End to Euro rugby row in sight as clubs and unions close in on deal March 17, 2014 EUROPEAN club rugby looks all but certain to remain on the calendar next season amid growing optimism that a deal to establish a successor to the Heineken Cup will be signed this week. Officials representing clubs and the unions of the Six Nations met for further talks in Paris yesterday in an attempt to finalise [...]
England stars up for award March 17, 2014 ENGLAND stars Mike Brown, Chris Robshaw, Owen Farrell and Danny Care have been rewarded for their Triple Crown-winning performances with nominations for the Six Nations player of the year award. Six players from the title-winning Ireland side have been shortlisted, including record-breaking centre Brian O’Driscoll, who bowed out of Test rugby with Saturday’s triumph over [...]
Golf Comment: Phenomenal Hull has work ethic to complement awesome talent March 17, 2014 THE ACHIEVEMENT is remarkable in itself, but the way in which 17-year-old Charley Hull claimed her first title on the Ladies European Tour on Sunday was nothing short of awesome. Hull shot a brilliant final round of 62 to come from five strokes behind Gwladys Nocera and force a play-off with the Frenchwoman at the [...]
Fury laughs off Chisora’s chance in rematch March 17, 2014 BRITISH heavyweight Tyson Fury believes Dereck Chisora’s career is in decline and expects to win their world title eliminator in July for the right to meet champion Wladimir Klitschko. Fury beat Chisora on points when they fought in 2011 and the pair are set to renew hostilities in Manchester on 26 July for the right [...]
Vaughan backlash begins over criticism of Trott’s Australia exit March 17, 2014 FORMER England captain Michael Vaughan came under fire from the Professional Cricketers’ Association yesterday following his criticism of batsman Jonathan Trott’s reasons for leaving the winter Ashes tour. Trott departed Australia in November after the first of five Test defeats and has not picked up a bat competitively since, with the England and Wales Cricket [...]
Mourinho refuses opportunity to end Mancini feud March 17, 2014 CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho refused an olive branch from old adversary and current Galatasaray boss Roberto Mancini last night, declining his offer of dinner after tonight’s Champions League last-16 second leg. Mourinho and Manchester City’s former manager have repeatedly questioned each other’s credentials in recent years, but ahead of tonight’s reunion Mancini said – tongue [...]
FA set to reject Hull name change March 17, 2014 FOOTBALL: Hull City owner Assem Allam’s application to change the Premier League club’s name to Hull Tigers looks doomed to failure after a Football Association committee recommended it be rejected. The FA Council is now expected to vote against the plan, which has been angrily opposed by Hull fans, at a meeting next month.
Cavendish wins in sprint finish March 17, 2014 CYCLING: England’s Mark Cavendish warmed up for his Milan-San Remo bid by winning the penultimate stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico yesterday. Cavendish pipped Omega Pharma-QuickStep team-mate Alessandro Petacchi in a sprint finish and is set to compete in the Milan-San Remo one-day Spring Classic on Sunday. Spain’s Alberto Contador leads the Tirreno-Adriatico.
Court hears of Pistorius gun order March 17, 2014 ATHLETICS: Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius placed an order for six guns that he then cancelled a month after he shot dead girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, a court heard yesterday. Pistorius denies murdering model Steenkamp on 14 February 2013, arguing that he shot her in his Pretoria home after mistaking her for an intruder.
Stirling hits Ireland to last-ball win March 17, 2014 CRICKET: Ireland batsman Paul Stirling struck 60 off 34 deliveries to help his team clinch a dramatic last-ball victory in their World Twenty20 opener against Zimbabwe in Bangladesh yesterday. Captain Brendan Taylor struck 59 as Zimbabwe posted 163-5, batting first. But Ireland reached their target with seven wickets down, scoring a bye on the final [...]