Exiles opener for Leinster June 9, 2009 RUGBY UNION: Heineken Cup champions Leinster will begin their title defence next season in a pool which includes London Irish, Scarlets and Brive. Runners-up and Premiership champions Leicester face Ospreys, Clermont Auvergne and Viadana in Pool 3, while Harlequins and Sale line up in Pool 5 alongside Toulouse and Cardiff Blues. Northampton are in Pool [...]
F1 civil war nears resolution June 9, 2009 FORMULA ONE: F1 teams are said to be on the verge of closing in on an agreement to end the power battle with the sport’s governing body, the FIA. The two parties have been in dispute over a proposed £40m budget cap which has forced FOTA, the teams’ umbrella group, to threaten a boycott for [...]
Woodman handed Wasps role June 9, 2009 RUGBY UNION: England World Cup winner Trevor Woodman has joined Wasps as their new forwards’ coach. Former prop Woodman, 32, said: “Personally and professionally I am hugely excited by the challenge that lies ahead.” Woodman is joined at the club by former Gaelic football coach John McCloskey, who takes on a newly-created skills coach role.
Capello: Early goal will open floodgates June 9, 2009 ENGLAND head coach Fabio Capello has urged his side to keep the notoriously expectant Wembley crowd off their backs by scoring an early goal against Andorra tonight. That has proved beyond England in their last two meetings with the minnows; a goalless first half famously provoked a barracking from frustrated supporters in Barcelona in 2007. [...]
Fans offered refunds over Tube strike June 9, 2009 ENGLAND face the prospect of playing in front of a half-empty Wembley tonight after fans were offered refunds because of the Tube strike. Industrial action on the London Underground will severely restrict supporters’ travel options, while road and rail networks are expected to be swollen by extra passengers. The Football Association said no additional transport [...]
McMahon group plans Newcastle bid June 9, 2009 SINGAPORE-based investment company the Profitable Group has emerged as a leading contender to buy Newcastle United from beleaguered owner Mike Ashley. The company, whose board includes former Liverpool and England midfielder Steve McMahon, is said to want to retain Alan Shearer as manager. The Profitable Group has previously been linked with buying the Magpies, who [...]
SUMMER SALES June 9, 2009 First Kaka, now Ronaldo for RealREAD MADRID president Florentino Perez began his pursuit for Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo last night insisting he would do “everything possible” to land the Portuguese star. Perez is building a new team of ‘galacticos’ after securing the £59m transfer of Kaka on Monday night, and is now set to test [...]
Pressure will not faze me, says Murray June 8, 2009 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray insists he is not worried about the added pressure of playing in front of his home fans at Wimbledon this year. The Scot arrives at SW19 with a career-high ranking of three and many believe he’s in good shape to become the first Briton to lift his home trophy since Fred [...]
Haye eyes Vitali title bout June 8, 2009 BOXING: British hope David Haye has turned his attentions to WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko. Londoner Haye was scheduled to fight Vitali’s brother Wladimir on 20 June but suffered a back injury in training. Wladimir is now taking on WBA champion Ruslan Chagaev instead, leaving Haye to pursue other options. Manager Adam Booth said: “David’s [...]
Leader Button will not let up June 8, 2009 FORMULA ONE: World championship leader Jenson Button says he won’t take his foot off the gas in the pursuit of a first world title. The Brawn GP driver leads the standings by 26 points from team-mate Rubens Barrichello after winning six of the opening seven races. But the Brit warned: “You can’t take anything for [...]