OVER AND OUT | Worsley retires from rugby November 14, 2011 FORMER England international Joe Worsley announced his retirement yesterday after conceding defeat in his battle to overcome a persistent neck injury. The 34-year-old Wasps stalwart, capped 78 times by his country, admitted he knew the end was nigh during England’s pre-World Cup training camp. He said: “Re-starting contact work during the World Cup camp made [...]
ICC confirm Test Championship postponed until 2017 at earliest November 14, 2011 ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat has confirmed the inaugural Test Championship, due to be staged in England in 2013, will not take place until 2017 at the earliest. The rise of Twenty20 has coincided with a significant drop in Test match attendances around the world and Lorgat had previously championed the competition as a way [...]
Ground-to-air missiles readied for London 2012, says minister November 14, 2011 GROUND-TO-AIR missiles will be used to protect London during next summer’s Olympic Games if deemed necessary, defence secretary Philip Hammond said yesterday, amid increased concerns over security. Hammond disclosed the measures in the House of Commons, where he faced questions about the level of provisions made for London 2012 in light of suggestions that the [...]
Trapattoni warns Ireland to guard against wounded Estonia November 14, 2011 REPUBLIC of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has warned his players not to take qualification for their first major tournament in a decade for granted. Ireland take a commanding 4-0 lead into the second leg of their play-off against Estonia tonight in Dublin, with a place at Euro 2012 seemingly assured. But Trapattoni said: “I have [...]
Venky’s: Rovers not for sale November 14, 2011 FOOTBALL: Blackburn Rovers’ owners Venky’s have insisted the club is not for sale. The Premier League strugglers had been linked with a potential takeover by Middle East oil giant Qatar Petroleum. Co-owner Venkatesh Rao said: “It’s not true and nothing is going to happen like that. We’ve had no offer and we’re not interested. We’re [...]
NBA season in major doubt November 14, 2011 BASKETBALL: The NBA Players’ Association has turned down the league’s new offer for a collective bargaining agreement, casting doubt over the entire season. The NBA had requested an even split of basketball-related income and a 72-game season beginning on 15 December. But the NBAPA’s Billy Hunter said it would cease collective bargaining discussions and would [...]
Play-off joy for Spaniard November 14, 2011 GOLF: Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano won the storm-delayed Singapore Open at the second play-off hole yesterday. The 31-year-old sank a nine-foot birdie putt on the par-five 18th to defeat Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines. Lightning had forced the players off the course in an event that had been shortened to 54 holes due to the adverse [...]
Spain star Cesc in swipe at England after defeat November 13, 2011 ENGLAND (1) vs SPAIN (0) SPAIN midfielder Cesc Fabregas has taken a swipe at the defensive style that earned England a shock victory in Saturday’s friendly at Wembley. Former Arsenal captain Fabregas admitted his disappointment at England’s lack of ambition in attack, even once they had led through Frank Lampard’s header. And the Barcelona star, [...]
England can’t afford to overlook Farrell November 13, 2011 IT’S BEEN a terrific start to the season here at Saracens and I was delighted to see the side carry their domestic form into the Heineken Cup yesterday. Treviso are a powerful side with a finely tuned set-piece, so to run in five tries and gain a bonus point was a marvellous achievement. Owen Farrell [...]
Goal hero Lampard targets ton November 13, 2011 CHELSEA and England midfielder Frank Lampard is targeting a century of caps after marking his 90th in the most memorable fashion. Lampard captained the side and scored the winner as Fabio Capello’s men recorded a surprise 1-0 win over world and European champions Spain at Wembley on Saturday. “If I get to 100, I will [...]