Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
3 ON THIS DAY
1928: Ronnie Dix made history as the youngest player to score a goal in the Football League. He was 15 years and 180 days old when he netted for Bristol Rovers in their 3-0 win over Norwich in the Third Division (South).
1991: Runcorn Highfield’s dismal record of 75 matches without a win ended when they beat Dewsbury. Their run - the worst in rugby league history - went back 28 months, during which time they had five coaches.
2011: Manchester City defender Kolo Toure was suspended after failing a drugs test. He was later banned for six months.
2017: Andrew Pozzi won gold in the 60 metres hurdles on day one of the European Indoor Championships in Belgrade.
IT was touching to see so many top players – Rory (inset) included – wearing red and black in tribute to Tiger Woods at the Wgc-workday Championship.
Woods, recovering from last week’s horrific car crash in Los Angeles, wrote on Twitter: “To every golfer and fan, you are truly helping me get through this tough time.”
It was fitting golf’s modern stars showed their appreciation because the 15-times Major champion is the primary reason for the huge purses they’re playing for these days.
Tiger sprinkled stardust on the sport and the big question now is if a 45-year-old who has suffered such a serious leg injury will ever return to top level action.
The signs are positive that he will make a full recovery in terms of everyday life, but to lose a full year of golf is a hammer blow.
Time is not on Tiger’s side and an added concern now is how his injuries and the impact of last week’s accident will affect an already vulnerable back.
On the red and black tribute, I must say some of the flak directed at certain players for not taking part was risible.
Players have a free will to do as they wish and for some wearing red in Florida didn’t dovetail with long standing commitments to manufacturers and sponsors. Tiger more than anyone will appreciate that.
Social media really does shine an unforgiving light on the level of ignorance out there and it’s not a pleasant sight.
THE Women’s Rugby World Cup is set to be postponed until next year.
The tournament was due to take place in New Zealand between September 18 and October 16, with Ireland hoping to participate in a final European qualifying series that had been postponed from late last year.
As things stand, the Women’s Six Nations is scheduled to kick off in April, with Ireland in a three-team group with Wales and France.
However the situation regarding Covid 19 has led to what World Rugby has described as a “difficult” decision that will almost certainly be rubberstamped by the Rugby World Cup board and World Rugby Executive Committee.
IRFU Director of Women’s Rugby, Anthony Eddy, confirmed that World Rugby’s decision has the support of Irish Rugby.
“We’re obviously disappointed,” said Eddy. “We want to play rugby.
“The Rugby World Cup deserves every opportunity to showcase the best that our sport has to offer and that’s not possible in the Covid 19 environment.
“We have always put player welfare at the heart of everything we do and that’s never been as important as it has over the past 12 months.”
A World Rugby statement read: “While appreciating the recommendation is extremely disappointing for teams and fans, it has their interests at heart, and gives the tournament the best opportunity to be all it can be for them, all New Zealanders and the global rugby family.
“The recommendation is based on the evolution of the uncertain and challenging global COVID-19 landscape.
“Given the scale of the event and the Covid-19related uncertainties, it is just not possible to deliver the environment for all teams to be the best that they can be on the sport’s greatest stage.”
Watford v Wycombe Kick-off 7pm
XISCO MUNOZ has warned Watford to prepare for another culture shock as they try to get their promotion bid back on track.
The Hornets were incensed by Bournemouth’s gamesmanship in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Dean Court which ended a fourgame winning streak.
And head coach Munoz (right) fears rock-bottom Wycombe’s direct style will present a different challenge at Vicarage Road, where midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah and top-scorer Joao Pedro are suspended.
Munoz said: “Every time I speak about team spirit, so now is the moment. Sometimes there are difficult moments and difficult situations – players who have waited for an opportunity must be ready.
‘‘Joao and ‘Chalo’ have played very well – now is the time for someone else to say, ‘I’m here, I’m ready.’”