calling the claims “scurrilous and unsubstantiated”. The Rugby Football Union has asked Bath for more [...]
Ancelotti promises to recreate his European success as Chelsea boss June 1, 2009 FORMER AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was anointed Chelsea manager yesterday and immediately vowed to deliver the Champions League glory the Blues so desperately crave. Ancelotti, whose three-year contract begins on 1 July, has an outstanding continental pedigree that helped make him Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s No1 choice. The Italian, 49, led Milan to two [...]
Martinez on Wigan radar as Bruce weighs up Sunderland June 1, 2009 WIGAN boss Steve Bruce is on the verge of being appointed Sunderland manager after the two clubs agreed a compensation package. A deal could be completed as early as today after Sunderland officials flew to Portugal, where Bruce is on holiday, to open talks. Wigan chairman Dave Whelan had demanded £3m to release Bruce from [...]
Crouch has high hopes of keeping Heskey on bench June 1, 2009 PORTSMOUTH’S Peter Crouch insists he is optimistic about keeping his place in the England starting line-up, following rival Emile Heskey’s return to fitness. Crouch marked his start against Ukraine in April with a goal but faces a battle for selection against Kazakhstan on Saturday now that Heskey, a favourite of head coach Fabio Capello, is [...]
Sport on TV June 1, 2009 Tennis: French Open, quarter-finals, British Eurosport and BBC Interactive, from 10am. Cricket: ICC World Twenty 20 warm-ups, Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, Sky Sports 1, 1pm; England v Scotland, Sky Sports 1, 5pm. Racing: Ripon, Southwell, At The Races, 1.45pm; Folkestone, Sedgefield, At The Races, 6pm
Shock Nadal exit is boost for Murray May 31, 2009 DEFENDING champion Rafael Nadal’s bid for a fifth successive French Open title ended abruptly yesterday in one of the biggest shocks in the tournament’s history. The world No1 took a 31-match unbeaten run at Roland Garros into his clash with Robin Soderling, but was always on the back foot against the 23rd seed and slumped [...]
Mauled Lions hit by early fitness fears May 31, 2009 BRITISH and Irish Lions head coach Ian McGeechan is today set to name a much-changed side for Wednesday’s second tour match, against Golden Lions. McGeechan has been forced to shuffle his pack with a number of players already nursing injuries, just a week into the tour of South Africa. Centre Keith Earls, who made a [...]