Hodgson keeps Sarries on track March 4, 2012 England fly-half Charlie Hodgson kicked six penalties as Saracens beat Northampton 18-12 to keep up the pressure on Premiership leaders Harlequins, who lead the table by four points. Meanwhile, Quins scrum-half Danny Care was arrested in Leeds city centre early on Sunday morning for his third alcohol-related incident in the last three months. Care, who [...]
Fine Parchment to give Charlie Mann back-to-back wins in the Greatwood March 1, 2012 SPORT TRADER BILL ESDAILE AND DAVID WILD WITH THE WEEKEND’S BEST RACING AND RUGBY BETS THE calm before the storm will be how the next 10 days are referred to by countless racing people as owners, trainers, jockeys and punters nervously pray that their horses get to Cheltenham in one piece. There have been a [...]
France too strong for Boys in Green at Stade de France March 1, 2012 The rescheduled match at the Stade de France takes place on Sunday and neutrals could be in for a treat. Both France and Ireland are playing some of the best attacking rugby seen in the tournament so far. The Boys in Green notched 42 points and five tries against Italy last weekend and although France [...]
No stopping United at Spurs on Sunday March 1, 2012 FOOTBALL TRADER BEN CLEMINSON BRINGS YOU THE BEST OF THIS WEEKEND’S FOOTBALL BETS TOTTENHAM vs MANCHESTER UNITED SUNDAY – 4.10PM SKY SPORTS AFTER the destruction derby against Arsenal, Tottenham must pick themselves up off the floor pretty sharpish – or else face the prospect of undoing much of the good work that has taken them [...]
Lancaster may be axed even if England win Six Nations March 1, 2012 RFU chief executive Ritchie claims interim coach may be axed even if he masterminds successful defence of title EVEN winning the Six Nations might not be enough to earn interim England head coach Stuart Lancaster the job on a permanent basis, the Rugby Football Union’s new chief executive Ian Ritchie has admitted. Ritchie (inset) says [...]
SEARCH FOR ENGLAND HEAD COACH: HOW THE PROCESS WILL WORK March 1, 2012 Q. WHO WILL DECIDE THE IDENTITY OF THE NEXT ENGLAND HEAD COACH? A. Ian Ritchie says he will lead the process, with guidance from a four-man advisory panel and with the eventual recommendation needing to be rubber-stamped by the Rugby Football Union’s board. Q. WHO IS ON RITCHIE’S ADVISORY BOARD? A. Former British and Irish [...]
Lawes may miss crucial French and Irish clashes March 1, 2012 ENGLAND lock Courtney Lawes is in danger of missing the rest of the Six Nations with a shin injury. The Northampton star had only just returned from knee damage to make his first appearance of the tournament as a substitute in last weekend’s 19-12 defeat against Wales at Twickenham. The 23-year-old has suffered a stress [...]
Premier League clubs face raw deal from Euro financial rules March 1, 2012 ENGLISH football clubs face being placed at an unfair disadvantage to their European rivals because of a loophole regarding charitable donations in new Financial Fair Play rules, City A.M. can reveal. Top-flight sides last year donated a total of £167.2m – or £8.4m per club – to good causes and lower tier clubs via the [...]
Parker wants Three Lions captaincy job for good March 1, 2012 TOTTENHAM midfielder Scott Parker intends to keep hold of the England armband and lead the national side at this summer’s European Championships after he captained his country for the first time in Wednesday’s 3-2 defeat against Holland at Wembley. Parker, 31, was controversially chosen by caretaker boss Stuart Pearce to captain the side ahead of [...]
Tottenham rocked as star man Bale ruled out for three weeks with hamstring tear March 1, 2012 TOTTENHAM’S hopes of bouncing back from last week’s crushing 5-2 north London derby defeat have been dealt a major blow after Gareth Bale was ruled out of Sunday’s Premier League clash against Manchester United. Harry Redknapp’s side suffered their fifth league defeat of the season at Emirates Stadium after they squandered an early two-goal lead [...]