ProTour licence success boost for Irish pair

CYCLING: Irish professionals Mark Scanlon and Philip Deignan have received a major boost with the news that their Ag2r Prévoyance team have been awarded a ProTour licence for the next four years by the licensing commission of the UCI, thus ensuring a place in the sport's premier events, reports Shane Stokes.

The ProTour was introduced earlier this year to operate as a top division which will guarantee the presence of the world's best teams in the top races on the cycling calendar. The Tours of France, Italy and Spain are part of the series, as are major classics such as Paris-Roubaix and Milan-

San Remo, plus prestigious stage races such as Paris-Nice and the Tour of Germany.

Ag2r failed in their ProTour application 12 months ago and had to rely on wild card entries to ProTour events this season.

However, an increase in their budget plus the signings of high-profile riders such as Francisco Mancebo and Christophe Moreau, fourth and 11th in this year's Tour de France, ensured Ag2r's candidature was much stronger this time round.

"It was hard to get decent form this year as we missed out on a lot of good races," said Scanlon yesterday. "The news is great as it means we will get plenty of big events next season - no more having to ride small races instead, as was the case this year."

GAELIC GAMES: Another voice has been added to those calling for a review of the International Rules series with Australia because of the violent scenes in this year's series.

Galway football board secretary John Power says there is no future for the series if such violent incidents are repeated.

In his address to be made at the board's convention in Rosmuc on Sunday, Power says: "The thuggery displayed by the Australians in the second game has no place on any playing field and if this kind of behaviour was to continue one has to ask the question is there any future in these games."

SWIMMING: Former British Olympic coach Terry Denison will undertake his first assignment abroad with an Irish team at the European short-course championships in Trieste from December 8th-11th, reports Pat Roche.

Denison, on loan to the Irish body, will bring a strong team. The team will not, however, include Andrew Bree who won 200 metres breaststroke silver two seasons ago. Bree has only recently returned to training.

IRISH TEAM: Sharon Coady, Julie Douglas, Nuala Murphy, Laura McDonnell, Melanie Nocher, Shane Aherne, Mark Donovan, Claire Byrne, Claire Dawson, Fiona Doyle, Susanna Murphy, Jill Nesbitt, Sinéad Tyrrell, Stephen Cunningham, David Matthews, Neil McGrann, Jonathan Niblock, Kevin Stacey.