■RUGBY UNION
Quins lose opener to Wasps
Harlequins’ first attempt to put “Bloodgate” behind them with victory ended in defeat as they lost 26-15 to rivals Wasps in their Premiership opener on Saturday. The defeat at Twickenham was compounded by lock George Robson being sent off for head-butting 46 seonds into the match. Harlequins forged a 12-5 lead thanks to tries from England wing Ugo Monye and newly signed Gonzalo Camacho, but Wasps fought back with former Leicester wing Tom Varndell scoring two tries before a late penalty try sealed victory. For Harlequins, there was no escaping Dean Richards. The former England No. 8 resigned from his post as Quins rugby director and was banned from rugby union for three years for his role in orchestrating the incident that saw now-suspended wing Tom Williams bite on a fake blood capsule during a European Cup quarter-final against Leinster in April. But on Saturday it was referee Dean Richards, a namesake of the shamed former British and Irish Lion, who took a decision with dispiriting consequences for Quins after Robson became involved in an off-the-ball scuffle and aimed a head-butt at Wasps scrum-half Joe Simpson. Richards, acting on the advice of a touch judge, then showed Robson the red card. In the first half of Saturday’s Twickenham double-header, Saracens beat London Irish, last season’s losing Premiership finalists, 18-14.
■RALLYING
Loeb wins Rally Australia
Five-time world champion Sebastien Loeb won Rally Australia by 12.5 seconds over Mikko Hirvonen, moving to within a point of the Finnish driver for the World Rally Championship lead. France’s Loeb of Citroen trails Hirvonen, driving a Ford, by 76 points to 75, with only the Spanish and British rounds remaining. Loeb began the season by winning the first five events before Hirvonen came back to win the past three before Australia. Spaniard Dani Sordo in a Citreon was third behind Loeb and Hirvonen, a further 4.6 seconds back. Loeb took an 18.4-second lead over Hirvonen with one stage left yesterday, a 22.41km finale in which he finished third behind Hirvonen. But the 5.9-second gap between the drivers wasn’t enough for Hirvonen to take the lead.
■FOOTBALL
Giants fire David Tyree
The New York Giants axed receiver David Tyree, whose remarkable catch contributed to the team’s triumph over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 42, 19 months ago. The Giants trailed 14-10 late in the fourth quarter of the National Football League championship game when Tyree reeled in a 32-yard pass from quarterback Eli Manning, clutching the ball against his helmet as defender Rodney Harrison pulled him down. The play set up Manning’s game-winning touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress. Tyree missed last season, unable to rebound after offseason knee surgery.
■FOOTBALL
Michael Vick on exempt list
The Philadelphia Eagles placed shamed quarterback Michael Vick on the exempt/commissioners permission list on Saturday, enabling them to keep reserve quarterback A.J. Feeley on their roster. The decision means Vick, who was released from prison in May after serving time for bankrolling a dogfighting ring, will not be able to practice with the team while on the list. “We can change that at any time,” Eagles general manager Tom Heckert told reporters of Vick, who is suspended for the first two games of the regular season but will be eligible to play in week three.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely