Sports Digest

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

Marconnet back for Six Nations

RUGBY:Veteran prop Sylvain Marconnet was recalled by France coach Marc Lievremont yesterday in the Grand Slam champions' 30-man squad for next month's Six Nations championship.

Marconnet, 34, won the last of his 80 caps against Ireland in last year’s tournament.

Toulouse outhalf David Skrela, wings Vincent Clerc and fullback Clement Poitrenaud, who were dropped for the November internationals, were also included.

“These 30 players have been called to play the Six Nations but this group is probably very close to the one that will be announced in March for the World Cup,” Lievremont said.

“Sylvain (Marconnet) was selected because of the trust I have in him, his experience, his versatility and his good performances with Biarritz Olympique. I know he is a real competitor.”

Montpellier outhalf Francois Trinh-Duc and Perpignan centre Maxime Mermoz also return to the squad after missing the November Tests through injuries.

The main absentee is Stade Francais’s huge outside centre Mathieu Bastareaud. Lievremont has selected Perpignan’s David Marty instead.

“Marty is a consistent player who may not be having his best season but he has never disappointed me,” he said.

France begin the defence of their title on February 5th when they host Scotland at the Stade de France before travelling to Ireland on February 13th.

FRENCH (Squad):Backs: Morgan Parra, Dimitry Yachvili, F Trinh-Duc, D Skrela, D Traille, Yannick Jauzion, Maxime Mermoz, David Marty, Aurelien Rougerie, Vincent Clerc, Maxime Medard, Alexis Palisson, Clement Poitrenaud, Yoann Huget. Forwards: Thomas Domingo, Sylvain Marconnet, Guilhem Guirado, William Servat, Luc Ducalcon, Nicolas Mas, Lionel Nallet, Jerome Thion, Pascal Pape, Julien Pierre, Julien Bonnaire, Thierry Dusautoir (captain), Alexandre Lapandry, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Sebastien Chabal, Imanol Harinordoquy.

San Diego starts 2011 for Woods

GOLF:With the first winless season of his professional career still fresh in his memory, Tiger Woods will launch his 2011 campaign in San Diego next week at one of his most successful venues.

Woods confirmed last night he will play his first tournament of the year in the USPGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines where he has won the title a record six times.

“I’m really looking forward to competing,” the 35-year-old said.

Coghlan calls for Irish Sports Council review

ATHLETICS:The Irish Sports Council (ISC) should be subjected to an independent review of its governing standards, according to Mary Coghlan, the former chief executive office of Athletics Ireland, writes Ian O'Riordan.

Coghlan was speaking before the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, and Sport yesterday, addressing the issue of “good governance in Irish sport”. Coghlan served as CEO of Athletics Ireland for just over a year, before her contract was terminated in July 2009 due to conflicts within the association and the ISC, which later led to High Court proceedings.

Yesterday’s hearing was about taking on board Coghlan’s recommendations for the future, and these, she said, should include the Sports Council publishing a new five-year strategic plan, supporting national governing bodies in a more transparent manner, and that any intervention with such bodies should only be done on a formal level. The Minister for Sport, she said, also had a greater role to play, particularly if there is any withholding of funding.

“Sometimes the perception was that a nod was as good as a wink,” claimed Coghlan, “and I think the credibility of the Sports Council has suffered. There are many areas where the Sports Council has made a positive impact on Irish sport, but it cannot act as a law unto itself. I think the remit of the Sports Council needs to be formalised, with particular emphasis on their role in senior appointments within national governing bodies.”

Armstrong denies latest allegations

CYCLING:Lance Armstrong faced yet another media grilling over doping allegations as the seven-times Tour de France champion continued his farewell ride at the Tour Down Under.

Sports Illustratedmagazine published fresh accusations against the 39-year-old. The American who has been under scrutiny since former team-mate Floyd Landis accused him and other prominent figures in the sport of doping last May.

“I have nothing to say,” Armstrong said when asked about the article before the start of the second stage. The media, however, did not back down and continued to quiz the Texan, who has faced allegations of taking illegal substances throughout his career, although he never tested positive.

“Like I said, I have nothing to say,” he said, before admitting he read the report. “I perused it . . . there’s nothing there,” he added.

When asked once again about the report, Armstrong said: “Dude, are you that stupid? What part of ‘I’m not commenting’ is not clear to you?”

Armitage pushes way into trouble

RUGBY:The problems for Martin Johnson continue to grow. The England team manger faces being without Delon Armitage for at least the first month of the Six Nations campaign, far longer in the worst-case scenario, after the London Irish fullback allegedly pushed an anti-doping officer.

Johnson is already without four of his squad for the start of the Six Nations and Armitage must answer a charge of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game after the alleged push and use of threatening and/or abusive and obscene language towards an officer from UK Anti-Doping.

It occurred during a routine test after the Premiership game against Bath on New Year’s Day. The test was negative.