England rocked as Vunipola suffers Six Nations finale KO February 24, 2014 ENGLAND rugby coach Stuart Lancaster rued a major blow to his hopes of winning a first Six Nations title last night after No8 Billy Vunipola was ruled out for the remainder of the championship. Scans taken yesterday afternoon revealed ligament damage to Vunipola’s ankle, which the Saracens forward hurt during Saturday’s hard-fought 13-10 triumph over [...]
We can get at nervy United, claims Carroll February 24, 2014 FORMER Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll believes current employers Olympiacos can capitalise on the Premier League champions’ frailties and reach the Champions League quarter-finals. United travel to the Karaiskakis Stadium in Greece tonight, where their hosts have a 100 per cent winning record in the Super League this term and are a mammoth 20 points [...]
Wright aims to compensate for Pietersen exit February 24, 2014 BATSMAN Luke Wright has vowed to use this month’s tour to the West Indies to revive his England fortunes and prove he is a worthy replacement for the axed Kevin Pietersen. England play their first tour match of the trip this morning against a University of West Indies Vice-Chancellor’s XI, with a swathe of fringe [...]
Crisford ends Godolphin role February 24, 2014 HORSE RACING: Godolphin’s racing manager Simon Crisford resigned from his post last night and will now act as owner Sheikh Mohammed’s global racing adviser. Crisford has worked with Godolphin since its inception in 1992. The stable was rocked last year by a doping scandal, prompting a self-commissioned investigation into all operations led by former police [...]
Anelka hearing set to begin February 24, 2014 FOOTBALL: The Football Association will begin their hearing today to rule on West Brom striker Nicolas Anelka’s quenelle gesture, made after scoring against West Ham in December. The gesture has anti-Semitic ties, though Anelka insisted it was merely done as a show of support to comedian Dieudonne. The hearing is expected to be completed by [...]
Kent bring in bowler Bollinger February 24, 2014 CRICKET: Australia fast bowler Doug Bollinger is to join Kent as their overseas player for the 2014 season. The 32-year-old, who has taken 50 wickets in 12 Test matches, will be available for all forms of the game. Kent begin their County Championship season against Worcestershire on 13 April.
Giant panda numbers are up: see them in Chengdu February 23, 2014 They famously eat shoots and leaves. LISA YOUNG gets up-close and personal with the Chinese city’s most famous residents IT’S a warm August morning, the time of year when the sizzling Chengdu summer gives way to cooler climes. Chengdu sits in a fog-filled bowl 500 metres above sea level in the Sichuan Province of south [...]
Premier League: Spurs’ dream of fourth spot dented, says boss Sherwood February 23, 2014 NORWICH CITY 1 vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0 TOTTENHAM manager Tim Sherwood admitted his team’s Champions League aspirations were dented by yesterday’s defeat at Carrow Road, after they slipped six points behind fourth-placed Liverpool. Spurs had gone into the game boasting the best away record in the Premier League with nine wins from 13 matches, but [...]
GB miss chance to bag farewell medal in Sochi February 23, 2014 TEAM GB pilot John Jackson hopes his four-man bobsleigh team did the nation proud yesterday, despite narrowly missing out on a medal as the curtain came down on the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Jackson’s crew finished fifth following yesterday’s fourth and final run, an agonising 0.11 seconds off a bronze medal, as Britain paid the [...]
Care’s warning as England eye Wales revenge February 23, 2014 ENGLAND match-winner Danny Care insists they will have to play even better next time out against Wales than they did in Saturday’s watershed Six Nations victory over Ireland. Stuart Lancaster’s side produced their best performance of the championship to win 13-10 at Twickenham, ending Ireland’s hopes of a grand slam and blowing the competition wide [...]