Gouger Attoub hit with 70-week ban January 19, 2010 STADE Francais prop David Attoub has been banned from playing until April 2011 after being hit with the second longest ban for eye-gouging in professional history. Attoub’s 70-week suspension relates to a clash with Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris during last month’s Heineken Cup defeat to the Irish province. The 28-year-old was found guilty last week [...]
Voice of rugby Bill McLaren dies aged 86 January 19, 2010 LEGENDARY BBC commentator Bill McLaren, dubbed the “voice of rugby”, has died at the age of 86 in the Scottish Borders. McLaren, who retired in 2002, was awarded the CBE, OBE and MBE for services to the sport and in 2001 became the first non-player to be inducted into the international rugby hall of fame. [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF January 19, 2010 De la Rosa back in the hot seat FORMULA ONE: Pedro de la Rosa is back in F1 for the first time since 2006 after signing up for the Sauber team for the 2010 season. The 38-year-old Spaniard, a veteran of 71 grands prix, has been plying his trade as a reserve driver with McLaren, [...]
FOOTBALL | IN BRIEF January 19, 2010 Villa boss O’Neill looking to sell ASTON VILLA boss Martin O’Neill admits he will have to sell if he wants to buy in the January transfer window. O’Neill, whose side face Blackburn in tonight’s Carling Cup semi-final second leg, spent around £40m on signings in the summer. “We are not looking at players at this [...]
City’s Mancini goads United January 18, 2010 MANCHESTER CITY vs MANCHESTER UNITED MANCHESTER City boss Roberto Mancini has lit the touchpaper ahead of his first derby with Manchester United by predicting the Eastlands side could usurp their bitter rivals as England’s biggest club. City’s recent history has been anything but illustrious, containing spells in the Championship and even League One as recently [...]
Murray races into second round in rainy Melbourne January 18, 2010 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray admitted his relief at dodging a rain delay after breezing into the second round of the Australian Open with an emphatic victory. Murray, seeded fifth in Melbourne, swept past South African qualifier Kevin Anderson 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 in just one hour and 40 minutes. Stormy conditions caused more than 20 first-round [...]
Sharapova crashes out as Nadal marches on January 18, 2010 MARIA SHARAPOVA insisted she will take defeat on the chin after becoming the first big-name casualty of the Australian Open. The 2008 champion, seeded 14, made no fewer than 77 unforced errors and served 11 double faults as she crashed 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4 to fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko. “It’s a bad day and you [...]
England put faith in captain Cook as Strauss gets a rest January 18, 2010 NATIONAL selector Geoff Miller has backed Alastair Cook to prove he is captaincy material when the batsman leads England on the tour of Bangladesh. Cook, regarded as the natural successor to Andrew Strauss, will spearhead the one-day series and Test campaign against the Tigers, starting next month. As expected Strauss has been afforded a rest, [...]
Fifa won’t punish Henry over Ireland handball January 18, 2010 FRANCE striker Thierry Henry last night escaped punishment for his handball against the Republic of Ireland after world governing body, Fifa, admitted they were powerless to sanction him. Henry was referred to Fifa’s disciplinary committee by president Sepp Blatter last month after he handled the ball twice before squaring to William Gallas to score the [...]
Chelsea rocked by Essien injury blow January 18, 2010 CHELSEA have been hit by another injury blow to midfield star Michael Essien. The Ghanaian suffered a partially torn ligament in his left knee in a training ground accident and has been ruled out of action for at least a month. Not only does that rule the 27-year-old out of the Africa Cup of Nations, [...]