http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/other en-gb Tue, 21 May 2013 02:35:55 CDT http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/other/new-zealand-cricket-fans-find-little-succor-in-vettori-recall-for-2nd-england-test-208263551.html WELLINGTON, New Zealand - New Zealand cricket fans reacted with mild surprise on Tuesday to news that veteran left-arm spinner and former captain Dan Vettori may be rushed into the lineup for the second test against England at Headingley. News of 34-year-old Vettori's likely recall did little to... Tue, 21 May 2013 01:36:05 CDT http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/other/cricket-australia-considers-formulating-a-social-media-policy-in-light-of-warner-tirade-208261831.html SYDNEY - Chief executive James Sutherland says Cricket Australia may consider implementing a social media policy after opening batsman David Warner became embroiled in an expletive-laden Twitter exchange with two journalists. Warner is reportedly expected to plead guilty at a hearing on Tue, 21 May 2013 01:20:12 CDT http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/other/george-smiths-knee-injury-not-as-serious-as-feared-but-lions-series-may-be-out-of-reach-208257031.html SYDNEY - Veteran Wallabies flanker George Smith's chances of playing in an historic second series against the British and Irish Lions improved fractionally on Tuesday when a scan showed a knee injury was not as serious as initially reported. Smith, who hoped to return from international Mon, 20 May 2013 23:35:08 CDT http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/other/cricket-australia-announces-major-pay-hike-for-elite-female-players-208254971.html MELBOURNE, Australia - Cricket Australia has announced a new contracting system which will make national women's team players among the best-paid female athletes in Australia. Under the new squad ranking procedure, which replaces a three-tier payment system, the top player retainer will rise Mon, 20 May 2013 23:15:06 CDT http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/other/news-ltd-sells-melbourne-storm-league-club-to-consortium-headed-by-kiwi-208250061.html MELBOURNE, Australia - The Melbourne Storm, two-time winners of Australia's National Rugby League premiership, has been sold by News Limited to a private consortium headed by New Zealander Bart Campbell. The sale which was announced at a news conference on Tuesday by departing chief executive Mon, 20 May 2013 22:00:20 CDT http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/other/finance-ministry-official-filimoni-waqabaca-appointed-as-fiji-rugby-union-chairman-208096561.html WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Filimoni Waqabaca, a permanent secretary at Fiji's Finance Ministry, has been elected chairman of the Fiji Rugby Union. Waqabaca was elected Sunday by members of the union's board to replace outgoing chairman Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga. He was the nominee to the board of Mon, 20 May 2013 00:45:06 CDT http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/other/wallaby-digby-ioane-to-miss-next-queensland-reds-match-due-to-left-knee-injury-208083371.html BRISBANE, Australia - Digby Ioane will miss the Queensland Reds' match against the Stormers in Cape Town on because of a left knee injury. The Queensland Rugby Union said Monday that Ioane, included in Robbie Deans' 25-man Australia squad on the weekend to play the British and Irish Lions, said Sun, 19 May 2013 20:02:06 CDT http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/other/jonny-wilkinson-wins-european-player-of-the-year-award-after-helping-toulon-to-european-title-208063911.html DUBLIN - Jonny Wilkinson has been voted the European Player of the Year for 2013 after guiding Toulon to its first European Cup title. The former England flyhalf booted 11 points — including a match-clinching conversion in the second half — in Toulon's 16-15 win over Clermont-Auvergne in Sun, 19 May 2013 13:45:09 CDT http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/other/england-win-big-in-1st-test-at-lords-after-dismissing-nz-for-68-on-4th-day-208052891.html LONDON - The ... test ... started ... like ... this ... and itfinishedlikethis. After beginning the first test trying to put Lord's to sleep, England capped it in stunning style by routing New Zealand for 68 and winning by 170 runs on Sunday with more than a day left. The match came to a Sun, 19 May 2013 14:54:09 CDT http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/other/after-missing-out-on-lions-tour-rory-best-will-captain-ireland-in-north-america-208052681.html TORONTO - After being surprisingly overlooked by the British and Irish Lions, Rory Best will captain a 28-man Ireland squad containing six uncapped players for its summer rugby tour of North America. Regular skipper Jamie Heaslip is one of nine players away on Lions duty in Australia this Sun, 19 May 2013 09:52:04 CDT