■ Rugby Union
HADDEN NAMES SQUAD
Scotland coach Frank Hadden has named a 44-man squad for a training session at Murrayfield on Dec. 17 to begin preparations for next year's Six Nations. Hadden has stuck with the players he used for Scotland's World Cup preparations and has added four new players who have performed well this season in the Magners League. Number eight Johnnie Beattie, whose father John Beattie played in the same position for Scotland and the British and Irish Lions, received a call-up along with fellow backrow player Ross Rennie, Edinburgh flyhalf Phil Godman and Glasgow tighthead prop Moray Low.
■ SOCCER
Australia woos Troussier
Globe-trotting Frenchman Philippe Troussier has held talks in Australia about the vacant Socceroos job, heightening suggestions that he is the frontrunner to become the team's new coach. Troussier arrived secretly in Sydney on Sunday for talks with Football Federation Australia (FFA) officials before departing on Monday, the Australian newspaper reported yesterday. It said his talks with FFA chief executive Ben Buckley and others signalled that German Jurgen Klinsmann and Italian Fabio Capello were now out of the running due to pay demands and their lack of experience of Asian soccer.
■ RUGBY UNION
Cohen signs for Brive
England and former Northampton winger Ben Cohen has signed for French Top 14 strugglers Brive, the club confirmed on Tuesday. The 29-year-old 2003 World Cup winner has agreed a deal that will keep him in France until June 2009 with the option for an additional year. Cohen had been without a club since leaving relegated Northampton in August. He bought himself out of his Saints contract so he could join Leicester, but his testimonial earnings would have broken their salary cap. Cohen said he was excited to be joining a club with a tradition such as Brive, stating that he was ready for "an attractive and interesting challenge."
■ SOCCER
Beckham souvenirs on sale
A single french fry, reportedly dropped by David Beckham during his recent stay in New Zealand, is among souvenirs of the soccer superstar's visit offered for sale on Internet auction sites. A single bidder has offered NZ$1 (US$0.76) for the slightly salted piece of fried potato, which the seller claims was dropped by Beckham during a stroll around Wellington. The seller vouches for the item's authenticity and suggests it is ideal for anyone "who actually cares about David Beckham." Sharp-eyed souvenir hunters also pounced on items left behind by Beckham when he dined with Los Angeles Galaxy teammates at a Wellington fried chicken restaurant.
■ RUGBY UNION
Mark Regan sanctioned
England World Cup hooker Mark Regan has been sanctioned by Bristol for disobeying orders and playing for the Barbarians against South Africa at Twickenham last weekend, the club said on Tuesday. "We had a meeting with Mark today and, as a result, he has been sanctioned in accordance with a breach of the disciplinary conditions of his contract," Bristol said on their Web site. "We now consider the matter closed and will not be making any further comment on the matter." The club did not reveal details of Regan's punishment.
TAIWANESE EXITS: Fellow Australian Christopher O’Connell joined Tristan Schoolkate as a winner following his 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Tseng Hsin-chun Australian qualifier Tristan Schoolkate on Monday dispatched rising Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 at the ATP Toronto Masters, ensuring a breakthrough into the world top 100. The 24-year-old from Perth moved to 98th in the ongoing live rankings as he claimed his biggest career victory by knocking out the ATP NextGen champion from November last year. Schoolkate, son of a tennis coach, won his first match over a top-50 opponent on his sixth attempt as he ousted the world No. 49 teenager from Brazil. The qualifier played a quarter-final this month in Los Cabos and won through qualifying for his
Top seeds Alexander Zverev of Germany and American Coco Gauff on Tuesday advanced to the third round of the Canadian Open after both players were pushed hard by their opponents. World No. 3 Zverev, playing in his first match since his first-round loss at Wimbledon, was far from his best, but emerged with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 win over Adam Walton under the lights in Toronto. Momentum shifted firmly in Zverev’s favor when he won a 52-shot rally in the first set tiebreak and he sealed the win on a double fault by the Australian in the second set. “It was a very
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future. “Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said. Verstappen has a contract with
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