RUGBY: Lansdowne centre Shane Horgan has been ruled out of Ireland's upcoming three match tour to New Zealand because of injury. The Irish team management has confirmed that the ankle injury sustained by the Leinster player will not heal for him in time to make the trip, reports John O'Sullivan.
Horgan would have filled one of the two vacancies left in the 26 man party when the squad was announced. No decision on who will fill the void has yet been taken. Coach Eddie O'Sullivan must now decide whether his preference is for a winger or centre to complete the backs' complement.
The vacancy in the pack is also expected to be filled next week as Shannon and Munster number eight Anthony Foley continues his battle to recover from a shoulder injury. His immediate priority is making the Heineken European Cup final with Munster next Saturday and should he do so will board the plane for New Zealand.
Meanwhile the IRFU confirmed that it will be spending euro 400,000 on a programme to improve the pitch at Lansdowne Road. Eddie Connaughton is the agronomist who will outline details on the project.
CYCLING: Italian Stefano Garzelli strengthened his grip on the Giro d'Italia by winning the fifth stage yesterday.
After his Mapei team mates had set the pace over the final 15 kilometres, Garzelli jumped hard with 300 metres remaining to beat Spaniard Santiago Perez Fernandez of the Kelme team and Italian Gilberto Simoni of Saeco.
Garzelli increased his lead in the overall standings, moving 43 seconds ahead of Italian Francesco Casagrande and a minute clear of Simoni.
WOMEN'S TENNIS: Jennifer Capriati reclaimed the world number one ranking from the injured Venus Williams by beating Amelie Mauresmo 6-2 3-6 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open yesterday.
Kim Clijsters set up a last four tussle with fellow Belgian Justine Henin after both cruised through their matches.
Henin, who won the title in Berlin last week, marched in the last four with a 6-3 6-4 win over Virginia Ruano Pascual.
MEN'S TENNIS: World number one Lleyton Hewitt was blasted off court by Russian Marat Safin yesterday and Roger Federer sent second seed Gustavo Kuerten packing on a day of quarter-final upsets at the Hamburg Masters.
Safin, himself a former world number one, left top seed Hewitt shell-shocked on Rothenbaum's centre court with some brutal hitting in his 6-3 6-1 victory while Federer stormed into the semifinals 6-0 1-6 6-2.
Hewitt's counter-punching style proved ineffectual against the sheer power of Safin's shots.
The Russian's clubbed backhand and forehand repeatedly flew for winners as Hewitt struggled to compete in the early evening encounter.
Earlier, 11th seed Federer had produced some astounding strokeplay to outgun Kuerten in their see-saw match.
Mirnyi beat France's Julien Boutter 7-6 4-6 6-3 in an unseeded clash.
MEN'S HOCKEY: Three goals up after 25 minutes through the Elliott brothers, Gordon and Maurice, Pembroke Wanderers went on to beat WAC of Austria 5-1 in their opening match in the European Club Championship (B division) in Zurich yesterday, reports Dermot Ashmore.
Gordon Elliott helped himself to two typically stylish goals before colliding with a fence and sustaining a gash which required stitching. His replacement, 16-year-ol d brother Maurice, then marked his debut by adding to the scoreline.
With Ronan Gormley excelling in centre midfield, Pembroke led 4-0 at half-time before easing down in the second period. Paudie Carley and Justin Sherriff (penalty stroke) were the other Irish marksmen, with the Austrian reply coming from a penalty.
It was a welcome return to form by the ex-Leinster champions, who this week were boosted by a three-year sponsorship deal with Kellogg's Nutri-Grain. The indications are that Pembroke will gain further points at the expense of the Eagles of Gibraltar and the hosts Rotweiss Wettingen to reach Monday's final, probably against the polished French side, Lille.
WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Pegasus got off to a perfect start at the Club Championships (B division) in Vienna where they beat Italy's Libertas san Saba 5-0 in their opening pool match, with Arlene Boyle scoring three goals from corners and Claire McMahon adding another two, reports Mary Hannigan.
The Ulster side play Wettingen (Switzerland) today before facing Ritm Grodno, who beat Wettingen 6-0 in their pool opener, tomorrow.
MOTOR SPORT: World Rally championship leader Marcus Gronholm extended his advantage in the Rally of Argentina yesterday despite acting as a "roadsweeper" for his rivals.
Finn Gronholm swept the gravel roads clear of loose stones as he ran first through the stages, but the Peugeot driver was not hindered too much and holds a lead of 17.5 seconds over compatriot Tommi Makinen, of Subaru, after setting the pace on four stages.
GOLF: Maria Dunne from Skerries captured her first major tournament yesterday when she won the MacGregor sponsored Leinster Women's champiosnhip at Co Louth beating Sinead Keane (Curragh) 4 and 3 in the final. Dunne overcame Emma Dickson in the semi-final while Keane got home on the 18th against Heather Nolan from Shannon.
GOLF: Ireland's Justin Kehoe is just one shot off the pace after the first round of the Brabazon Trophy at Royal Cinque Ports yesterday.
Kehoe from Birr shot a three under par 69 to trail Kevin Freeman and Matthew Richardson by one shot before the wind blew in.
Freeman, the 23-year-old from Iver, Bucks, first out at 7am, birdied the 16th and 17th and would have led on his own if his chip on the last hadn't stopped six inches from the cup.
"It was nice to get nine holes in before the wind got up," he said.
