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 [...]
Johnson: Current squad my best yet January 27, 2010 ENGLAND manager Martin Johnson has dismissed fears that the woeful performance of English clubs in the Heineken Cup could have a knock-on effect for his squad at the Six Nations Championship. Northampton are the sole Premiership side to have reached the knockout stages of Europe’s top competition, with six others falling by the wayside. But [...]
Irish left red faced by late Scarlets rally January 17, 2010 LONDON Irish coach Toby Booth insists his team will bounce back after a spectacular second-half collapse against the Scarlets left their Heineken Cup hopes hanging by a thread. The Exiles led 22-10 at half-time, thanks to tries from Tom Homer, David Paice and Chris Hala’ufia, but ended up 31-22 down to the Scarlets, who lie [...]
Cocaine prop Stevens signs for Saracens January 25, 2010 BANNED England prop Matt Stevens has vowed to rebuild his career at Saracens after agreeing to join the Premiership high-fliers when his suspension expires next year. The 27-year-old’s burgeoning reputation was left in tatters after a positive test for cocaine saw him dropped from last year’s Six Nations and banned for two years. But South [...]
Quins hopes dashed by slick Sharks December 14, 2009 HEAD coach John Kingston insisted his Harlequins side will not roll over for Sale in Friday’s reverse clash after the Sharks finally put paid to their faint Heineken Cup hopes at The Stoop. The Quins scored three tries and conceded four in a thrilling tie which was effectively won by a memorable score from England [...]
Flat sales dog SAB Miller as volumes wane January 19, 2010 Brewing giant SABMiller yesterday reported flat underlying beer volumes for the third quarter as subdued consumer spending continued to take the fizz out of its sales. Shares in the London-listed company ended the day more than two per cent down on the news that volumes for the three months to the end of December were [...]
Flannery injury blow for Ireland December 14, 2009 CHAMPIONS Ireland have been dealt a massive blow ahead their defence of their Six Nations campaign with the news that Jerry Flannery may miss out with an Achilles injury. Hooker Flannery sat out Munster’s Heineken Cup win over Perpignan on Friday and is now expected to undergo exploratory surgery this week to confirm a three-month [...]
Dupuy to appeal ‘anti-French’ six-month eye-gouging ban December 21, 2009 STADE FRANCAIS scrum-half Julien Dupuy has appealed against his 24-week ban for eye-gouging. Dupuy was cited for his attack on Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris during Stade’s 23-13 Heineken Cup defeat at Ravenhill on 12 December. The six-month ban would rule Dupuy out of France’s entire Six Nations campaign, which starts in February. Furious Stade president [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF December 15, 2009 India win through in a thriller CRICKET: India held off Sri Lanka by three runs to clinch a thrilling first one-day victory, which saw the second highest aggregate of runs in an ODI. Virender Sehwag smashed six sixes and 17 fours in his 146 as India posted an imposing 414-7. But Tillakratne Dilshan then smashed [...]
Stoke could prove tough nut to crack at Britannia January 21, 2010 STOKE CITY vs ARSENAL SUNDAY – 1.30PM, ITV1 ARSENAL did readers of this column a favour with their 2-0 win against Bolton at the Reebok last Sunday. It was a fairly comfortable victory for the Gunners, but they had to fight to come from two behind against the same opposition at the Emirates on Wednesday [...]