Wayne's onto a loser with his gambling

IF the couple who spend together stay together than the precarious engagement of England footballer Wayne Rooney to former checkout girl Colleen McLoughlin is surely the perfect match.

Known mainly for her titanic shopping sprees and penchant for velour tracksuits, the 19-year-old's prodigal expenditure has found a rival in her fiance's gargantuan gambling habits.

Rooney, who earns an estimated £50,000 (€72,000) a week on the pitch and millions more a year from sponsorship deals, is one of a number of England players said to be involved in betting on sports other than their own.