Severe blow for Jennings RUGBY:Shane Jennings' chances of making the Irish World Cup squad have been dealt a severe blow after it was belatedly discovered the openside flanker sustained a fractured thumb in the second Test defeat to Argentina last month, reports Gavin Cummiskey.
Jennings undergoes surgery today and a recovery time has been set at five to six weeks, meaning he will miss the last warm-up game against Scotland at Murrayfield on August 11th. Coach Eddie O'Sullivan will announce his 30-man squad the next day.
Jennings' misfortune becomes an opportunity for other prospective flankers, Keith Gleeson and Alan Quinlan, who are making late runs to be included in the final cut for France.
Jennings (25) recently re-signed for Leinster after two highly successful seasons with the Leicester Tigers that saw him nominated for the English Premiership player of the year award.
Meanwhile, Irish hooker Rory Best has been named Ulster captain for the coming season, replacing his older brother Simon, who captained Ireland in Argentina. The tighthead prop has been named vice-captain.
Connacht's pre-season friendly match against South Africa at the Sportsground on August 21st has sold out. The only tickets which remain are for people who now purchase season tickets, with a segment of the Bohermore Terrace being reserved to accommodate them.
Four-minute incentive ATHLETICS:By offering €1,000 to anyone who manages to break four minutes in the Spar Mile Challenge this weekend Athletics Ireland are more likely to produce severe muscle damage than any financial winners, reports Ian O'Riordan. The challenge takes place at 28 venues, almost every track in the country - most from 11am tomorrow, with Sligo and Cork taking place this evening.
Most of Ireland's current crop of best milers will run a special Morton Mile as part of the Mile Challenge in Santry, starting at 2pm, celebrating the late athletics promoter Billy Morton. James Nolan of UCD, Robert Connolly and Joe Sweeney of Dundrum, and Clonliffe Harriers' Colm Rooney and Wesley Alkin are set to compete, with three leading Australians, Lachlan Chisholm, Denis Roff and Brad Woods.
Kürten claims fifth spot EQUESTRIAN:Jessica Kürten continued her raid on the prize-fund at the big German fixture in Aachen yesterday, claiming fifth place in the morning's young horse class and adding a top 10 finish in the afternoon's feature speed event, reports Grania Willis.
The world number five was fast and clear with Lady Moira Forbes Castle Forbes Cadeau Z in the Youngster Cup, but Kürten's time of 65.02 seconds was no challenge to German winner Heinrich Hermann Engemann, who claimed the title in 62.93.
Meanwhile, Patrick Hanly has been appointed as show director for the Failte Ireland Dublin Horse Show, which runs from August 8th-12th.
