Orient given hope in bid for Olympic Stadium use November 20, 2013 OLYMPIC Stadium chiefs have opened the door for Leyton Orient to host matches at the east London venue but reiterated their opposition to the League One football club formally sharing with West Ham. Legacy boss Dennis Hone has agreed to meet Orient chairman Barry Hearn to discuss the possibility of them playing “occasional” fixtures at [...]
Wasps fail to match Sarries knock-out run April 27, 2014 LONDON Wasps yesterday failed to join Saracens in securing European final action next month – and director of rugby Dai Young admitted they had only themselves to blame. Saracens will take on defending champions Toulon in the Heineken Cup final in May after recording the largest ever semi-final winning margin in the weekend’s 46-6 hammering [...]
Robshaw clinging on to Quins top four hope May 1, 2014 HARLEQUINS captain Chris Robshaw is adamant his side will be ready to pounce if the door to the Aviva Premiership Rugby play-offs swings open this weekend. Quins currently lie in fifth, six points behind third-placed Bath and fourth-placed Leicester Tigers, who are in action against Northampton Saints and Sale Sharks tonight and tomorrow respectively. Maximum [...]
Sport Comment: Football must not brush off Dyke’s plan B May 11, 2014 A QUARTER of a century ago, Silvio Berlusconi gave an interview as AC Milan supremo to a long-since defunct satellite TV company in this country, in which he predicted the creation of a European Super League with global television coverage that would give the clubs involved wealth beyond measure. Presenting that programme, I asked the [...]
Wood backs me to lead England, insists Robshaw October 23, 2013 ENGLAND flanker Chris Robshaw has dismissed talk of friction with fellow captaincy candidate Tom Wood, after the former’s reinstatement as skipper for the November internationals was confirmed yesterday. Wood was tipped to begin the Stuart Lancaster era as captain, only to miss the start of the 2012 Six Nations through injury, and led England with [...]
England can gain revenge against Wallabies for Twickenham defeat October 31, 2013 WILLIAM CHRIMES PREVIEWS ENGLAND V AUSTRALIA AND BEN CLEMINSON LOOKS AT THE WEEKEND FOOTBALL IF ENGLAND are to win the 2015 Rugby World Cup they will want to put up a strong showing in the three-match autumn international series starting tomorrow with Australia. A number of young stars are aiming to secure their place in [...]
Legends renew rivalries in 2003 cup final replay October 3, 2013 LIMBS may be wearier and a million fans will not throng the streets to laud the winners, but the 2003 Rugby World Cup re-run has still got England hero Jason Leonard excited. Leonard, the Red Rose’s most capped player, is among the greats marking the 10th anniversary of that triumph by playing in the England [...]
Sport Comment: Not just good, but also good to watch March 9, 2014 IF FORTUNE favours the brave then it’s up to England to be bold in Rome next week. It is not beyond the realms of possibility for Stuart Lancaster’s team to rack up 50 points against an Italian side who will be hugely dispirited by the way they capitulated in the second half against Ireland on [...]
Rugby Comment: Nausea and headaches gone, we’re ready for Clermont April 24, 2014 I HARDLY remember anything of the incident that knocked me out and left me concussed in the Heineken Cup quarter-final win over Ulster three weeks ago. I can recall the moment just before jumping, but not the leap, catching the ball, the impact from Jared Payne, the bumpy landing, being carried off in a neck [...]
Exclusive: Axed Ashton: I don’t worry I’ll miss out on World Cup March 6, 2014 ENGLAND wing Chris Ashton insists missing out on next year’s World Cup is not on his mind, despite being overlooked for a fourth Six Nations match in a row this weekend. The 26-year-old has scored 18 tries in 37 Tests for England, but has not featured in Stuart Lancaster’s team since November and could see [...]