A round-up of other sports news....
Wales omit scrumhalf Peel for Six Nations
RUGBY: Wales have dropped scrumhalf star Dwayne Peel from their Six Nations title defence – partly due to his club's selection policy.
Peel, who joined English Premiership title contenders Sale Sharks this season, has started just nine of their 19 games in all competitions.
Peel, capped 64 times and a 2005 Test Lion in New Zealand, has been rotated in Sharks' scrumhalf role with England international Richard Wigglesworth.
And while the Wales coaching staff have no intention of involving themselves with English Premiership Sale's selection business, it has clearly taken its toll on Peel, who misses out on a place in the 28-man Six Nations squad behind rival number nines Gareth Cooper and Mike Phillips.
Tough sevens draw for Ireland
RUGBY: The countdown to Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 begins in earnest following the pool draw for the men's and women's competitions in Dubai yesterday.
Ireland have been given a difficult draw in Pool D, facing Australia, Samoa and Portugal, all of whom are ranked above them on the sevens circuit.
Defending men's champions Fiji have been drawn with France, USA and Georgia in Pool B as they attempt to become the first side to successfully defend the Melrose Cup following their success in Hong Kong four years ago.
IRB WORLD CUP SEVENS DRAW: Pool A: New Zealand, Tonga, Arabian Gulf, Italy. Pool B: Fiji, France, USA, Georgia. Pool C: South Africa, Scotland, Canada, Japan.
Pool D: Samoa, Australia, Portugal, Ireland. Pool E: England, Kenya, Tunisia, Hong Kong. Pool F: Argentina, Wales, Zimbabwe, Uruguay.
Roscrea take their chances
RUGBY: Cistercian College Roscrea made the most of their limited chances to expose King's Hospital 12-5 in the Leinster Schools Fr Godfrey (Section B) quarter-final at Newbridge yesterday.
Centre Trevor Higgins and blindside Sean O'Brien burst over either side of the break, before King's lock Simon Mernagh eventually broke through for a 50th-minute try to make for an exciting climax.
At Newbridge – Cistercian College, Roscrea 12 (T Higgins try, con; S O'Brien try); The King's Hospital 5 (S Mernagh try).
Postponed: Kilkenny College v St Patrick's, Navan; Wesley College v The High School; St Conleth's College v St Andrew's College.
Early season test for Roche
CYCLING: Nicolas Roche will today begin the six-day Tour Down Under in Australia, testing his early season form in the ProTour race.
The 24-year-old got his season off to a good start on Sunday when he placed 12th in the Cancer Council Classic, a 51-km criterium around Adelaide won by multiple Tour de France stage winner Robbie McEwen.
Atlantic row attempt abandoned
ROWING: The attempt to row across the Atlantic Ocean in the boat La Mondiale has been abandoned, writes Liam Gorman.
The crew, which included five Irishmen, are reported to be safe and well on board the tanker Island Ranger en route to Italy after being picked up on Thursday night in the mid-Atlantic.
The rudder of La Mondiale was badly damaged last week and, according a statement from team leader Leven Brown, it was drifting without steering in gale force winds when the decision was taken to abort. It was the 12th day of the journey.
The Irishmen in the 14-man crew were: Breffny Morgan, Peter Williams, Ryan Corcoran, Robert Byrne and Ian McKeever.
Fairyhouse goes ahead on Friday
HORSE RACING: Fairyhouse’s twice-cancelled card has been rearranged for Friday. Sunday’s fixture was initially called off due to waterlogging, after which course officials rescheduled the card for today.
However, an inspection found that conditions had not improved, with plans now in place for the meeting to take place on Friday.
Cliff Noone, Irish Turf Club press officer, said: “They have rearranged the card for Friday and entries must be made by noon (today), with declarations to be made by 10am on Thursday.”
Caroline Gray, general manager of Fairyhouse, said: “As a gesture to our loyal customers we are delighted to offer free admission to the rescheduled fixture on Friday and are hoping that they will turn out in numbers to watch what we hope will be a high-class day’s racing, featuring the Grade Two Normans Grove Chase.”
