PREMIERSHIP RUGBY, GOVERNING body for England’s top division, welcomed a ‘new era’ after confirming a deal which sees a private equity firm acquire a reported 27% stake worth more than £200 million (€221 million). CVC Capital Partners, which had previous involvement in MotoGP and Formula One, initially sought a majority shareholding of 51% but that
Ryan Bailey reports from the RDS IF THIS WAS a rigorous examination of Leinster’s credentials, they had no problem in delving deeper into their unrivalled reservoir of talent to find the answer to all of the pre-game questions. How would they cope without as many as eight frontline internationals, including their talismanic leader Johnny Sexton?
Ryan Bailey reports from the RDS EVEN WITH A near-capacity crowd enjoying their Saturday evening’s entertainment, and Leinster again showing they have plenty in reserve, it was patently clear from the outset that all of this served merely as a precursor to the serious stuff this weekend. The dust had barely settled on the six-try
ENGLAND ATTACK COACH Scott Wisemantel admits he was surprised by Joe Schmidt’s decision to relocate Robbie Henshaw to the backfield for tomorrow’s Six Nations showdown at the Aviva Stadium. But Eddie Jones’ backroom team have been able to do the necessary homework on Henshaw’s previous games in the position since yesterday’s team announcement, while also
IRELAND WOMEN’S HEAD coach Adam Griggs has announced a 29-strong squad as his side prepare for their upcoming 2019 Six Nations campaign with an uncapped warm-up fixture against Wales. Energia Park, Donnybrook plays host to Sunday’s clash [kick-off 1pm] and eight uncapped players have been included in the squad, the newest faces coming as Sevens
1. A sunset is seen on day one of the First Test match between Australia and Sri Lanka at The Gabba in Brisbane Source: AAP/PA Images 2. Rafa Nadal of Spain celebrates winning in Australian Open semi final Source: Jason Heidrich 3. Alexa Schimeca-Knierim and Christopher Knierim perform their pairs short program at the US Figure Skating
IAIN HENDERSON HAS escaped a suspension having been cited for an incident during last Friday’s Pro14 clash between Ulster and Ospreys. It was announced yesterday that Henderson had been cited for a dangerous clearout in the 15th minute of last Friday’s win against the Welsh side, in which he appeared to neckroll Ospreys’ Sam Cross.
DARREN CAVE IS facing into a number of big career decisions in the coming weeks, but the Ulster centre’s immediate priority is on doing whatever he can to help the province into the Pro14 play-offs. Out of contract at the end of the season, Cave has not yet decided if he will extend his playing
MUNSTER PAIR CHRIS Farrell and Tadhg Beirne will link up with Joe Schmidt’s Ireland squad today ahead of the trip to Italy in the Six Nations this weekend. Farrell was replaced in the first half of Munster’s win over the Kings on Saturday due to a knee injury and while the southern province say their
ENGLAND FORWARDS COACH Steve Borthwick has played down clashes that took place between England’s and Georgia’s players in front of children during training as routine “pushing and shoving”. It was reported that the session at a school in Oxford on Wednesday, which was watched by young pupils, became so heated that punches were thrown and