Foxes give rugby silent treatment

LEICESTER CITY’S opening Premier League match was ample proof of the absurdity of Rugby World Cup games being played at their King Power Stadium rather than nearby rugby stronghold Welford Road.

There wasn’t a single piece of advertising in or around the Foxes’ football stadium to promote the three rugby matches being staged there — none of which have sold out.

Nor was there even a mention about the upcoming Rugby World Cup in the 84-page Leicester v Sunderland match programme, which flagged up every other event coming to the stadium in the near future.

Compare that with the neighbouring Leicester Tigers venue that already has an array of flags and banners outside the main entrance celebrating the ‘Tigers World Cup’ — even though they have no official involvement.

The Tigers are still laying on a fan zone — a rival to the England 2015 one in the city centre — plus screenings of England games, corporate hospitality and a variety of entertainment including a Tigers open day to clash with the King Power rugby games.

RWC organisers World Rugby claim Welford Road did not meet their facility requirements. Nevertheless, these were minor quibbles compared to the crass decision of snubbing a fervent rugby headquarters for a football one concerned only about their team heading the Premier League after day one.

A World Rugby spokesman said: ‘We have no regrets. The Leicester venue decision was made for sound reasons.’

CHANNEL

NINE, the one-eyed Australian TV network covering the Ashes, couldn’t bear to screen the Trent Bridge presentation ceremony after England had regained the Ashes. So they broadcast a montage of the career of retiring captain Michael Clarke (right) instead. Hopefully they will show more class when the urn is handed over at The Oval after the fifth Test. IT WAS a brave move for Channel 5 to use a live audience for their first Football League highlights broadcast after the debacle of Clare Balding’s Wimbledon highlights show. However, the programme was a qualified success and showed good journalistic judgment. George Riley and Kelly Cates were assured co-hosts and a complex production process for a 9pm start delivered all the Football League goals as promised. The only element that didn’t work was the live audience shots.

THIERRY

HENRY, Sir Ian Botham and Shane Warne, all sporting greats, share the dubious honour of being the best-paid football and cricket analysts on Sky but by far the worst performers. Anyone watching Henry’s punditry, or lack of it, in Sky’s Chelsea v Swansea coverage will be astounded he is being paid £4million a year for six seasons for his bland and incomprehensible comments.