CHELSEA’S affinity with the FA Cup shows no sign of ending as they prepare for their ninth semi-final in 17 years and it’s fair to say Stamford Bridge’s love affair with John Terry – if you’ll pardon the pun – looks likely to last just as long after a trademark performance from the centre-half against Stoke City.

THE Heineken Cup quarter-finals always seem to come around sooner than you’d expect but here they are again, and there again is Munster.

Bad weather claimed its first victims of the festive sporting programme in the UK tonight as fog and freezing temperatures continued to affect large parts of country.

Big Dean Richards tried valiantly to keep the smile from his face but it was clear that a Heineken Cup semi-final draw against Gloucester was OK by him.