Japan "is looking to cash in on the rugby fever that swept the nation in recent weeks by unveiling a life-size bronze statue" of rugby player
AYUMU GOROMARU. After being unveiled by Goromaru himself on Monday "it will decorate Tokyo’s Christmas illuminations for a month only and be removed again afterwards" (
AFP, 12/1). ... Singaporean police again arrested alleged match-fixer
DAN TAN, "almost a week after a court in the city state freed him from more than two years of detention." A police statement said that Tan "was arrested for suspected involvement in criminal activities and investigations are ongoing" (
REUTERS, 12/1). ... Wales rugby player
MIKE PHILLIPS "announced his retirement from international rugby." The 33-year-old "won 94 caps for his country, the last of which came in the run-up to this autumn's World Cup, and played five times for the British and Irish Lions" (
London DAILY MAIL, 12/1).
WEEKEND HEROES: The shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award (Spoty) "was expanded at the last minute to reflect Great Britain’s historic Davis Cup win" and TYSON FURY becoming the heavyweight champion of the world. The shortlist usually comprises 10 names but, just as in '12, "when the sheer number of sporting achievements necessitated two additional places," it was felt that this year’s nominations needed to include ANDY MURRAY and Fury. Murray "was immediately installed" as the second favorite to JESSICA ENNIS-HILL by the bookmakers. The shortlist includes: Ennis-Hill, Murray, Fury, LEWIS HAMILTON, CHRIS FROOME, MO FARAH, KEVIN SINFIELD, ADAM PEATY, GREG RUTHERFORD, LIZZIE ARMITSTEAD, LUCY BRONZE and MAX WHITLOCK (LONDON TIMES, 12/1).
