S'pore to get Rugby Village

SINGAPORE: Singapore will soon get a taste of the culture and spirit of the 2011 Rugby World Cup hosted by New Zealand. The Rugby Village 2011 concept will see ex-Kiwi stars such as Jonah Lomu possibly as part of the attraction. Earlier in June, former England international Gareth Chilcott and Australia's Simon Poidevin, who played for the Wallabies in the 80s, visited Turf City in Singapore to drum up support for the upcoming Rugby World Cup Village 2011. When completed, the village will feature live screenings of matches, where fans can gather to cheer their favourite teams, with food and beverage and entertainment thrown in. Chilcott, who gave the Village concept the thumbs-up, thinks England can repeat their title-winning run of 2003 in Australia despite the event being staged in the Southern Hemisphere. "England is a very good side at the moment. They have got a right mixture of older ones, some youngsters coming through (including) Ben Foden, Chris Ashton, and Ben Youngs. These young players have made Martin Jonhson (the coach) think again," he said. However, Poidevin, said he feels New Zealand -- winners of the first edition in 1987 -- are still favourites to lift the title at home. "New Zealand's got so much to play for, 1987 is a long time ago," Poidevin said. "Historically, they have been the strongest rugby nation in the world, and they are playing in a country which has had a huge (earthquake) in Christchurch, so that's lots of motivation for the players." Like Poidevin and Chilcott, more big name ex-players are being lined up for the Rugby Village. Organisers of the Rugby Village 2011 are currently looking at securing a site for the village, which is likely to be around the Marina Bay area. It will be able to accommodate up to 2,000 people and activities at the village will start even before the World Cup kicks off in September. -CNA/wk

Inner Circle FC vs Royals FC - 1pm Chinese Recreation Club

Last call for Inner Circle tomorrow, Sunday 17th 2010, at Chinese Recreation Club in Balestier Rd.

I wish Alex Del Piero could understand...

LONDON: Manchester United great Ryan Giggs was named here on Sunday as the English Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Player of the Year for the first time in spite of starting just 12 league games this season.

The 35-year-old Welsh midfielder, who has enjoyed nearly two decades of success at Old Traford in a career featuring two Champions League final triumphs, had twice won the Young Player of the Year award but can now add the ultimate mark of esteem from his fellow professionals to his list of prizes.

PFA Premier League team of the year: Edwin van der Sar (Man Utd); Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd), Patrice Evra (Man Utd); Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Ryan Giggs (Man Utd), Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd); Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

Liverpool coming to Singapore !!!

LIVERPOOL, England - Liverpool will play pre-season friendlies in Thailand and Singapore in July, the club announced on Wednesday.

Rafael Benitez's side will face Thailand in Bangkok on July 22 before flying to Singapore to take on the national team on July 26.

It will be the first time the Reds have visited Thailand since 2003, while they have not played in Singapore for eight years.

"We have a fantastic group of fans in both Thailand and Singapore and it will be great to take the lads out there again," Reds boss Rafael Benitez said.

Ian Ayre, Liverpool's commercial director, added: "South East Asia is clearly a key region for Liverpool.

"As we continue to develop our international plans, being able to allow fans all over the world to see the team live is paramount."

Dato Worawi Makudi, president of the Thai Football Association, said they were eagerly anticipating the match.

"Liverpool's return to the kingdom is long overdue," he said.

"The experience that our players will receive from this game will help in the development of Thai football."

Winston Lee, general secretary of the Football Association of Singapore, was also pleased to welcome back the Reds.

He said: "Inviting teams such as Liverpool, as well as Brazil and Australia last year, is part of our continued efforts to bring top-class football action to our shores.

"It will not only be a great experience for our fans but our players will get exposure to world-class teams and players."

- AFP/ir

Kobe & Shaq reunion

By Dave McMenamin, NBA.com
Posted Jan 5 2009 6:44PM

A lot's happened since they played their last game together, way back on June 15, 2004. Since that Finals loss to the Pistons when they were Lakers teammates, Shaquille O'Neal has played for two other teams, winning a ring with Miami in 2006. Kobe Bryant demanded a trade but ultimately stayed in L.A., and won the MVP last season.

On February 15 in Phoenix, O'Neal and Bryant's 56-month long stretch as ex-teammates could come to an end at the NBA's 58th All-Star Game.

Bryant is a lock for his 11th All-Star Game selection. He leads all Western Conference players with 1,280,912 votes through the second balloting. O'Neal won't be selected through fan voting -- Yao Ming has more than double the Diesel's 546,583 votes -- but there is a strong case for him deserving a spot as a reserve.

O'Neal is averaging 17.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. His 59.1 field-goal percentage ranks second in the league. His main competitors for the position are Andris Biedrins of the Warriors, Al Jefferson of the Timberwolves and Marcus Camby of the Clippers, but all of those players play for sub-.500 teams. Shaq's Suns would be the No. 5 seed in the West if the playoffs started today.

The fact that the game is in Phoenix also should help O'Neal, as the host city almost always ends up with a player on the roster. Amar'e Stoudemire is the only other Suns player in contention. He was behind only San Antonio's Tim Duncan for Western Conference forwards in the second returns, holding a slim lead over Denver's Carmelo Anthony for the starting nod.

The exhibition might not be the last time Bryant and O'Neal play together, either. Shaq told the Sacramento Bee in November that he would be open to a return to the Lakers when he becomes a free agent in 2010.