Sport news

• Pocock to take sabbatical, signs with Australia to 2019

  15-03-2016 23:54
  Wallabies flanker David Pocock, one of the best players at last year's World Cup, has signed a deal that will keep him in Australian rugby until 2019 after a one-year sabbatical in 2017. "I believe that after 11 seasons of professional rugby, having a year away from the sport will help increase my years in the game I love," Pocock, who has been capped 55 times, said in a statement on Wednesday. The 27-year-old will also stay with Super Rugby side the ACT Brumbies until the next World Cup after t
  
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• Ireland star Jeff Hendrick was ‘out of it’ when he pulled alleged victim out of taxi, court hears

  15-03-2016 23:54
  
  Hendrick is accused of violent disorder over the incident on Dublin’s Harcourt Street.
  
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• Nishikori advances with extra effort at Indian Wells

  15-03-2016 23:50
  (Reuters) - Japanese fifth seed Kei Nishikori reached the round of 16 at the BNP Paribas Open in California with a 7-6(6) 7-6(5) win over American Steve Johnson on Tuesday. Nishikori, uncomfortable in the blustery conditions at Indian Wells, saved four set points in the first tiebreak and, after failing to serve out the match at 5-3 in the second set, escaped another tiebreak to close out a nearly two-hour battle. "It's not easy with these windy conditions and the ball and altitude, everything,"
  
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• Mauricio Pochettino set to sign bumper new £3.5m-a-year Tottenham deal this summer

  15-03-2016 23:49 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Mauricio Pochettino is expected to finalise a new £3.5million-per-year Tottenham contract at the end of the season. Talks over a new long-term deal for the Argentine are progressing smoothly.
  
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• Arsene Wenger shows no hint of a man ready to quit as defiant Arsenal boss invites his doubters to examine his record

  15-03-2016 23:47 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  MATT BARLOW: Arsene Wenger gives his team 'a five per cent chance' against Barcelona, but the Arsenal manager's pre-match defiance went beyond the confines of this Champions League tie.
  
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• Leicester City hero Shinji Okazaki admits calm Claudio turned into raging Ranieri at half-time against Newcastle United  

  15-03-2016 23:41 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  LAURIE WHITWELL: Shinji Okazaki has revealed Claudio Ranieri delivered a furious rebuke to his players at half-time of Leicester's win over Newcastle such was his displeasure at the display.
  
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• City ignore injuries to secure Champions League first

  15-03-2016 23:40
  Celebration was tinged with disappointment for Manchester City who eased into the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time on Tuesday but lost Vincent Kompany to injury in a 0-0 draw with Dynamo Kiev. Captain Kompany limped off after five minutes with a muscle problem and fellow defender Nicolas Otamendi followed soon after as the hosts chalked up a 3-1 aggregate triumph that was entirely due to their first-leg victory. There was little in terms of goalmouth action throughout the retur
  
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• How's that for redemption?: a year after Annie Power fell, the mare turns on the style in record-breaking fashion at Cheltenham

  15-03-2016 23:39 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Twelve months on form her heart-stopping last-hurdle fall, tears turned to cheers for mare Annie Power as she lifted the Stan James Champion Hurdle with a stunning record-breaking display.
  
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• Manchester United can call on spirit of '84, says Bryan Robson as they bid to overturn Europa League deficit against Liverpool

  15-03-2016 23:38 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  CHRIS WHEELER: On March 21, 1984, United had beaten the odds by over-turning a 2-0 first-leg defeat against Barcelona to reach the semi-finals of the old European Cup-Winners’ Cup.
  
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• Manchester United ready to beat Chelsea to £22m winger this summer

  15-03-2016 23:37 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  MANCHESTER UNITED are battling Chelsea over the signing of Alessandro Florenzi, according to reports.
  
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• President accuses Chelsea of tapping-up summer target

  15-03-2016 23:35 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  RENZO ULIVIERI has claimed Chelsea tapped up Antonio Conte behind the backs of the Italian football association.
  
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• Chelsea rocked by major Willian setback

  15-03-2016 23:35 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  BRAZIL are reportedly set to call-up Willian for this summer’s Olympics, meaning he could miss the start of the Premier League season.
  
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• Rio Ferdinand: Man Utd will fancy their chances against City without this player

  15-03-2016 23:33 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  RIO FERDINAND thinks Manchester United players will be 'licking their lips' following Vincent Kompany's injury.
  
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• Why wait? Kick Russia out of Rio Games now... the Olympics would not be missing them, it would be missing a lot of cheats

  15-03-2016 23:31 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  MARTIN SAMUEL: More time. That is what Russia needs, apparently. More time to comply, more time to change, more time to ready itself for a spotless, blameless, guilt-free return to the Olympic fold.
  
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• Vincent Kompany injury: Manuel Pellegrini provides update on Manchester City captain

  15-03-2016 23:31 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  MANCHESTER City last night reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in history but it came at a stiff price as captain Vincent Kompany limped off and will be sidelined for at least a month.
  
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• Hull City 1-1 Nottingham Forest: Gary Gardner's screamer cancelled out by Sone Aluko for a share of the spoils

  15-03-2016 23:31 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Aston Villa loanee Gary Gardner dented Hull City's automatic promotion hopes with a stunning long range strike before Sone Aluko rescued a point for the home side, who slipped down to fourth.
  
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• Dimitri Payet didn't conjure up the best free-kick of the season on the spot against Manchester United... the West Ham star would've worked on it, week in and week out

  15-03-2016 23:31 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  MARTIN SAMUEL: Sir Alex Ferguson had a special look of contempt for those who built elaborate theories around Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick technique. 
  
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• Rich Ricci's gamble on Vautour backfires, while Richard Scudamore takes Nick West as Cheltenham guest despite email scandal

  15-03-2016 23:30 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  CHARLES SALE: Top racehorse owner Rich Ricci caused a storm at Cheltenham by hoodwinking punters over the plans for one of his star Festival horses.
  
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• Manchester United prodigy Marcus Rashford in line for swift England call-up this month

  15-03-2016 23:30 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  MANCHESTER UNITED'S teenage hot-shot Marcus Rashford is set to be picked for England's under-20s squad.
  
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• Billy Vunipola feeling right at home as England's giant No 8 targets Grand Slam victory against France in Six Nations

  15-03-2016 23:30 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Billy Vunipola is feeling at home in the England camp, so much so that he wishes it was his home. This Grand Slam crusade is giving the No 8 welcome respite from the stressful task of house-hunting.
  
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• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger deals damning verdict on club amid fan unrest

  15-03-2016 23:30 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  ARSENE WENGER has fired out a strong and simple message to his critics: "I built this club - I'll know when it's time to go".
  
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• Atletico Madrid 0-0 PSV (0-0 agg) UEFA Champions League LIVE: Extra-time being played at the Vicente Calderon

  15-03-2016 23:29 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the UEFA Champions League as Manchester City host Dynamo Kiev looking to book their first ever appearance in the competition's quarter-final.
  
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• Brighton 1-0 Reading: James Wilson strike enough to help Seagulls move into second

  15-03-2016 23:23 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  KIERAN GILL AT THE AMEX: Manchester United loanee James Wilson scored on his first start in two months to lead Brighton to second top in the Championship on Tuesday night.
  
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• Manchester City break new ground with maiden Champions League quarter-final to become Premier League standard bearers

  15-03-2016 23:18 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  CHRIS WHEELER: They seem a while ago now, those days when City took their first, tentative steps in this competition and fell flat on their face. But by and large, they have kept moving forwards.
  
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• The Premier League has none of the world's best players, says Rio Ferdinand, that's why our clubs fail in the Champions League

  15-03-2016 23:17 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Rio Ferdinand believes English clubs' failure in the Champions League in recent years is due to the world's best players no longer playing in the Premier League.
  
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• Ipswich 2-0 Blackburn: Daryl Murphy double boosts Tractor Boys' play-off hopes

  15-03-2016 23:11 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  ADAM SHERGOLD AT PORTMAN ROAD: Striker Daryl Murphy scored twice in the second half to earn three precious points for play-off chasers Ipswich on Tuesday night.
  
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• Chelsea in talks with crucial Antonio Conte target

  15-03-2016 23:09 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  CHELSEA have opened talks over signing Roma's director of football Walter Sabatini, according to reports.
  
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• Man City ease into last eight after Kiev stalemate

  15-03-2016 23:01
  Manchester City kept a lifeless Dynamo Kiev in check to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time on Tuesday with a 0-0 draw that came at an injury cost for Manuel Pellegrini's men. City captain Vincent Kompany limped off after five minutes with a muscle problem and fellow defender Nicolas Otamendi followed soon after as the hosts moved into the last eight with a 3-1 aggregate success that was entirely due to their first-leg victory. There was little in terms of goalmou
  
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• 'Momentum' in Syria talks as Russia withdraws forces

  15-03-2016 22:45
  
  UN special envoy says refugee crisis and battle against ISIL add "sense of urgency" for negotiators to back dialogue.
  
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• Manchester City 0-0 Dynamo Kiev (3-1 agg): Hosts confirm quarter-final spot but captain Vincent Kompany suffers fresh injury blow

  15-03-2016 22:45 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  MARTIN SAMUEL AT THE ETIHAD: Any executive who continues to advocate closed shop European football, minus promotion, relegation or rigorous qualification, should be made to watch this game.
  
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• Sunderland prepare for clash with local rivals Newcastle and Fabio Borini has admitted it is the biggest derby in years 

  15-03-2016 22:39 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Sunderland will be aiming to take a step towards Premier League safety by beating local rivals Newcastle on Sunday and it seems that they are preparing accordingly. 
  
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• It's all about the bracket for many NCAA Tournament watchers

  15-03-2016 22:38
  
  As the hours tick down to the start of the NCAA Tournament, people across the country are poring over statistics and studying matchups and trendlines with the hope of coming up with the perfect bracket — or least a winning one.
  
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• Obama abolishes last major restrictions on US travel to Cuba

  15-03-2016 22:14
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama sent an unmistakable message to Americans on Tuesday ahead of his historic trip to Havana: Cuba is open for business.
  
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• Manchester City face derby defensive crisis as Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi hobble off against Dynamo Kiev

  15-03-2016 22:11 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Vincent Kompany is a doubt for Sunday's Manchester derby after suffering yet another injury set-back in Manchester City's Champions League clash with Dynamo Kiev.
  
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• Giants' Pierre-Paul says offseason surgery went well

  15-03-2016 22:10
  EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Recent surgery on the mangled right hand of New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul went well, and he hopes to play next season without a "club" on it.
  
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• Wales prop Tomas Francis banned for eight weeks after eye gouge on England front row Dan Cole

  15-03-2016 21:43 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  The second-half replacement was cited after the match when video footage emerged of him apparently dragging his fingers across Cole’s eye area at the bottom of a ruck.
  
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• Can anyone stop UConn? Here are a few teams that could

  15-03-2016 21:40
  
  There's no doubt that UConn is the overwhelming favorite to win an unprecedented fourth straight national championship and 11th title overall.
  
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• Surbiton joy comes at Cannock's expense as Evan Kimber hat-trick seals fate of hosts

  15-03-2016 21:39 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  SURBITON teenager Evan Kimber hit a hat-trick in his side’s 6-3 win at Cannock which consolidated their second place and condemned Cannock to automatic relegation.
  
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• Manchester United play 'unacceptable' football under Louis van Gaal… Ryan Giggs must replace him, insists Dwight Yorke 

  15-03-2016 21:38 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Dwight Yorke, who helped fire Manchester United towards the treble in 1999, is adamant that former team-mate Ryan Giggs deserves his chance in charge should Louis van Gaal be sacked.
  
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• IOC re-tests Beijing, London samples ahead of Rio

  15-03-2016 21:34
  By Karolos Grohmann BERLIN (Reuters) - Re-testing of hundreds of athletes' samples collected at the London 2012 and Beijing 2008 Games is underway as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) bids to root out cheats ahead of Rio 2016. "The aim of the (re-testing) programme is to prevent athletes who cheated in London or Beijing, and got away with it because we didn't have as advanced methods of analysis as we do now, from competing in Rio de Janeiro," IOC medical director Richard Budgett told an
  
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• Arsenal dangerous despite deficit, says old boy Vermaelen

  15-03-2016 21:31
  BARCELONA, March 15 (Reuters) - - Defender Thomas Vermaelen has urged his Barcelona team mates not to underestimate how dangerous Arsenal will be in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 encounter at the Nou Camp on Wednesday. "Of course we will be the favourites but I know Arsenal and I know it's not going to be easy," he said on the eve of the match. Manager Arsene Wenger, who has come under fire following a dismal run of one win in seven matches in all competitions, said it would b
  
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• Aston Villa's sporting director Hendrik Almstadt is the latest to leave Villa Park 

  15-03-2016 21:27 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  The sporting director has departed by mutual consent. Almstadt was the first man to hold the position at Villa Park and the Premier League club have confirmed they are looking for a replacement.
  
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• 'Anthony Joshua is so humble but Charles Martin doesn't care about that... he's there to knock him out' says Carl Froch

  15-03-2016 21:19 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  ‘He needs to be ready for a long, hard fight against somebody who can bang, it’s a real risk for him.’ It was a strong warning from Carl Froch as fellow Brit Anthony Joshua prepares to take on Charles Martin.
  
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• NHL general managers discuss streamlining goalie equipment

  15-03-2016 21:15
  
  BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Goaltending equipment was the hot topic Tuesday on the second day of the NHL general managers meetings, with the focus on making it smaller to increase scoring.
  
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• Alun Wyn Jones blow for Wales as lock ruled out of Italy clash by foot injury 

  15-03-2016 21:02 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Wales star Alun Wyn Jones could be sidelined for six weeks due to a foot problem that head coach Warren Gatland revealed has left him 'operating at around 80 per cent.'
  
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