■ SOUTH AFRICA
Steyn accused of biting
South Africa center Francois Steyn has been cited for allegedly biting an opponent during Saturday's World Cup Pool A match against Tonga in Lens, tournament organizers said on Monday. "Francois Steyn has been cited in connection with an allegation of biting involving the Tonga wing Joseph Vaka," organizers said in a statement. The player and South African team management have been informed and must attend a hearing yet to be convened. If Steyn is found guilty of the offence it will almost certainly end his involvement in the World Cup as the International Rugby Board's recommended sentence for biting ranges from six months to three years.
■ IRELAND
O'Driscoll suffers knock
Ireland's World Cup captain Brian O'Driscoll suffered a knock on the knee in training on Monday but is not in danger of missing Sunday's Pool D decider against Argentina, a team spokesman said. "He took a bang on the knee in training and came off. He signed autographs on the way to the team bus. There is no injury concern," Ireland media officer Karl Richardson said from the team's base in Bordeaux. Two players are nursing injuries from Friday's 25-3 defeat by France and sat out training, flyhalf Ronan O'Gara with a calf problem, and fullback Girvan Dempsey, who hurt his collarbone.
■ SAMOA
Brian Lima banned
Samoa captain Brian Lima's landmark fifth World Cup was brought to a premature end on Monday when he was banned for three weeks for a high tackle on England's Jonny Wilkinson in Saturday's 44-22 defeat. The ban rules Lima out of Samoa's final game against the US in St. Etienne today when the two sides will be fighting to avoid finishing last and winless in Pool A. Lima, 35, was penalized and spoken to by the referee after his tackle across the throat of the England flyhalf but the Judicial Officer (JO) decided that it was worthy of further punishment. "The JO determined that the reasons for the referee's decision in awarding a penalty for the offense were wrong and could not accept the explanation of the player that there was no intention to commit a dangerous tackle," World Cup organizers said in a statement.
■ TONGA
Lock Paino Hehea out
Tonga have had a setback in the buildup to their winner-take-all Rugby World Cup game with England, losing lock Paino Hehea with a shoulder injury. The Metro Racing backrower suffered a small fracture in a shoulder and was ruled out on Monday for four weeks. The Tongans, who pushed South Africa all the way in going down 30-25 in Lens last Saturday, have called up Maama Molitika as his replacement.
■ CANADA
Team ready for `final'
Canada were out to maintain their proud record of winning at least one match at every World Cup when they tackled Japan yesterday. Both teams are already out of contention for the quarter-finals but Canada coach Ric Suggitt said his team were treating the match as a final. "I don't think it will be difficult to get the players motivated," he told reporters. "The players have a lot of pride and they know in the record books that Canada has come away with at least one victory. They are well aware of that."
■ SOCCER
Arrest made in fan's death
Ecuadorean police have arrested a suspect in the death of a young fan killed by a fireworks rocket during an Emelec-Barcelona match last week, officials said on Monday. Darwin Rodriguez Mocha, member of the Barcelona fan group Sur Oscura, was arrested on testimony from two witnesses: fellow group members, Interior Minister Gustavo Larrea said. Carlos Cedeno, 11, was in a suite in Guayaquil's Monumental Stadium on Sunday when the stray rocket entered his upper chest. Forensic doctor Juan Montenegro said that the explosive broke three of the boy's ribs, tore through his trachea and his lungs collapsed.
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