Briefs

Galway to host Players Tour event again

SNOOKER:Ireland has secured the staging of the Players Tour Championship Grand Finals in 2013 despite stiff competition from a number of countries including Thailand and Qatar.

The finals will return to the Bailey Allen Hall at NUI Galway, from March 12th-17th, with the world’s top players competing in Galway for the €125,000 top prize.

The tournament is the culmination of a series of 13 events on the Players Tour Championship (PTC) this season, staged around Britain, Europe and Asia.

The top 25 players from the Order of Merit plus seven from the Asian Order of Merit will qualify to play in Galway. The full line-up will be announced after January’s PTC event in Munich. 

Cuthbert bucks the trend and signs new three-year deal

RUGBY UNION:Wales wing Alex Cuthbert has signed a new three-year contract with Cardiff Blues, the Welsh region have announced.

Cuthbert, a star performer in the Test match arena this year, rejected offers from other clubs in committing his future at the Arms Park.

And his decision has bucked the trend of top Wales players moving to France, with Jamie Roberts and Dan Lydiate both set to join the exodus next season.

Mike Phillips, Gethin Jenkins, James Hook and Luke Charteris already play in the French Top 14, while prop Paul James is in his first season at Aviva Premiership club Bath.

Meanwhile, Scott Johnson has been appointed Scotland interim head coach for the Six Nations and summer tour to South Africa, the Scottish Rugby Union has announced.

The Australian will step up from his role as assistant coach following Andy Robinson's resignation last month.

Barcelona rule out sharing Grand Prix with Valencia

MOTOR SPORT:Circuit de Catalunya officials have made it clear they have no intention of alternating the Spanish Grand Prix with Valencia.

The Valencia Street Circuit played host to the European Grand Prix for five years, from 2008 to 2012, only to drop off the calendar for next season.

It was suggested earlier this year Barcelona and Valencia would take it in turns to stage the Spanish Grand Prix, starting with the former for 2013.

But Vincente Aguilera, president of the Consortium of the Circuit de Catalunya, has indicated that will not be the case.

"We have a contract to host the GP of Spain until 2016 and we want to keep it," Aguilera told El Mundo Deportivo.

"Indeed, we are open to negotiate the extension until 2020."