.Jones, a 2014 Sochi Olympian, will be in the womens push .Jones, a 2014 Sochi Olympian, will be in the womens push | Forum

The New Zealand Rugby Union has formed a new collective agreement with its Players Association which will see an additional NZ$70m (￡39.9m) allocated to its player payment pool over the next three years.The deal means the NZRU has increased financial muscle to keep its best talent in New Zealand and reports suggest it could see top All Blacks for the first time earning in excess of NZ$1m a year on salary alone.The increase in funds -- the pool is up from NZ$121m (￡69m) to $NZ191m (￡109m)-- is partly down to the revenue set to be generated by the British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.Were delighted to have concluded this important piece of work, NZRU CEO Steve Tew said. We believe that our partnership with players continues to be a critical factor in the success of New Zealand Rugby at all levels of the game.And we recognise that that close relationship is part of our competitive advantage.In a highly competitive global market, we cant compete purely on money. For us, the difference has to be in the environment we offer and the strength of our support for players to have the lifestyle they want.This new deal further enhances that while the overall increased and expanded investment across a number of areas, means that our packages are increasingly competitive.This agreement has been developed on the back of some very hard work. I personally want to thank the players, our provincial union partners and the collective negotiation team for their work and commitment to ensuring rugby can continue to inspire and unify New Zealand communities.All Blacks stars Ben Smith, Israel Dagg and Aaron Cruden all have contracts with the NZRU which expire in 2017. They are attracting plenty of attention from Europe but the increase in funds could tempt them to stay in New Zealand. Swell Lahev Cz . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. Swell Levně . Jane Virtanen scored two, and Alex Roach and Elliott Peterson rounded out the offence for the Hitmen (40-15-6). Brady Brassart chipped in with three assists. Colton McCarthy scored twice, Brayden Point had a goal and two assists, and Jack Rodewald also scored for the Warriors (15-35-9), who were 2 for 5 on the power play. http://www.swelllahevcz.com/ . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. Olympic sprinter Tyson Gay is entered in this weeks USA Bobsled National Push Championships, making him the latest track star to give sledding a try.The push championships start Wednesday in Calgary, Alberta, and are the first step toward a potential spot on this seasons national team.Gay has competed in each of the past three Summer Olympics. He was part of a team that won a silver medal in the 4x100-meter relay at the London Games in 2012, though that medal was ultimately stripped after Gay tested positive for steroids at the U.S. championships in 2013 and served a one-year suspension. He also had all results annulled going back to July 15, 2012, a period that included that years Olympic competition.One runner who lost his London silver medal because of Gays positive test was Ryan Bailey, another bobsled rookie who is scheduled to compete in the push championships.Im still not over it, Bailey said last month, referring to having his medal taken away.Now they could be teammates once again.Bailey has impressed coaches so far, especially after winning the preliminary push championships on dry land in Lake Placid, New York, last month. This competition takes place on ice and Gay has been practicing sled-pushing for only a few days, according to USA Bobsled and Skeleton.But Gays speed figures to give him a chance to make a huge splash. His all-time best in the 100 meters is 9.69 seconds, a time bettered only by three-time reigning Olympic 100 champion and world-record holder Usain Bolt of Jamaica.Gay won world championship gold medals in 2007 in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, as well as part of the 4x100-meter relay.His 2008 Olympics were troubled by a bad hamstring that hurt his chances of medaling individuallyy, and a bad handoff in the 4x100 knocked the U.ddddddddddddS. out of the mix in that event. His 2012 Olympics were erased by the positive test, and what could have been a bronze medal in the relay at Rio last month was lost when the Americans were found to have made a bad handoff and were disqualified again.The Rio relay debacle was the ninth time since 1995 that the U.S. men were disqualified or failed to get the baton around at the Olympics or world championships. That doesnt include the medal that was lost in London after Gays doping ban.It has to be the worst luck for this country ever, Gay said in Rio. Its always something weird, stupid, simple mistakes that always cost us, and I dont understand.He might have a shot at joining a different sort of four-man team, one that runs together for a few seconds and then hops into a sled for a thrill ride down an icy mountainside chute.Gay follows a long line of speedsters who will try to push a sled, a list that includes Lauryn Williams -- a medalist in both the Summer and Winter Games -- as well as longtime U.S. hurdles star Lolo Jones, Rio Games double gold medalist Tianna Bartoletta and former mens competitors Edwin Moses, Willie Davenport and Renaldo Nehemiah.Jones, a 2014 Sochi Olympian, will be in the womens push competition, as will 2014 Olympic bronze medalist Aja Evans.In all, 56 competitors are entered in the championships, which start with solo events Wednesday and combination events Friday and Saturday. Drivers will analyze results before selecting their team for national team trials, which begin in Lake Placid next month. ' ' '