Wiggo warns of yellow aim December 13, 2012 REIGNING Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins insists he will try to defend his title despite Team Sky’s initial plans to have Chris Froome spearhead their 2013 challenge. Wiggins became Britain’s first ever winner of the Tour in July but the 2013 route favours team mate Froome’s climbing abilities. “I’m probably going to try and [...]
Wasps stave off Bayonne rally to tighten stranglehold on pool December 13, 2012 LONDON WASPS 30 BAYONNE 16 LONDON Wasps have got one foot in the quarter-finals of the Amlin Cup after riding a second-half fightback to beat French side Bayonne 30-16 at Adams Park. The Pool Three leaders opened up a 14-0 lead thanks to strong kicking from Jones and a superb try from youngster Elliot Daly [...]
British 2012 stars up for awards December 13, 2012 GENERAL: A stunning year for British sportsmen and women has seen them scoop five nominations at the Laureus World Sports Awards. Athletes Jessica Ennis and Mo Farah, Paralympian David Weir, tennis star Andy Murray and Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins, who all won gold at London 2012, have been shortlisted for prizes on March [...]
Hartley to miss Ulster trip with ban December 13, 2012 RUGBY UNION: Northampton and England hooker Dylan Hartley has been banned for two weeks after being cited for foul play during the 25-6 Heineken Cup defeat to Ulster last week. The Saints captain was reported for striking Rory Best and will now miss tomorrow’s return trip to Ulster along with Northampton’s Aviva Premiership clash with [...]
Former rugby star, 25, found dead December 13, 2012 RUGBY UNION: Former Sale Sharks player David Tait was found dead in Hong Kong on Wednesday, after falling from an apartment block. The 25-year-old worked as a corporate finance manager for KPMG after retiring from rugby in 2010 due to persistent injuries. Tait had represented England at Under-20 level.
Club World Cup is our dream, insists Benitez December 12, 2012 CHELSEA manager Rafael Benitez has vowed to pick his strongest team in this morning’s Club World Cup semi-final against Monterrey, insisting that winning the trophy would make his players’ dreams come true. The Blues jetted out to Japan in the thick of a gruelling fixture schedule featuring nine matches this month alone, raising the temptation [...]
Lowdown: Monterrey December 12, 2012 Reached the semi-finals with a 3-1 win over South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai in the last eight on Sunday, making their second straight appearance at the Club World Cup They are consecutive winners of the CONCACAF Champions League, which is the central American, South American and Caribbean combined equivalent to the European Champions League The Mexicans [...]
Wenger is still right man for job – Keown December 12, 2012 UNDER-FIRE manager Arsene Wenger is still the right man to revive Arsenal, despite mounting criticism, insists former Gunners defender Martin Keown. Tuesday’s shock Capital One Cup defeat to League Two Bradford compounded Wenger’s worst start to a Premier League season and increased calls for him to quit. Suggestions of a souring of relations between the [...]
Shabby Arsenal lack courage and leadership December 12, 2012 ARSENE Wenger will still be Arsenal manager at the end of the season, but the next six months will tell us everything about his remaining ambitions and will determine whether he sticks around beyond May. Supporters have had enough of watching their team decline while the club makes money and directors are handsomely paid. They [...]
All Black demolition should pave way for several English Lions December 12, 2012 BRITISH and Irish Lions coaches Graham Rowntree and Andy Farrell hope to persuade head coach Warren Gatland to take a strong nucleus of English players on the 10-match tour of Australia next summer. Gatland announced Rowntree and Farrell alongside Rob Howley as his forwards and defence coaches respectively, and they hope this month’s stunning 38-21 [...]