■SOCCER
Real ex-president detained
Spanish police on Wednesday detained for questioning former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz, who is suspected of taking works of art from Spain to Italy without the proper authorization, Spanish media reported. Plainclothed detectives detained the 66-year-old real estate magnate at around noon in central Madrid and took him to a police station, where he was questioned for several hours in the company of his lawyer, news radio Cadena Ser reported. He was released without any bail conditions. Sanz told the Europa Press news agency that “third parties” he did not name wanted to auction off the paintings at an auction house in Venice and he was called in for questioning because they were taken abroad “without permission.” “I have nothing to do with this matter. They were the ones who took care of all procedures for the auction,” he said.
■RUGBY UNION
Melbourne into Super 15
Melbourne will field a team in an expanded Super 15 rugby union competition in 2011, governing body SANZAR said yesterday. It follows a decision handed down by an arbitration panel on the location of the 15th Super rugby team between Melbourne and the Southern Kings from South Africa. SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) set up the arbitration body last month after it failed to break a deadlock between Australian and South African officials over the choice of the team. The panel went for Melbourne because of its location and commercial value to SANZAR. The panel said the Southern Kings had presented a stronger case than Melbourne on their readiness to join the Super 15 by guaranteeing their financial viability and pointing to a strong rugby tradition. “[But] these strengths of the Southern Kings’ application did not, however, offset the benefits in geographical location and commercial value to SANZAR,” the panel said. By having the team resident in South Africa it would also introduce additional costs to SANZAR of around US$530,000 a year, the panel said.
■RUGBY
Wendell Sailor retires
Dual Australian international Wendell Sailor yesterday announced his retirement after a 16-year playing career in rugby league and rugby union. The 35-year-old played 11 seasons in top-flight rugby league and five in rugby union. Sailor, who played a total of 222 first-grade matches with the Brisbane Broncos and St George Illawarra, switched to rugby union in 2001, where he went on to play 37 internationals for the Wallabies. He also played 19 rugby league Tests for the Kangaroos, was named Player of the Tournament’ at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup and played 17 State of Origin games for Queensland. “Even though this is a major decision in anyone’s life, it is not one that I had to think too much about,” Sailor told a press conference. “I came back to rugby league and achieved what I wanted and needed to, with a fantastic club in the Dragons. I have had my time and now I am ready to step aside and let the great young players here have their turn.”
■ICE HOCKEY
Maple Leafs most valuable
For the fourth straight year, the Toronto Maple Leafs are the NHL’s most valuable team, according to Forbes magazine’s annual survey. The Leafs are worth US$470 million, an increase of 5 percent over last year. They are easily worth more than the next team, the New York Rangers at US$416 million, up just 1 percent.
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