England outline All Blacks plans December 2, 2013 RUGBY UNION: England have confirmed their schedule for next year’s three Test tour of New Zealand. Stuart Lancaster’s side will begin in Auckland on 7 June, before travelling to Dunedin the following weekend. England then face a midweek match against Crusaders in Christchurch on 17 June, before concluding the tour with the third Test against [...]
Jedinak pens new Palace deal December 2, 2013 FOOTBALL: Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak has signed a new three-and-a-half year contract. The Australia midfielder has made 92 appearances for the Premier League strugglers since signing from Antalyaspor in July 2011. New Palace boss Tony Pulis said: “He’s really impressed me in the last week or so as he’s a real soldier and the [...]
South to coach after retirement December 2, 2013 TENNIS: Former British No2 Melanie South, 27, has retired in order to pursue a coaching career. South reached the Wimbledon mixed doubles quarter-finals in 2007 alongside Alex Bogdanovic and broke into the top 100 of the world rankings in 2009. She said: “I am now looking forward to using all my own experiences to help [...]
Fulham’s new boss denies betraying Jol over sacking December 1, 2013 NEW FULHAM boss Rene Meulensteen last night denied that his recent arrival at Craven Cottage had triggered the departure of Martin Jol, insisting that he was shocked to hear of his fellow Dutchman’s sacking. Meulensteen only joined Fulham as head coach less than three weeks ago, prompting suggestions he was being lined up as Jol’s [...]
Premier League: Chelsea must always be in the title race, Mourinho tells team December 1, 2013 AT STAMFORD BRIDGE CHELSEA 3 vs SOUTHAMPTON 1 CHELSEA boss Jose Mourinho has reminded his players that anything less than challenging for the title should be considered a failure, having narrowed the gap at the top of the Premier League to four points. The Blues suffered a disastrous start to yesterday’s game with Jay Rodriguez [...]
Premier League: Villas-Boas rails at critics as Rooney frustrates Spurs December 1, 2013 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 vs MANCHESTER UNITED 2 TOTTENHAM manager Andre Villas-Boas last night blasted his critics, including former Spurs chairman Lord Sugar, for a perceived lack of respect after his side were denied a first Premier League win since October. Spurs twice led, through full-back Kyle Walker’s free-kick and midfielder Sandro’s thunderbolt, but on both [...]
Sport Comment: Hail Frank McKeown, football’s true hero December 1, 2013 ON A weekend when Aaron Ramsey made headlines, the outstanding contribution to the sport was surely made by a player who probably no-one reading this article had ever heard of before this weekend. Frank McKeown is the captain of Stranraer in the Scottish third tier. On Saturday he played in a 1-1 draw against Clyde [...]
Sturridge-less Reds fall at Hull December 1, 2013 LIVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted to harbouring fears over a lack of squad depth, after the Reds lost 3-1 at Hull. Rodgers’ team went into yesterday’s match without key striker Daniel Sturridge, who has been ruled out for up to eight weeks with an injury to his ankle. Goals from Jake Livermore and Steven [...]
Nasri double puts City third December 1, 2013 MANCHESTER City boss Manuel Pellegrini is targeting maximum points from this week’s trips to West Brom and Southampton after climbing to third in the Premier League. Two goals from midfielder Samir Nasri and striker Alvaro Negredo’s 12th of the season saw off Swansea 3-0 yesterday as City continued their blistering home form. Their struggles have [...]
Harlequins rout hands Richards a grim reunion December 1, 2013 RUTHLESSNESS and patience were Harlequins boss Conor O’Shea’s watchwords yesterday after his side showed their killer instinct to seal a 35-9 bonus-point Aviva Premiership Rugby win at Newcastle. An early Tom Williams try, a double from fellow wing Sam Smith and scrum-half Danny Care’s cunning score gave Quins their fourth straight top-flight victory, moving them [...]