Shaw: Rugby in danger if players not given privacy September 21, 2011 VETERAN England lock Simon Shaw fears rugby players will lose their unique and long-held rapport with supporters if their social lives are subjected to increasing media scrutiny. The England World Cup camp, in particular newly-wed Mike Tindall, was engulfed in controversy last week after members of the public passed accounts and CCTV footage of the [...]
Fifa U-turn over Hayatou London 2012 appointment September 21, 2011 WORLD governing body Fifa were last night forced into an embarrassing climb down amid criticism over the appointment of Issa Hayatou to oversee the London 2012 football tournament Hayatou, the erstwhile president of the Confederation of African Football, appeared yesterday to have been confirmed by Fifa as head of the organising committee for Olympic football [...]
Tindall and Wilko back for Romania September 21, 2011 CENTRE Mike Tindall is set to return to the England starting line-up for Saturday’s Pool B match against Romania. Veteran fly-half Jonny Wilkinson and fit-again wing Mark Cueto are also in line for a recall, as are forwards Steve Thompson, Louis Deacon and Tom Croft, while David Wilson is set for his start of the tournament, [...]
Dream return for Hargreaves capped by his first City goal September 21, 2011 INJURY-JINXED Manchester City midfielder Owen Hargreaves scored on his club debut to help dump holders Birmingham out of the Carling Cup in a convincing 2-0 win. The 30-year-old (below), a surprise summer signing from Manchester United, opened the scoring with his first goal since April 2008, locating the top corner from 25 yards just 17 [...]
THE BREAKDOWN | WORLD CUP BRIEFS September 21, 2011 ALL BLACKS COOL ON ROW New Zealand’s coaching staff have attempted to defuse the simmering row over France’s selection for their clash with the hosts on Saturday. Critics believe Les Bleus have named a second string team as part of a fiendish ploy to lose and therefore enjoy an easier draw in the knockout stage. [...]
THIRD TIME LUCKY | TONGA BREAK DUCK September 21, 2011 TONGA claimed their first 2011 World Cup win at the third attempt with a hard-fought 31-18 victory over Japan yesterday in Whangarei. Viliami Ma’afu, Tukulua Lokotui and Fetu’u Vainikolo scored the tries to maintain the Pacific Islanders’ slim hope of progressing from Pool A. Although they stayed in touch with Tonga throughout, Japan’s defeat confirmed [...]
Wiggins happy to settle for end of season silver September 21, 2011 BRITAIN’S Bradley Wiggins claimed to be satisfied with a silver medal after German rival Tony Martin proved a class above the field to lift his first time trial world title in Copenhagen yesterday. Pre-race favourite Martin lived up to his billing, covering the 46.3km course in 53 minutes 43.85 seconds. Wiggins finished one minute 15.83 [...]
Whitmarsh eyes Button deal September 21, 2011 FORMULA ONE: Team principal Martin Whitmarsh hopes Jenson Button will sign a new long-term contract that will keep him at McLaren for the rest of his career, amid growing interest from Ferrari. Button admitted ahead of this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix that it was his childhood dream to drive for the Italians. But Whitmarsh said: [...]
Barton was close to Arsenal move September 21, 2011 FOOTBALL: Queens Park Rangers captain Joey Barton has revealed he was close to signing for Arsenal. The midfielder claimed an incident that saw Arsenal’s Gervinho sent off scuppered a deal. Barton was criticised for going to ground too easily as the Ivory Coast forward was red-carded in the Premier League opening day 0-0 draw with [...]
Ranieri favourite for Inter job September 21, 2011 FOOTBALL: Former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri is favourite to succeed sacked Inter Milan coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who was dismissed yesterday after just five games in charge of the Serie A giants.