DS Talk » rts and minds in rugby union-mad New Zealan

Matthew Fitzpatrick of England nailed down the ninth and final automatic spot for Europe in the Ryder Cup on Sunday.Fitzpatrick finished fifth in the Czech Masters, giving him enough world points that no one can catch him when European qualifying ends next week in Denmark.Thomas Pieters of Belgium, who finished fourth last week at the Olympics, could have earned a spot by winning the Czech Masters and in Denmark. But he finished one shot behind Paul Peterson, who birdied the last hole Sunday for his first European Tour victory.That gives Darren Clarke one extra week to start contemplating his captains picks.Europe takes four players from a European Tour money list, followed by five from a list of world ranking points.Rory McIlroy, Masters champion Danny Willett, British Open champion Henrik Stenson and Chris Wood earned spots through the money list. Making the team through the world points were Sergio Garcia, Olympic gold medalist Justin Rose, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Andy Sullivan and Fitzpatrick.Europe already has five Ryder Cup rookies -- Willett, Wood, Cabrera Bello, Sullivan and Fitzpatrick. Clarke likely will look for experience in players such as Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood.Clarke is scheduled to announce his three picks on Aug. 29 after the Denmark event. Among those who Clarke might consider are Pieters and Russell Knox.After his fourth-place finish in Rio, Pieters flew back to Europe and nearly defended his title in the Czech Masters.Knox, who has played exclusively in America since leaving Scotland to attend college in Jacksonville, Florida, did not join the European Tour until after he won a World Golf Championship at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai. Those 66 world points did not count in the standings; otherwise, Knox would be leading the world points list and be on the team. He won his second PGA Tour event earlier this month at the Travelers Championship.He is No. 19 in the world and No. 4 in the FedEx Cup on the PGA Tour. The Barclays next week, one of the strongest fields of the year, does not count toward the European world points list.Also high in the standings for Europe are Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark and Tyrrell Hatton of England. Shayne Gostisbehere Jersey . Ronaldo produced a spectacular individual performance on Tuesday, scoring all three goals and guiding Portugal into the next years World Cup in Brazil with a 3-2 victory in Sweden. The Real Madrid forward has scored 66 goals in 2013, but the last three may be the boost he needs to upstage Messi after FIFA unexpectedly extended the voting period for the Ballon dOr to Nov. Dave Schultz Jersey . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. http://www.nhlflyersproauthentic.com/travis-sanheim-hockey-jersey/ . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Brian Elliott Jersey . The showiest items on Calgarys lot were forwards Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. Shayne Gostisbehere Flyers Jersey . Ouellette, from Montreal, already has three Olympic gold medals since joining the team in 1999. The NRL grand final could be played overseas for the first time, when construction begins on a remodelled ANZ Stadium.NRL boss Todd Greenberg revealed New Zealand has emerged as a genuine option of hosting rugby leagues showpiece event in coming years.ANZ Stadium has been the home of the grand final since 1999 and rugby leagues grand final has never been played outside of Sydney.But that is likely to change when the Homebush Bay venue is transformed into a rectangular stadium as part of the NSW governments $1 billion investment in stadia strategy.Exactly when that will happen will be determined after the redevelopment of Pirtek Stadium in Parramatta, which begins next year.But when it does the biggest game of the year could be headed across the ditch.The game is not keen to play its showpiece grand final inside a construction zone so if we have to move games then we will look at it, Greenberg told AAP.We will only do that in partnership and consultation with the NSW government who are spending a significant amount of money in this city to redevelop our stadiums.But if we do decide to play elsewhere then we will clearly look at New Zealand.And we have no shortage of options and no shortage of interest from people who would love to see the grand final in their place.Aucklands iconic Eden Park hosts the NRL Nines and it would be an ideal venue to host the grand final, if it was moved to New Zealand.The possibility of the Warriors playiing in a grand final at Eden Park would give rugby league a considerable boost in its battle for hearts and minds in rugby union-mad New Zealand.ddddddddddddCertainly thats what New Zealand people would say and that is what Warriors fans would say, Greenberg said.But that is also what Storm fans in Melbourne or Broncos fans in Brisbane would say, or rugby league fans in Perth or Adelaide would say.Former NRL CEO Dave Smith described Queensland as the heartland of rugby league and Brisbanes Suncorp Stadium is another contender to host the grand final if it is moved from Sydney.The NRL continues to make a commitment to Perth, with premiership games being held there regularly and the Kangaroos playing the Kiwis there in the end-of-season Test this year. As such the new 65,000 seat Perth Stadium is another contender to host the grand final.As is the MCG, which hosted a sold-out State of Origin game last year. Adelaide Oval is another.But moving the biggest game of the year to New Zealand has the potential to grow rugby league the greatest.There would be two primary reasons (to move the grand final), Greenberg saidOne would be the commercial reasons. But more than that it is about the footprint and the legacy you leave in those places for participation in the game and peoples ability to engage with the sport. ' ' '