Sports Digest/RUGBY: England back row Richard Hill had an exploratory operation on his left knee last night amid fears that he may miss not just England's friendly internationals next month but also the start of the Six Nations Championship.
The 31-year old Hill, the only member of the World Cup-winning back-row unit still playing international rugby, twisted his knee during Saracens' league defeat at London Irish last Sunday and left the ground on crutches. He had a scan on Tuesday after which it was decided he needed arthroscopy to assess whether he had significant ligament damage.
"I thought I had made progress over the last couple of days, and to be told I needed the exploratory operation was not the outcome I had been hoping for," said the 71-cap Hill. "The arthroscopy will determine the extent of the injury."
Hill was identified by the acting England head coach Andy Robinson as the pack leader for the Twickenham internationals next month against Canada, South Africa and Australia, but if he is ruled out it would mean half the pack that started the World Cup final against the Wallabies less than 11 months ago out were unavailable to him.
Martin Johnson, Lawrence Dallaglio and Neil Back have retired from international rugby, and the props Trevor Woodman and Phil Vickery are this month making their comebacks from injury.
SNOOKER: Ireland's Michael Judge continued his strong form by beating Scotland's Marcus Campbell 5-4 to reach the last 16 of the Grand Prix in Preston last night.
But Preston's Ian McCulloch left a good share of his home crowd deflated despite achieving a brave victory. The cause of the Preston Guild Hall spectators' disappointment was that McCulloch's 5-4 victory came against crowd favourite Jimmy White.
"My friends and family will be delighted," said the Lancastrian left-hander. "But a lot of people will be pig-sick because of the result.
"But that's life. And there were probably as many shouting for Jimmy as there were for me."
The former British Open finalist made a match-clinching 73 break in the deciding frame to earn a meeting with Stephen Hendry.
GOLF: With just three events of the European Challenge Tour season remaining, Ireland's Stephen Browne arrives at the Moroccan Classic at Golf du Soliel, Agadir, knowing that a second victory of the season can thrust him into the top 15 of the Challenge Tour Rankings and secure a European Tour Card for 2005.
The 30-year-old Dubliner, who scored his maiden victory in the Norwegian Challenge Open earlier this season, is currently 32nd on the rankings with €30,987.
"I need a victory, or two top-three finishes, to have a chance of getting to the top 15 the way things stand at the moment," said Browne, who would come very close to securing a place on Tour next year if he could win the €20,800 top prize at Golf du Soliel this week.
"I am certainly enjoying being in the thick of it at this time of the year."
Browne is joined in the field by Waterville's David Higgins.
TENNIS: Kelly Liggan won through to the second round of the ITA $25,000 tournament in Glasgow yesterday despite being taken to 12 games in the second set by British wild card entry Hannah Grady. Liggan won 6-2 7-5.
Karen Nugent lost out in the first round of the qualifiers.
