England prop Marler handed two-game ban and £20,000 fine for “Gypsy boy” slur, while Saracens lock George Kruis escapes punishment April 5, 2016 The long-running saga of England prop Joe Marler’s “Gypsy boy” slur reached a conclusion last night after the Harlequins forward was banned for two matches and fined £20,000 by global governing body World Rugby. Marler’s punishment was handed out after a near seven-hour disciplinary hearing in London at which the 25-year-old admitted a misconduct charge. [...]
Pellegrini vows to attack in Champions League battle of continent’s big spenders April 5, 2016 Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini shrugged off suggestions that Paris Saint-Germain have underestimated his side, while insisting the Citizens will go for the jugular in Wednesday's battle of the continent’s big spenders. PSG counterpart Laurent Blanc had earlier admitted his relief that the French champions had avoided “ogres of European football” Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real [...]
Masters 2016: Rory McIlroy anxious to complete grand slam and get monkey off his back April 5, 2016 World No3 Rory McIlroy insists he faces even more pressure this year to win the Masters – and complete a coveted career grand slam – than he did 12 months ago. The Northern Irishman, who will be the last of all 89 players to tee off in Thursday’s opening round, remains desperate to join a [...]
Chelsea will be Antonio Conte’s toughest job yet but winning is in Italian’s blood April 5, 2016 Antonio Conte, the new broom set to sweep through Chelsea this summer, is no stranger to big jobs, but at Stamford Bridge the current Italy coach and former Juventus manager is surely facing his toughest assignment yet. Something in the Blues’ squad seems to have become infected during this traumatic season. Conte’s task is nothing [...]
Masters prize money 2016: How much can Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Rory McIlroy win in Augusta? April 5, 2016 Not only does winning the Masters seal your name in history, earn you the first Major of the golf season, and reward you with the prestigious Green Jacket – winning it also comes with a seven-figure prize money cheque. A total prize money pool of $10m (£7m) is on offer at the tournament, which could mean [...]
My third six off “legend” Stokes was a fluke, admits West indies World Twenty20 hero Brathwaite April 4, 2016 West Indies hero Carlos Brathwaite admits that he fluked the third of his four brutal sixes which propelled his side to World Twenty20 glory against England at Eden Gardens on Sunday. Brathwaite launched a ferocious last-over assault on England all-rounder Ben Stokes and clubbed the 24-year-old for successive maximums as West Indies chased down the [...]
England lock Kruis in danger of missing tour of Australia after biting charge April 4, 2016 Second row George Kruis could miss England’s tour of Australia in June after being cited for an alleged bite during Saracens’ Premiership victory at Bath on Friday evening. Kruis stands accused of biting Bath’s David Wilson in a second-half incident which has also seen the 30-year-old prop charged with making contact with the eye area [...]
The Masters 2016: Who will follow Jordan Spieth and win the Green Jacket? April 4, 2016 It's that time of the year again that all golf fans look forward to. The Saturday and Sunday of the Masters, as the year’s first Major reaches its conclusion, are always two of the best nights of the year. We know what time it comes on television and when to use the red button. Many [...]
Nick Blackwell wakes from coma a week after British middleweight title defeat by Chris Eubank Jr April 4, 2016 British middleweight champion Chris Eubank Jr has admitted his relief after opponent Nick Blackwell finally woke from the coma he was placed in following their fight. Blackwell’s promoters only revealed on Monday that the 25-year-old had regained consciousness on Saturday, a week after his 10th-round stoppage by Eubank Jr, and spoken to family and friends a [...]
Exhibitionism review: The Saatchi Gallery recreated Mick Jagger’s grotty old flat April 4, 2016 Saatchi Gallery | ★★★★★ A year before they set about irreversibly altering the course of music history globally and forever, The Rolling Stones ate baked beans straight out of the tin in a squalid Chelsea flat like mucky little dirtbags. Their festering hovel at 102 Edith Grove has been meticulously recreated as part of Exhibitionism, [...]