Sports Digest

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

WBC king Klitschko offers Haye 50-50 split to get it on

WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko has offered to split the difference with David Haye in a renewed bid to make their much-anticipated world heavyweight title unification match a reality.

Klitschko has thrown down a challenge to Haye in the wake of the Englishman’s facile WBA title defence against Audley Harrison, insisting he will accept a “50-50” purse split and would be happy to fight in England.

Previous attempts to line up a clash between Haye and Klitschko or his younger brother Wladimir have been scuppered by arguments over venues and TV revenues.

Klitschko told BBC Radio Five Live: “I’m ready any minute to sign a 50-50 contract. We are both world champions so let’s fight. Let’s make the fight in the spring time – I’m ready, the question is for David Haye.

“David Haye is a great talker but the question is, is he a good fighter? If he is a good fighter he should sign the contract. I want to fight David Haye because my brother already has two world titles and I have just the one . . . I’m ready to fight in Germany, the United States or Great Britain. Where the most money is on the table . . . let’s fight in this place.”

Hand break ends Habana's tour

RUGBY:South Africa wing Bryan Habana will play no further part on the tour of Ireland and Britain after breaking a bone in his hand during training when he fell awkwardly.His place for Saturday's Test against Scotland has been taken by Lwazi Mvovo, originally named on the bench, with Adi Jacobs drafted in among the replacements.

Coach Peter de Villiers had earlier announced three changes to the starting XV, with one positional switch. Fullback Zane Kirchner, scrumhalf Francois Hougaard and number eight Ryan Kankowski come into the side, while Gio Aplon switches to the wing after playing at fullback in last Saturday’s 29-25 win over Wales in Cardiff.

Scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar drops to the bench, while number eight Pierre Spies drops out of the 22.

Two changes to the matchday squad were enforced, with winger Bjorn Basson and replacement hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle sent home after failing random drug tests following the 23-21 win over Ireland on November 6.

Ralepelle and Basson, who was due to fly home anyway because of an ankle injury suffered in the win over Wales, tested positive for banned stimulant methylhexaneamine, commonly used as a nasal decongestant.

De Villiers said he is keen to move on from the departures of Ralepelle and Basson, which emerged yesterday and have seen the Springboks scale back their consumption of nutritional supplements.

Nadal drawn with Djokovic  

TENNIS:Top-ranked Rafael Nadal was placed in the same group as US Open finalist Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick at the draw for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London.

Nadal, who completed the career Grand Slam of all four tennis majors when he won the US Open in September, was made top seed in Group A. Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych was also drawn in Group A.

Four-time winner Roger Federer is the top seed in Group B, which also includes French Open finalist Robin Soderling, Spain’s David Ferrer and Britains Andy Murray.

CBS Naas qualify for Duff semi-final

RUGBY:CBS Naas qualified for a semi-final tilt at East Glendalough in the Leinster Schools (Section A) Duff Junior Cup on the back of centre Callum Fitzsimons' two tries in their 26-10 second round defeat of Ardscoil na Trionóide in Newbridge yesterday.

There was also the sure kicking of Chris Julien, from three conversions, to go with the outhalf’s try and a fourth touchdown from left wing Darragh Mulligan in answer to two unconverted tries from Athy by centre Jeremy Loughman and lock Tolu Ibitage.

Connacht hit by hooker crisis ahead of Ospreys game

RUGBY:Connacht are facing a hooker crisis ahead of the visit of Magners League champions Ospreys to the Sportsground on Friday.

Seán Cronin, who won his fifth cap for Ireland against Samoa at the weekend, is again likely to be away on international duty but Adrian Flavin has been ruled out for the next few weeks.

Flavin suffered a fractured thumb in Connacht’s 26-22 win over Samoa last week and will be sidelined for three to four weeks.

That leaves just 21-year old Galway city native Dermot Murphy whose six appearances for the side have all been off the bench.

Connacht coach Eric Elwood said yesterday that one of his props would have to cover the hooker position for Friday’s game with the versatile Ronan Loughney likely to be nominated.