How do you create a sex-heavy unreality for an unshockable twenty-first century audience? May 12, 2016 Diarist Samuel Pepys saw A Midsummer Night’s Dream – for the first and last time – in 1662, describing it as the most “ridiculous play that ever I saw in my life” despite “some good dancing and some handsome women”. Centuries later, can the sex-fuelled plot still baffle a contemporary audience? Emma Rice takes a stab in her first production as [...]
Betting: Top four place up for grabs in Premier League’s final weekend May 12, 2016 As the Premier League’s most memorable season comes to its last weekend, the only thing it could be said to be lacking is a genuinely exciting final day showdown. Leicester City’s fairytale at the top and Sunderland’s great escape at the bottom mean the title race and relegation battle have been settled. However, the race [...]
Sarries have the international stars to achieve European glory May 12, 2016 No team has ever won every game of a victorious European rugby campaign, but that’s exactly what Saracens intend to do when they take on Racing 92 in the final of the Champions Cup tomorrow. History would suggest that it won’t happen, but form says otherwise. In recent weeks, Sarries have dispatched both Wasps and [...]
Why Chelsea parting ways with Adidas makes financial sense — Blues could pocket £50m per year with Nike, Under Armour or Puma May 12, 2016 Yesterday’s announcement that Adidas would terminate its contract with Chelsea six years early came as a bolt from the blue. Officially the decision was described as “mutual” and it probably was once Chelsea agreed to pay a penalty clause rumoured to be nearly £40m (€50m). The original 10-year deal, signed in 2013, was for £30m per year. So [...]
Vince and Ball handed England chance as selectors keep faith with Hales and Compton for first Test against Sri Lanka May 12, 2016 Hampshire batsman James Vince admits he was shocked after England selectors put him in line for a first Test cap in the opening match of the home series with Sri Lanka next week. The captain of the England Lions development team is joined in the 12-man squad by Nottinghamshire seamer and fellow Test newcomer Jake [...]
Good news for Liverpool fans: BT Sport and YouTube to stream Champions League and Europa League finals for free online May 12, 2016 BT Sport will stream the Champions League and Europa League finals live on YouTube, allowing millions of fans not subscribed to the TV channel to watch the games for free. The decision follows reports that Uefa is concerned with poor viewing figures for the first season of BT Sport's £897m deal which took European football away [...]
Liverpool 1, Chelsea 1: Hiddink anger at late present to Klopp’s Reds May 12, 2016 Chelsea interim boss Guus Hiddink rued the last-gasp gift his side handed Liverpool which kept the Reds in the hunt for a top-six Premier League finish. Striker Christian Benteke, marginalised for much of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s reign, rescued a point for the hosts after seizing on goalkeeper Asmir Begovic’s error and cancelling out Eden [...]
Former West Ham boss Sam Allardyce aims to turn Sunderland into a top-flight force after winning relegation battle and demoting bitter rivals Newcastle May 11, 2016 Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce immediately switched his focus to evolving the Black Cats into a Premier League force after demolishing Everton to secure their top-flight status and relegate bitter rivals Newcastle and Norwich. A free-kick from former Chelsea full-back Patrick van Aanholt set the hosts on their way before a double from an unlikely source, [...]
The ECB’s North versus South initiative should be embraced as it will boost England’s one-day credentials May 11, 2016 We have seen over the last 12 months that England’s limited-overs cricket is going from strength to strength so the announcement of a North versus South one-day series can only be a positive in my eyes. It’s just another element designed to improve the national team. The clashes will take place in Abu Dhabi each [...]
Ryan Bertrand’s secret second career as a fintech entrepreneur – and John Terry is backing his latest venture May 11, 2016 The history of football’s relationship with technology is a chequered one, from the game’s long resistance to implementing goal-line gadgetry to the tale of former Aston Villa striker Darius Vassell taking a power drill to his toenail in the misguided belief that it would relieve pain. Ryan Bertrand hopes to change that perception. When he is [...]