Smackdown drew a record low since moving live on Tuesdays, doing just 1,841,000 viewers going head-to-head against President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. That is down 296,000 viewers from the previous week. Trump was indeed ratings, pulling in over 30 million viewers, taking a good chunk of the WWE audience as well. Smackdown…
Author: FASHIONISLANDBLOG
Cullen dismisses suggestion salary cap stops English sides competing
LEO CULLEN HAS dismissed claims by Wasps director of rugby Dai Young that English Premiership clubs cannot compete with Leinster in the Heineken Champions Cup because of a salary cap. Young made the claims in the build-up to Sunday’s Pool 1 encounter between the sides at the Ricoh Arena [KO 3.15pm, BT Sport], highlighting the…
McNamara excited by addition of Saracens centre to Ireland U20 ranks
THE IRFU’S IQ Rugby programme, which was launched to identify and develop Irish-qualified talent overseas, is behind the inclusion of promising Saracens centre Oli Morris in Ireland’s squad for the upcoming U20 Six Nations. Morris, who qualifies to represent Ireland through his Irish grandmother, was yesterday named in Noel McNamara’s 40-player squad for the 2019…
Keatley joins London Irish on short-term deal ahead of Italian move
IAN KEATLEY’S DEPARTURE from Munster has been brought forward after London Irish moved to secure the services of the out-of-favour out-half on a short-term deal. Keatley announced earlier this month he would be leaving the southern province for Italian side Benetton at the end of the season, but the 31-year-old will now spend the remainder…
‘I’ve to put my bins out’ – Donncha O’Callaghan interviews Roy Keane for new documentary
Updated at 00.27 THIS FRIDAY, VIRGIN Media One will air a documentary entitled ‘Game Over: True Lives’. Presented by ex-Ireland and Munster rugby legend Donncha O’Callaghan, the programme will look at how sportspeople deal with life after their playing careers. Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane, a fellow Corkman, features to talk about adjusting to…
‘He wouldn’t be the loudest’: Leinster’s Penny does his talking on the pitch
ON AN EVENING when Ireland performed superbly as a team to defy the odds and topple England, there was no shortage of outstanding individual contributions, not least the work of Scott Penny in the back row. The 19-year-old may only be playing in his first U20 Six Nations, but already the Leinster flanker has four…
‘We’re going out there to win and we will win. That’s our attitude’
THREE DAYS AFTER enduring a gut-wrenching 44-point defeat to England, the mood is surprisingly upbeat in the Ireland Women’s camp. The Ireland Women stand for the National Anthem last week. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO “Delete and move on,” as rising star Emma Hooban said. Scrum coach Mike Ross would rather focus on the positives, and returning…
Scotland team to play France shows four changes from Ireland defeat
INJURIES HAVE FORCED Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend to make four changes to his starting line-up for Saturday’s Six Nations meeting with France in Paris [KO 2.15pm, Virgin Media One]. Three of those amendments are in the back division, from which full-back Stuart Hogg, centre Huw Jones and out-half Finn Russell will all be absent….
Exeter Chiefs duo drafted into England XV for Cardiff showdown with Wales
ENGLAND HEAD COACH Eddie Jones has announced his side to face Wales in the Six Nations in Cardiff on Saturday [KO 4.45pm, Virgin Media One]. With Chris Ashton and Mako Vunipola both ruled out through injury, the starting line-up shows two changes from the win over France. Jack Nowell replaces Ashton on the wing, while…
Kevin Owens announces his return
Kevin Owens announced on Raw that he is set to return in a month’s time. Owens appeared in a video where he spoke by cell phone and revealed that he has been spending time with his family and would be back in a month. Owens noted in the video that he didn’t know which brand…