A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Henson may get chance to do his talking on the pitch
RUGBY:Wales want Gavin Henson to do his talking on the pitch as he prepares for a Test match return this weekend. Henson will discover today whether he starts Saturday's game against the Barbarians in Cardiff, or provides bench cover for a possible all-Scarlets midfield pairing of Jonathan Davies and rookie Scott Williams.Either way, Henson is set to win his 32nd cap more than two years after he last played for Wales.
Henson, who returned from a long self-imposed rugby exile earlier this year through brief stints with Saracens and then Toulon, is back on Wales squad duty, albeit without a club after he was recently released by the wealthy French outfit.
And Wales assistant coach Rob Howley believes the 29-year-old can still make a mark just over three months away from this year’s World Cup in New Zealand.
“It’s giving Gavin the chance of making his name on the rugby field. It’s down to Gavin now.”
Michalak rejoins Sharks
RUGBY:Former France outhalf Frederic Michalak (28) has rejoined South African team the Sharks from his hometown club Toulouse and will be available for Saturday's game against the Cheetahs.
“It is great to have him back and be available to us for selection from this weekend. His arrival could not have been timed any better,” Sharks coach John Plumtree said yesterday.
Michalak won the last of his 58 caps against Wales last year.
Line-up for Belfield event finalised
HOCKEY:Ireland has finalised the men's Four Nations Hockey Cup, which takes place this month in Belfield on June 20th to 25th. In one of the more attractive competitions to take place in Dublin for some time the 18th ranked Ireland faces the world number eight side Pakistan, China ranked 14th and the French at 17th, writes Johnny Watterson.
While all of the sides are ranked above the hosts, China and Pakistan will bring a different style of play to UCD, while France have regularly been in the business end of tournaments fighting it out with Ireland for honours.
All four of the teams are hoping to play in next year’s Olympic Games in London, with this tournament also an important warm-up event for the European Championships later in the summer in Germany, which will also act as an Olympic qualifier for Ireland.
Contador free to defend Tour title
CYCLING:Alberto Contador is free to defend his Tour de France title in July after the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed his doping case would be heard after the race in August.
The court yesterday said that Contador’s hearing would take place from August 1st-3rd. The Tour de France runs from July 2nd-24th starting in Passage du Gois in western France.
Spaniard Contador, who tested positive for the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour, was cleared by the Spanish cycling federation but the International Cycling Union and the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the decision.
Until the court give their verdict, Contador, who won the Giro dItalia last Sunday, is allowed to race.
Death of Clare dual player Niall White
GAELIC GAMES:Clare GAA has expressed its shock at the death of inter-county footballer Niall White. White (23) has been a member of the Clare senior football panel for the last three seasons. He was found dead at his home in Ennis on Monday. A member of the famed St Joseph's Doora-Barefield club, White excelled at both hurling and football in all grades. Club official Seamus O'Sullivan said: "We still cannot believe the news about Niall. Such a young man, this is a terrible tragedy. He was so talented, a totally committed hurler and footballer. This is a terrible loss to his family."
Clare football team boss Micheál McDermott said: “Niall was a young lad that we had on the Clare panel for the last two or three years. What you got from Niall was huge honesty and commitment. It’s a tragedy that a life as promising as his was cut short. His family has suffered a huge loss and our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time.”
Tennis player banned for life
TENNIS:Austrian tennis player Daniel Koellerer has been banned from the sport for life for match-fixing, the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) said yesterday.
The 27-year-old, ranked 385th in the world and who reached a career high 55th in 2009, was found guilty of three charges under the Uniform Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme, including “contriving or attempting to contrive the outcome of an event.”
“The life ban applies with immediate effect, and means Mr Koellerer is not eligible to participate in any tournament or competition organised or sanctioned by the governing bodies of professional tennis,” the TIU said in a statement.
Koellerer has the right to appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The TIU was established by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the ATP and WTA Tours to protect the sport from corruption and betting scandals. All players must sign up to the Uniform Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme.
