European glory worth €100m to English clubs March 31, 2015 WINNING the Champions League could be worth more than €100m (£72.3m) to an English club next season in prize money alone after governing body Uefa announced an increase in merit payments for 2015-18. This year’s Premier League winners could scoop a maximum of around €113m (£82m) if they go on to lift European club football’s [...]
Veteran Sinfield targets top flight after code switch March 31, 2015 VETERAN former England rugby league captain Kevin Sinfield is poised to follow in the footsteps of some esteemed code-switchers by ending his 19-year association with Leeds Rhinos at the end of the season and embarking on a career in rugby union. Sinfield, 34, has signed an 18-month deal with second-tier side Yorkshire Carnegie, having led [...]
Unexpected Ashes call-ups spark county dash for overseas talent March 31, 2015 SURPRISE Australia call-ups for this summer’s Ashes series have thrown English counties into disarray less than three weeks before the start of the domestic season. Middlesex and Lancashire have been forced into a scramble for replacements after Australia selected batsman Adam Voges and seamer Peter Siddle in their 17-man squad for tours of the West [...]
Tiger Woods plane a Masters clue March 31, 2015 Intrigue over fallen former world No1 Tiger Woods’s possible return to action at next week’s Masters grew last night after American media reported sightings of his private jet at an Augusta airport yesterday. The 14-time Major winner has not won a tournament since 2013 and announced he was taking an indefinite break from golf in [...]
Can professional video gaming take off in the UK? Gfinity just launched the first eSports arena – welcome to the weird world of video game voyeurism March 31, 2015 It’s been a big couple of weeks for UK sport. Roy Hodgson’s England side took a step closer to qualifying for Euro 2016, the Six Nations came to a dramatic conclusion, Sheffield boxer Kell Brook defended his world title – and the UK’s first eSports arena staged its premier event. Professional video gaming has launched [...]
Experimental Hodgson set to trial Kane March 30, 2015 PROLIFIC forward Harry Kane has the chance to follow in the footsteps of a Tottenham legend when he makes his full international debut in England’s friendly with Italy in Turin tonight. England manager Roy Hodgson last night confirmed his intention to hand Kane his first senior start in his side’s clash at the Juventus Stadium, [...]
Golf Comment: Late bloomer Walker shows journeymen way March 30, 2015 Watching at close quarters as Jimmy Walker made his Ryder Cup debut for the United States last year at Gleneagles I couldn’t help being impressed with his game. Walker has a superb swing and, now in his 15th year as a professional, he is in the form of his life. That was evident as he [...]
I’m better off as a centre forward insists Barkley March 30, 2015 EVERTON and England’s Ross Barkley has revealed that he would prefer to play as a striker, rather than the deeper-lying attacking roles in which he is employed for club and country. Barkley, who could win his 11th international cap tonight against Italy, has netted just twice in 30 appearances for the Toffees this season and [...]
Lethal Visser can make difference says Quins boss March 30, 2015 HARLEQUINS boss Conor O’Shea believes the signing of prolific Scotland wing Tim Visser from Edinburgh at the end of the season can help revive the club’s fortunes. Visser, who was born in Holland but qualifies for Scotland on residency grounds, has been the leading scorer in the Pro12 four campaigns running and has scored seven [...]
To be great you need away Ashes glory, Australia told March 30, 2015 CHAIRMAN of selectors Rod Marsh insists Australia’s World Cup win on home soil cannot distract from the ultimate goal of an Ashes series win in England, which he believes is the true measure of a great side. Australia were set to show their hand for the summer’s Ashes tour by this morning naming their squad [...]