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      in Soccer

      Jordan Pickford in race to play again this season as England sweat on Everton keeper’s fitness before Euros

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      JORDAN PICKFORD faces six weeks out in a Euros scare for England.The Everton keeper could be sidelined until May and may only make a couple of appearances before going off with the Three Lions.
      Jordan Pickford’s side strain is making Gareth Southgate sweat ahead of the EurosCredit: PA
      Pickford, 27, needs to rest a muscle injury in his side, having not taken enough of a break when he first did the damage earlier this season.
      Everton’s medical team have found out the problem was aggravated when Pickford made a save last weekend against Burnley.
      Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti is stunned by the setback, that could hurt his team as they chase a European place.
      The Italian is frustrated that Pickford has broken down a second time after Goodison staff thought he was clear of the problem.
      But the bigger concern will be for Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate.
      He is without his first-choice keeper for three World Cup qualifiers this month, starting with San Marino on Thursday.
      And he will hope Pickford is 100 per cent fit for the summer.
      Southgate called up West Brom shot-stopper Sam Johnstone for the first time in the absence of Pickford.
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      Burnley’s Nick Pope and Manchester United’s Dean Henderson are the other keepers in the mix to deputise for the England No1.
      Everton were knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester City on Saturday.
      The Toffees made the Citizens sweat but two late goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne, past stand-in goalie Joao Virginia, kept Pep Guardiola’s quadruple hopes alive.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
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      in Soccer

      Tottenham, West Ham and Newcastle’s stadiums all pencilled in to host Lions games in potential UK tour vs South Africa

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      TOTTENHAM HOTPSUR Stadium, London Stadium and St James’ Park are all pencilled in to host Lions games in the UK.
      Spurs, West Ham United and Newcastle United have all agreed to stage the games if the Lions push ahead with a tour here against South Africa.

      The Springboks would take on USA at Spurs’ London ground on June 27 – as well as for the world champions against Japan on July 9.
      London Stadium would host the Lions v South Africa A on July 9.
      With Newcastle’s ground staging South Africa v the French Barbarians on July 3 and the Lions v USA the day after.
      There would be four tests taking place at Murrayfield, Cardiff, Dublin, or possibly Wembley, and Twickenham.

      A final decision on if the tour will go ahead here, or as planned in South Africa, is expected next week.
      England World Cup winner Martin Johnson backed the tour coming to the UK, and explained why in an exclusive with SunSport.
      He said: “We would all love to go to South Africa and have a normal Lions tour in front of fans, but that probably isn’t going to happen.
      “I sense, in the last few weeks, that it is moving towards being in the UK, with maybe some fans if possible.

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      “I would love a normal Lions tour in South Africa, but don’t think it is feasible.
      “If it is the UK or nothing at all, I would play in the UK and enjoy it for what it is. We have missed so much in the last year.
      “Doing the Lions any way we can do it, if it can only be this year, then do it in the UK.
      “For fans, if you say we can have it and you can watch it in the UK, or not at all, I think most would say they would rather have it in the UK than not at all.”

      Owen Farrell tackle technique under spotlight again as England release awkward training footage of rugby captain More

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      in Boxing

      Sonny Bill Williams quits rugby to become full-time boxer as body can no longer ‘meet the demands’ of sport

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      SONNY BILL WILLIAMS has quit rugby to become a full-time boxer as his body can no longer ‘meet the demands’ of the sport.
      Williams, already 7-0 in the ring,  won two rugby union World Cups with New Zealand in 2011 and 2015.

      Sonny Bill Williams has quit rugby to become a full-time boxerCredit: Instagram @sonnybillwilliams

      Sonny Bill Williams won two rugby union World Cups with New Zealand in 2011 and 2015Credit: PA:Press Association

      He last played in rugby league for Sydney Roosters, but will hang up his boots in the sport altogether now.
      Williams told Nine Network: “I was humble enough to understand my knee couldn’t meet the demands, although the mind wanted to, of the week in and week out footy, especially in the NRL.”
      The second-row forward played his last game of rugby league in October in a semi-final loss to the Canberra Raiders in the 2020 NRL playoffs.
      He was then in line to play in the 2021 season with Toronto Wolfpack.

      But the deal fell through after the Canadian team was denied readmission to the mainly England-based Super League.
      Williams will now focus his efforts on boxing once again, having campaigned as a heavyweight from 2009-2015.
      His last fight was a points win against American Chauncy Welliver, but the Kiwi was last year open to facing the returning Mike Tyson, 54.
      Williams has the backing of his wife Alana, and will now have more time to prepare for bouts, opposed to the six weeks he used to squeeze into his rugby schedule.

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      He said: “I spoke to my manager, I said: ‘I’m keen to get back into the ring, I’ve got a couple of years, I’m 35’.
      “I spoke to the wife first and she had blank eyes, but like usual she supported me.
      “I want to know how I will go in six months instead of six weeks.”

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      in Soccer

      Government’s £300m sport bailout revealed with £135m to rugby union, £40m to horse racing and £9m to Championship clubs

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      THE Government has announced the full details of its £300m sports bail out.
      Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston outlined the ‘winter survival package’ in a Commons statement that provides much-needed security for sports peering into the financial abyss as a result of the Covid crisis.

      Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston has outlined his ‘winter survival package’Credit: PA:Press Association

      As expected, rugby union was granted the biggest share of the loans made available, with a £135m fund.
      Of that, £44m will go straight to the RFU, facing a £120m shortfall with no fans allowed inside Twickenham since March.
      Premiership rugby clubs will get a share of £59m, with £9m available to clubs in the Championship and a further £23m to those clubs further down the pyramid.
      Horse racing gets the next biggest share, with courses splitting £40m between them.

      Football’s lowest reaches will receive £28m, including the pre-announced £10m Lottery funding for the National League.
      Steps 3-6 of the pyramid, from the tier below National Leagues North and South to regional leagues, will be able to claim part of the £14m on offer, with £3m available to the upper two levels of the women’s game.
      Other money will go to rugby league (£12m), motorsport – with Silverstone, Goodwood, the British Automobile Racing Club, and MotorSport Vision sharing £6 million – while the Lawn Tennis Association has been offered £5m.
      Netball, basketball and elite ice hockey will each get £4m, badminton £2m and greyhound racing £1m.

      Premiership rugby clubs will get a share of £59mCredit: Reuters

      Huddleston said: “Over the past few weeks we have worked tirelessly with sport governing bodies and clubs across the country to fully assess what support is needed, as a result of the decision to postpone the return of fans. 
      “We know the vast majority of sports – many of which operate on tight financial margins – have been making serious cost reductions, such as locking down grounds, taking up the furlough scheme for many staff and halting excess payments. 

      Sports clubs are the beating hearts of their communities, and this £300 million boost will help them survive this difficult winter period
      Oliver Dowden

      “It is absolutely right that we now intervene to protect entire sports, and the communities they support, as we navigate this pandemic.”
      Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden added: “Sports clubs are the beating hearts of their communities, and this £300 million boost will help them survive this difficult winter period.”
      And Sport England chief executive Tim Hollingsworth said: “These are unprecedented times for our sector, and those sports and leagues that rely so heavily on spectators for their income that have been especially impacted by the pandemic. 
      “The role they play in their local communities is vital and this package of support from Government will be hugely welcomed.”

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      in Soccer

      Maro Itoje signs up to Jay-Z’s super-star sports agency Roc Nation joining likes of Marcus Rashford and De Bruyne

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      MARO ITOJE has been signed-up to Jay-Z’s super-star sports agency.
      The England, Lions and Saracens hero joins the likes of Marcus Rashford and Kevin De Bruyne at the rapper’s Roc Nation management company.

      Maro Itoje is the third rugby star to join Jay-Z’s agencyCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Itoje, arguably the world’s best player and a future England and Lions captain, turned 26 last month.
      The second row was previously with the same company who looks after Gareth Bale and engineered his loan deal from Real Madrid to Tottenham Hotspur.
      In switching agents, Itoje has now joined World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi, the first black man to lift the Webb Ellis Cup, as well as his Springboks teammate Cheslin Kolbe.
      And that makes the Londoner just one of three rugby stars managed by Jay-Z’s agency.

      Itoje’s new reps are likely to be busy behind the scenes already, too.
      His club Saracens were relegated from the Championship last season.
      They promised Itoje and Co that they would look into facilitating loan moves for them to play anywhere in the world.
      A move to French giants Racing 92, the Paris side who lost this year’s Heineken Champions Cup final to Exeter Chiefs, had been agreed.

      Marcus Rashford has already been signed up by hip-hop entrepreneur Jay-ZCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne is part of Roc NationCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But then £1million short-term switch was blocked.
      England boss Eddie Jones and his club coach Mark McCall open to Itoje getting experience in another country.
      Jay-Z’s crew will continue to look at the options for their new man.

      Jay-Z’s super-star sports agency will be busy working behind the scenesCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Jason Robinson looks back to when he lead the England Rugby team out and became nation’s first-ever black captain More

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      in Motorsport

      Coronavirus sport cancellations: Full list of postponements as Premier League, Euro 2020, Olympics cancelled

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      THE world is fighting to nullify the threat of coronavirus – and the sporting calendar has been ravaged in the process. Having originated in Wuhan, China, governments have taken extreme measures to halt the spread of the bug – and that includes bans on mass gatherings. ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest […] More

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      in Motorsport

      Coronavirus sport cancellations: Full list of postponements as Premier League, Euro 2020 and Olympics cancelled

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      THE world is fighting to nullify the threat of coronavirus – and the sporting calendar has been ravaged in the process. Having originated in Wuhan, China, governments are now taking extreme measures to halt the spread of the bug – and that includes bans on mass gatherings. ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the […] More

    • 213 Shares169 Views

      in Motorsport

      Coronavirus sport cancellations: Full list of postponements as French Open, Premier League and Euro 2020 and postponed

      by

      THE world is fighting to nullify the threat of coronavirus – and the sporting calendar has been ravaged in the process. Having originated in Wuhan, China, governments are now taking extreme measures to halt the spread of the bug – and that includes bans on mass gatherings. ⚠️ Read our Coronavirus in Sport live blog […] More