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Danny Ings turns down four-year deal with Southampton

Southampton striker Danny Ings has turned down a new contract as transfer rumors circle the player according to Sky Sports

There are only 12 months remaining on Ings contract at the Saints. Transfermarkt estimates his value to be around €25 million.

Although it seems he has been in the Premier League for a long time, he is still only 28. He has also played for clubs, Liverpool and Burnley.

Ings has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City with manager Pep Guardiola very impressed by him. Tottenham Hotspur might also look for the striker if they lose the talismanic Harry Kane this summer.

He has scored 34 goals in 67 games since joining Southampton permanently in 2019.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl told Sky Sports in April:

“I think Danny, especially, will stay with us. He knows with all his injuries he has had he has a very good spot to perform and come back, and I think this is important for a player.”

 

Danny Ings missed out on making the England squad for Euro 2020 and as he hits the prime of his career. He will need to be at a bigger club to convince Gareth Southgate of his talent.

Southampton has done some business this summer already by making Theo Walcott’s loan move permanent and signing left-back Romain Perraud.

Ings has been the focal point of the Saints attack and has been involved in everything good they produce. It will be important for them to lock down the striker or to find a good replacement or 2021/22 could be a very difficult year for them.

“It’s a risk to go into a final year of a contract with the risk of getting another injury, then things can be gone. It’s something every player has to answer for themselves, and we hope he’ll be with us for longer,” added Hasenhuttl.

Chael Sonnen Defends Dana White Over Fighter Pay

Former UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen has come out to defend UFC President Dana White over fighter pay.

Sonnen has come to the defence of White over fighters complaining about a lack of sufficient pay after a recent dispute with heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.

In a recent video taken from his Youtube channel, Sonnen expressed how White was the first to champion for bigger purses for fighters.

He added; “The person who believes fighters were exploited and fighters weren’t paid enough is Dana. And they’re now trying to use the same argument that he brought forward and act as though he is doing something wrong.

“When I first fought in the UFC, the year was 2005. I was paid $2,000 to show and $2,000 to win. I could not believe how much money I had in my pocket when I got that check. $2,000 in 2005.”

Sonnen went on to say that the overall pay for fighters in today’s landscape has significantly risen since then. With payouts rising from $2000 to $12,000

With the ”bad guy” offering anyone a reward who can name one or more companies besides the UFC who has done the same thing.

”The minimum pay right now is $12,000. The minimum now is six times as much. I will give two tickets to anybody who shows me any company in the world that is paying six times (more) right now than what it paid 15 years ago.”

The topic of fighter pay has been long discussed in MMA, and especially in the UFC. With former Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones in the spotlight.

After vacating his Lightweight strap and moving up to Heavyweight, Jones expressed he should be compensated more if he were to challenge UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou.

Jones was immediately shot down by White, who claimed Jones wanted Deontay Wilder money for moving up a weight class.

White’s Response to Jones

During a media scrum in May, White responded to Jones’s claims, claiming he wanted over £30 million, and that £8-10 million was simply too low.

 “We have text messages from Jon Jones. It’s not like I can’t prove what I’m saying is true. We have text messages from him but I’m not going to do that. I’m not going to put his text messages out in the press”.

“If Jon Jones wants to sit down and take a lie detector test about who’s lying and who’s not, we can do that, too”.

 

 

 

Iain Henderson To Captain British and Irish Lions

Ulster and Ireland’s Iain Henderson will captain Warren Gatland’s British and Irish Lions when they play the Cell C Sharks in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening.

It will be the 29-year-old’s first time wearing the armband for the famous side in his second tour.

The lock forward has been Ulster captain since the start of the 2019-20 season, taking on the role after Rory Best.

He has also worn the armband at international level for Ireland – captaining the side when they lost 15-13 to France at the Aviva Stadium in this year’s Six Nations Championship.

Henderson will join an elite group of Irish captains of the Lions, with 12 Irish players achieving the honour beforehand (including Conor Murray).

Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll are examples of the Irish players that have captained the famous side before.

Henderson is only the second Irish player to captain the Lions that was not Tour Captain.

Peter O’Mahony started the first test against New Zealand in 2017 ahead of Tour Captain Sam Warburton and was given the armband in his absence.

Henderson’s achievement will come 101 years after the first-ever Irish Lions captain led the side out against South Africa.

Tommy Smyth is the beginning of an illustrious list that includes those mentioned above as well as full-back Tom Kiernan and lock Willie John McBride, who toured with the Lions five times and is currently the most-capped player for the side.

Iain Henderson will etch his name onto that list on Wednesday evening when he leads the side out against the Sharks in Johannesburg.

The lock will captain a side that includes Connacht and Ireland centre Bundee Aki at 12.

Four Irish players are expected to come off the bench in the midweek game – Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan and Conor Murray.

Click here to see the Lions’ matchday 23 to face the Sharks.

The game will be available to watch on Sky Sports.

 

Sharks 23 to play British and Irish Lions Announced

The British and Lions’ first midweek opponents, the Cell C Sharks, have announced their 23-man team for the game on Wednesday at 6 pm.

Springboks-capped fly-half Curwin Bosch will start the game wearing the number 10.

No.8 Phepsi Buthelezi will wear the armband upon his return to the side after missing their last outing against Western Province.

Khwesi Mona and Khutha Mchunu will have Fez Mbatha in between them in the front row.

Ruben van Heerden and Hyron will start for the side in the second row.

James Venter will pair up with Thembelani Bholi and the previously mentioned Buthelezi in the back row.

21-year-old Jaden Hendrikse will play at scrum-half beside fly-half Bosch.

Marius Louw and Jeremy Ward will make up the midfield pairing for the side with a back three of Thaakir Abrahams, Werner Kok and Manie Libbok.

Substitutes include Ntuthuko Mchunu and former Ulster player Wiehahn Herbst.

The game will be played at Ellis Park in Johannesburg and will be shown live on Sky Sports.

Click here to see the British and Irish Lions side that will play the Sharks.

Sharks side v Lions

Backs

15. Manie Libbok
14. Werner Kok
13. Jeremy Ward
12. Marius Louw
11. Thaakir Abrahams
10. Curwin Bosch
9. Jaden Hendrikse

Forwards

1. Khwezi Mona
2. Fez Mbatha
3. Khutha Mchunu
4. Ruben van Heerden
5. Hyron Andrews
6. James Venter
7. Thembelani Bholi
8. Phepsi Buthelezi C

Replacements:

16. Kerron van Vuuren
17. Ntuthuko Mchunu
18. Wiehahn Herbst
19. JJ van der Mescht
20. Reniel Hugo
21. Dylan Richardson
22. Grant Williams
23. Anthony Volmink.

Amanda Staveley Criticises Premier League Over Takeover Bid

Businesswoman Amanda Staveley has criticised the Premier League over a ”closely guarded lack of transparency” over the potential takeover bid of Newcastle United.

Stavely, who was the financier of a £300 million takeover of Newcastle United has come out with a letter to the British Conservative Party member Tracey Crouch, who is leading a government-commissioned review of English football’s governance.

In the letter, Ms Staveley has pointed the finger at the Premier League over the legal proceedings that will ultimately determine the ownership of Newcastle.

Stating a ”closely guarded lack of transparency” and that the league has raised ”an effective shield against public scrutiny.

The use of confidential arbitration processes to fix the in-house fighting within the English football pyramid was heavily criticised by Staveley in her letter, adding;

“One might justifiably ask why that model is so favoured by those responsible for regulating the sport if they have nothing to hide.”

Ms Stavely’s letter addressed many of the issues and actions over her proposed takeover last year after a consortium consisting of her firm, PCP Capital Partners and a Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF)withdrew its offer to buy Newcastle United.

Which ultimately failed due to the Premier League Owners and Directors Test.

However, The Premier League has denied any wrongdoings in the rejection of the takeover.

Citing that it was never PCP’s bid that was the issue, coming to the conclusion that the PIF is controlled by the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia, which stopped the takeover from moving forward.

The Letter and Club Statement

In Staveleys letter, she wrote;

“Fans surely deserve absolute transparency from the regulators across all their processes – to best ensure that they act responsibly.

“They are performing a function like that of a government regulator – but without the same systems for accountability.”

The Club released a statement surrounding the arbitration case against the Premier League, telling the league the case for greater transparency in the sport.

“Gone are the days when important decisions that affect clubs and their fans should be made secretly, behind closed doors and away from the public eye,” the statement read.

 

Cluxton stepping away claims Farrell

Stephen Cluxton is reportedly stepping away from the Dublin senior football panel claims Dessie Farrell.

Dublin manager Dessie Farrell confirmed the news after months of speculation after Dublin’s narrow win over Wexford on Sunday.

While Farrell claims Cluxton is stepping away for the time being he did admit that the eight-time All-Ireland winner has not retired from the sport.

“The situation is very simple. Stephen isn’t with us at the moment. He has gone back to his club, and he’s just taking time to heal the body, maybe re-generate the appetite,” Farrell told members of the media after the game.

“I don’t know to be honest whether Stephen will be back or not. ”He is not retired, he has just stepped away. And I think he’s spoken about it in the group. Given the service he has provided over the years, he deserves that respect and that time and space to make up his mind.”

The full Dessie Farrell Interview: FM104

This news comes after former Mayo midfielder David Brady claimed that he was on the way out of the Dublin panel for the upcoming Championship season.

Adding on an Off The Ball Podcast;

”Stephen Cluxton has probably done exactly what Cuxton was going to do, he was going to bow out, and from my mind, I don’t see him being any part of the Dublin panel this year.”

The Parnells man made his senior championship debut for Dublin at the age of twenty and has gone on to become the greatest goalkeeper in history.

Boasting eight All-Ireland wins and captaining his side to seven of those titles.

There has been no official statement released by Dublin nor from Cluxton himself about the rumours circulating about his future.

Although there has been much speculation over whether or not the six-time all-star keeper will part ways after nearly twenty years of service to the Capital.

Lions Side To Face Sharks on Wednesday

The British and Irish Lions have announced their side to face the Cell C Sharks on Wednesday at 6 pm in Johannesburg.

Wholesale changes have been made to the side that beat the Sigma Lions 56-14 on Saturday.

Iain Henderson will captain the side in their first midweek game of the tour against the Sharks at Ellis Park.

The 29-year-old is the Ulster captain and has experience of wearing the armband for Ireland.

Bundee Aki joins Henderson in the starting lineup at 12.

Mako Vunipola and Luke Cowan-Dickie will get their first starts on Wednesday alongside Scotland’s Zander Fagerson.

Henderson will be paired with Adam Beard at lock, who was chosen to replace Alun Wyn Jones for the tour in South Africa.

Josh Navidi will also get a debut after replacing the injured Justin Tipuric and will start at blindside flanker with England’s Tom Curry on the openside.

Exeter Chiefs’ Sam Simmonds will wear the number eight shirt for the first time on the tour.

Gareth Davies and Dan Biggar form a Wales duo at nine and 10.

The aforementioned Aki will play alongside Saracens’ Elliot Daly at centre, Daly’s natural position.

Duhan Van Der Merwe will return to the starting lineup, with Anthony Watson getting his first start at 14 while top try scorer Josh Adams is rested.

Liam Williams rounds off the side at fullback.

Four Irish players appear on the bench – Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan and Tour Captain Conor Murray.

The game will be available to watch on Sky Sports.

Lions 23 v Sharks

Backs

15. Liam Williams (Scarlets, Wales)
14. Anthony Watson (Bath, England)
13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England)
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht, Ireland)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester, Scotland)
10. Dan Biggar (Northampton, Wales)
9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets, Wales)

Forwards

1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter, England)
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow, Scotland)
4. Iain Henderson (Ulster, Ireland) (captain)
5. Adam Beard (Ospreys, Wales)
6. Josh Navidi (Cardiff, Wales)
7. Tom Curry (Sale, England)
8. Sam Simmonds (Exeter, England)

Replacements:

16. Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales)
17. Rory Sutherland (Worcester, Scotland)
18. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster, Ireland)
19. Tadhg Beirne (Munster, Ireland)
20. Jack Conan (Leinster, Ireland)
21. Conor Murray (Munster, Ireland)
22. Stuart Hogg (Exeter, Scotland)
23. Chris Harris (Gloucester, Scotland)

Lucas Herbert wins 2021 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open

Lucas Herbert achieved a wire-to-wire victory in the 2021 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at the Mount Juliet Estate in County Kilkenny.

Finishing on a 19 under par total, Herbert had three shots to spare over Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg. American Johannes Veerman was a further shot behind on 15 under.

A final round of 68 from Hebert, following rounds of 64, 67 and 70, saw him take his second European Tour victory on his 65th appearance.

Hebert becomes just the third Australian to win the Irish Open. Ossie Pickworth in 1950 and Brett Rumford in 2004 were the only Australians to have previously won Ireland’s national open.

Winner’s reaction

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” admitted the Australian. “It’s just so – it’s a bit fulfilling, really. I felt like I was at one of my low points in my life when I played here two years ago at Lahinch in the Irish Open, and now to feel like I’ve done full swing and come back around and won the event that I was at a pretty low point at, it’s pretty satisfying. I’m very happy standing here right now.”

The 2021 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open winner continued:

“Obviously chip-out on seven and then make that really nice putt for par. And then just scrambled all the way down eight and made that; that could have been the turning point of the day, if those two putts don’t go in, you make two bogeys. To keep that card really clean out there and not come back to the field and give them a chance, I’m happy about that.

“And later the bunker shots on 15 and 16, I felt like I scrambled so nicely all day. I didn’t feel like I holed a lot of putts yesterday, so to feel I holed the putts today, so good, so good.”

A former winner of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Herbert’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open success is a 136th win by an Australian on the European Tour.

Today’s win will see Herbert rise in both the Race To Dubai Rankings and the Official World Golf Rankings as well as achieve a place in this year’s Open Championship.

Shane Lowry, who carded a 66 today for a four-round score of 279 (-9), finished as the leading Irish player in tied-23rd place.

A final round of 72 from Cormac Sharvin saw him finish two shots behind the Offaly native.

Graeme McDowell signed for a 74 on Sunday to finish on three under par, while Rory McIlroy, who also had a 74 in the final round, ended the tournament on two under par.

Dubai Duty Free Irish Open scores here

Darragh Kenny wins Monaco Global Champions Tour Grand Prix

Ireland’s Darragh Kenny and Idalville d’Esprit won the five-star Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Monaco on Saturday night.

The Irish combination beat off many of the world’s top horses and riders to claim the top prize of almost €100,000.

Kenny, who only took up the ride in April of Idalville d’Esprit, was one of just six to qualify for round two.

Drawn last to go, they produced an unbeatable clear in 37.89 seconds.

Austria’s Max Kühner finished as runner-up with Eic Coriolis des Isles in 38.07 seconds. Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts took third place with H&M Legend of Love, clocking 38.66 seconds.

Earlier on Saturday, Kenny had also topped the podium in the Global Champions League of Monaco for his Paris Panthers team. His win in the GCL Grand Prix now means he has booked his place in the Prague Super Grand Prix final later this year.

The County Offaly native said of his Monaco success:

“My horse felt fantastic! I have been a bit unlucky recently having one down in my recent Grand Prix. I said to my owner last week that I just need to ride him better and he jump better and all weekend he was fantastic. He loves this ring in Monaco. I was just thinking about today and I just wanted to do a good job for him.”

Leinster Football Result – Dublin struggle past Wexford

Dublin opened their bid for another All-Ireland, but the result against Wexford won’t inspire any confidence.

Result – Dublin 0-15 Wexford 0-07

The bookies had Dublin -24 against, but Wexford stayed with a below-par Dublin side for most of the first half, and only conceding some very easy free kicks lead to Dublin extend their lead. Its very rare to see a GAA team to lose a handicap bet by 16pts.

Below is a score commentary from Irishscores.com

75′
Result – Dublin beat Wexford 0-15 to 0-07

73′

Dublin 0-15 (15) Wexford 0-7 (7) Dean Rock point.

68′

Wexford 0-07 Dublin 0-14 Donal Shanley with a sweet strike from play

67′

Dublin 0-14 (14) Wexford 0-5 (5) Nice point from Colm Basquel.

62′

Dublin 0-13 (13) Wexford 0-5 (5) Cormac Costello with another.

60′

Dublin 0-12 (12) Wexford 0-5 (5) Tom Lahiff finishes off a nice move

53′

Dublin 0-11 Wexford 0-4 at the waterbreak

53′

Cormac Costello Point

50′

Brian Fenton point

49′

Dublin 0-9 (9) Wexford 0-3 (3) Cormac Costello free

44′

Dublin 0-8 (8) Wexford 0-3 (3) Cormac Costello free.

40′

Dublin 0-7 (7) Wexford 0-3 (3) Brian Howard point

35′
Dublin lead 0-06 to 0-03 at half time

28′

Costello with two scores, Dublin lead.

25′
Poor Dublin wide

18′

Dean Rock levels it up

17′

Wexford still lead and there is 17min gone

10′

John Tubritt with a neat finish

6′

Rossiter with a great point from play the Gusserane man

2′

Brian Fenton point

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