A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Giteau to join Toulon after World Cup
RUGBY:Australia outhalf Matt Giteau has signed a contract with French side Toulon and will join them at the conclusion of the World Cup later this year, the player and club said yesterday.
“Signed with Toulon for 18 month deal after World Cup! Love the brumbies (sic) and wanna make this year as enjoyable as I can. Exciting times!!” Giteau tweeted.
Toulon said in a statement he had signed for three seasons but that the final year was an option.
Giteau had been widely expected to leave Australia after this autumn’s tournament in New Zealand. The 28-year-old will captain the Brumbies in their Super 15 season opener against the Waikato Chiefs on Saturday.
Giteau has played 91 Tests for the Wallabies and 89 games for the Brumbies and the Perth-based Western Force.
Toulon already have England outhalf Jonny Wilkinson in their ranks and earlier this month they recruited Wales poster boy Gavin Henson as France’s richest clubs continue to sign the world’s top talent.
Bluesea bound for Fairyhouse
RACING:The Irish National winner Bluesea Cracker will return to the scene of her greatest triumph next week in order to earn a crack at the most famous Grand National of all at Aintree in April, writes Brian O'Connor.
Bluesea Cracker is being aimed at next Wednesday’s Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse, the track where James Motherway’s mare memorably secured an Irish Grand National victory last Easter.
It’s 60 years since the last of the 13 mares to win the Aintree Grand National – Nickel Coin in 1951 – was successful but Motherway was pleased with the 10st 4lbs his stable star received when the National weights were unveiled in London yesterday.
“It’s a nice racing weight, we can’t complain about that. She is due to run in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse next week. My owners and myself will probably make a decision after that as to whether she’ll go to Aintree or not,” he said.
“My main concern is the ground. She does need some cut, that is my one fear. If it came up too fast she wouldn’t take her chance. Most of her best runs have been on soft so we might have to put a back-up plan in place,” he added.
Bluesea Cracker has been installed at 20 to 1 in some ante-post lists for the National with Willie Mullins’s The Midnight Club (10st 13lb) backed into as low as 16-to-1 second favourite behind Ballabrigs to become the 23rd Irish-trained winner of the world’s most famous steeplechase. Silver Birch in 2007 was the last of them.
Hedgehunter in 2005 was one of the famous six and Willie Mullins has entered nine horses for April in total although The Midnight Club was the one for money yesterday.
One bookmaker representative said: “Rich Ricci, who owns The Midnight Club, has made it no secret that the National is the horse’s big target this term. It was a most encouraging reappearance in the Thyestes and he should thrive in an extreme test of stamina.”
Backstage was a leading fancy for last year’s contest only to be brought down, but National-winning trainer Gordon Elliot will be hoping for better luck this time around with his charge. A strong Irish challenge also includes Edward O’Grady’s Grade One winner Tranquil Sea.
Wasps’ Varndell out for 12 weeks
RUGBY:Wasps' English Premiership playoff hopes have been dealt a major blow after wing Tom Varndell was ruled out for up to 12 weeks.
The 25-year-old England cap has been ever-present this season but suffered an ankle injury in Sunday’s league defeat to Gloucester at Adams Park, and he has been diagnosed as suffering ligament damage and will require surgery.
London Wasps director of rugby Tony Hanks said: “We are really disappointed for Tom, especially as this season he has been injury-free and has been involved in every single game.
His form has been very strong and we will certainly miss him but are confident he will make a full recovery.”
The injury means Varndell, who has scored 12 tries so far this season, will miss the trip for his former club Leicester on Saturday.
Vettel dreams of Ferrari drive
MOTOR SPORT:Red Bull's Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel yesterday joked he would finance a holiday for Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa so he could drive for Ferrari.
Asked what he would do if he could not drive the Red Bull next season, Vettel said: “Probably I would offer a holiday to Alonso and Massa. Even if Im not sure they would shake my hand.”
“My dream is to race one day for Maranello,” he added.
Peer feels the pressure in Dubai
TENNIS:Shahar Peer, who is being kept away from her rivals at the Dubai Championships in a heavily-guarded compound for the second year in a row, said she was feeling under even more pressure to succeed this time round.
Two years ago the tournament received a record €222,000 fine from the WTA and was threatened with removal from the tour after the Israeli was refused a visa to compete. Dubai is part of the United Arab Emirates which, like most Arab countries, has no diplomatic ties with the Jewish state and Israelis are routinely denied entry.
Peer was granted entry in 2010 and reached the semi-finals before losing to Venus Williams. The security conditions she encountered last year exist again this week but she said that was not the reason she felt extra pressure to perform.
It’s because I want to do well, the ninth seed said after a 6-4 6-1 first-round win over Spain’s Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez yesterday.
