A round up of today's other stories in brief...
Smit returns to Springbok squad
RUGBY: World Cup-winning flanker Schalk Burger and wing JP Pietersen were included in South Africa's 28-man squad yesterday for Tri-Nations matches in New Zealand and Australia next month.
Captain John Smit (Clermont) returns in place of hooker Schalk Brits. Winger Odwa Ndungane and forwards Ryan Kankowski, Andries Bekker, Tendai Mtawarira, Brian Mujati and Luke Watson undertake their first Tri-Nations tour.
Meanwhile, Australia coach Robbie Deans yesterday named an unchanged team for Saturday's first Test against France in Sydney.
AUSTRALIA: C Shepherd; P Hynes, S Mortlock (captain), B Barnes, L Tuqiri; M Giteau, L Burgess; B Robinson, S Moore, M Dunning; J Horwill, N Sharpe; R Elsom, G Smith W Palu. Replacements: A Freier, A Baxter, D Mumm, P Waugh, S Cordingley, R Cross, A Ashley-Cooper.
SOUTH AFRICA SQUAD: Backs: B Conradie, J de Villiers, P Grant, B James, C Jantjes, A Jacobs, E Januarie, B Habana, P Montgomery, O Ndungane, JP Pietersen, R Pienaar, F Steyn Forwards: A Bekker, B Botha, S Burger, Bdu Plessis, R Kankowski, T Mtawarira, BMujati, V Matfield, P Spies, J Smith, J Smit (captain), G Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde, J van Niekerk, L Watson.
Gatlin's bid to run is blocked
OLYMPICS: A US federal judge yesterday blocked a bid by banned Olympic 100 metres champion Justin Gatlin to compete in this week's American trials for the Beijing Games.
The judge lifted a restraining order that would have allowed the 26-year-old to take part in the trials in Oregon. Gatlin was banned for four years in 2006 after testing positive for the male sex hormone testosterone.
Meanwhile, Linford Christie - the 100-metre champion at the 1992 Games - was not deemed suitable for consideration as one of Britain's six 'favourite' Olympic champions because of his failed drugs test.
Seb Coe, Steve Redgrave, Kelly Holmes, Jonathan Edwards, Sally Gunnell and Duncan Goodhew will be the six faces on the new National Lottery scratchcards in Britain to help raise money for the London 2012 Games.
Ireland offered perfect incentive to perform
CRICKET: Ireland have been handed the ultimate motivation to win the Twenty20 World Cup qualification tournament in Belfast in early August after the ICC announced yesterday the champions will open next year's tournament against hosts England at Lord's on June 5th, reports Emmet Riordan.
Victory in the six-team tournament at Stormont would also see Ireland face Pakistan in Group B. Ireland would join South Africa and New Zealand in Group D if they were to finish second in the qualifiers.
Ireland coach Phil Simmons received a huge boost yesterday with news that Middlesex's Eoin Morgan will be available for next week's Tri-Nations series against New Zealand and Scotland in Aberdeen. Surrey wicket-keeper Gary Wilson will also play although Niall O'Brien (Northants) and William Porterfield (Gloucestershire) will be on County Championship duty. In Porterfield's absence, Kyle McCallan will continue as captain, with Clontarf's Andrew Poynter and North Down opening bowler Peter Connell receiving first call-ups to the senior side.
Meanwhile, a fine unbeaten century by Naeem Islam helped Bangladesh A take control on the second day of their three-day clash with Ireland A at College Park.
The visitors had moved to 193 for seven when rain curtailed play, 34 runs ahead of Ireland's first innings.
The Ireland women's side lost their first ODI against the West Indies by five wickets at Rathmines.
Nine chosen for support scheme
ATHLETICS: Nine of Ireland's most promising athletes have been chosen to benefit from the ESB Athlete Support programme for 2008. Athletics Ireland yesterday announced details of the programme, which will provide important financial assistance to the athletes.
The group of nine is made up of four emerging seniors - Paul Hession, Joanne Cuddihy, Mary Cullen and Fionnuala Britton - and five promising under-23s and juniors. Hession, Cuddihy and Britton will compete at this year's Olympic Games while Cullen is currently out injured.
Long jumper Kelly Proper and 1,500-metre runner David McCarthy are among the juniors.
ATHLETE SUPPORT SCHEME 2008: Senior: Paul Hession (Athenry AC), Joanne Cuddihy (UCD AC), Mary Cullen (North Sligo), Fionnuala Britton (Slí Chualann). Under-23 and Junior: Linda Byrne (Dundrum South Dublin), Ciarán Ó Lionáird (Leevale AC), David McCarthy (West Waterford), Kelly Proper (Ferrybank AC), Amy Foster (North Down AC).
