The other sports stories of the day in brief...
Ulster secure services of Humphreys and Caldwell
RUGBY:Outhalf Ian Humphreys has signed a new three-year contract with Ulster Rugby, while lock Ryan Caldwell has extended his contract for an additional two seasons, writes Johnny Watterson. Both players were this week named in the squad for Sunday's Ireland A game against England Saxons at the Recreation Grounds in Bath and have been central to Ulster's bright first half of the season.
“The management team are delighted to have secured these two Ulster-born players to the squad for the foreseeable future. Both players are greatly talented individuals, who are highly regarded members of the squad,” said Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin. “Our aim has always been to create a competitive team focused on a core of Ulster men.”
Humphreys was with Leicester from 2005 to 2008 and arrived back in Ulster ahead of the 2008/09 season. He has gained 32 Ulster caps to date From his Ulster senior debut in 2005, Caldwell has earned 69 caps for the club.
Ward in action at National Stadium
BOXING:Reigning world junior champion Joe Ward will be in action for the first time at the IABA Open Youth Competition which concludes at the National Stadium, Dublin, on Friday and Saturday with semi-finals and finals.
Ward got a bye in to the last four and will meet Cardonagh middleweight Darren Kelly on Friday. Ryston club-mates Hugh Myres and Stephen Treacy, who meet at light flyweight, Chris Phelan, JJ Nevin, John Myres, and Chris Mullaly will also be in action.
The IABA are using the event to help with their selection process for April’s AIBA World Youth Championships in Azerbaijan which will act as the only qualifier for the Youth Olympics in Singapore in August. They will select their squad following Saturday’s finals. Irish boxers achieved the IABA’s best medal haul at the 2008 World Youths in Mexico. Ray Moylette (gold), Jamie Kavanagh (silver), Tommy McCarthy (bronze) and David Joe Joyce (bronze) all finished on top of the podium.
Fifa accuse English 'football family'
SOCCER:Fifa have angrily accused the English "football family" of undermining this summer's World Cup by relentlessly criticising the host nation, South Africa. Jerome Valcke, the secretary general of world football's governing body, said English and German football figures and media were the chief culprits in denigrating the first African country to stage the tournament.
In an emotional outburst, Valcke pleaded: “We should stop seeing articles with someone saying the World Cup is the biggest mistake in the world organised here in South Africa. It’s unfair, it’s really bad and it’s sad.”
Valcke complained: “It’s sad every morning you wake up and there are articles saying people should not fly to South Africa, that it’s a dangerous country, that this is not good, this is not nice, that there’s no way this person will fly to South Africa because it’s a crazy country, that Fifa made the wrong decision.”
