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General Sports News

Noon confirms Falcons exit

Author: Craig Williams
Date: 04/05/2009

Newcastle Falcons centre Jamie Noon has confirmed that he will be playing his rugby in France next season.

The 29-year-old is the latest in a long line of players to confirm that he is leaving Kingston Park this summer, after making almost 250 appearances for the club.

Munster flanker Alan Quinlan may be axed from the British and Irish Lions squad for this summer's tour of South Africa after TV replays suggested he eye-gouged Leinster's Leo Cullen in Saturday's Heineken Cup semi-final between the two teams.

The independent disciplinary officer, John Byett, has until Tuesday evening to study a video of the incident and decide whether the incident is worthy of a citing.

Meanwhile, South Africa full-back Conrad Jantjes will miss the three-Test series against the Lions after breaking his leg.

The 29-year-old suffered the serious injury in the opening stages of Western Stormers' Super 14 clash against Waikato at the weekend.

It is the latest blow for the Springboks who were already without Bath's injured fly-half Butch James.

Leinster fly-half Felipe Contepomi will miss the Heineken Cup Final against Leicester Tigers after suffering a knee injury in the semi-final win over Munster.

Contepomi is expected to be sidelined until October after tearing cruciate ligaments during the shock 25-6 victory.

Newcastle United's interim manager Alan Shearer has blasted midfielder Joey Barton over his sending-off in the 3-0 defeat at Liverpool.

Barton's season is over after he was red-carded for a dreadful two-footed challenge on Xabi Alonso, having been entrusted with a start by Shearer for a crucial clash.

It now seems certain that the controversial midfielder will be leaving St James' Park this summer.

Meanwhile, Birmingham City chairman David Gold insists Alex McLeish will be managing the club in the in the Premier League next season.

There had been rumours of a rift between McLeish and the Blues board but, after City secured an immediate return to English football's top-flight with a 2-1 victory at Reading, Gold was adamant that there would be no change at the top.

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand looks set to return to action in Tuesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

The England international was able to train on Monday after recovering from the lung bruising he suffered in last week's 1-0 first leg victory against the Gunners at Old Trafford.

However, fellow defenders Wes Brown and Patrice Evra were forced to sit out the training session.

Arsenal duo Robin van Persie and Mikael Silvestre could feature in the game after they were also able to train on Monday.

Van Persie has been struggling with a groin injury and hasn't played since last month's FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea.

Silvestre picked up a similar injury in last week's first-leg defeat but may be fit enough to play in the Emirates Stadium return.

Finally, Hibernian have decided to launch an appeal after Chris Hogg was controversially sent off in Saturday's 2-1 defeat against Dundee United.

The 24-year-old was dismissed four minutes before full-time for a late tackle on Craig Conway after which the Terrors grabbed their winner.

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