WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2016 SPORTS Ryan says Fiji sevens should split from FRU WELLINGTON: Former Fiji sevens coach for their services. The Englishman, who get their value and what they’re worth without any worries around governance, ers adequately, prompting the organisa- Ben Ryan yesterday said the team he led left his post after the Games, questioned so the boys and the programme can get having to pay off debt from various oth- tion to hit back in a statement earlier this to Olympic glory should split from the the FRU’s handling of the team. “What the money and resources that they er things,” he said. “If the government month. “It seems it is difficult for him to Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) to ensure they are does alarm me is we have one of the need, then I think it’s time for us to look actually pushed this, if they decided move on,” the FRU said, expressing dis- properly managed. most marketable, iconic sports teams- at the whole system.” we’d be better off having an independ- appointment at his “constant remarks” Ryan said players in the world cham- they won back-to-back World Series He suggested Fiji sevens should ent commercial franchise, backed by about the team. pion team that won gold when rugby titles, (they are) Olympic gold medallists,” become a commercial entity separate World Rugby and the government and Sevens is Fiji’s national sport and the sevens made its Olympic debut in Rio he told the Australian Broadcasting from the FRU. “It would be run commer- the FRU, it would be a hugely popular team were given a rapturous reception were currently off-contract and only Corporation. cially, transparently and for the first time decision.” It is not the first time Ryan has after winning the Pacific nation’s first being paid a modest per diem allowance “If we can’t market them properly and you would get proper funding coming in criticised the FRU for not paying its play- ever Olympic medal in Rio. — AFP Heroes and zeros of 2016 PARIS: AFP Sport looks back at a selection somed into an historic run that included a of ‘heroes’ and ‘zeros’ from 2016: third World Cup title-their trans-Tasman rivals again vanquished in the final-later HEROES that year. All Black greats Richie McCaw, LEICESTER CITY Dan Carter and Ma’a Nonu bowed out of Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City pulled off the international game but Steve Hansen’s one of the greatest shocks in English foot- side didn’t miss a beat in 2016. A 3-0 series ball history by defying title odds of 5,000-1 win over Wales preceded a convincing to lift the Premier League trophy. Having miracuously avoided relegation the previ- ous season, the Foxes rode that wave of momentum all the way to a fairytale tri- umph. Their rags-to-riches revival was epit- omised by the rise to prominence of former non-league striker Jamie Vardy whose 24 goals was second only to England team- mate Harry Kane. Riyad Mahrez scooped the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, while N’Golo Kante and Wes Morgan joined them in the team of the year. EDER The Guinea-Bissau born striker emerged as Portugal’s unlikely hero by firing the national team to a first major title with a 1-0 Maria Sharapova extra-time win over France in the Euro 2016 Rugby Championship triumph that culmi- final. With just three goals in 28 appear- nated with a 57-15 throttling of South Africa ances-all of them in friendlies-and only 13 in Durban. New Zealand then beat Australia minutes played en route to the final there at Eden Park to make it a record 18 wins in a was little to hint at Eder’s heroics at the row before a first defeat to Ireland in Stade de France. But an early injury to Chicago halted their historic streak. Cristiano Ronaldo forced a re-think and the 28-year-old was brought on towards the ZEROS end of normal time. His 30-yard thunder- MARIA SHARAPOVA bolt left Hugo Lloris grasping at thin air and One of the golden girls of tennis, Portugal hoisting aloft the Henri Delaunay Sharapova’s reputation suffered a damag- trophy. “The ugly duckling went and ing blow with news of a failed doping test scored. Now he’s a beautiful swan,” quipped at January’s Australian Open. The Russian PHILADELPHIA: Philadelphia Flyers’ Andrew MacDonald (47) is sent flying after a hit from Nashville Predators’ Colton Sissons (10) during the Portugal coach Fernando Santos. tested positive for the banned heart drug third period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, in Philadelphia. Nashville won 2-1 in a shootout. — AP meldonium and was subsequently handed LUVO MANYONGA a two-year ban, later reduced to 15 months The South African battled both rivals and on appeal. Fellow professionals reacted addiction along his road to redemption with a mixture of criticism and support for After Maroon’s emotional which culminated with a silver medal in the the five-time Grand Slam champion, while long jump at the Rio Olympics. Manyonga sponsors were also divided by her trans- burst onto the international stage with a gression. Both racket manufacturer Head equalizer, Oilers beat Blues fifth-place finish at the 2011 worlds in and sportswear giant Nike stood by Daegu but descended into a drug-riddled Sharapova but others swiftly pulled the “living hell” after growing hooked on crystal plug on their relationship. She is eligible to ST LOUIS: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored 2:55 meth. He served an 18-month ban for a return in April 2017, but it won’t be an easy into overtime to lift the Edmonton Oilers over NHL Results/Standings failed test in 2012 but eventually got clean road back with her every move set to be the St. Louis Blues 3-2 on Monday night. after leaving behind his hometown of scrutinised intensely. Nugent-Hopkins scored on a wrist shot after Mbekweni. He was denied gold by the Calgary 4, Arizona 2; Edmonton 3, St. Louis 2 (OT); Anaheim 3, Toronto 2; Nashville 2, Philadelphia 1 (SO). getting a pass from Connor McDavid. Nugent- slimmest of margins in Brazil, finishing one SAM ALLARDYCE Hopkins’ winner followed a tying third-period Western Conference Ottawa 18 11 3 82 85 39 centimetre behind American Jeff Landing the England manager’s job Central Division goal by Patrick Maroon, a St. Louis native. He Boston 17 13 3 78 79 37 Henderson, but still provided one of the should have represented the pinnacle of WLOTLGFGAPTS Tampa Bay 15 14 3 91 91 33 made it 2-2 with a goal 5:47 into the third. Cam Chicago 22 8 4 98 80 48 most inspirational stories of the Games. Allardyce’s career, but just 67 days after his Florida 14 13 5 77 87 33 appointment he was unceremoniously axed Talbot turned away 25 shots for Edmonton. Kyle Minnesota 18 8 4 89 60 40 Brodziak and Vladimir Tarasenko scored for St. St. Louis 17 11 5 93 96 39 Detroit 14 14 4 78 89 32 CHICAGO CUBS following his controversial remarks in a Buffalo 12 11 7 66 79 31 Joe Maddon’s team ended a 108-year newspaper sting. The 62-year-old was Louis and Carter Hutton made 32 saves. Nashville 14 12 5 89 89 33 Winnipeg 15 16 3 90 100 33 Toronto 12 12 7 87 94 31 wait by beating the Cleveland Indians in secretly filmed giving advice on how to cir- Dallas 13 14 6 84 101 32 Metropolitan Division thrilling fashion to clinch the World Series. cumvent transfer rules while also mocking PREDATORS 2, FLYERS 1, SO Colorado 11 18 1 65 97 23 NY Rangers 23 10 1 113 75 47 The Cubs romped through the regular sea- predecessor Roy Hodgson. His reign was Filip Forsberg got the tying goal midway Pacific Division Pittsburgh 20 7 5 109 90 45 son, winning over 100 games for the first the shortest of any England manager by far through the third period and Ryan Ellis had San Jose 19 12 1 80 72 39 time since 1935, but again appeared des- and piled on further embarrassment after the only score in the shootout to help Anaheim 17 11 5 94 92 39 Columbus 20 5 4 98 61 44 tined to succumb to the the ‘Curse of the the Three Lions’ shock defeat to Iceland at Nashville give Philadelphia its second straight Edmonton 17 12 5 100 92 39 Philadelphia 19 11 4 107 102 42 Billy Goat’ after falling behind three games Euro 2016. “Entrapment has won on this loss. The Flyers had won 10 straight before los- Calgary 17 15 2 89 98 36 Washington 19 8 3 81 66 41 Los Angeles 16 13 2 79 78 34 to one. However, Chicago rallied to level the occasion and I have to accept that,” a ing to the Dallas Stars on Saturday. Nashville Carolina 13 11 7 82 87 33 best-of-seven contest and, ignited by resigned Allardyce told reporters outside Vancouver 13 16 3 80 100 29 New Jersey 12 12 7 74 93 31 got its first win in extra time and Ellis his first Arizona 11 16 5 72 101 27 NY Islanders 11 14 6 81 99 28 Dexter Fowler’s lead-off home run, raced his home in Bolton. successful shootout conversion this season.