A This rumour was in circulation almost as soon as Gabriel joined Manchester United and has appeared on several websites. Unfortunately, it is untrue. We checked with him at the time and he was puzzled as to how and why the whole Welsh-speaking thing started. He has no Welsh blood, but was born in Argentina to a father of German descent and an Italian mother. He spent a short period with Newell’s Old Boys of Rosario before moving to Real Valladolid as a 19-year-old in 1997. He was loaned to Sporting Lisbon the next year, then signed for Paris St Germain, where he caught the eye of United’s scouts. A £6.9m transfer to Old Trafford was tied up in June 2004. — Karen Shotbolt, Manchester United press office
Q What became of All Black Keith Murdoch after he was sent home from the 1972 tour to Britain? — A Orridge, Radcliffe-on-Trent
A Murdoch was sent home in disgrace, allegedly for punching a security guard at a Cardiff hotel, hours after scoring his country’s only try in a 19-16 win over Wales. Stopping at Singapore airport on his way to New Zealand, Murdoch got off the plane and went to Australia instead. He then headed into the outback and got by for years by taking on a series of manual jobs. Several times he was tracked down by journalists tryng to get him to tell his story, but he always refused. He was in the news again in 2001 when Northern Territory police wanted to speak to him during an investigation into the murder of a young Aboriginal man whose remains were found in an abandoned gold mine. Murdoch was cleared of any involvement in the death and was last heard of living in the town of Tennant Creek, halfway between Darwin and Alice Springs. A play about the search for the former Test front-row forward — Finding Murdoch — was written by Kiwi journalist Margot McRae and is to be staged in Wellington next month. — Steve Grimshaw, Liverpool
Q Has a footballer ever scored in every game of a World Cup finals? — Kevin Leitch, Edinburgh
A This amazing feat was achieved by the Brazilian forward Jairzinho at the 1970 Mexico World Cup. He scored seven goals in total against Czechoslovakia, England, Romania (group stage), Peru (quarter-final), Uruguay (semi-final) and Italy (final). Even this was not enough to win him the Golden Boot, awarded to the tournament’s top scorer, as Gerd Muller of West Germany scored 10 goals, including the winner against England in the quarter-final. — George Kettlewell, Huddersfield
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Q Is there a governing body for kite-surfing in the UK? — Pamela Williams, Port Talbot
A The British Kite Surfing Association (BKSA) is the place to start if you want to take up the sport. Kite surfing fuses some of the skills of surfing, wind surfing and wakeboarding. The BKSA was formed in 1999 with the object of promoting safety and developing a recognised training scheme for beginners to instructors. The association also tries to maintain beach access for kite surfers in the UK. For further information, e-mail info@kitesurfing.org. — Dan Bennett, Hastings
Q Who was the first foreign cricketer to play for Yorkshire? — Glen Plummer, Clophill, Bedfordshire
A After a long tradition of signing only players born within its county boundaries, the Yorkshire committee voted on July 10, 1991, to sign an overseas player. Nine days later the Australia fast bowler Craig McDermott agreed terms for the 1992 season. Unfortunately, he was injured during the winter and required groin surgery, so at the last minute Yorkshire switched their attention to 19-year-old batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who had already played 16 Tests for India. Tendulkar never quite lived up to expectations at Headingley. He scored 1,070 first-class runs at an average of 46.5, but made just one century, plus another in Sunday League cricket, before returning to play domestic cricket in India. — Tim Mickleburgh, Grimsby
Any Answers?
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Send questions or answers to Peter Boyle, Q & A, The Sunday Times Sport, 1 Pennington Street, London E98 1ST, or e-mail peter.boyle@sunday-times.co.uk
Q If England Test cricketers had always worn numbered shirts, who would have been No 1? — John Holden, Birkenhead
Q Who was the first Dundee United player to be capped by Scotland? — Arnold Critchley, Worsley
Q In racing, why is the Eclipse Stakes so called? — Eamonn Grant, Dundee
Q How old is the equestrian sport of dressage? — Victoria Lynn, Hull
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Q Which footballer has missed most penalties in a match? — Gerry Charles, Belfast