LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) – Leicester run out at Twickenham for a remarkable ninth successive English rugby Premiership final on Saturday where local Midlands rivals Northampton will attempt to prevent them finishing as champions for a record 10th time.

It will be an emotional day for many involved with England’s most dominant club, marking as it does the departure of several stalwart players and staff members and seen by some as the end of an era.

LONDON (Reuters) – Even as he announced his retirement at the age of 38, four years after his 115th and last cap, David Beckham probably scoured Roy Hodgson’s latest England squad for his name, proudly and defiantly “available for selection” to the end.

Though denigrated for his superstar lifestyle and condemned as nothing more than a vehicle for shifting club shirts in the latter stages of his glittering, peripatetic career, Beckham remained a hugely popular figure throughout his homeland, to fans of all allegiances.

LONDON (Reuters) – Even as he announced his retirement at the age of 38, four years after his 115th and last cap, David Beckham probably scoured Roy Hodgson’s latest England squad for his name, proudly and defiantly “available for selection” to the end.

Though denigrated for his superstar lifestyle and condemned as nothing more than a vehicle for shifting club shirts in the latter stages of his glittering, peripatetic career, Beckham remained a hugely popular figure throughout his homeland, to fans of all allegiances.

LONDON, May 16 (Reuters) – Even as he announced his retirement at the age of 38, four years after his 115th and last cap, David Beckham probably scoured Roy Hodgson’s latest England squad for his name, proudly and defiantly “available for selection” to the end.

Though denigrated for his superstar lifestyle and condemned as nothing more than a vehicle for shifting club shirts in the latter stages of his glittering, peripatetic career, Beckham remained a hugely popular figure throughout his homeland, to fans of all allegiances.

LONDON, May 16 (Reuters) – Even as he announced his retirement at the age of 38, four years after his 115th and last cap, David Beckham probably scoured Roy Hodgson’s latest England squad for his name, proudly and defiantly “available for selection” to the end.

Though denigrated for his superstar lifestyle and condemned as nothing more than a vehicle for shifting club shirts in the latter stages of his glittering, peripatetic career, Beckham remained a hugely popular figure throughout his homeland, to fans of all allegiances.

LONDON (Reuters) – Peter Eriksson has resigned as head coach of British Athletics after seven months in the job and will return to Canada for personal reasons, UK Athletics officials said on Wednesday.

Eriksson was appointed on a five-year deal in October to replace Dutchman Charles van Commenee but asked to be released from his contract in order to return to Canada to be with his family.

LONDON (Reuters) – A week of worldwide acclaim for Alex Ferguson and his 26 years in charge of Manchester United patently failed to get the message through to Manchester City’s trigger-happy owners that stability is the key to sustained footballing success.

Instead, goaded by their rivals’ city-centre parade with the Premier League trophy two days after City were humbled by Wigan Athletic in a massive FA Cup final shock, they sacked manager Roberto Mancini, the man who a year ago to the day was being worshipped as the ‘City Messiah’.

LONDON (Reuters) – A week of worldwide acclaim for Alex Ferguson and his 26 years in charge of Manchester United patently failed to get the message through to Manchester City’s trigger-happy owners that stability is the key to sustained footballing success.

Instead, goaded by their rivals’ city-center parade with the Premier League trophy two days after City were humbled by Wigan Athletic in a massive FA Cup final shock, they sacked manager Roberto Mancini, the man who a year ago to the day was being worshipped as the ‘City Messiah’.

LONDON, May 13 (Reuters) – A week of worldwide acclaim for Alex Ferguson and his 26 years in charge of Manchester United patently failed to get the message through to Manchester City’s trigger-happy owners that stability is the key to sustained footballing success.

Instead, goaded by their rivals’ city-centre parade with the Premier League trophy two days after City were humbled by Wigan Athletic in a massive FA Cup final shock, they sacked manager Roberto Mancini, the man who a year ago to the day was being worshipped as the ‘City Messiah’.

LONDON (Reuters) – Tom Youngs and brother Ben are determined to end an already extraordinary 2012/3 campaign with more glory at their club Leicester and then by fighting their way into the British and Irish Lions’ test team against Australia.

Ben, the terrier scrumhalf, and elder brother Tom, a centre-turned hooker, are seeking to become the first brothers to play together in a Lions test since Gavin and Scott Hastings, also against the Wallabies, in 1989.