■ Rugby Union
Wallaby winger re-signs
Wallaby winger Lote Tuqiri yesterday re-signed with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) and the New South Wales Waratahs for five more years, ending speculation he might switch back to rugby league. Tuqiri, who had received rugby league offers from South Sydney and the Gold Coast Titans, told the Waratahs he would remain with rugby union shortly before a deadline established by the ARU of yesterday afternoon. "The signing is great news for rugby and we're relieved to have it out of the way so Lote and the team can concentrate on the Stormers this weekend," New South Wales Rugby Union chief executive Fraser Neill said of the Super 14 match on Saturday against the South African side.
■ Golf
Hayes taken to hospital
Twice PGA Tour winner J.P. Hayes was taken to hospital with suspected heart palpitations after withdrawing from the Tampa Bay Championship on Sunday. The 41-year-old pulled out while playing the first hole of the final round on the Copperhead Course with compatriot Brad Faxon. "J.P. and I had breakfast this morning and I could see he wasn't that well," Faxon told NBC television. "He certainly looked a little shaky and said he has had some heart palpitation stuff like this in the past. But he is in a stable condition in the hospital and I think he's going to be fine."
■ soccer
Romario scores hat-trick
Irrepressible striker Romario scored his second hat-trick of the year to propel Vasco da Gama to a 4-1 win over Madureira on Sunday and take his career tally, according to his own calculations, to 995 goals. The 41-year-old former Brazil striker scored two typically opportunist goals and a penalty in a 13-minute spell during the second half of the Carioca (Rio de Janeiro state) championship match. Muriqui gave Madureira a shock half-time lead and Leandro Amaral equalized for Vasco early in the second half before the 1994 World Cup winner sprang into action.
■ Rugby League
Titans release Carney
New Australian National Rugby League club Gold Coast Titans have agreed to release Brian Carney from a two-year deal following the former Great Britain international winger's shock retirement. Carney retired in mid-January after just one training session with the new club, saying he was homesick and no longer had a desire to play the game. Titans managing director Michael Searle said on Monday Carney was being chased by up to five clubs in both rugby union and rugby league, while the BBC is reporting that Irish rugby chiefs are trying to lure Carney to the 15-man game. Searle said the Titans would not stand in the way of the former Wigan flyer playing top level rugby again, provided his club was compensated.
■ Soccer
Poor finishing costs Bayern
Bayern Munich missed a great chance to close the gap on Bundesliga leaders Schalke 04 when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Werder Bremen on Sunday. Bayern took the lead through Lukas Podolski in the seventh minute and played their best attacking soccer of the season only to miss chance after chance to make the game safe. Inevitably, Werder hit back, grabbing an equalizer in the 66th minute when Hugo Almeida chipped Oliver Kahn and Markus Rosenberg beat the defense to head over the line. Bayern would have closed to within four points of Schalke with a victory.
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