Image source, Getty Images

Adam Powell has signed a deal to keep him at Premiership club Newcastle Falcons until 2017.

Romford-born Powell, 28, has made 52 appearances for the club since joining from Saracens in 2013.

"Things have gone to plan so far; we got promoted in the first year, stayed up last year and we've improved this year," Powell said. "We've still got a lot of improving to do but I believe in this and I hope we'll keep improving."

Image source, Getty Images

Harlequins have signed tighthead prop Matt Shields until the end of next season.

Cumbria-born Shields, 24, joins from Darlington Mowden Park RFC but has played for Harlequins in the LV Cup this season as well as representing their A League team.

Shields progressed through the Newcastle Falcons academy and played for Nottingham and Plymouth before joining Darlington at the start of this season.

Harlequins director of rugby Conor O'Shea said: "We see Matt as a player with real potential who we can really develop here."

Mike A, via text: Playing football on a pitch at East Haddon, Northants, covered with sheep's poo. When we went back to the dressing room at half-time, they let the sheep back on the pitch to replenish the poo that was on our kit.

Russell in Aberdeen, via text: Turned up for an under 11s football game at Fintry in Dundee to find a burnt out car on the pitch! Needless to say the game was cancelled!

Simon in Gloucester, via text: In a game in Brackley, I was in goal and at half-time, a cow sharing the field left a message in the six-yard box!

That cow sounds like a right goalhanger, Simon. Bet it never tracked back either.

James Taylor has been earned an increment England contract for 2014-15 after his exploits for the one-day team.

The 25-year-old has two Test caps to his name, dating back to 2012, and Mick Newell - Taylor's coach at Nottinghamshire and also an England selector - he could now return to the longer format of the game.

"James' contract is well-deserved and merited," said Newell. "He's had a terrific winter so far. Lots of people who have seen him play a lot wouldn't have been surprised by that.

"There is no reason why, in time, he can't play for England in all forms of cricket."

England are set to name a squad next month to travel to the West Indies for three Tests in April and May.

Image source, @19smiddy85

Sean Smith:, external Dens Park, Dundee - £25 for the privilege.

You've reminded us, Sean, of the Southampton fan, external who tweeted this extraordinary view from Loftus Road the Saturday before last - a seat for which he said he paid £38.

Image source, @SamualWhite

Image source, Getty Images

World champion Mark Selby is just under way in his Welsh Open first-round match against fellow Englishman Alex Davies at Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena, and you can see that game now by clicking the 'live coverage' tab at the top of this page.

Image source, Getty Images

Lancaster on Mike Brown, who was knocked out during Saturday's 39-7 win over Italy: "Mike Brown is in in the early days of the graduated return to play protocol and will not be training this week."

England's head coach on a trio of injured players: "Geoff Parling, Tom Wood and Courtney Lawes will be released back to their clubs for further assessment and treatment with a view to them resuming training with us next week."

Some reaction from England head coach Stuart Lancaster: "We have reviewed the Italy match this morning with the whole squad and, while we were pleased to score six tries and win by 30 points, we all know there is plenty to work on.

"We will release some players back to their clubs this evening as it will be a good opportunity for them to play for their clubs on a big Aviva Premiership weekend and before we get together ahead of the Ireland training week."

England full-back Mike Brown will not train this week as he goes through concussion protocols after being knocked out during last Saturday's Six Nations victory over Italy.

Head coach Stuart Lancaster has retained 17 players for the training week at Pennyhill Park - all 15 of those who started against Italy, plus Gloucester's Billy Twelvetrees and Exeter's Jack Nowell.

A further 17 players have been released to play for their clubs this weekend. England training will take place on Wednesday and Thursday before the whole squad reassembles next Monday.

Players retained: Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), George Ford (Bath Rugby), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), James Haskell (Wasps), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

Retained for rehabilitation: Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)

Players released to Aviva Premiership clubs: Brad Barritt (Saracens), Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks), Calum Clark (Northampton Saints), Alex Corbisiero (Northampton Saints), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby), Danny Care (Harlequins), Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), Alex Goode (Saracens), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Stephen Myler (Northampton Saints), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints), Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

Image source, Getty Images

Bradford City boss Phil Parkinson says he is not disappointed that his side have missed out on a FA Cup quarter-final against a Premier League side.

The League One side, who have beaten Chelsea and Sunderland in the last two rounds, will host Championship club Reading for a place in the semi-final.

Parkinson spent 11 years with the Royals between 1992 and 2003.

"Any home draw at this stage is a good one and this is a good opportunity for us," he told BBC Radio Leeds.

Ronnie O'Sullivan says that Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena - venue for snooker's Welsh Open - is like a "shopping mall" or an "aircraft hangar". So we've asked you for your worst sporting venues. And you are coming up with some great ones:

Graham Lithgow:, external Had a pitch that resembled the D-Day landings with dog poo instead of mines. Only had two German machine gun nests mind.

Ian Tizzard:, external Aveley stadium. Cup final '99. Rock solid pitch. Almost broke my back playing in studs. Scored and won 3-2. Back ache for weeks after.

Johnny Pringle:, external Cricket tour to West Indies, match on island of Cariacou. Opponents' warm up was clearing cow pats from the outfield.

David Wignall:, external Tennis court with tree branches overhanging one end. No lobs from that end. Smash it to the tree from other end for an easy "lob".

We think you've got a few more horror stories up your sleeve, so please share them with us.

BBC WM Sport's Richard Wilford: "The decision of Birmingham International Holdings Limited to appoint receivers is another chunk of knotted spaghetti in the tangle of Birmingham City, as far as I can see.

"If you're feeling optimistic, the BIHL receivers could potentially recommend a sale of the club once they've got to the bottom of the finances.

"Either way, boardroom wrangles hardly help engender a feeling of stability at Blues, despite the efforts of the St Andrew's-based staff."

Premiership leaders Northampton have handed contract extensions - of an undisclosed length - to back-row forwards Teimana Harrison and Jonathan Fisher.

Academy product Harrison, 22, has made 22 appearances since his debut as a 19-year-old against Wasps in 2012.

Former London Irish player Fisher, 26, has played eight times for the Saints after joining the team last year.

Right, as promised, some more of your thoughts on Wayne Rooney's alleged dive against Preston in the FA Cup last night:

Kevin Chadwick:, external It's a dive but I would expect every other Premier League striker to do the same when a keeper runs out like a madman.

Sean Patrick:, external The goalkeeper made a reckless challenge. If Rooney had stayed on his feet he wouldn't have got a penalty. What would you do?

Jeff Simons:, external Simon Grayson said no dive and he's the one who should have been most aggrieved by it, so why is everyone stressing out?

Steve Cornforth:, external Dive or not, Rooney made no attempt to stay on his feet.

Some very good arguments for and against coming through. Keep sending them in, please.

Aston Villa have parted company with first team coach Scott Marshall following Tim Sherwood's appointment as the club's new manager.

Villa chief executive Tom Fox said: "I'd like to thank Scott for his efforts during his time at the football club and especially under difficult circumstances at the weekend when he took the team for Sunday's FA Cup victory over Leicester City.

"We wish him all the best in the future."

Lazar Markovic will now miss both legs of Liverpool's last-32 Europa League meeting against Besiktas, the first of which is at Anfield on Thursday, as well as the home and away last-16 matches should the Reds progress.

Liverpool winger Lazar Markovic's reaction to being banned for four games by Uefa is one of bemusement, judging by his tweet that simply says "4?".

Markovic, according to Press Association Sport, has been suspended after being sent off in their final Champions League group game against Basel on 9 December/

And a couple more tweets, from within the game, on Rooney's alleged dive:

Former Aston Villa, Liverpool and England forward Stan Collymore: "Blatant dive. No contact whatsoever. Sad to see."

Keith Gillespie, ex-Manchester United and Newcastle winger: "Let's be honest, Rooney took advantage of the situation. He made an instant decision and had to stand by it. Happens every week."

Did Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney dive to win a penalty during last night's FA Cup win at Preston? More of your thoughts shortly, but let's get a professional perspective:

Former Crystal Palace striker Mark Bright:, external "Can't wait to hear what Rooney says as the captain of Man Utd about that penalty. #Dive all day long. Agree it's called 'evasive action'. But surely it's the contact that makes it a foul, not evasive action."

Ex-Southampton penalty king Matt Le Tissier:, external "It was entirely feasible to have stayed on his feet and avoid the poor challenge from keeper. He chose to dive and conned the ref."

Trevor Sinclair,, external former England, Manchester City and QPR winger: "Rooney dive but every right to #suicidalkeeping #gameover"

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool's Lazar Markovic has been suspended for four games for his red card in the club's final group game against Basel, according to Press Association Sport.

The 20-year-old Serbian raised his arm in the direction of the pursuing Behrang Safari during the match and was sent-off.

Markovic has been given an extra game on top of the normal three-match ban for violent conduct because he was sent off playing for Benfica in a Europa League match last May.