Firm launches solar derailer
Former Lions player Spencer wants summer tour postponing for a year
Sheffield-based rail safety specialists Zonegreen has launched a solar-powered derailer. The firm has developed a means of integrating renewable energy into a powered derailer, improving the safety of depot staff, whilst eliminating costly electrical installations to remote locations.
Zonegreen’s solar-powered derailer makes it possible for depots to upgrade outdated manual derailers, without expensive infrastructure.
TYING players down to new contracts is proving a challenge for Rotherham United, with some members of the squad holding out to see which division the Millers will be in next season.
Last week, Rotherham started contract talks with four of their first-team regulars.
The Millers are not revealing the names involved in those discussions but offers have been made by the club with the players and their agents now considering them.
Manager Paul Warne admitted the club’s position in the league table could mean nothing is agreed until the conclusion of the season.
“I think because of the position we are in, no player is overly keen to extend their stay here,” he admitted.
“I think if we were mid-table, the dealings would be a lot easier to do.
“But at the moment the players, understandably, are taking a lot longer to get back to the club.
“Everything is a bit up in the air. That is the truth of it.
“I don’t think anything will be done at any point before the end of the season.”
Warne understands the position the soon-to-be out-ofcontract players are in, with the Millers looking to climb out of the bottom three when they face Reading tomorrow.
Rotherham have two games in hand over the three sides immediately above and Warne feels there are up to eight teams who cannot yet guarantee they will be playing in the Championship next season.
He added: “A lot of it is money driven but a lot of it is career driven as well. I think it is a bit of both.
“If you have had a really good season and are out of the contract in the summer and feel you can play in the Championship, would you sign a contract with a club who could potentially could go down?
“I can read between the lines and understand the lack of speed to get discussions going with player agents because of the situation we are in.
“The players are always going to back themselves to get contracts.
“They all want to play in the Championship and at this moment in time there are probably about eight teams who can’t guarantee that and we are one of them.”
Meanwhile, Warne is hoping to welcome back Chiedozie Ogbene, Jamie Lindsay and Joe Mattock next month as Rotherham look to pull clear of the bottom three in the final third of the campaign.
ENGLAND suffered a major setback ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations game with Wales after Courtney Lawes was ruled out by a chest injury sustained in training.
Lawes was poised to continue at blindside flanker for the Cardiff showdown only to damage his pectoral muscle during Wednesday afternoon’s customary full-blooded training session.
The Northampton forward’s place in the back row goes to Mark Wilson, who fills the vacancy in the No 6 jersey after being dropped for the round-two victory over Italy.
The only other change to the XV that routed the Azzurri at Twickenham is Jamie George returning at hooker in place of Luke Cowan-Dickie.
There are two changes on the bench in the form of Cowan-Dickie’s demotion from the starting line-up and the promotion of Leicester rookie George Martin, who is set to win his first cap.
Martin comes in for Jack Willis who will miss the rest of the season after suffering extensive knee damage against Italy. Full-back Elliot Daly will get the chance to play his way out of his recent slump in form after given his 50th cap for the showdown at the Principality Stadium, the stage for his brilliant try in 2017.
George North will win his 100th Wales cap. At 28 years and 320 days, he will eclipse Australia captain Michael Hooper by four weeks as the youngest player to reach a century of international caps.