Moody given green light to play for Bath October 26, 2010 ENGLAND manager Martin Johnson has opted to release his captain Lewis Moody for Premiership duty this weekend but won’t be taking a similar risk with Toby Flood. The Leicester fly-half is still working his way back to full fitness after injuring knee ligaments on the opening weekend of the season and is being protected by [...]
Indian chicken giant hatches £46m Rovers deal October 26, 2010 OIL billions may have transformed Chelsea and Manchester City into global superpowers but Blackburn believe they have found a saviour in an altogether less glamorous industry: chicken. Indian poultry giant Venkateshwara Hatcheries Group, or Venky’s as it is often known, expects to complete a £46m takeover of the top flight strugglers next month. It would [...]
Hernandez proves United saviour again October 26, 2010 MANCHESTER UTD(3) vs WOLVES(2) DELIGHTED Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson lavished praise on new hero Javier Hernandez after the Mexican grabbed the winning goal for the second time in three days. The summer signing struck in the 90th minute to book United’s place in the Carling Cup quarter-finals and shatter Wolves, who had twice [...]
We can still lure world’s best to Man Utd, says Gill October 25, 2010 Man City’s wage bill may have overtaken United’s but chief executive insists they’ll go on competing MANCHESTER UNITED chief executive David Gill is adamant they can still attract and keep the world’s top players despite refusing to spend as much on wages as Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester City. United’s wage policy was thrust [...]
Quins rookie Marler gets shock call-up October 25, 2010 ROOKIE Harlequins prop Joe Marler has been rewarded for his impressive start to the season with a maiden senior England call-up for next week’s first autumn international against New Zealand. Marler, 20, only made his Quins debut in April but has proven a central figure in their start to the current campaign and has been [...]
Saracens close in on signing of Henson October 25, 2010 SARACENS will hold further talks with Ospreys this morning as the Premiership club look to complete the controversial signing of Wales centre Gavin Henson. Henson trained at Saracens’ base in St Albans yesterday after talks between the 28-year-old and the club reached what chief executive Edward Griffiths called “an advanced stage”. “He was training with [...]
Anderson set for first Test October 25, 2010 ENGLAND coach Andy Flower insists bowler James Anderson will be fit for the first Test of what is sure to be a fiercely contested Ashes series. Seamer Anderson controversially suffered cracked ribs in a boxing exercise on England’s boot camp trip to Germany earlier this month. But the Lancashire man is back in training and [...]
Owners ‘as impotent as a room full of eunuchs’ October 25, 2010 CLUB owners were labelled “as impotent as a room of eunuchs” yesterday as MPs urged the government to step in and take control away from “incapable” bodies such as the Football Association and the Premier League. Politicians from all three major parties called for action from sports minister Hugh Robertson, who is holding a consultation [...]
Fed-up Fabregas bans talk of title challenge after City win October 25, 2010 ARSENAL captain Cesc Fabregas has poured scorn on endless assessments of the Gunners’ chances of winning a first Premier League title since 2004. The north Londoners delivered a powerful statement of intent with a 3-0 win at Manchester City on Sunday, ending a run of defeats against fellow title hopefuls. The victory propelled Arsenal into [...]
Watertight defence will keep us on top, says Cech October 25, 2010 CHELSEA goalkeeper Petr Cech is banking on their miserly defensive record to keep the table-toppers looking down on the rest of the Premier League. Cech has conceded just twice in nine top flight fixtures this season as the Blues have picked up where they left off in last season’s double-winning campaign. Wolves were the latest [...]