RUGBY UNION | In Brief February 2, 2010 O’Gara returns for Ireland opener IRELAND’S legendary fly-half Ronan O’Gara will reclaim the No10 shirt in the opening game of their Grand Slam defence, against Italy on Saturday. O’Gara comes in for Jonathan Sexton, who starred in the November win over world champions South Africa but misses out with a dead leg. Leinster flanker Kevin [...]
RUGBY UNION | In Brief February 2, 2010 Paterson gets nod for Les Bleus SCOTLAND’S record points scorer Chris Paterson has been recalled as one of six changes for his side’s Six Nations clash with France on Sunday. Paterson will win his 99th cap as a full-back replacement for the injured Rory Lamont, joining Glasgow centres Max Evans and Graeme Morrison in a [...]
New points system for F1 February 2, 2010 FORMULA ONE is to get a new points system for the 2010 season following an agreement between the world governing body, the FIA, and the teams. From now, drivers will be awarded 25 points for every race win – seven points more than for secondplace. F1 bosses believe this will create a “race-to-win” attitude. The [...]
Keane wraps up ‘dream’ Celtic switch February 1, 2010 ROBBIE KEANE last night completed his move to boyhood heroes Celtic in the headline deal of an otherwise subdued deadline day for the big clubs. The Tottenham skipper was given permission to talk to the Bhoys by boss Harry Redknapp before agreeing to a loan deal until the end of the season. The Republic of [...]
Hammers pull off triple striker swoop February 1, 2010 WEST HAM manager Gianfranco Zola swooped for three forwards on deadline day in a desperate bid to bolster his strike-force for the relegation run-in. Blackburn’s Benni McCarthy, Middlesbrough’s Mido and little-known Brazilian Ilan all arrived at Upton Park as Zola waited until the last minute to do business. McCarthy, 32, signed a two-and-a-half-year contract after [...]
January Transfers | Key points February 1, 2010 HARD-UP top-flight clubs tightened their belts in the January transfer window, spending a fraction of what they have in previous years. Premier League outfits spent a total of £30m in January, compared to the downturn-defying £170m splashed out just a year earlier. To illustrate the dramatic change this year, in 2008 teams spent £150m. This [...]
Capello gets the call on future of Terry February 1, 2010 THE Football Association last night broke their silence on the John Terry scandal, insisting the future of the England captain rests solely on the shoulders of coach Fabio Capello. The Chelsea star is facing calls to be stripped of the England captaincy after reports of an alleged affair with the former girlfriend of international team-mate [...]
Fabregas ignoring Gunners’ critics as Chelsea clash looms February 1, 2010 ARSENAL captain Cesc Fabregas is refusing to accept their title challenge is over, and has urged his team-mates to prove the doubters wrong against Chelsea on Sunday. A crushing 3-1 loss at home to Manchester United at the weekend has left the Gunners five points behind the Blues, and feeling utterly deflated. Even Arsenal forward [...]
Dour Black Cats are foiled again in dismal stalemate February 1, 2010 SHAKY Sunderland extended their recent dismal run to just one league win in 14 matches after sharing a dour goalless draw with Stoke at the Stadium of Light. Chances were few and far between at either end as Steve Bruce’s men were frustrated by a resilient Potters side. In fact, it was the visitors who [...]
Silver lining among clouds for Murray February 1, 2010 THE ROAR is gone, replaced by tears and the self-deprecating humour of the beaten, while mutterings about being a perennial nearly-man, a true heir to Tim Henman, have resurfaced. But in the aftermath of Andy Murray’s latest failure to win the Grand Slam title he craves so much, there remains great cause for the Briton [...]