SPORTS DIGEST

More sports news in brief.

Ballesteros undergoes second operation

Doctors have again operated on Seve Ballesteros to reduce swelling after removing a brain tunour on Tuesday, said a statement from the La Paz hospital.

"Mr Severiano Ballesteros showed, 48 hours after surgery, a decreased level of consciousness due to brain swelling and a decompressive craniectomy (withdrawal of a bone flap) was carried out," the statement read.

"His situation at present is stable and is controlled in the intensive care unit."

The 51-year-old Spaniard, one of the most gifted and charismatic players to grace golf, was taken to hospital last week after suffering dizziness and loss of consciousness.

Charity Brain Tumour UK added the swelling could be caused by a wide range of problems, including bleeding, irritation of the brain and incomplete removal of the tumour.

A hospital spokeswoman said doctors would take until at least tomorrow to analyse the tumour and determine whether it was malignant or benign.

All Blacks travel without MacDonald 

RUGBY:The All Blacks will be without 56-Test veteran Leon MacDonald for their end-of-year tour to the Northern Hemisphere, in which Ireland provide the second leg of another attempted Grand Slam at Croke Park on November 15th.

The Crusaders fullback suffered concussion during the All Blacks' 28-30 loss to South Africa on July 12th and missed the rest of the Tri-Nations as he struggled to overcome light-headedness and fatigue. The 30-year-old has a history of concussion problems and the All Blacks are being careful not to rush him back into action.

His absence means either Wellington's Cory Jane or Canterbury's Paul Williams is likely to take the second fullback spot behind Test incumbent Mils Muliaina.

Lynch fails with ban appeal

EQUESTRIAN:Denis Lynch yesterday failed to have a civil court in Germany lift the suspension imposed on him by the Federation Equestre International (FEI), reports Margie McLoone.

The 32-year-old Tipperary-born rider, who was immediately suspended when his horse Lantinus failed a drug test at the Olympic Games in Hong Kong, has already had an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected.

Disappointed but not surprised by yesterday's outcome, he now feels he can now do little but wait on the FEI tribunal to announce their decision, which had been expected by the end of September.

On the competition front, Meath-based Sarah Ennis and her thoroughbred gelding The Underdog lie in fifth place following the first day's dressage in the two-star class at eventing's world breeding championships in Le Lion d'Angers.

Cloughjordan's Katie O'Sullivan was also in action yesterday and is in 26th spot, four places behind Kilkenny-based Duarte Seabra and Fernhill Gloster Rebel, here competing for Portugal.

Hernandez back for Argentina

RUGBY:Juan Martin Hernandez is back in the Argentina squad for next month's tour of Europe after recovering from the hand injury which ruled him out of Argentina's 63-9 defeat at the hands of the Springboks in August, reports Gerry Thornley.

Santiago Phelan named a 29-man squad for matches against France on November 8th, Italy a week later and Ireland on November 22nd.

ARGENTINA SQUAD:Eusebio Guinazu (Agen), Horacio Agulla (Brive), Mario Ledesma (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Agustin Figuerola (CASI), Rafael Carballo (Castres Olympique), Martin Durand (Champagnat), Lucas Borges, Federico Martin Aramburu, Nicolas Vergallo (all Dax), Bernardo Stortoni (Glasgow Warriors), Gonzalo Tiesi (Harlequins), Santiago Fernandez (Hindu), Juan Figallo (Jockey Club Salta), Marcos Ayerza (Leicester Tigers), Felipe Contepomi (Leinster), Miguel Avramovic (Montauban), Rimas Alvarez (Perpignan), Alvaro Galindo (Racing Metro), Juan Pablo Orlandi (Rovigo), Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (Sale Sharks), Nicolas Bruzzone (SIC), Francisco Leonelli (Saracens), Juan Martin Hernandez, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Rodrigo Roncero (all Stade Francais), Patricio Albacete, Alberto Vernet Basualdo (both Stade Toulousian), Esteban Lozada (Toulon), Mariano Galarza (Universitario La Plata).