Cipriani stands by as Lancaster’s options dwindle May 21, 2014 SIX years after winning his last England cap fly-half Danny Cipriani looks to be in the driving seat to start at No10 against New Zealand next month, after it emerged yesterday that George Ford is to undergo a shoulder operation. Head coach Stuart Lancaster had begun making plans for the first of three Tests against [...]
Championship rejects FFP change May 21, 2014 CHAMPIONSHIP clubs have rejected proposals to amend their financial fair play (FFP) rules to give them more wriggle room. Losses next season therefore remain capped at £6m, half of which must be covered by owner investment, otherwise teams face a transfer embargo or fines of up to 100 per cent of the amount they overspend. [...]
Young Lions win European title May 21, 2014 ENGLAND Under-17s retained the European Championship trophy last night, after defeating Holland in the final on penalties. Following a 1-1 draw in normal time, where Chelsea’s Dominic Solanke had given England the lead, John Peacock’s team were forced to contest a dreaded penalty shootout, so often the undoing of their senior counterparts. But successful spot-kicks from [...]
Cricket Comment: Gurney offers Moores a glimpse of encouraging England future May 21, 2014 IF ENGLAND were to win the forthcoming one-day series with Sri Lanka it would be a terrific effort, but I can’t tip that outcome. Realistically, I hope they go down fighting after competing in every match. Sri Lanka are masters of the shorter forms of cricket and current Twenty20 world champions, so it was little [...]
McIlroy to forget Caroline split by playing a round May 21, 2014 GOLF’S former world No1 Rory McIlroy is eager to lose himself in the BMW PGA Championship, which starts at Wentworth today, after breaking off his engagement to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki. McIlroy, 25, revealed yesterday that he had cancelled his impending wedding and split from Wozniacki just days after sending out invitations having realised that [...]
Thomas fears dream of riding to Tour victory will never come true May 21, 2014 Welsh cycling star tells Josh Richards he’s contemplating a bold move away from Team Sky AS EVER-IMPROVING road racer Geraint Thomas ponders his future with Team Sky, the Welshman insists even next year’s Tour de France will come too soon to follow in the footsteps of Sir Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome. Thomas played a [...]
Farah pulls out of London race May 21, 2014 DOUBLE Olympic champion Mo Farah has been forced to rethink his Commonwealth Games preparations after pulling out of a 10km road race in London this weekend. The Briton had been due to make his first competitive appearance since the London Marathon at the Bupa London 10,000 on Sunday, but announced his withdrawal yesterday. Farah confirmed [...]
Hamilton bids to rally rivals May 21, 2014 WORLD championship leader Lewis Hamilton hopes rival teams prove to be more competitive at this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix with Mercedes having dominated the season so far. Hamilton has won the last four grands prix and leads team-mate Nico Rosberg, who won the opening race of the season, by three points in the drivers standings. [...]
Konta wins first qualifier May 21, 2014 BRITISH No3 Johanna Konta stormed through to the French Open second qualifying round last night, defeating American teenager Sachia Vickery 6-2, 6-3. The 23-year-old, ranked 102nd in the world, is set to meet Poland’s Paula Kania in the next round. In-form Heather Watson, who won the Prague Open last weekend to return to the top [...]
No room for Courtois and Cech May 21, 2014 FOOTBALL: Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, on loan at Spanish champions Atletico Madrid, believes Stamford Bridge is not big enough for him and regular Blues No1 Petr Cech. Courtois said: “Putting him and me in the same team is not the healthiest thing in the world. The two of us want to play in everything.”