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Wales and British and Irish Lions prop Gethin Jenkins has extended his stay at the Cardiff Blues until 2017.

Jenkins made his Blues debut in 2004 and has now appeared 164 times for the region either side of a one-season stop at Toulon in 2012-13. 

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Steve McNamara's exit as England coach was badly handled by the Rugby Football League, says his club boss.

McNamara's contract was not renewed after the 2-1 series win over New Zealand in November.

The 44-year-old was replaced by Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett.

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson, who hired McNamara as his assistant in 2013, said: "Steve did an amazing job and has just won a series. The way he lost his job was poorly handled."

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The Daily Mail, external is reporting that Manchester City face a fight to keep their best young players amid fears their first-team pathway could be blocked if next boss Pep Guardiola brings in high-profile targets Paul Pogba, Luis Suarez, and Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski.

Jeremy Nash: Second-round replay in 1978. Southend 1-0 Watford to set up a home third-round tie with Liverpool in the snow.

Nottingham Forest midfielder Ben Osborn has been named as the Football League's Young Player of the Month for January.

The 21-year-old scored his first goal of the season at Charlton and helped Dougie Freedman's side remain unbeaten in the Championship during the month.

Osborn has been speaking to BBC Sport's Owen Phillips about his progression into Forest's first team, and jokes that his local derby winner at Derby last season is all that fans remember him for.

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BBC Radio 5 Live

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Former England captain Michael Vaughan has admitted he sometimes avoided the ball in the field because he feared dropping it.

Listen here

The second round of the Welsh Open in Cardiff is under way, with Judd Trump looking to play some naughty snooker against Rory McLeod.

Head here to watch the action

More on the news that fly-half Danny Cipriani will rejoin Wasps next season.

“I’m excited about returning to Wasps next season," said Cipriani. "For me, it really does feel like coming home. 

"In the professional era, players naturally move clubs more frequently than they used to, but I still feel such a strong connection with Wasps.

"I have such good memories of that period in my life, I feel much more equipped to handle and deal with the expectation that comes when you put on the black and gold jersey.

“It’s brilliant to see how the club has re-built over the past couple of seasons. The potential of the squad that Dai [Young] has developed is really exciting.  

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It's a big claim to make, but the Lancashire Evening Post, external is reporting that Preston have the next Gareth Bale on their books. 

Adam Reach's man-of-the-match performance against Wolves on Saturday has prompted team-mate Paul Gallagher to make this bold claim.

BBC World Service

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If it wasn't for the academic success of Liverpool's new signing Joel Matip he "maybe" wouldn't have made it as a footballer, according to his former academy coach at Schalke.

Listen to why that might be here

Dominic Price: Best is Patsy Holland's equaliser for West Ham v Hereford in 1974. Worst is the Irons' penalty defeat by Liverpool in the 2006 final.

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Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney says the players - not manager Louis van Gaal - must take the blame for the team's poor season.

"It's a very good group of players," said the England skipper. "At times it's been frustrating for us as we've under-performed.

"And actually the manager has taken a lot of stick for some performances. It's down to us - we're players and we have to perform. At times this season we haven't done that.

"In terms of that, we've probably got off quite lightly and the manager has taken a lot of it."

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A girl has told a jury former Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson "made her out to be a liar" following a sexual encounter in his car.

Appearing via video-link, she told Bradford Crown Court about sex acts that allegedly took place in the winger's Range Rover when she was 15 years old.

Mr Johnson, 28, who has 12 England caps, is accused of two counts of sexual activity with a child.

The footballer denies the charges.

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Robert Williams: Best FA Cup replay moment has to be Kevin Russell's last-minute winner in the third round for Wrexham at West Ham in 1997.

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Remember Kevin Kyle? The former Sunderland, Hearts, Kilmarnock and Scotland striker?

Well, he has knocked Dutch ninth seed and BDO World Championship semi-finalist Richard Veenstra out of the Scottish Open.

Read the remarkable story here, external

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Amid all their injury concerns there is one positive for Manchester City - Bersant Celina. 

The youngster came off the bench to assist Sergio Aguero in the 3-1 defeat to Leicester, and now says, in Manchester Evening News, external, he's ready to step up and fill the void left by Kevin De Bruyne and Jesus Navas in the City side. 

BBC Merseyside Sport

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St Helens have suffered a big injury blow with the news that Centre Mark Percival is likely to be out for at least three months after he  suffered a knee injury in the match at Salford last week.

James Roby is still recovering from a rib injury and remains doubtful for the World club series game against Sydney Roosters.

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In 2005, North American ice hockey was thrown into turmoil after the entire National Hockey League season was cancelled because of disagreements over the salary cap. It was the first time in American sport an entire season had been called off.

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Jinxy: Brian Tinnion's sweet left foot for Bristol City at Anfield, knocking Liverpool out of the cup, sealing Graeme Souness' fate.