Doff your cap to French two



Two teams from the most free-spending league in the rugby world meet to contest Europe's ultimate club prize today. Meanwhile, at the other end of their domestic division, a club that overreached their financial means have been relegated after entering administration, and are now frantically trying to balance the books to stave off extinction.

What would Michael Platini, the president of Uefa, European football's governing body, have to say about that? It has not taken long for professional rugby to look like football. While today's Heineken Cup final in Paris between Toulouse and Biarritz - the Chelsea and Manchester United of French rugby - points to a league in rude health, everything that glistens in France is not necessarily gold. "If I was still the chairman of the national league, I would yell a huge cock-a-doodle-do," Serge Blanco, the former France great and now Biarritz president, was quoted as saying.

If Toulon beat Cardiff in the Challenge Cup final tomorrow, it will provide France with a cleansweep of European trophies, so there is, indeed, much to celebrate. The overwhelming success of French clubs this season speaks much of their overwhelming financial clout. In some cases, however, their ambitions have outweighed the bank balances. For example, Stade Francais, the Paris giants who have always been among the biggest players in the transfer market, have been summoned before the Top 14's financial watchdog to explain a substantial budget shortfall.

Stade's players recently agreed to a three per cent pay cut for next season in order to avoid a similar fate to that suffered by Montauban, who were handed a mandatory relegation from the French top division after being forced into administration by spiralling costs. Platini, who has been a staunch critic of the "big liberalism" which has let English Premier League football clubs rack up massive debts, while still competing at the top end of the game, might have counselled against overspending. Or said "cock-a-doodle-don't."

At least Biarritz have been rewarded for their outlay with a place in the final against Toulouse, the most-successful side in Heineken Cup history. However, having finished a disappointing seventh in the Top 14, they are looking to recruit again, and are reportedly in talks with Johnathan Thurston, the Australian rugby league half-back, over a change of code and country. How they plan to shoehorn his reported ?775,000 (Dh3.5m) per year wages into the French pay scale, which has salaries capped at a collective ?8m (Dh36.8m) remains to be seen. In England, the salary cap lies at just £4m (Dh21m) - which some claim is a reason for the absence of Guinness Premiership sides at the business end of the Heineken Cup.

While British and Irish clubs will be looking on in Paris with envy, at least some English players will be able to enjoy the party. Ayoola Erinle, Iain Balshaw and Magnus Lund may not feature in the thinking of Martin Johnson, the England manager, but all have a chance of a Heineken Cup winners' medal with Biarritz in Paris. Erinle, who played in last year's final for Leicester in their 16-19 defeat by Leinster, was on the winning side with Wasps in the 2007 final against the Tigers.

Erinle and co have their work cut out, however. Biarritz start as underdogs against a Toulouse side that are going for their fourth title in their sixth Heineken Cup final. * Compiled by Paul Radley

Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species

Camelpox

Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.

Falconpox

Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.

Houbarapox

Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.

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The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

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The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)

On sale: Now

The Penguin

Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz

Creator: Lauren LeFranc

Rating: 4/5

How green is the expo nursery?

Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery

An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo

Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery

Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape

The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides

All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality

Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country

Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow

Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site

Green waste is recycled as compost

Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs

Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers

About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer

Main themes of expo is  ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.

Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final:

First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2

Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)

Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Transmission: seven-speed automatic

Power: 400hp

Torque: 560Nm

Price: Dh234,000 - Dh329,000

On sale: now

Cultural fiesta

What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421,  Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day. 

Results

6.30pm: Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh195,000 1,400m | Winner: ES Ajeeb, Sam Hitchcock (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer)

7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m | Winner: Al Shamkhah, Royston Ffrench, Sandeep Jadhav

7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 1,200m | Winner: Lavaspin, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

8.15pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 1,200m | Winner: Kawasir, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi

8.50pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 1,600m | Winner: Cosmo Charlie, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

9.20pm: Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m | Winner: Bochart, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 2,000m | Winner: Quartier Francais, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe

 

While you're here
Tree of Hell

Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla

Director: Raed Zeno

Rating: 4/5

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 


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