■ Rugby Union
Bruno, Chabal in action
Hooker Sebastien Bruno and third row Sebastien Chabal, of English club Sale, will be the only players of France's enlarged, 39-man, Six Nations squad in action for their club this weekend, manager Jo Maso said on Wednesday. Bruno is set to start and Chabal will be on the replacements bench against London side Wasps. Wasps hooker Raphael Ibanez has been excused from playing against Sale while fullback Thomas Castaignede, who is recovering from a muscular injury, will not play for Saracens at home to Gloucester. The other 35 players, who have been based at France's training headquarters at Marcoussis for the duration of the Six Nations championship, will rest as the French championship has been stopped until March 23 to help France in their preparations.
■ Baseball
Sox milk Matsuzaka
The Boston Red Sox are finding ways to recoup some of the US$103.11 million that Daisuke Matsuzaka cost them -- including adding a Japanese sponsor at their spring training complex. The club announced on Wednesday an agreement with Funai Electric Co, which makes and sells televisions, DVD players and recorders, cameras and other electronic equipment. Funai has a big white tent with its blue-and-white logo on the roof at the training facility. Japanese media members will use it for interviews with pitchers Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima.
■ Soccer
Eto'o won't be punished
Barcelona decided on Wednesday not to punish Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o, who sparked controversy when he called coach Frank Rijkaard "a bad person" and criticized several of his teammates. "It was just a misunderstanding," Barca sports manager Txiki Begiristain said after a crisis meeting with Rijkaard. The coach asked that Eto'o not be penalized. Rijkaard told a news conference after the meeting that the controversy would generate a "positive reaction" in the team, "which will start to work with more energy." Eto'o has recently returned from an injury-enforced absence.
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