Sports Digest ATHLETICS: Several of Ireland's most talented young athletes are set to benefit from a significant sponsorship announced yesterday, reports Ian O'Riordan.
The ESB Athletics Support Programme - with an investment of €200,000 over three years - will fund coaching, medical support and travel to events abroad.
At yesterday's launch at Dublin's Irishtown Stadium, ESB chief executive Pádraig McManus said the sponsorship had been inspired by a business trip to Japan, where he was impressed with how business supported athletes.
Four senior athletes will benefit: David Gillick, the Dubliner who won European indoor 400-metre gold medal in Madrid last year; Paul Hession, the Galway sprinter; Joanne Cuddihy, Kilkenny's young 400-metre runner; and Mary Cullen, the Sligo distance runner.
The scheme will also benefit four under-23s: Colin Costello and Danny Darcy, both European junior 1,500-metre medallists; Ann Loughnane, world youth 20km walk silver medallist: and Linda Byrne, a European junior fourth placer.
Juniors targeted are David McCarthy of Waterford and Ciarán Ó Lionárd of Cork, both European Youth Olympics middle-distance medallists; and two European finalists, long jumper Kelly Proper and sprinter Amy Foster.
RUGBY: Number eight Scott Fava and centre Matt Giteau have been named in Australia's team for the Tri-Nations Test against South Africa in Brisbane on Saturday.
Fava gets his first start in a Wallabies jersey in place of Rocky Elsom, who switches to blindside flanker, and Giteau is preferred to Mat Rogers at inside centre after recovering from hand injuries.
AUSTRALIA: C Latham; M Gerrard, S Mortlock, M Giteau, L Tuqiri; S Larkham, G Gregan; G Holmes, J Paul, G Shepherdson; N Sharpe, D Vickerman; R Elsom, G Smith, S Fava. Replacements: S Hardman, A Baxter, M Chisholm, P Waugh, S Cordingley, M Rogers, C Rathbone.
