Ollie Phillips: England v France is a role reversal this Six Nations – let’s see if Les Bleus have the minerals in Le Crunch March 11, 2021 It’s England v France – Le Crunch – this weekend in a match that could decide the Six Nations Championship – only this time the roles are reversed. France are the best team in the competition by a country mile and England are the ones getting hammered. But this is a must-win game for the [...]
Six Nations agrees £365m partnership with private equity firm CVC March 11, 2021 Six Nations Rugby has secured a £365m investment after agreeing to sell 14.3 per cent of its share to private equity firm CVC. CVC Capital Partners has now invested more than £700m into professional rugby, with its latest move adding to previous funds in the Gallagher Premiership and the Guinness Pro14. England Rugby released a [...]
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish says Champions League expansion plans will have ‘devastating effect’ on English football March 10, 2021 Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has called plans to expand the Champions League and change the qualifying criteria “very concerning”. Europe’s top football clubs and governing body Uefa have proposed an overhaul that would create 100 more fixtures and allocate extra places on the basis of historical success from 2024. “With the assault on the [...]
Euros football tournament could mark post-Covid ‘London renaissance’, says minister March 9, 2021 Euros football tournament could mark post-Covid 'London renaissance', says minister
Hong Kong Racing Tips: Perfect draw for Strive For Glory March 9, 2021 AN IMPORTANT factor to take into account at Happy Valley when racing takes place on the ‘B’ course is the significance of the draw in six furlong races. Records show over the past three seasons that horses drawn in either one, two or three have won nearly 50 per cent of the 94 races run over the [...]
Hong Kong Racing Tips: Wisdom can Star at the Valley March 9, 2021 WITH arch-rival Joao Moreira sidelined through suspension over the last week, the old adage of ‘when the cat’s away the mice will play’ certainly applied to reigning champion jockey Zac Purton. Purton plundered eight prizes at Happy Valley and Sha Tin, including a masterclass of jockeyship with a five-timer at Happy Valley last Wednesday, and [...]
Hong Kong Racing Tips: Moreira to work his magic March 9, 2021 BETTORS will be licking their lips with anticipation for the return of champion jockey elect Joao Moreira to Happy Valley in Hong Kong on Wednesday. The ‘Magic Man’ has sat out the last two meetings through suspension but, with a full-book of fancied rides on the nine-race programme, it shouldn’t take him long to return to the [...]
Goals galore: Why the return of the Champions League and Europa League is good news for fans (and bad news for goalkeepers) March 9, 2021 The Champions League and Europa League resume this week and – *checks calculator* – that is good news for the armchair football fan. After a lively, goal-strewn start, excitement in the Premier League has plateaued as the season has rumbled on, leading to fears that fatigue had taken hold owing to a short pre-season and [...]
Tokyo 2020: Decision on overseas spectators to be taken this month amid Japanese concern over increased Covid-19 risk March 8, 2021 Olympics chiefs will decide this month whether to ban overseas spectators from this summer’s delayed Tokyo 2020 Games. The Olympics and Paralympics are set to go ahead despite continued concern at the Covid-19 situation in Japan, which extended a state of emergency in Tokyo and neighbouring prefectures on Friday. Around 15,000 athletes and other personnel [...]
Horse racing must embrace innovation to build a prosperous future – and this is the perfect time to start March 8, 2021 British horse racing is facing financial challenges and, as with many sports, has suffered a heavy toll during the pandemic. As the country’s second biggest spectator sport, the exclusion of racegoers has cost around £300m, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) estimates. A review of the Betting Levy is seen as one way of addressing Covid-19-induced [...]