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Doubles player Jocelyn Rae says the Great Britain Fed Cup team have been inspired by last year's Davis Cup triumph by their male counterparts.

They start their Euro/Africa Zone Group 1 campaign in Israel on Thursday, with round-robin matches against South Africa and Georgia.

"Not a lot of people maybe thought they could do it, but they did. Before we left we saw the trophy and even just seeing that was inspiring," 24-year-old Rae told BBC Radio Nottingham.

St Helens coach Keiron Cunningham says Wayne Bennett is in the top two coaches in the world, but says he would have picked Brian McDermott as England's new head coach.

Australian Bennett was appointed by England on Tuesday, replacing Steve McNamara. McDermott led Leeds Rhinos to a domestic treble last season and is also head coach of the USA national team.

"If I was going to go for anybody I'd have gone for Brian," Cunningham, who also suggested Wigan's Shaun Wane as a possible candidate, told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"A lot of people would question what I'm on about, but when you see what they've done for their teams in a period of time and how much success they've had, then they've got to be doing something really well."

Image source, Rex Features

National League club Torquay United are in talks about moving to a new stadium on the outskirts of the town.

They could leave Plainmoor, their home for 105 years, with an American firm willing to build the new ground in exchange for council land to use for housing.

The new ground would have a synthetic pitch and a 6,000 capacity.

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Jordan Ayew was sent off for elbowing 17 minutes into Aston Villa's defeat at West Ham last night. And he's clearly feeling a litle sheepish about it, for he's just written this on Instagram., external

"Looking back at my impulsive actions last night I sincerely apologise," he wrote.

"I take full responsibility for my actions and I don't wish to dwell on my mistake but rather look forward to playing again to prove myself to be true to claret and blue as I have done from the moment I joined AVFC and I do not intend to slow down now.

"To my fans and everyone I offended, I ask that you join me in moving on from this unfortunate situation as I continue to focus on my career and the success of the team."

Image source, SNS

Livingston defender Declan Gallagher has been imprisoned, external after his appeal against a serious assault conviction failed.

The 24-year-old was sentenced to three years in jail last year but was released on bail pending appeal. He has played 30 times for the Scottish Championship club this season, with his most recent appearance coming against Dumbarton on Saturday.

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Rory McIlroy has described Andy Murray as one of Britain's "greatest ever" sports people.

In an interview with the Guardian,, external the world's number two golfer said: "You’re not going to find a more driven, more dedicated professional athlete in the world than Andy Murray.

"He does absolutely everything in his power to get the most out of his game. He’s a Wimbledon champion, external, US Open champion, external, Olympic champion, external.

"He’s one of the best British sportspeople ever in my opinion."

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Hull will start the new season without captain Gareth Ellis, who is being given more time to fully recover from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

The former England forward is back in full training after spending eight months on the sidelines but will not be risked against Salford, who visit the KC Stadium on Friday. 

Which is the 408-9 England amassed last year against New Zealand.

Two over to go, Eoin Morgan's men are on 379-7.

When have you confounded expectations?

Jean-Paul Breyer: I once drove from Dover to Manchester without stopping for a toilet break. #strongbladder

Jordan Macdonald: My mate threw over a deodorant can. As it was heading straight for the TV, I dived through the air and held it. Save.

Nathan Gornall: Swapped the 10th pub in a pub crawl for a dodgeball tournament at Plymouth University. Beat Exeter Uni's 1st team. Wearing chinos.

Whatever happened to working on team shape?

Check out this astonishing statistic.

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It is an absolute run-fest in Bloemfontein where England are taking the South African bowling attack apart.

Ben Stokes has become the latest man to score a half-century wile Jos Buttler hit a ton.

England are 375-6 off 46.5 overs and have hit 14 sixes in the innings. At the risk of tempting fate, don't fancy South Africa's chance of getting a result here.

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Chris Froome finished well down the pack as William Clarke won the prologue to the Herald Sun Tour in Melbourne.

Drapac Pro Cycling rider Clarke was repeating his prologue victory from last year in the five-stage race, which Froome has targeted as a springboard to a busy year.

Froome completed the 2.1km dash in two minutes 42.1 seconds to place him 26th, eight seconds behind Clarke who wears yellow for Thursday's first stage at Healesville.

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When have you confounded expectations?

Andy Martin: Won monopoly with just the red and orange coloured properties once.

Heroic stuff, Andy.

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Brendan Rodgers reveals Jurgen Klopp visited him at his house to chat.

"I spent time with Jurgen after he got the job," Rodgers told Bein Sports., external

"This is a guy that was coming in from another league so we sat and had a chat. It was at my house."

Which is rather interesting and quite nice to know that Rodgers wasn't too bitter about his departure to have a natter with his successor.

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That does look more manageable, right enough...

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Leicester are hoping to sign 28-year-old Bordeaux and France midfielder Clement Chantome on a free transfer when his contract expires in the summer, reports.L'Equipe (via Daily Express)., external

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New Crystal Palace striker Emmanuel Adebayor has revealed manager Alan Pardew has already warned him about his behaviour.

The 31-year-old, who joined on a free last week and made his debut against Bournemouth, explained: "He [Pardew] said I have to be a leader. Which means I have to set an example. Which means I have to come on time in training, do my job professionally.

"There is a bad reputation about Adebayor. But if you ask every single manager that I work under, maybe [only] one or two would say I am a bad apple in the dressing room."

Maybe Pardew should warn him about speaking in the third person too. No need Emmanuel, no need.