Sport news in brief
Major omissions in England squad for Six Nations
England have confirmed their squad for the Six Nations with three high-profile omissions. Steve Borthwick, who took over from Eddie Jones as head coach at the end of last year, has named a 36-strong group for the tournament that begins early next month.
The coach has left out veterans Billy Vunipola, Jonny May and Jack Nowell from his first squad. No 8 Vunipola and wings May and Nowell were all involved in the 27-13 defeat by South Africa that concluded the autumn and spelt the end of the Jones era. While the trio are not part of the squad that will next week begin preparations for the opener against Scotland, there are recalls for Dan Cole and Elliot Daly.
Cole was dropped by England after the 2019 World Cup final while Daly has been frozen out since last year’s Championship despite his superb form for Saracens. Northampton’s rookie flyhalf Fin Smith is present for the first time, providing cover for Owen Farrell and Marcus Smith, while Ollie Hassell-Collins, George McGuigan, Cadan Murley and Jack Walker are the other uncapped players.
“This is an exciting squad with a blend of Six Nations experience and young talent and includes players who are in excellent form in the Premiership,” Borthwick said. “We are all looking forward to the challenges of the Six Nations and we will approach this great tournament with a spirit of courage and total commitment. I know the players can’t wait to get back to Twickenham and give our fans a performance they can be proud of. The hard work for the Scotland game starts now.” England’s first game is against Scotland on Saturday 4 February. PA
Return to Aus: Jones back for World Cup
Former England boss Eddie Jones has been reappointed as head coach of his native Australia, replacing the sacked Dave Rennie, in a stunning move at the start of the Rugby World Cup year. Jones was dismissed by England in December but has signed a five-year deal with the Wallabies and returns to the Australia helm ahead of the 2023 World Cup in France, which gets underway in September.
The 62-year-old had previously been in the role from 2001 to 2005, which included Australia finishing as runners-up to England on home soil at the 2003 World Cup, and is set to start with Rugby Australia later this month. Jones was in charge of
England for seven years, recording the highest win percentage of any England head coach during that time, but was sacked after a dismal run of results in 2022 that included six defeats and a draw in 12 matches.
In a dramatic announcement late on Sunday night, Jones said in a statement from Rugby Australia: “It is a wonderful opportunity for me to be able to come home to Australia and lead my nation to a Rugby World Cup. It is going to be an immense period for Australian rugby – as a proud Australian, it is a great honour to be able to come home and lead the national team during these years. It is a wonderful opportunity for me to be able to come home to Australia and lead my nation to a Rugby World Cup.”
Ex-Team Sky doctor fails in doping appeal
Former Team Sky and British Cycling doctor Richard Freeman has failed in his appeal against being found guilty of ordering testosterone for doping purposes.
A Medical Practitioners Tribunal reached that verdict at the end of the long-running hearing in Manchester in 2021 and determined that Freeman should be struck off the medical register. Freeman admitted 18 of 22 charges relating to the ordering of Testogel to British Cycling headquarters in 2011 as well as poor record-keeping and inappropriate treatment of nonriders.
The three charges he denied centred around the Testogel but the tribunal did not believe him, concluding: “Bearing in mind the breadth of Dr Freeman’s dishonesty and the number of people he had pulled into it, the Tribunal found his conduct incapable of innocent explanation.
“It was clear that, on the balance of probabilities, the inference could properly be drawn that, when Dr Freeman placed the order and obtained the Testogel, he knew or believed it was to be administered to an athlete to improve their athletic performance.”
Freeman, who said he “vehemently” disagreed with the tribunal’s determination, had been involved in the coronavirus vaccination programme but the panel ruled he should be suspended immediately pending the result of any appeal. His appeal to the High Court was dismissed by a judge who found nothing wrong with the original verdict.
Freeman is also facing two UK Anti-Doping charges regarding the ordering of the testosterone and now faces a Ukad investigation and a potential ban.
Olympics coverage to remain free to air on BBC
Coverage of the Olympic Games will remain free to air on the BBC until at least 2032 after the corporation confirmed a new joint partnership with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). The deal means the BBC, whose coverage of the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics attracted a total of 36.4 million television viewers, will continue to broadcast the Games across all its platforms.
BBC director general Tim Davie said: “The Olympic Games is a truly special event – thrilling and inspiring in equal measure – (and) I’m delighted it will be on free-to-air for the UK public. I know the BBC will do a fantastic job bringing all the action and analysis to the public.”
The agreement follows the International Olympic Committee’s decision to award all European media rights for the four Games post-Paris – starting with the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in 2026 – to the EBU and WBD.
Under the terms of the agreement, the EBU and WBD have guaranteed to offer free-to-air coverage of the Olympics across all 49 of its European territories. PA
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