Sports Digest

New tour code for England
RUGBY: England rugby players were banned yesterday from taking women back to their hotel rooms as four players vigorously denied allegations of a serious sexual assault.

The sportsmen accused of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman in a New Zealand hotel insist on their innocence "in the strongest terms", according to bosses.

But the Rugby Football Union (RFU) was said to be increasingly concerned about the harm police investigations were doing to the reputation of the international side.

In response to the scandal, RFU chief executive Francis Baron said its code of conduct for players on tour will be changed as a matter of urgency.

Baron, who claimed the players were "upset and very frustrated" at not being able to clear their names, said: "It is distressing to everybody involved in rugby.

"In a way it makes us absolutely determined to do whatever we can to ensure such a set of circumstances never happens again for future generations of players.

Clearly we have got to get across to these young men, who are now very high-profile rugby individuals, that they are targets for people to use."

The players have declined to be interviewed by police on the grounds that the woman in question has not made a formal complaint.

Jennings hits out at Irish coach

ROWING: Sinéad Jennings put herself bang in the frame for a medal at the World Cup regatta in Poznan, Poland, yesterday - and then aimed a torrent of criticism at Ireland head coach Harald Jahrling, writes Liam Gorman.

Jennings won her heat of the lightweight single scull, a non-Olympic event, in the fastest time of the day, despite having the race wrapped up in the early stages. She has a semi-final and, hopefully, a final today, but should impress in both, as she set her fastest time ever at the Holland Beker regatta in Amsterdam three weeks ago after racing twice in the same day.

Her performance in Amsterdam resulted in her being entered at the Olympic Qualifier in the heavyweight single, but when he was consulted, Jahrling ruled that she was not of the standard to go.

Jennings said yesterday that she felt she could have contended for the final qualifying place, which was taken by Serbia's Iva Obradovic on Wednesday.

"I'm really devastated, because I think I would have given the Serb a good run for her money. But at least, at the end of the day, if I was given a choice to go to the Olympics, or to win the World Championship (in the lightweight single), I'd find it really hard not to go the World Championships and win. So maybe it's worked out for the best."

She went on: "I just think it's really wrong that somebody who'll be leaving the country in September (Jahrling) will be leaving all this destruction after him.

"He should be developing women's rowing, and I was there with a really good chance, and he didn't (send me)."

Jahrling dismissedJennings' critique yesterday. "We judge people on their performances. That's my job, I'm doing my job."

Ireland make four changes players

RUGBY: Ireland A coach Allen Clarke has made four changes from the side comprehensively beaten 34-12 by the England Saxons last Saturday for the Churchill Cup plate final against Argentina A today (Toyota Park, Illinois, 5.45pm Irish time, Sky Sports 2).

New Connacht scrumhalf Frank Murphy replaces Tómas O'Leary, Mark McCrea comes onto the right wing for Gary Brown and Ulster's Darren Cave starts his first game of the tournament ahead of Kieran Lewis.

Connacht openside Johnny O'Connor is favoured ahead of David Pollock.

Irish pair confirmed

SAILING: Exactly 50 days before the first race of the Beijing Olympic Sailing regatta, Peter O'Leary and Stephen Milne were yesterday confirmed as Ireland's representatives in the Star keelboat class.

The selection of the pair by the Irish Sailing Association had been challenged by Max Treacy and Anthony Shanks by an appeal to the Olympic Council of Ireland that was heard in a marathon session last weekend.

A 10-page report with the single recommendation was issued to the ISA and the other parties around lunchtime yesterday. An appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport by the unsuccessful appeallants could yet take place.