Sports Digest/RUGBY UNION: Newcastle outhalf Jonny Wilkinson last night settled into his new role as England captain - and admitted that he did not think twice about accepting the job.
In his absence through injury this year, World Cup holders England lost five of their last six Tests, and urgently need to put the show back on the road when they face Canada, South Africa and Australia at Twickenham next month.
"There was never a doubt in my mind about my eventual decision. This is the place I want to be for as long as I can be, and I don't want to let go until I really have to," said Wilkinson, who takes over the leadership role from Lawrence Dallaglio against Canada on November 13th.
Wilkinson said he has no doubt what will be required as England seek to reclaim their place at the top.
"The key is to have everyone playing at their best, that's what we need. We are helped by having fantastic leaders throughout the squad, and it is about getting the guys playing their best every game."
England yesterday completed a two-day training camp at their Surrey base, and caretaker coach Andy Robinson revealed that he wants flanker Richard Hill and centre Mike Tindall to be involved in England leadership roles with Wilkinson over the next couple of training sessions, although he hasn't yet finalised his vice-captain.
Robinson was given a major fitness boost with news that Phil Vickery (back) and Lewis Moody (foot) both made successful comebacks in second-team games following injury, while Trevor Woodman (back) is set to make his Premiership return for Sale on Friday.
RUGBY UNION: Samoan international Peter Poulos might not play again for London Irish this season.
The Exiles have suffered further injury misery with wing Paul Sackey, scrumhalf Darren Edwards and hooker Adrian Flavin all sidelined.
Back-row forward Poulos, who joined London Irish this summer following a spell with Japanese club NTT Docomo Kansai and played for Samoa against England in last year's World Cup, has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.
The injury, which happened during a second-team game, could keep Poulos out for nine months.
Sackey, meanwhile, ruptured ankle ligaments in a club training session and is currently on crutches. The initial diagnosis is a lay-off of up to six weeks.
Scrumhalf Edwards is suffering from a fractured cheekbone sustained against Premiership opponents Saracens on Sunday, and he will see a specialist later this week to determine whether surgery is required. Hooker Flavin has a prolapsed disc in his neck and is not expected to play for six weeks.
CRICKET: West Indies coach Gus Logie has had his contract with the team "terminated by mutual consent", the West Indies Cricket Board said yesterday.
Former West Indies batsman Logie was appointed to the job in 2003 and his contract was to run until June 2005.
"A mutual decision was reached and it was decided that his contract would be terminated on September 30th," board spokesman Leonard Robertson said yesterday. Robertson said the board had been conducting interviews for a replacement for "about a month" and would make an announcement when they had made their choice.
The West Indies won just four of their 22 tests under Logie and were beaten by England in successive home and away test series this year.
The side, however, were better in one-day cricket, winning 20 of 39 matches, including beating England in the final of the Champions Trophy last month.
CRICKET: India's Sachin Tendulkar is out of today's first Test against Australia due to an elbow injury.
"Sachin is not playing in this Test match, he will probably play in the next," India captain Saurav Ganguly said yesterday. "We'll definitely miss him. He's a great player and contributes not just with the bat but also with his bowling."
Tendulkar's absence is a big boost to Australia, who are seeking their first Test series win in India for 35 years.
SNOOKER: Ronnie O'Sullivan and Graeme Dott will rerun their World Championship final tomorrow night for a place in the Grand Prix quarter-finals.
World number one O'Sullivan beat Joe Swail 5-1 while Dott knocked out Dominic Dale 5-2 in Preston.
O'Sullivan already has one title this week as he was yesterday named the Player of the Year by the Snooker Writers' Association.
Masters champion Paul Hunter struggled to beat fellow Englishman Ali Carter. The world number five trailed 4-2 and was 39-0 down in the seventh. However, he pulled back from the brink with runs of 53 and 27, shaded a scrappy penultimate frame and then compiled 102 to take the decider.
Hunter's reward is a match against Steve Davis, who yesterday beat Tony Drago 5-1.
