Uni pals set for European clash December 5, 2013 HARLEQUINS centre Matt Hopper is relishing the chance to finally go head to head with former Cardiff University mate turned British and Irish Lion Jamie Roberts in the Heineken Cup tomorrow. Roberts, who completed his medicine degree and joined French club Racing Metro this year, got his break with Cardiff when Hopper was captain of [...]
Quins and Wasps triumph to boost Euro prospects December 15, 2013 HARLEQUINS continued their Heineken Cup resurgence with a 17-3 win over Racing Metro yesterday and director of rugby Conor O’Shea insists his side are right back in the hunt for a quarter-final berth. Fly-half Nick Evans kicked three penalties before suffering a shoulder injury, while wing Charlie Walker crossed just seconds before the break to [...]
The Power of Three: How big business could join government to support small companies March 10, 2014 IF I received a pound for every time a chief executive of a large firm said to me “we’d like to be the champions of small business”, I’d be comfortably off. However, over the past year, I’ve seen an increasing number of businesses not only voicing this statement, but acting on it. This is a [...]
O’Shea hits out at Quins over defeat to Scarlets October 13, 2013 FURIOUS Harlequins boss Conor O’Shea has demanded his side “man up” after they succumbed to a shock defeat to Scarlets in the weekend’s Heineken Cup opener. Mike Brown scored two tries for the Aviva Premiership Rugby outfit, while Nick Evans kicked 16 points, but their efforts could not stop Quins slumping to a 33-26 defeat [...]
Exiles set to snap up O’Connor October 28, 2013 RUGBY UNION: Aviva Premiership strugglers London Irish are expected to complete the signing of Australia back James O’Connor today. The 23-year-old has been allowed to leave his homeland following a string of off-field incidents.
Last gasp Quins qualify January 19, 2014 HARLEQUINS director of rugby Conor O’Shea insists his side are already looking forward to a European quarter-final after they ended their Heineken Cup campaign with victory at the Scarlets. The Welsh side led 20-19 with seconds remaining after tries from Gareth Davies, Aaron Shingler and Scott Williams, but a last-gasp penalty from Ben Botica proved [...]
Infrastructure deal: December 3, 2013 ■ Six major insurers have announced plans to collectively invest £25bn in UK infrastructure over the next five years. They are: Legal & General, Aviva, Prudential, Scottish Widows, Standard Life and Friends Life. ■ The government has unveiled a new national infrastructure plan containing over £375bn of public and private sector projects in the pipeline. [...]
Analyst Views: Are you pleased with Easyjet’s results? November 19, 2013 TREVOR GREEN AVIVA INVESTORS As shareholders in EasyJet, the final results and outlook statement provided us with further evidence that the strategy being implemented by Carolyn McCall is succeeding. She is also proving to be adept at balancing shareholder returns via a special dividend announcement along with a long term growth strategy. GERT ZONNEVELD PANMURE [...]
Robshaw still proud despite Quins’ defeat at Clermont October 20, 2013 HARLEQUINS captain Chris Robshaw last night said that he was proud his side’s passionate performance at the home of one of the favourites to lift the Heineken Cup, despite suffering a narrow defeat. The Aviva Premiership Rugby outfit headed to Clermont Auvergne yesterday – where the home side have not lost for 64 matches – [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 29 November 2013 November 28, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES Apollo in Aviva’s UK property deal Apollo Global Management is closing in on the purchase of a £400m block of distressed UK property holdings put up for sale by Aviva, the FTSE 100 insurer, said people familiar with the matter. The private equity house has emerged as the preferred bidder for the assets. [...]