RUGBY: Munster have confirmed that two principal figures in their European Cup run of last season will be out of action for some time as they face into their first competitive matches in August, writes Johnny Watterson.

International second-row Paul O'Connell has undergone surgery for a back complaint and will be unavailable for four months, while Ireland and Lions flanker David Wallace has been discharged from hospital after surgery for a chronic shoulder injury. Wallace is expected to be out of action for six months.

Munster team manager Jerry Holland said: "It means we will be without key players for the Celtic League and European Cup campaigns. However, as is always the case, their absence does provide opportunities for others. We are happy with the strength of the squad."

ROWING: The absence of the women's lightweight double of Sinéad Jennings and Heather Boyle may be one of the talking points , but Ireland will have a strong team at the World Cup regatta in Munich which starts tomorrow, writes Liam Gorman.

Jennings has remained in Ireland due to a persistent neck problem, but Ireland coach Hamish Burrell was yesterday sanguine about the prospects, saying the crew could have matched their performance at the World Cup in Lucerne, where they finished 10th, but it was better for Jennings to concentrate on recovery.

While the squad loses a women's lightweight double, it gains the men's equivalent in Neal Byrne and Eugene Coakley, who are going well in training.

The lightweight pair of Gearóid Towey and Tony O'Connor, and single sculler Sam Lynch, would hope to continue the winning run they carried on in Lucerne, and the lightweight four to frank their fine form there - they won the B final.

Lightweight coxless four: P Griffin, R Archibald, N Casey, D Holland; lightweight coxless pair: G Towey, T O'Connor; lightweight double scull: E Coakley, N Byrne, E Coakley; lightweight single scull: S Lynch.