We enjoy being the Premiership’s prize scalp, insists Saracens back-row forward Jackson Wray September 1, 2016 The tag of domestic and European champions offers rivals a huge incentive, although back-row forward Jackson Wray is refusing to lose any sleep over Saracens’s status as the Premiership’s prize scalp. Sarries became the first English side for 12 years, since Wasps in 2004, to complete the double when they retained their Premiership crown with victory [...]
Summer transfer window 2016: What does the Premier League’s spending extravaganza mean for the wider European game? September 1, 2016 Just over two months after its national team were humiliated in front of Europe at the hands of Iceland, English football has reminded the world, when it comes to the transfer market, it remains king. The Premier League flexed its financial muscles this summer by spending a record-breaking £1.165bn on new players, crushing the outlay of Europe's biggest leagues. Europe's [...]
Tim Visser interview: Top-four Premiership spot and European Challenge Cup title the aim for Harlequins September 1, 2016 Harlequins wing Tim Visser is pulling no punches; securing a place in the Premiership play-offs and lifting the European Challenge Cup are the club’s goals this season. Quins begin their 150th campaign against top-flight newcomers Bristol in Saturday’s London Double Header at Twickenham, aiming to drastically improve upon the past two campaigns which failed to [...]
Bournemouth can shoot for the stars after signing Jack Wilshere, insists Cherries boss Eddie Howe September 1, 2016 Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe insists loan signing Jack Wilshere will propel his side to new levels after the midfielder joined the Cherries on a temporary basis from Arsenal on transfer deadline day. Wilshere only managed three appearances for Arsenal last season after fracturing his left fibula, while a string of injuries have limited the 24-year-old [...]
Betting: Sarries to win it again – but Wasps can provide a sting in the tail September 1, 2016 The rough and tumble of the Aviva Premiership returns on Friday and, on the face of it, Saracens will once again be the team to beat this season. With a forward group hardly shy of confrontation, their famed ‘Wolf Pack’ has flipped Burgers at flanker, swapping cult hero Jacques for his namesake, legendary South African Schalk. [...]
Betting: Big Sam to banish Euro misery with win over Slovakia September 1, 2016 Sam Allardyce’s reign as England manager begins on Sunday afternoon as the Three Lions face Slovakia in Trnava. The road to the 2018 World Cup in Russia starts here for Allardyce and his squad, who will be looking to put the disappointment of this summer’s European Championships behind them. Those hoping for revolution from the [...]
Six charts that sum up the Premier League’s record-breaking summer transfer window spending spree September 1, 2016 Premier League clubs have taken football into a new billion pound era this summer by spending more money than ever before in this transfer window. The division's stratospheric spending broke the £1bn mark for the first time with a day remaining and a record-breaking deadline day, in which clubs spent £155m in 24 hours, pushed its [...]
The Premier League’s record-breaking, £1bn-busting summer transfer window summed up in one chart September 1, 2016 Premier League spending reached never-before-seen levels this summer as a record-breaking deadline day sent the division's total outlay soaring past the £1bn mark. The window closed with England's cash rich top divisions spending a total £1.165bn on new players, a 34 per cent increase on the previous record of £870m set last summer according to [...]
Chelsea embark on £60m spending spree as David Luiz secures shock return to Stamford Bridge on deadline day September 1, 2016 Chelsea led the deadline day charge as maverick defender David Luiz made a shock return to Stamford Bridge and the Blues proved the biggest spenders by splashing out close to £60m. On a day when spending during this transfer window surpassed £1.1bn, Chelsea paid £34m to secure the signing of Luiz from Paris Saint-German, two [...]
Johanna Konta shrugs off on-court illness to surge into US Open third round August 31, 2016 British No1 Johanna Konta recovered from collapsing on court with blurred vision and breathing issues to beat Bulgaria’s Tsvetana Pironkova and reach the third round of the US Open. Konta, seeded a career-high 13th, was leading 6-2, 5-6, but facing set point, when she crouched down and appeared to hyper-ventilate. The 25-year-old also complained of [...]