Launchbury out of Six Nations as Wasps lock sent for neck op December 18, 2014 WASPS and England lock Joe Launchbury’s World Cup hopes have suffered a setback after he was ruled out of the Six Nations while he recovers from surgery on a nerve problem in his neck. Launchbury had hoped to resume playing this month, having missed England’s entire autumn campaign, but has now been told he needs [...]
Highest salaries by sport December 18, 2014 New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter is poised to become the highest earning player in rugby union after agreeing a £1.2m per year contract with French side Racing Metro. His pay packet may dwarf his colleagues but is loose change compared to those in other leading sports. Formula One: Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari £50.0m Baseball: Clayton Kershaw, [...]
Greenwood: Exeter pair can make a late charge for World Cup squad December 18, 2014 England must stay unbeaten in run-up to event FORMER England and British and Irish Lions centre Will Greenwood believes Exeter Chiefs starlets Luke Cowan-Dickie and Henry Slade could yet gatecrash the squad for next year’s home World Cup. The pair did not feature for England in the autumn internationals but have been central to surprise [...]
Dan to be Ladbroke man again with Shelford December 18, 2014 Bill Esdaile offers his best bets this weekend at Ascot and over the festive season THE LADBROKE (3.30pm), with a total prize fund of £150,000, is one of the richest handicap hurdles of the season and tomorrow’s race at Ascot promises to be fascinating. The ground will be soft, which has resulted in the absence [...]
Arsenal can pile pressure back on Brendan Rodgers December 18, 2014 BEN CLEMINSON LOOKS AT THE BIG GAMES IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE THIS WEEKEND LIVERPOOL’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth on Wednesday night was only their third in their last 11 games. Welcome as that victory over the Championship leaders was, it doesn’t even begin to mask what has been a terrible campaign so far for last [...]
Poor Southampton run set to continue when Everton visit December 18, 2014 SOUTHAMPTON’S surprisingly strong start to the season has come off the rails in recent weeks after five successive losses. While Ronald Koeman can point to a horrible run of fixtures that took in Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United, the two latest defeats to Burnley and League One Sheffield United in the League Cup are [...]
Premier League outright spread betting with Sporting Index December 18, 2014 UNLIKE fixed-odds bookmakers, Sporting Index gives points to every team in the Premier League regardless of where they finish. The Championship 60 Index is updated after every gameweek and points are awarded as follows: Winner = 60pts, Second = 40pts, Third = 30pts, Fourth = 20pts, Fifth = 10pts, Sixth = 5pts. All others = [...]
Capital One Cup: Love-in at Lane as Spurs cruise into cup semis December 17, 2014 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 4 NEWCASTLE UNITED 0 TOTTENHAM manager Mauricio Pochettino believes his new-look team have finally won over a sceptical home faithful after they romped into the Capital One Cup semi-finals last night. Nabil Bentaleb, Nacer Chadli, Harry Kane and Roberto Soldado scored on a forgettable night for Newcastle goalkeeper Jak Alnwick to set up [...]
Burglar attack could end boxer Crolla’s career December 17, 2014 BRITISH boxer Anthony Crolla may never fight again after suffering a fractured skull in a violent confrontation with burglars on Tuesday night, his trainer Joe Gallagher has warned. Gallagher said Crolla, 28, had surgery yesterday after being left “discombobulated” and fortunate to be alive by the attack near his home in Greater Manchester. Crolla is [...]
World Cup bid corruption investigator quits December 17, 2014 FOOTBALL’S world governing body Fifa has suffered another blow to its reputation after the lawyer tasked with investigating corruption claims resigned from the role in protest. Michael Garcia quit his position as Fifa’s chief ethics investigator yesterday because, he said, his inquiry into allegations surrounding the bidding processes to stage the 2018 and 2022 World [...]