Jamie Roberts is relishing playing alongside six Springboks when the Barbarians face New Zealand this weekend, just months after he starred for the British and Irish Lions against South Africa. Even though the Lions lost a three-Test series with the world champions 2-1, Wales centre Roberts shone for the tourists in the opening two internationals with a series of powerful midfield runs. Having gone up against the likes of Victor Matfield, who captains the Barbarians at Twickenham on Saturday... Read Full Story
Matches at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will be filmed in 3-D for the first time in a deal announced Friday by international football body FIFA and Sony. Up to 25 matches from the tournament, to be held in June and July, will be produced using Sony's 3-D professional cameras and shown to fans at special sites in cities around the world, they said in a statement. "3-D viewers around the world will feel as though they are inside the stadiums in South Africa, watching the games in person... Read Full Story
Ukraine and Poland, co-hosts of the 2012 European Championship, on Friday declared themselves confident that UEFA will accept the four Ukrainian cities put forward to host matches. European football's governing body demonstrated their confidence in Poland in May by confirming four Polish cities as host venues. However, Kiev was the only Ukrainian city approved by UEFA in what was seen as an ultimatum for the former Soviet state to get their delay-plagued preparations in order. Donetsk... Read Full Story
Brazil can expect a helping hand from Germany as the Brazilians prepare to host both football's 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games after the countries announced a co-operation deal on Thursday. Having hosted the 2006 World Cup, Germany will offer advice on organising the 2014 football tournament plus the Olympics in Brazil and hopes to win contracts to help the infrastructure. Brazil's 'Project 2014/2016' plans to modernise the country's ports and airports and transport system as well... Read Full Story
The World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) are to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to demand tougher penalties against suspended Belgian tennis players Yanina Wickmayer and Xavier Malisse, WADA's legal director told AFP on Wednesday. Malisse and Wickmayer, the US Open semi-finalist, were last month both suspended by the Flemish Doping Tribunal (VDT) for one year for failing to comply with the "whereabouts" rule, which ensures that they are available for out-of competition testing... Read Full Story
Real Madrid defender Pepe said Thursday that he was confident that the lingerie line for women which the Spanish giants plan to launch next year would be a hit. "I am sure that a club with so much history and such special fans will have supporters who will buy them," the 26-year-old told a news conference following a training session. The slips and bras bearing Real's logo will be made by Valencia-based textile company Little Kiss and they will hit store shelves in March alongside the... Read Full Story
Six Nations Grand Slam champions Ireland ended their year on a suitably high note here on Saturday with a commendable 15-10 victory over world and Tri-Nations champions South Africa for their third successive home win over the visitors. Ireland's young fly-half Jonathan Sexton - preferred to 93-times capped Ronan O'Gara - kicked all their points while Schalk Burger got the only try of the match for the Springboks, who ended their long season on a low note with just one win in five matches on... Read Full Story
Six Nations Grand Slam champions Ireland take on world and Tri-Nations champions South Africa here on Saturday in what is essentially a mini World Cup final two years away from the real thing in New Zealand. However, if there needed to be any added spice to the fixture is that it will be the first time that the Springboks face a national side that includes several of the British and Irish Lions side that lost a bitterly fought series in the summer that South Africa won 2-1. Irish defence... Read Full Story
Chelsea will be at full strength for Sunday's showdown with Arsenal, manager Carlo Ancelotti said Friday after confirming that Frank Lampard had completed his recovery from a thigh muscle tear. The Premier League leaders travel to north London knowing that a win over a depleted Arsenal squad would extend their advantage over Arsene Wenger's men to 11 points. Even with a game in hand, Arsenal would struggle to close that gap but Ancelotti insists they will remain a threat even if his side... Read Full Story
Wales captain Ryan Jones has been forced to pull out of Saturday's Test against Australia because of a back injury. Jones will be replaced at number eight by Andy Powell, who switches from blindside flanker with Dan Lydiate coming off the bench to win his second cap. Cardiff prop Gethin Jenkins will captain the side and Lydiate's place on the bench is taken by Sam Warburton. Jenkins got the nod as stand-in skipper ahead of a number of other experienced campaigners, including Martyn Williams... Read Full Story
