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Rugby: ‘The Six Nations is the gift that keeps on giving’

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An hour after the final whistle on Saturday, when even the most committed Irish supporters had emptied the stands and danced off into the Dublin evening, the Ireland players, coaches and management were still mingling on the Aviva Stadium pitch.
Each member of the set-up was heavily outnumbered by family and friends, to a person drinking in the achievement of a first Grand Slam on home soil in the professional era.


It was a lovely sight and a fitting end to a Six Nations that promised so much and delivered in equal measure.

To say the sport was able to park its problems during the tournament would be naïve – at one point the Welsh financial crisis threatened to throw the whole championship off course, while the controversy around Freddie Steward’s red card was a stark reminder of how the game is grappling with its very essence.

But over the course of six dramatic weeks, the enduring appeal of the Six Nations, a tournament like no other, was there in abundance. In the words of former Wales captain Sam Warburton, it is the gift that keeps on giving.
However, while the majority of the games at one point felt in the balance – the tournament may never have been as competitive as this across the board – the irony is that in mid-March we are pretty much as we were in early February.
Ireland and France started the tournament head and shoulders above the rest; they end it that way too. Twelve months ago the French swept the board after beating Ireland in round two; this year the roles were reversed.
So while Ireland deservedly end the championship on top of world rugby, France are not too far behind. Both are outstanding rugby teams.
Elsewhere Scotland’s three wins ensured they are the best of the rest – which is backed up by the world rankings – but they missed opportunities to take a major scalp, a familiar frustration for Scottish supporters after a narrow defeat by New Zealand in the autumn.
England and Wales came into the tournament in poor form and with new coaches promising fresh starts, but end it with as many questions as answers. A couple of months into the new regimes, and neither seem sure yet about their best team, or their best style.
England were not able to improve on their two wins in 2022, nor Wales on their solitary victory a year ago. Both Steve Borthwick and Warren Gatland are up against coaches who have been building their teams over the course of at least three years, and it shows.
Both are also grappling with turbulent domestic scenes – in Wales especially – and questions over squad depth and the effectiveness of their player pathways. England Under-20s were hammered at home by France, while the Welsh U20s lost all five matches.
Finally, Italy were improving and threatening, ensuring no game felt like a dead rubber – great for the tournament – but nonetheless finished winless.

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SPORTS

Tottenham Interested in Crystal Palace’s Eze

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Tottenham FC are exploring a deal for Crystal Palace and England forward Eberechi Eze.

Thomas Frank is looking to bolster his options in the final third after attacking midfielder James Maddison was ruled out for the majority of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

South Korea forward Son Heung-min left the club after 10 years earlier this month having scored 173 goals in 454 appearances, while midfielder Dejan Kulusevski is still out after knee surgery.

Thus Eze has scored 14 goals across all competitions for Palace last season, including in their 1-0 win against Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

The 27-year-old made his England debut in 2023 and has won 11 caps for the Three Lions, including three appearances at Euro 2024.

Tottenham are also in talks with Manchester City over a move for Savinhobut multiple sources have indicated that Eze is now emerging as a player of serious interest for Spurs.

There is no confirmation whether Tottenham will look to progress with deals for both Brazil winger Savinho and Eze.

Arsenal also have an interest in Eze but are currently looking at trying to move players on, with the likes of Leandro Trossard, Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira set to leave.

However, it remains to be seen whether Tottenham’s active interest in Eze results in Arsenal accelerating a move for the England international.

Eze joined Palace from Queens Park Rangers in a deal worth £19.5m in 2020 and has scored 40 goals in 168 appearances.

His contract at Selhurst Park is due to expire in the summer of 2027.

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Liverpool Stepping up bid to Sign Palace’s Guehi

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Liverpool are stepping up their attempts to sign Crystal Palace and England center-back Marc Guehi.

Palace captain Guehi has a year left on his contract, but Chairman Steve Parish said earlier this week he could be sold this summer to avoid him moving on a free transfer in 12 months’ time.

Sources have said that Liverpool have held initial talks with a view to signing the 25-year-old before the summer transfer window shuts.

Liverpool are also trying to sign Parma centre-back Giovanni Leoni.

The 18-year-old Italian is not seen as a potential rival for Guehi but more as one for the future.

Guehi was the subject of bids worth up to £65m from Newcastle last year.

The FA Cup winners are believed to want £40m for him now, but Liverpool want to pay less than that.

The Reds have already spent about £270m this summer, though they have recouped about £170m through player sales.

They have also had a £110m bid for Alexander Isak rejected by Newcastle, though sources have said the Swede remains determined to move to Anfield.

Signing Guehi and Isak would take Liverpool’s summer spending above £400m.

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Finals of Gov. Peter Mbah Secondary Schools Games Begin in Enugu

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The finals of Gov. Peter Mbah Secondary Schools Games, on Thursday began in Enugu with the arrival and accreditation of athletes at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu.

Dan Onwuegbuna, Director, Information, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Enugu State, said in a statement on Thursday that the games would be held between Aug.

7 and Aug.
10 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and the Enugu State Sports Council.

“The games is designed to help the state discover talents to represent the state at the forthcoming U15 National Youth Games scheduled to take place in Asaba, Delta, from Aug. 26 to Sept. 6,” he stated.

Onwuegbuna said that apart from representing the state at the Youth Games in Asaba, talented athletes discovered would represent the state in other competitions.

He quoted the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ekweremadu as thanking Gov. Peter Mbah for approving the games.

Onwuegbuna said that the games was made possible following the collaboration between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the state Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB).

The games finals followed the outcome of the inter- Secondary Schools competitions held at the local government areas in the six Educational Zones in the State – Enugu, Agbani, Awgu, Udi, Nsukka and Udenu.

“The games will feature athletics, boxing, chess, basketball, volleyball, football, tennis and scrabble,” Onwuegbuna stated.

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