Dan Cole, Tom Youngs & Marcos Ayerza sign Leicester Tigers deals

England duo Dan Cole and Tom Youngs have joined fellow international front-rower Marcos Ayerza in agreeing new deals with Premiership side Leicester.

The Tigers have not revealed the length of the contracts for prop Cole and hooker Youngs, both 27, or prop Ayerza, 31, but describe them as "long-term".
Director of rugby Richard Cockerill said: "It is great news.
"They are genuine world-class players in key positions and are important parts of the senior core to the squad."
Youngs made his Tigers debut as a centre in 2006 but switched to hooker and has become a regular part of the international set-up.
Cole, who like Youngs was part of the British & Irish Lions squad that toured Australia in 2013, has recently returned to action after a neck injury and is likely to be part of the England squad for the Six Nations in 2015.
Argentine international Ayerza has played nearly 200 games for Leicester since joining in 2006.
Cockerill added: "We have a good crop of front-rowers who work well together and they help to get the best out of each other.
"Marcos, Tom and Dan, with their attitude to training and playing, and their experience at the top levels of the game, play a massive role in that."

All Blacks: Coach Steve Hansen signs new contract

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has signed a contract extension until 2017.

Hansen's previous deal ran out after the 2015 World Cup but he will now be in charge until after the Kiwis host a British and Irish Lions tour.
The former Wales coach is the first All Blacks boss to be given a contract extension beyond a World Cup.
Hansen had been assistant to former coach Graham Henry since 2004. He succeeded him after New Zealand's 2011 World Cup triumph.
The All Blacks have won 38 of their 42 tests in Hansen's tenure, with the other games bringing two losses and two draws.
"After getting the support of my family and various team personnel to continue, I asked myself if I still had the hunger and desire to continue in the role," said Hansen.
"I do, so the decision to continue became a no-brainer, because there is no better job in world rugby."

Jose Mourinho backs Frank Lampard departure from Chelsea

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says letting Frank Lampard go last summer was the right decision for the club's future.

Lampard, 36, initially joined MLS side New York City on a two-year deal before signing for sister club Manchester City on loan until the end of December.
City are battling Chelsea for the Premier League title and want to extend the impressive midfielder's loan deal.
"The project is to prepare for the next 10 years, not the next year - we made the right decision," Mourinho said.
Lampard left the London club after 13 years at Stamford Bridge in which he became the club's record goalscorer with 211 goals in his 649 appearances.
He has scored six times for City, including against Chelsea in September's 1-1 draw, with his latest goal coming in the 1-0 victory over Leicester City last Saturday.
Champions City are three points behind league leaders Chelsea with 36 points from 16 games.
Chelsea negated the loss of Lampard by signing Spain international Cesc Fabregas, while also bringing back former striker Didier Drogba, 36, and retaining 34-year-old centre-back John Terry.
"You can argue 'You have John Terry and Didier Drogba'. Different. Drogba is a striker that is coming to help and support the team," Mourinho said.
"John Terry is the best central defender in English football and it doesn't matter how old he is.
"The nucleus of the team has to be developed and to have a big player like Frank we would stop the development of the other guys."

David De Gea: Manchester United relaxed about new deal for keeper

Manchester United are confident David De Gea's future is at Old Trafford.

The Spanish keeper's contract expires in 2016 and the 24-year-old is aware of reports of interest  from Real Madrid.
United have not said if contract talks have begun, although it would be normal practice as the deal is about to enter its final 18 months.
Senior club sources say they are "relaxed" about the future of a player that captain Wayne Rooney feels is "the best keeper in the world".
De Gea, an £18.9m arrival from Atletico Madrid in 2011, was outstanding in Sunday's 3-0 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Even though former Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes is currently training with United as he recovers from major knee surgery, De Gea is still viewed as an integral part of Louis van Gaal's squad.

"David is important for us," said Rooney. "His performances have been fantastic."

Sergio Aguero: Manuel Pellegrini says Man City striker can get better

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says there is more to come from in-form striker Sergio Aguero.

The 26-year-old Argentine took his Premier League and Champions League goal tally for the season to 19 with two in the 4-1 win at Sunderland.
"Sergio is only 26 and he can improve every day," said Pellegrini.
"At the moment we are seeing very high performances from him. Not only is he scoring but he is playing well as well."
Aguero's haul includes all four in a 4-1 rout of Tottenham on 18 October and a hat-trick in the 3-2 Champions League win over Bayern Munich on 25 November.

Liverpool's Anfield stadium expansion: Construction to begin on Monday

The plans involve expanding the main stand to three tiers, increasing the ground's capacity to almost 59,000

Liverpool say they will begin work on Monday to increase Anfield's capacity from about 45,500 to 59,000.

The five-time European champions' £100m project can go ahead after they completed the purchase of the final house which will need to be cleared in order to make way for the expansion.
The first phase of the work will begin on the Main Stand, which will feature a new third tier, adding 8,300 seats.
The Anfield Road Stand will then be expanded to add a further 4,800 seats.
The work is expected to be completed in time for the 2016-17 season, and will significantly enhance the club's revenues. 
The memorial to the 96 fans who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster is being moved as part of the plans. 
The old Main Stand at Anfield back in 1965
The project will also include additional conference and banqueting facilities, a new club shop and more car parking.
The expansion is part of a wider £260m regeneration of the Anfield area of the city.
According to the planning application approved by Liverpool City Council, the redevelopment will allow the club to host international fixtures and European finals.
It said there are parts of the stadium that currently "fall below current Uefa and Premier League standards, which restrict the club's ability" to host major games.
Uefa insists upon at least a 50,000-capacity stadium, corporate accommodation and a minimum standard for players and match officials' changing rooms.
A memorial to the 96 Liverpool fans who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster will be moved to form part of the Hillsborough Memorial Garden.

Tim Howard's Man Utd comments are garbage - Brad Friedel

Former United States team-mates Brad Friedel and Tim Howard have become embroiled in an argument about an incident from more than a decade ago.

In his forthcoming autobiography, Everton goalkeeper Howard, 35, claims Friedel actively tried to block his move to Manchester United in 2003.
Friedel, though, has denied the allegation and is demanding an apology from the current US number one.
"It is complete garbage," the 43-year-old Tottenham keeper told ESPN. 
"I never sabotaged and I never stood in the way of Tim Howard getting a work permit. This is ludicrous."
Howard completed a £2.5m move from Major League Soccer side Metrostars to United 11 years ago, but needed a work permit.

Louis van Gaal: Manchester United manager can spend as he wishes

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has been told money is no barrier if he wants to improve his squad.

Van Gaal spent £150m in the summer, including a British record £59.7m on Angel Di Maria, but still trail Chelsea by 11 points in the Premier League.
Defensive midfielder Kevin Strootman and defenders Mats Hummels and Diego Godin are all targets for United.
However, United chief executive Ed Woodward has already said any "short-term fixes" in January are unlikely.
Speaking last month, he revealed: "We have targets we are looking at for next summer.
"Should any of them become available in January, which is obviously rare, we will consider acting. But it is a low probability."
United sources question whether Roma would allow Dutch international Strootman, 24, to leave when they are still battling for the Serie A title.