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Sport Briefs

■ 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.
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