The News Review:
- Heineken set to be huge hit
- Mark Regan set to defy Bristol ban
- Maze stadium plan ‘moves closer’
- Murphy returns for Munster
- Preview: Dragons v Gloucester
Heineken set to be huge hit
TVNZ – Nov 28, 2007
The January 7-12 event will be the tenth anniversary of Heinekensponsorship and is certain to provide top international tennis. Chasing the Sovereign singles title will be defending championDavid Ferrer of Spain who just two weeks ago was a finalist at theTennis Masters Cup in Shanghai and is ranked at Number five in theworld after stunning results in 2007 – the highlight being asemi-final appearance at the US Open. Catch the Heineken Open action right here ontvnz. nz and live coverage on ONE Sport The second ranked player will be Argentine Guillermo Canas atnumber 15 followed by countryman Juan Ignacio Chela who was aquarter-finalist at the US Open and is currently ranked at 20. There are four more players ranked between 20 and 30 withanother Argentine Juan Monaco at 23 then 2003 Roland Garroswinner and former world number one1 Juan Carlos Ferrero at 24.
Mark Regan set to defy Bristol ban
Telegraph.co.uk – Nov 28, 2007
The hooker accepted the Barbarians role as a likely swan song to his career. Bristol have certainly exerted pressure on Regan. Director of rugby Richard Hill said that he wanted one of his more experienced players to rest before two Heineken Cup weekends in December. Chief executive David White meanwhile warned Regan that he would “have to face the consequences” if he played. The English clubs have tried to apply a ban on their players because they say they must come first after the heavy demands of a World Cup season. South Africa are also having problems in putting a team together. They will name their team today after a fitness check on lock Bakkies Botha.
Maze stadium plan ‘moves closer’
BBC News – Nov 28, 2007
It believes the new stadium could be used to stage an All-Ireland Quarter Final or a national league decider. The IFA said it could attract at least 80000 fans while Ulster Rugby estimates it could bring about 40000 supporters through the turnstiles. The IFA has said it would play at least six international matches there per year. Rugby would include at least one Autumn international and all of Ulster’s home Heineken Cup matches.
Murphy returns for Munster
Irish Times – Nov 28, 2007
Alistair Warnock who has been playing for club side Currie andCraig Hamilton are named amongst the replacements. Robinson revealed he was pleased to be able to freshen up thesquad although acknowledged that injuries always create selectiondilemmas. He said: “It is disappointing when you get injuries but that ispart of the ferocity of the games we have played in the MagnersLeague and the Heineken Cup. Now it is a case of players who havebeen waiting for opportunities to take them. “When we played at Leicester we rested Ross Rennie and heresponded well to that. There will be times when we will be restingplayers and there will be times when we have to make difficultdecisions when it comes to managing our players. ” Munster Squad : S Payne D Hurley B Carney IDowling K Lewis L Mafi R Tipoki B Murphy G Hurley P StringerP Warwick R O’Gara M Horan J Hayes T Buckley J Flannery FSheahan D O’Callaghan M O’Driscoll D Ryan D Leamy D Wallace NRonan J Coughlan A Foley.
Preview: Dragons v Gloucester
Planet Rugby – Nov 28, 2007
“I have made it clear before that it is impossible to operate with 15 or so players throughout the intensity of our season. We have developed and built a squad that means we can change a starting XV and we have done that appropriately. “Some of our players have been involved in a series of high-intensity games and we have back-to-back Heineken Cup matches coming up so we have selected a team that gives players the opportunity to expand our core group. “For that reason there is plenty in tomorrow’s game that is important for us. Rodney Parade will be a vibrant passionate environment and we need to be ready for that it is a contest we are really looking forward to. “Form: The Dragons are without a win in their last five matches since beating Edinburgh at Murrayfield 19-13 in the Magners League on 12 October. The Dragons have never lost a home game in the EDF Energy Cup.