Rugby: England coach Andy Robinson has been named assistant coach for the Lions' tour of Australia next year. The former Bath and England flanker will work with tour manager Donal Lenihan and coach Graham Henry in the matches against the world champions.
"I am thrilled and honoured to be asked to assist in the coaching of the Lions 2001 tour," Robinson said.
"I am looking forward enormously to working with Donal and Graham in preparing for the challenges that lie ahead."
Lenihan added: "I am delighted that Andy has agreed to join the tour. He brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience and, as a member of the 1989 Lions, he is also familiar with the pressures of a Lions' tour.
"Australia represents a considerable challenge, and the outstanding partnership of Henry and Robinson provides us with the best possible coaching platform."
Olympic Games: Fuel supplies to the Sydney Olympics could be in jeopardy, as refinery workers at the Games' main fuel sponsor, Shell, are threatening industrial action over job cuts.
The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) have threatened industrial action at Shell's Sydney oil refinery, over concerns about job shedding, which it says will make the refinery unsafe.
But a Shell spokesman denied the company was taking a confrontational approach. The spokesman said Shell supplied 40 per cent of car fuel and diesel to the state and had the fuel contract for the Olympics.
The Olympic contract includes supplying diesel to all buses and trucks, powering generators and refuelling official boats and pleasure craft on Sydney Harbour.
Tennis: Todd Woodbridge, half of the most successful doubles combination in history with Mark Woodforde, is to take his omission from the Australian Davis Cup squad to the International Tennis Federation.
Australian captain John Newcombe yesterday opted for singles players Mark Philippoussis, Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt, plus Woodforde, in his squad for next week's Davis Cup semi-final against Brazil on grass in Brisbane.
Woodbridge (29), who predicted after winning the Queen's tournament with Woodforde in London two weeks ago that he would be the odd man out when Newcombe culled his squad, said he will raise the four player rule with the ITF this week.
"If we are the best doubles team in the world and yet we can't play in the one of the greatest team competitions you certainly have to rethink the rules," said Woodbridge, who partnered Woodforde to win a crucial rubber in last year's Cup final against France in Nice.
Woodbridge admitted any change to the ITF rule would not come into effect until next year, when his partner would be enjoying the first stages of retirement.
The Sydney Olympics in September will be their farewell tournament.
Cricket: Australian Test batsman Ricky Ponting said yesterday he was once offered money by a bookmaker to reveal information on his team and on the weather.
Ponting said he told Australia's cricket board of the incident during its investigations concerning his team-mates Shane Warne and Mark Waugh.
"I actually came out a couple of years ago when Shane and Mark got into a trouble with a bookie we met in Australia," Ponting told reporters. He did not elaborate.
"There was a total inquiry into the team. We were asked if anyone else had been approached. I came out and said yes," Ponting said.
Cycling: There was a large turnout of 110 riders in the Irish Road Club's Grand Prix last night, taking just over an hour of flat-out racing in the Phoenix Park.
The women's, juniors and veterans started out ahead of the senior bunch but this advantage was soon overcome. Despite repeated attacks, the race was settled in a bunch sprint with a photo-finish needed to separate J P Hilliard from second placed Colm Bracken of the promoting club.
Irish Road Club Grand Prix (Phoenix Park): 1, J P Hilliard (Dublin Skip Hire); 2, C Bracken (Usher IRC); 3, C Farrell (Navan Avonmore); 4, A Crowley (unatt); 5, P Dunne (Usher IRC); 6, G Stapleton (Usher IRC). First Woman: Lorraine Manning (Usher IRC). First Senior B: Paul Reid (Ravens CC). First Veteran: S Kennedy (Navan Avonmore).
Andy Robinson: Lions call-up
