French champions Toulouse look the value for European glory in competitive Heineken Cup field October 11, 2012 RUGBY’S best northern hemisphere cup competition kicks-off this evening as the strongest sides around battle for the Heineken Cup crown. It’s a grueling seven months and the question on everyone’s mind is whether anyone can stop the formidable Leinster. The defending champions obliterated rivals Ulster in last year’s final 42-14 at Twickenham to bring home [...]
Hodgson backs Bertrand after latest England Twitter gaffe October 11, 2012 ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson has refused to criticise defender Ryan Bertrand for creating football’s latest Twitter controversy but accepts that his decision to swear was ultimately wrong. The furore surrounding Ashley Cole’s contentious labelling of the Football Association as a “bunch of t***s” had yet to completely clear when Bertrand, the left-back’s understudy at Chelsea, [...]
History with the minnows October 11, 2012 HOW THREE LIONS HAVE FARED AGAINST SAN MARINO, THE JOINT 207TH-BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD There have been two previous fixtures between England and San Marino. Both were during the Three Lions’ doomed campaign to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in USA, even though both ended in six-goal victories. Worryingly, there are several similarities [...]
Nike sticks by Armstrong despite dope row October 11, 2012 SPORTSWEAR giant Nike has refused to bow to mounting pressure to sever ties with Lance Armstrong, despite the cyclist being accused of masterminding sport’s most sophisticated doping programme ever. The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) on Wednesday backed up its claims against the seven-time Tour de France winner by publishing more than 1,000 pages of what [...]
Armitage: London Irish lure forced me to end France Exile October 11, 2012 AHEAD of London Irish’s Amlin Cup match away to Bordeaux-Begles, Exiles centre Guy Armitage has revealed that the pull of returning to the club persuaded him to leave his brothers in Toulon. In addition to his siblings Delon and Steffon, Armitage earlier this year agreed a transfer to Toulon before returning to Irish on a [...]
Milan chief’s fears over Financial Fair Play October 11, 2012 ONE of the leading executives in European football has voiced his fears that impending Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules could damage rather than improve the sport. AC Milan organising director Umberto Gandini, also a vice-chairman of the influential European Club Association, predicted FFP could force clubs into making cuts at a time when investment was [...]
Rooney to lead team’s mission for goal glut October 11, 2012 ENGLAND striker Wayne Rooney is aiming to fire himself into elite territory after being named captain for tonight’s World Cup qualifier against San Marino. Rooney needs two more goals to surpass Alan Shearer’s tally of 30 international strikes and break into the top five on England’s all-time scorers’ list. “People have mentioned I will get [...]
Rose and Westwood advance to all-English World Golf Final October 11, 2012 ENGLAND’S Justin Rose is to face compatriot Lee Westwood in the inaugural World Golf Final in Turkey after yesterday defeating America’s Tiger Woods. Rose shot a 69 which included two birdies and an eagle in the last six holes to beat the world no2 and admitted afterwards that any victory over Westwood is one that [...]
European Endeavours October 11, 2012 Harlequins v Biarritz Harlequins director of rugby Conor O’Shea believes his side’s recent defeat to Exeter may have done them a favour as they prepare for the Heineken Cup. “We want to get rid of some demons and let some frustrations out,” he said. Wasps v Newport-Gwent Dragons Wasps captain Hugo Southwell has insisted he [...]
Hamilton debates Twitter use October 11, 2012 FORMULA ONE: Lewis Hamilton will reconsider using Twitter after a series of controversies involving the social media website.