RUGBY DIGEST

A round-up of today's other rugby stories in brief ...

Dewey gets late call by Hadden

SCOTLAND:Frank Hadden has called up five players to train with his Scotland squad after preparations for next Sunday's Six Nations opener against Wales were hit by injuries.
Glasgow prop Moray Low and number eight Johnnie Beattie, Edinburgh flanker Scott Newlands and centre John Houston, and Ulster centre Rob Dewey were all enlisted to supplement the 33-strong party named by Hadden last week.

Injury and illness meant a number of players were able to take only a limited part in this week’s activities, which began when the squad linked up last Monday. “We had a good three days’ training, mainly at Myreside . . . we also trained at Spartans on the artificial surface and made the most of some great weather conditions,” Hadden said.

Hadden will be hoping his foreign- based players – who have returned to their clubs for matches this weekend – arrive back fit.

Spencer leaves Northampton

NORTHAMPTON:Carlos Spencer has played his last game for Northampton after the English Premiership club announced his departure by mutual agreement.

New Zealander Spencer had one year remaining on his existing Saints contract, having initially joined them in 2005 as Northampton’s biggest signing of the professional era.

The 33-year-old was not named in Saints’ match-day 22 for the Premiership clash away to Harlequins today.

Spencer won 35 caps for the All Blacks, and is now certain to be a target for clubs in England, France and possibly Ireland.

Lievremont says Irish will one day click

FRANCE:A year after his appointment as France coach, Marc Lievremont says he is not looking forward to playing Ireland.

France open their campaign in Dublin where, under previous coach Bernard Laporte, they won the first rugby union game played at Croke Park two years ago.

I expect the worst,” Lievremont said yesterday. “Ireland have high quality players. Most of them come from Munster and Leinster who are doing well in the Heineken Cup and I think that one day they will click.

We defeated them 26-21 last year, but it was at home and they put a lot of pressure on us until the final whistle.

Lievremont remains adamant that his primary task is to rebuild the team.

“I’m not going to say that wins are imperative, the progress of our squad and our style of play are imperative, but dont misunderstand me, I never entered a game to lose, even last season when we had to find new players and break some psychological barriers.”

Delve returns for crunch tie

ENGLISH PREMIER:Wales international Gareth Delve makes a return in the Gloucester back row for today's top-of-the-table clash with London Irish after more than seven months out because of a serious knee injury.

Luke Narraway and Mike Tindall are unavailable due to England training commitments, while Olly Barkley moves to outhalf, 19-year-old centre Henry Trinder makes his first Premiership start and hooker Olivier Azam captains the team.

England fullback Delon Armitage has recovered from injury and makes his first appearance for a month in London Irish colours. Locks Nick Kennedy and Bob Casey are also back in action, with Peter Hewat moving to outhalf.

Corry to appear before disciplinary committee

LEICESTER:Martin Corry, captain of the Leicester Tigers, is due to appear before an independent disciplinary committee in Dublin next Thursday.

The former England captain was cited by match commissioner Denis Templeton for an alleged strike/contact with the eye area of Ospreys hooker Richard Hibbard during a Heineken Cup pool game in Swansea last weekend.

The 35-year-old could face a lengthy ban from a three-man panel that will be chaired by Pat Barriscale (Ireland), assisted by Dr Barry O’Driscoll (Ireland) and Jean-Noel Couraud (France).

The minimum punishment for such an offence is a 12-week suspension, rising to a maximum possible sanction of three years.

Financial crisis may scupper bid

WORLD CUP:Englands bid for the 2015 World Cup could be in jeopardy because of the global financial crisis, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in England has said.

Chief executive Francis Baron told reporters yesterday that England – one of eight bidding nations – would struggle in the current climate to make the up-front payment of €90 million required by the International Rugby Board to host the event.

“Whether we can bid in this current climate is a very finely balanced decision indeed. It is a big ask for any organisation,” he said.

Corporate hospitality and ticket sales had already been hit for home Six Nations matches. The RFU said corporate-related sales were down 27 per cent and tickets for games against Italy, France and Scotland were still on public sale for the first time in years with the tournament starting next week.