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Sports Briefs

■ Basketball
Scott to coach Hornets
The New Orleans Hornets introduced Byron Scott as the team's new head coach on Friday, with team owner George Shinn saying he fulfilled his goal to hire a "proven winner." Scott was fired by the New Jersey Nets in January after leading the team to two straight appearances in the NBA Finals. He replaces Tim Floyd, who was fired three weeks ago after the Hornets were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in his only season as coach. "I was fired after going to two championship series, but I'll tell you this, Mr. Shinn and I talked. ... He told me how much he was committed to me," said Scott, New Orleans' third coach in three seasons. Under Scott, the Nets lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2002 finals and to San Antonio in last season's finals. He had a 149-139 record in 3 1/2 seasons before he was fired from the only head coaching job he has held in the NBA.

■ Rugby
Russia surprises France
Russia upset host France 19-14 on Friday in one of the few surprises on the opening day of the rugby Bordeaux Sevens. The result was costly for French quarterfinal aspirations. France had to beat New Zealand in the final match of the day to make the last eight but was swept aside 40-0 by the Kiwis, and Canada advanced from their pool instead on points difference. New Zealand, leading the IRB Sevens series heading into this seventh leg of eight tournaments, accounted for Canada 33-10 and Russia 42-5, and will meet Australia in the quarterfinals today. Australia was runner-up in its pool to England, which won their contest 19-12. England will play Canada in the quartersfinals.

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