May back to boost England ahead of meeting with the Auld Enemy February 3, 2014 ENGLAND wing Jonny May last night handed head coach Stuart Lancaster a boost, when declared fit to take on Scotland on Saturday. May was replaced in the early stages of last weekend’s Six Nations opening day defeat to France with a broken nose. But the 23-year-old has been cleared for an immediate return to action [...]
Exclusive: Double points rule is because Ferrari failing, says Eccelstone February 3, 2014 FORMULA ONE boss Bernie Ecclestone says he introduced controversial rules to award double points for the last race of the season in order to help Ferrari compete. The oldest and most celebrated team on the grid have not won a world championship since 2007 – a predicament Ecclestone says contributed to his passing the rule, [...]
Cricket Comment: Kirsten is pick of candidates for Flower job February 3, 2014 COACH Andy Flower’s decision to step down from the England job following a disastrous winter caused mild surprise but it was no shock. As I’ve detailed in this column more than once, I think it is the right move – the question now is who succeeds him. In an ideal world it would be Gary [...]
Injury concerns force changes to Sochi snowboarding course February 3, 2014 SOCHI winter Olympics chiefs have been forced to redesign a snowboard course on the eve of the Games after athletes complained it was too dangerous and one medal hopeful broke a collar bone. Athletes had already voiced fears over the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park slopestyle course before Norway’s Torstein Horgmo suffered a fracture yesterday that [...]
Star Thorpe sent to rehab February 3, 2014 SWIMMING great Ian Thorpe has been admitted to rehab for treatment of depression, his management confirmed yesterday. The Australian five-time Olympic champion, 31, who made an unsuccessful comeback bid for the London 2012 Games, was found disoriented near his parents’ home in Sydney. Thorpe’s manager James Erskine said the man dubbed “Thorpedo” had taken anti-depressants [...]
England women toast Ashes victory February 3, 2014 ENGLAND’S victorious women’s cricket team took a moment to savour their Ashes triumph in Australia yesterday before jetting home. Charlotte Edwards, the first England captain to win the women’s Ashes twice Down Under, said: “I’m still struggling to come to terms with exactly what we have achieved over the last five weeks. The emotions I [...]
Kinnear resigns at Newcastle February 3, 2014 FOOTBALL: Newcastle United last night confirmed director of football Joe Kinnear had resigned with immediate effect. The club’s former manager did not make a permanent signing during his six months at St James’s Park, as the club failed to replace key midfielder Yohan Cabaye before the transfer window closed last Friday. A club statement said: [...]
Olympic champion Purchase retires February 3, 2014 ROWING: Olympic champion Zac Purchase announced his retirement yesterday. The 27-year-old won gold in the lightweight double sculls in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics, then followed up with a silver medal alongside Mark Hunter at London 2012.
McDermott wants Leeds stay February 3, 2014 FOOTBALL: Leeds manager Brian McDermott yesterday vowed to stay at the club despite a tumultuous weekend. On Friday, McDermott was “sacked” by the lawyer of prospective new owner Massimo Cellino, whose 75 per cent purchase of a stake in the club is incomplete. However, he was then contacted by existing owners, Gulf Finance House Capital, [...]
Radcliffe eyes marathon return February 3, 2014 ATHLETICS: Marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe is eyeing a return to next year’s iconic 26.2-mile race in London. The 40-year-old, who last completed a marathon in Berlin in 2011, said: “I would love to finish my racing career on my terms.”