Second place not good enough for England, Lancaster warned March 24, 2015 ENGLAND rugby chief Ian Ritchie has heaped pressure on head coach Stuart Lancaster ahead of this year’s home World Cup by insisting that his repeated runners-up finishes are not good enough. Lancaster’s team earned admiration and sympathy for falling just a converted try short of a first Six Nations title of his tenure in Saturday’s [...]
Vegas bout set to break record March 24, 2015 THE long-awaited clash between undefeated American Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is set to be the most expensive boxing match in UK pay-per-view history. Sky Sports Box Office has been awarded the rights to show live coverage of the fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday 2 May. The channel will charge [...]
Return of the photo maestro: Elliott Erwitt comes back to London March 23, 2015 Elliott Erwitt bore witness to some of the 20th century’s most important events. He photographed Marylin Monroe, Jack Kerouac and Che Guevera. He was present at President Kennedy’s funeral and on the set of numerous classic movies during the 50s and 60s. But he’s equally well known for his photographs of ordinary people. Some of [...]
England risks missing next Kane – Dyke March 23, 2015 FOOTBALL Association chairman Greg Dyke last night warned that England risks missing out on the next Harry Kane if clubs do not embrace his plans to increase the number of homegrown players in the Premier League. Tottenham youth product Kane, 21, has gone from fringe player to the top-flight’s leading scorer in less than a [...]
Test hopeful Lyth outguns Cook in notable international audition March 23, 2015 UNCAPPED opener Adam Lyth dropped a sizeable hint to the England selectors with a timely century for reigning county champions Yorkshire on day two of their clash with the MCC in Abu Dhabi yesterday. The 27-year-old received his first international call-up last week after being named in England’s squad for next month’s three-Test tour of [...]
Queen’s return bolsters Nadal’s Wimbledon bid March 23, 2015 WORLD No3 Rafael Nadal has opted to return to Queen’s Club after a four-year absence to play the Aegon Championships in June in an attempt to rediscover his best form at Wimbledon. Nadal has reached the final of the grand slam on all five occasions that he has prepared for the tournament by playing at [...]
Somerset sign Gayle for T20 March 23, 2015 SOMERSET have signed power-hitting West Indies opener Chris Gayle for a portion of the coming season’s T20 Blast tournament. Gayle follows in the footsteps of countrymen Joel Garner and Viv Richards in signing for the county and is set to join on either 22 or 29 May, depending on how far his franchise, Royal Challengers [...]
Skrtel stamp charge set to deal Reds blow for run-in March 23, 2015 LIVERPOOL’S surge for the end of season tape was dealt a further blow yesterday when centre-half Martin Skrtel was slapped with a Football Association charge for violent conduct. The charge relates to an injury-time incident in the Reds’ clash against Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday where the Slovakia defender was alleged to have stamped [...]
Spurs star set to start after Sturridge woe March 23, 2015 ENGLAND boss Roy Hodgson could throw prolific Tottenham striker Harry Kane straight into his starting line-up for the Euro2016 qualifier against Lithuania after Daniel Sturridge was last night forced to withdraw from the squad. Sturridge suffered a hip injury during Liverpool’s Premier League defeat to Manchester United on Sunday and has been ruled out of [...]
Lancaster’s side lead way in top player election March 23, 2015 ENGLAND’S ultimately forlorn Six Nations title bid has not prevented Stuart Lancaster’s side snagging the largest representation on a 12-strong shortlist for player of the tournament. The Red Rose finished runners-up for the fourth year in succession after falling agonisingly short of holders Ireland on points difference, despite dispatching France 55-35 on a frantic final [...]