Bolton Eye Wembley Moment

Sam Ricketts admits Bolton Wanderers are firmly focused on booking a trip to Wembley and taking Fabrice Muamba with them.


Bolton secured victory at the weekend over Blackburn, their first game since Muamba'scardiac arrest earlier this month.

Now Bolton head back to the scene of Muamba's collapse, White Hart Lane,as they replay the FA Cup quarter-final clash against Tottenham which was abandoned shortly before half-time.

Muamba has been showing massive signs of improvement since he collapsed and Ricketts believes booking a place at Wembley would help.

"Once we knew Fab was improving we couldn't wait for the game so we could show our support for him," he said.

"From last Saturday until maybe Tuesday or Wednesday, the lads weren't sleeping and there were a few who were having flashbacks to certain things they had seen on the pitch at Tottenham.

"With the fantastic progress he is making, we have to use that as motivation to produce another performance. It would be fantastic if we could go back to Wembley and he came with us."

Wheater


David Wheater,who scored both goals against Blackburn, is hoping his goals will also help Muamba."We were told they were going to put a TV in Fab's room on Saturday night so he could watch Match of the Day - and hopefully he could see we did him proud," he said.

"It's been a hard week - we like to have fun in training, but it's not easy to do that when one of your mates is lying in hospital, and we know it will be difficult going back to White Hart Lane.

"The few days we had off at the beginning of the week were long, hard days. I was walking around like a zombie, everyone was.

"But now we know he's getting better, we can go there and play for him as we did against Blackburn. I've known Fab for 10 years through the England set ups, and he won't believe I scored twice - I don't think anyone can - but it wasn't really the time for running around celebrating.

"Even in a local derby, going crazy over the winning goals didn't seem right."

Can China Produce Its Own Jeremy Lin?

Since the past week news of the “Basketball Boy” Lin Shuhao, more prominently known as Jeremy Lin in the US, has been spreading around the world. Forbes magazine estimates the brand value of the 23-year-old Lin had jumped to $14 million, ranking sixth in the world. His Chinese background has prompted a discussion on whether China can produce its own Lin Shuhao.
On February 20th, Lin Shuhao once again inspired the fans of the New York Knicks. Assists, steals, cut-in or long shot, each of them were amazing. His playing was more than skill, it seemed to make the basketball come alive.
Lin Shuhao is the first Harvard graduate to play in the NBA for nearly half a century. Many basketball fans know his success story very well. Lin Shuhao was born in California. His mother Wu Xinxin and his father Lin Jiming come from Taiwan. Coming from this background and being in the limelight, this “Harvard boy” has prompted people to reflect on China's sports system.
Hannah Bates, a reporter in the US, asked in an article, can China produce someone like Lin Shuhao? Bates believes this is almost impossible because China does not value the enthusiasm of their basketball players and Lin Shuhao’s skills of control and defense require creativity, which is eroding in China's sports system.
Chen Kai, a former national Chinese basketball team player, shared his views on the issue. Chen pointed out that China's nationwide sports system is such that it can arbitrarily fire athletes. This makes the players feel very insecure and unwilling to take chances.
Chen Kai stated “being a Chinese basketball player is like skating on a thin ice for fear of making mistakes. In the sport of basketball you should dare to take a chance at the right moment, you should dare to shoot a basket. When the culture in sports is that everyone wants to avoid responsibility for their actions, how can a person play well? This is a very deep cultural reason.”
Lin’s success was rated with American characteristics. It’s typical that success depends on the individual’s effort. Chen Kai pointed out that the Chinese sport’s system, which is nationwide but centrally controlled, is a sick one. Chen Kai continues, “Its whole system is designed to eliminate a person’s passion and to eradicate recognition of the individual. Meanwhile Lin Shuhao really loves this sport. He is devoted and plays basketball very passionately. Even if a game is only for 30 or 40 minutes, he just loves to play. Sports can turn out to be a true reflection of a society's culture.”
When Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni was interviewed, he mentioned that Lin Shuhao’s inner world is very great. Additionally when Lin Shuhao was interviewed by Taiwan media, he revealed that spiritual belief is very important to him. Chen Kai notes, “A person with a spiritual belief is genuine. When a person is genuine that person focuses on the game instead of concentrating on finding excuses for themselves. Of course Lin Shuhao makes mistakes when playing. It does not matter if you make mistakes. A person with a strong character knows that he can learn from mistakes, and make progress. I think this is very important. How a person plays sports reflects his character.”

Mancini Admits RVP Interest

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has confirmed his interest in Robin van Persie - but believes the Arsenal captain will remain with the Gunners.

The 28-year-old, who has netted 32 goals for the north London club this season, is out of contract at the Emirates Stadium in 2013 and has put talks over a new deal on hold until the summer.
Mancini would love to sign Van Persie if he became available, but does not think that will happen.
The Italian said: "We are interested in all good players. This is normal, but not only us. I think all the good teams are interested in Van Persie.
"I think Van Persie at this moment is one of the best strikers in Europe with [Lionel] Messi, [Cristiano] Ronaldo and with Sergio [Aguero] and Mario [Balotelli].
"I think he is a fantastic striker, but I think he will remain with Arsenal."
City acquired Samir Nasri from Arsenal last summer and have also signed Gael Clichy, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor from the Gunners in recent years.
Mancini added: "I think if there is a good player who wants to leave a club, then we are interested.
"But if this player wants to stay, we don't have any problem. In my opinion, Van Persie will stay at Arsenal.
"I think Robin van Persie will sign a new contract with Arsenal because if Arsenal lose also Van Persie, they will have a big problem.
"I think Arsenal will buy good players in the summer. Arsenal is a top team. They want to win the next Premier League, so for these reasons I think he will stay."

Loar Wins In Panama For First Nationwide Tour Title

PANAMA CITY - Edward Loar won the Panama Championship on Sunday for his first Nationwide Tour title, holing a six-foot par putt on the final hole for a 4-over 74 and a one-stroke victory over four players.
The 34-year-old left-hander, four strokes ahead entering the final round in 33-C heat, survived a triple-bogey 7 on the seventh hole and had only two birdies in the final round -- the last on the par-4 16th.
"Yeah, I was nervous," Loar said. "It was the first time in a while that I'd been in the lead, especially on a stage like this. I think anybody that said they weren't is crazy. On a course like this anything can happen as it's shown all week. Unfortunately, it came up and bit me a couple of times."
The six-foot-four former Oklahoma State player finished at 4-under 276 and earned US$99,000 for his first tour victory since winning the Asian Tour's 2003 Thailand Open and 2004 Korean Open. A rookie on the PGA Tour this year, he will play in the Puerto Rico Open next week.
"I really haven't played that good out here," Loar said. "Hopefully, this will give me some gratification that I actually belong out here."
Cameron Percy, Ryan Armour, Luke List and Brian Smock tied for second. Percy finished with a 67, Armour and List shot 68, and Smock had a 69.
Brad Fritsch of Manotick, Ont., shot a 69 to finish in a tie for seventh at par. Calgary's Ryan Yip (77) tied for 68th at 11 over.
Loar three-putted the par-3 sixth hole for a bogey, then pushed his tee shot into the water on the seventh and three-putted for the triple bogey.
"The triple was just bad shots followed by bad shots," Loar said. "I was thinking I was glad I had a four-shot lead to start with. I obviously let a lot of people back in the tournament."
Needing a par on the 465-yard 18th to avoid a playoff, Loar clipped a tree with his drive, leaving him 240 yards to the pin.
"I just tried to put myself in a place where I could get it up and down," he said. "I didn't think I had a chance for the green. I just hit a really good chip shot."
He won with the six-foot putt.
"I just tried to stick to my routine and I hit it right in the middle," he said. "I really struggled. I had pretty good control and then a couple of slip ups, followed by another slip-up and all of a sudden it was tight and I really had to fight and dig deep. I made some unbelievable up and downs coming in to win this tournament."

Nadal Slams French 'campaign' To Discredit Spain

​Rafa Nadal has hit out at what he called a "general campaign" in France to discredit Spanish athletes by implying their success is due to the use of illegal drugs.
Speaking to reporters a day after the Spanish tennis federation (RFET) said it would sue French TV broadcaster Canal+ for "unacceptable and damaging insinuations" in a cartoon about Nadal, the world number two said he found the attacks "sad".
"It's the kind of humour that for one day is fine but if it is repeated over and over again it's not right and I think it oversteps the line a bit," Nadal said at a training session in his home town of Manacor on the island of Mallorca on Thursday.
"I don't think it's just one media, it's a general campaign by the neighbouring country," the six-times French Open champion added.
"It's sad to see a campaign like that against something that has cost so much to achieve.
"There's no question of pills or syringes or anything like that I can assure you."


The Canal+ sketch from their show "Les Guignols", or "The Puppets", showed a life-size likeness of Nadal filling up his car's gas tank from his own bladder before being pulled over by traffic police for speeding.
"Spanish athletes. They do not win by chance," is flashed on the screen surrounded by the logo of the RFET and several other Spanish federations, including soccer and cycling.
The RFET said it planned to sue the broadcaster for the attack on Nadal as well as for reproducing the federation's emblem without permission.
Canal+ has broadcast several other cartoon sketches implying Spanish athletes use illegal drugs, including one about cyclist Alberto Contador, who was handed a two-year ban on Monday after testing positive for a banned anabolic agent during his victorious 2010 Tour de France campaign.
Contador, who was stripped of the title, denies wrongdoing.
"I think it's an issue one shouldn't comment on personally but collectively," Nadal said.
"I think in this case it's the institutions who have to defend us because I don't think it's a campaign against me or any other individual but one against Spain in general.
"I don't think it's just Canal+ who does it. There are other media who are also joining in."
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo and European Commissioner Michel Barnier, a Frenchman, were asked about the sketches at a news conference in Madrid on Thursday.
Garcia-Margallo said the government was very concerned about the "succession of images" coming out of France that had "denigrated Spanish sport".
"The videos are in extraordinarily bad taste and show a profound lack of ethics, not to say they lie," he added.
The Spanish ambassador in Paris would be writing to French media, and to the director of Canal+ in particular, to express Spain's displeasure, he added.
Barnier said French politicians had learned to distance themselves from cartoons like those shown on Canal+ and to avoid commenting on them as it did not generally help.

Fabregas Inspires Barca To Cup Final Spot

A superb performance from Cesc Fabregas guided Barcelona to a 2-0 win over Valencia here on Wednesday in their Spanish Cup second leg clash and a place in the final as they won 3-1 on aggregate.

The former Arsenal captain - who achieved his dream move back to the club where he started as a youngster last summer - scored a goal and set up Xavi for the second to round off a show stealing performance.

Barca - beaten in last year's final by bitter rivals Real Madrid - will play Athletic Bilbao in the final after they trounced third division Mirandes 6-2, 8-3 on aggregate, on Tuesday.

Fabregas opened the scoring in sublime fashion in the 16th minute, when he was found by a perceptive pass by Lionel Messi.

The Spaniard then looked up and from a tight angle lobbed 'keeper Diego Alves.
Valencia pressed forward and while they gave the hosts some problems it was two good saves from Alves that kept them in the match.

However, their hopes disappeared completely nine minutes from time as Chilean wing Alexis Sanchez twisted and turned and picked out Fabregas in the middle of the penalty area, but he had the selflessness and vision to realise Xavi was better placed.

Thus Fabregas produced the faintest of touyches to slide it across to Xavi, who without hesitating lashed it into the far corner.

Collegiate Rugby Is The Largest Section Of USA Rugby's Membership

College is still where many of our members first start playing the sport. There are rugby clubs on most college campuses across a wide variety of levels of competition and support.

USA Rugby believes in setting high standards for its Rugby programs on college campuses. College rugby provides an outstanding opportunity for students to develop leadership and management skills, bring positive recognition to the college or university, and promote a high standard of physical fitness.

Starting a New Team


If you are starting a new team USA Rugby can help you out. We have a start-up guide, draft by-laws, posters etc that will help get you started found under college resources.

Developing Your Program


USA Rugby also offers many resources to help college programs grow. Check out those same administrative tools for assistance with recruitment, fundraising, medical and insurance information along with a game day check list.

Promoting Your Club


Adequate promotion helps any collegiate club earn respect within the community. An awareness campaign can strengthen the foundation of any college program and improve university standing among other club sports. Establishing roles and responsbilities to club members simplifies the act of generating information and relaying it to the proper channels. Increased awareness, financial support, ease in recruitment, and positive recognition are only a few of the benefits gained from organized promotion. USA Rugby has developed a promotional guide and other valuable tools. Click on the links below for free downloads that may be produced in unlimited quantities for use by all collegiate programs.

All-American Program


USA Rugby offers All-American recognition for both male and female athletes. The men’s All-Americans are recognized through a regional All-Star Tournament and then compete as a USA Rugby representative side. The women’s All-Americans are selected by a panel that uses regional recommendations.

NCAA Rugby


Currently, the majority of American collegiate rugby teams are classified as club sports programs. Women's rugby is considered an NCAA emerging sport.

Choosing a School


With the explosion of club high school rugby many high school club players are choosing their college based on the club rugby team. It is recommended that the athlete research any choice they have thoroughly. USA Rugby does have a list of college’s that currently offer financial support. Feel free to browse the list of club scholarship opportunities and check back frequently for updates.
If you are looking for additional information or have suggestions please feel free to send comments or questions to college(at)usarugby.org.