A round-up of today's others stories in brief
Henry rules himself out of running for England job
RUGBY: New Zealand's rugby World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry yesterday ruled himself out of the running to replace departed Martin Johnson at England.
“It’s not a reality,” the 65-year-old, who had been tipped as a 3 to 1 joint-favourite by bookmakers after Johnson quit last week, told BBC Wales.
“I live in New Zealand but I would like to try to get an association with a (European) club and make a difference,” he added.
The former Wales coach said he would like to spend some time in Europe but, with the World Cup fresh in the memory, he said he felt it was too early to make any decision.
“Over the next six months I will come to some conclusions,” he added.
Henry resigned from the All Blacks this month after eight years in charge but remains under contract to the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) until March and has been touted for a mentoring role with them.
English rugby union show €10m profit
RUGBY: The English Rugby Football Union were yesterday offered some respite from the chaos that has engulfed Twickenham by posting a record financial performance of €10 million profit.
Revenue for the year from July 1st 2010 to June 30th, 2011 increased by €28 million from €130 million to €158 million.
Operating profit for the year was €47 million, an increase of €17 million on the profit of €33 million recorded for 2009/10.
The retained profit for the year was €10 million compared to a retained loss of €1.3 million in 2009/10.
The growth is mainly driven by the match programme with increases also witnessed in most other revenue streams, especially broadcasting, sponsorship and hospitality.
Cummins secures draw for Australia
CRICKET: Teenager Pat Cummins followed up his six-wicket haul with the winning boundary as Australia secured a drawn series against South Africa by taking victory in a frantic finish in Johannesburg.
The 18-year-old was a hero with the ball earlier in the match and yesterday came in with Australia wobbling on 292 for eight, still needing another 18 runs.
He rode his luck, offering Dale Steyn a caught-and-bowled chance, before pulling the match-deciding four off Imran Tahir.
At the other end, Mitchell Johnson finished unbeaten on 40, while Brad Haddin’s 55 and 39 from Mike Hussey had earlier helped nudge Australia towards their target of 310.
Australia lost the opener in the two-match series by eight wickets in Cape Town, but yesterday seized their chance to make up for that disappointment.
Connacht flanker McCarthy cited
RUGBY: Connacht's Mike McCarthy is due before the ERC disciplinary committee tomorrow after being cited for a dangerous tackle on Toulouse winger Vincent Clerc, writes Gavin Cummiskey.
The incident, which occurred during the first half of last Saturday’s Heineken Cup tie at The Sportsground in Galway, prompted referee Greg Garner to sin bin the twice-capped Irish international.
Toulouse were leading 16-0 at the time, eventually winning 36-10.
The complaint was lodged by citing commissioner Bruce Reece-Russel from England with Robbie Morris (Wales) appointed as the independent judicial officer for tomorrow’s hearing at the ERC offices in Dublin.
Law 10.4(e) (“Dangerous tackling of an opponent including a tackle or an attempted tackle above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.”) carries a low end suspension of two weeks, mid-range of six weeks and top end can be anything from 10 to 52 weeks.
Third boat out of Ocean Race
SAILING: In the latest twist to the Volvo Ocean Race, American entry Puma was dismasted deep in the South Atlantic while lying in second place, writes David Branigan.
The incident occurred while sailing in fast conditions with waves of up to 10 feet. None of the 11 crew members were injured.
The team are determined to keep racing under jury rig but serious concerns remain regarding the boat’s ability to make it to Cape Town for the next In-Port race in just over two weeks time.
The 70-footer was 2,150 nautical miles from Cape Town when the incident occurred. The option of pulling into the remote island of Tristan da Cunha for repairs some 700 miles away was being examined.
The remote outcrop is at least five days sailing away under reduced sail.
Mariners player stabbed to death
BASEBALL: Seattle Mariners outfielder Greg Halman was stabbed to death in Rotterdam yesterday and his brother has been arrested in connection with the incident.
“A 24-year-old died this morning in a stabbing and we have arrested the 22-year-old brother of the victim,” a Rotterdam police spokesman said.
Dutch television station NOS-TV said Halman’s family had been informed.
Dutch-born Halman was signed as a free agent by Seattle in 2004 and after a long spell in the minor leagues he was called up to the majors last year.
“Greg was a part of our organization since he was 16, and we saw him grow into a passionate young man and talented baseball player,” the Mariners said in a statement.
He helped the Netherlands win the 2007 European Baseball Championship. He had featured in 35 games for the Mariners last season, scoring seven runs and holding a batting average of .230.
