SPORTS DIGEST: RUGBY:In the fall-out from David Knox's outburst against Leinster, in the course of which he revealed the rift between himself and forwards coach Mike Brewer, it's emerged the Australian has been linked with Bayonne as well as jobs in Australia, while Brewer's name, ironically, has been linked with their Basque rivals Biarritz as well as, a more likely destination, Newcastle, reports Gerry Thornley.
Mick Dawson, the Leinster chief executive, was at pains to emphasise that the province would happily have kept Brewer on: "He's done a wonderful job with the forwards and had he been available he probably would have been offered an extension to his contract, but he decided he wanted to move on to fresher things."
Dawson was less forthcoming about Leinster's potential new signings, although it is known that in addition to the confirmed signing of Isa Nacewa and the probability of landing Springboks prop CJ van der Linden, coach Michael Cheika has spoken to Wallabies and New South Wales flanker Rocky Elsom and the Waikato Chiefs' All Blacks lock-cum-backrower Johno Gibbes.
Elsom's signing is still dependent upon him being released early from his contract until the end of the year while Gibbes has just returned from injury to the Chiefs' Super 14 line-up.
Munster are also in the market for a big-name backrow signing in light of Anthony Foley's impending retirement and have been linked with the big-hitting All Blacks and Hurricanes flanker Jerry Collins.
Dallaglio aiming to go out on a high
RUGBY: Lawrence Dallaglio insists he will enter Wasps' English Premiership semi-final tomorrow charged by the realisation it might be his final game.
Dallaglio (35) retires at the end of a season that Wasps hope will be brought to a triumphant conclusion at Twickenham in two weeks' time.
Wasps winger Paul Sackey will undergo a fitness test tomorrow morning, while Bath frontrows Lee Mears and Matt Stevens have been given the all clear to play following their injury scares.
Gloucester are firm favourites to end Leicester Tigers' reign as Premiership champions in the second semi-final at Kingsholm, having finished the 22-game regular season 10 points and three places above Tigers.
Table-toppers for a third time in six seasons, Gloucester also have home advantage. Centre Anthony Allen and flanker Akapusi Qera have both recovered from shoulder complaints, while centre Mike Tindall has shrugged off an ankle injury.
Meanwhile, Ospreys coach Lyn Jones has stepped down after claiming to have taken the Welsh region as far as he can.
Venus falls and Serena pulls out
TENNIS: Venus Williams lost 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 to Serb title-holder Jelena Jankovic in the Italian Open quarter-finals in Rome yesterday, while her sister Serena pulled out at the same stage of the tournament with a back injury.
Fifth seed Serena said her withdrawal from her match with 18-year-old French qualifier Alize Cornet should not affect her preparations for the French Open, which starts on May 25th.
Cornet knocked out last year's finalist Svetlana Kuznetsova on Thursday and now meets another Russian, sixth seed Anna Chakvetadze, a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 winner over Bulgarian qualifier Tsvetana Pironkova yesterday.
Meanwhile, in the men's Masters Series quarter-finals in Hamburg, top seed Roger Federer beat Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-3, while third seed Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat another Spaniard, Albert Montanes, 6-2, 6-3.
Derry board 'willing' to help
GAELIC GAMES: The Derry County Board has reiterated its willingness to provide after-school coaching in Limavady Grammar School, reports Seán Moran. Controversy has arisen since an introductory visit to the school by county games development officer Chris Collins, planned for Wednesday, was cancelled without explanation.
After expressions of interest from pupils at the school, which traditionally plays rugby, soccer and cricket, a staff member asked the county board to help establish training after school. The first session was planned for this week but last Tuesday pupils were informed that this would not now take place.
"To date Derry GAA have received no official communication from Limavady Grammar School on this issue," said the county board statement. "Derry GAA would like to highlight to the parents and pupils that Derry GAA stands ready to provide coaching support for the school when invited to do so."
Lee looking for return to Limerick
BOXING: Irish middleweight Andy Lee will try to get back to winning ways in his home city of Limerick in July following his defeat to the Texan Brian Vera in March.
The Detroit-based southpaw was controversially stopped in the seventh round - despite being ahead on points and still throwing punches - in Connecticut and the Texan has poured cold water on a rematch.
According to Roger Lee, who helps work his brother's corner, Lee, who is back in training in Detroit, is considering a mid-July date for the University of Limerick.
Meanwhile, the Castle Plaza in Boston has been confirmed as the venue for Derry middleweight John Duddy's next fight on June 28th, against an opponent to be confirmed.
Bosisio wins seventh stage
CYCLING: Italy's Gabriele Bosisio of the LPR Brakes team won the seventh stage of the Giro d'Italia yesterday.
Bosisio was part of a decisive seven-rider attack and then leaped away 8km from the finish of the 176-km stage from Vasto to Pescocostanzo to win alone. Vasil Kiryienka of Belarus was second, 46 seconds behind.
Italy's Giovanni Visconti finished 3:52 minutes behind Bosisio but retained the overall race lead.
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