London Irish's historic takeover of Richmond and London Scottish was approved by the English Rugby Football Union's management board yesterday. The three clubs will become an Allied Dunbar Premiership unit under the London Irish banner and at a stroke, Premiership One is reduced from 14 to 12 clubs.

After English First Division Rugby (EFDR), who run the premier league, had eagerly consented to the unique triple merger, the RFU were largely concerned with ensuring that rugby on an amateur basis would be maintained at Richmond and London Scottish, while their professional outfits are being swallowed up.

Motor Sport: Ian Greer led Bertie Fisher by six seconds after the opening day of the Donegal International Rally. However, Greer may incur a oneminute penalty which would drop him back to seventh.

Derek McGarrity, Austin McHale and Frank Meagher are very much in contention, but a puncture on the first stage cost James Cullen dearly though he is battling back with four out of seven fastest stage times.

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Tennis: The vacuum created by the withdrawal of Carlsberg's sponsorship from the domestic scene has been ameliorated by Perrier, the new sponsors for the Irish Close Championships which begin on July 3rd.

The timing of the championships will afford Scott Barron an ideal opportunity to acquire some badly needed competitive action ahead of the Davis Cup match against Denmark the following weekend. Owen Casey is favourite to pick up yet another title. Gina Niland will be bidding to retain the women's title.

Rowing: Irish crews have it all to do today in the World Cup regatta at Vienna. The lightweight four finished fourth in their heat and the two double sculls of Gearoid Towey and James Lyndsay-Finn and Niall O'Toole and Neal Byrne finished fourth and fifth respectively in theirs. All must now aim to qualify through this morning's repechages.