Johnson return hands England an injury boost December 15, 2014 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster received a welcome boost yesterday ahead of the Six Nations as Exeter Chiefs flanker Tom Johnson is set to return to competitive action following a long-term neck injury. Lancaster had to contend with a multitude of injuries during the autumn internationals, particularly in the forwards, after British and Irish Lions [...]
Pietersen departs third team in a year after Delhi Daredevils exit December 15, 2014 FORMER England skipper Kevin Pietersen has been released by Indian Premier League outfit Delhi Daredevils as part of a major overhaul of their playing staff before the new campaign. The 34-year-old captained Delhi last season but failed to prevent his side finishing bottom of the table after recording just two victories from 14 matches, and [...]
Never down and out: Thor Bjorgolfsson is the Rocky of the business world December 14, 2014 After losing a billion dollar empire and rebuilding it again, Thor Bjorgolfsson shares some of the lessons he learnt. “All of my greatest opportunities have come in the middle of a crisis,” says Icelandic billionaire Thor Bjorgolfsson. “Only the brave and bold go into chaos. International corporations can’t take such risk – I go in [...]
Premier League: Dogged Spurs show guts for top-four fight December 14, 2014 SWANSEA CITY 1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 TOTTENHAM boss Mauricio Pochettino lauded his side’s character after they scored a last-gasp winner for the third time in four away matches to snatch victory over Swansea at the Liberty Stadium yesterday. The late heroics of Denmark playmaker Christian Eriksen proved to be the match-winning contribution after the prolific [...]
Hamilton pips McIlory to Sports Personality accolade December 14, 2014 REIGNING Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton was last night crowned Sports Personality of the Year ahead of world No1 golfer and bookmakers’ favourite Rory McIlroy. The 29-year-old Mercedes driver secured his second world title last month after winning 11 races over the course of the season, becoming only the fourth Briton to bag the drivers’ [...]
Don’t call us title challengers yet, says United boss December 14, 2014 MANCHESTER United manager Louis van Gaal attempted to play down talk of a Premier League title challenge after extending their winning run to six matches in emphatic style against Liverpool yesterday. United picked off their bitter north-west rivals with a clinical display notable for goals from Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Robin van Persie and [...]
Castres triumph sees Wasps bid farewell in style December 14, 2014 WASPS boss Dai Young believes the presence of crucial continental clashes on the fixture list are pivotal to ushering in the club’s new era after ending their Adams Park tenancy with a 44-17 bonus-point thrashing of Castres in the European Champions Cup yesterday. The Coventry-bound club, who will play their first match at the Ricoh [...]
Moores admits skipper Cook could be sacked December 14, 2014 ENGLAND head coach Peter Moores has admitted under-fire skipper Alastair Cook could be sacked as one-day international (ODI) captain ahead of the World Cup. Cook once again failed with the bat on Saturday as England fell to a 90-run thrashing against Sri Lanka, who now hold an unassailable 4-2 series lead ahead of Tuesday’s final [...]
Pacquiao next on Khan hit-list if Mayweather dodges Brit fighter December 14, 2014 BRITAIN’S Amir Khan has trained his sights on pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather and eight-weight world champion Manny Pacquiao after dazzling on his latest super-fight audition. Welterweight Khan reiterated his challenge to undefeated Mayweather after impressing in a unanimous points victory over American Devon Alexander in Las Vegas late on Saturday night. If Mayweather cannot be [...]
Coe’s woe at doping claims December 14, 2014 PROSPECTIVE world athletics chief Lord Coe has warned that allegations of systematic doping in Russia and a subsequent cover-up have the potential to be as damaging as the sport’s very worst scandals. Coe compared the magnitude of the claims, aired in a German television programme, to the episodes that brought down sprinters Ben Johnson in [...]