Today's other stories in brief
Connacht sign promising Irish backs
RUGBY:Connacht have announced the signing of two promising Irish backs for next season. Shane Monahan of Blackrock College and Darragh Fanning of St Mary's College, both 23, will link up with their new colleagues when pre-season training commences at the Sportsground in a few weeks.
The two players have impressed over the past few years. Monahan, a winger/centre, was on the Ireland Under-20 side which captured a Six Nations grand slam in 2007. The side was coached by new Connacht coach Eric Elwood.
Fanning, a winger or fullback, has impressed for Leinster Schools and the Irish Colleges side.
Haughton agrees deal with Wasps
RUGBY:Wasps have announced the signing of wing Richard Haughton from their Guinness Premiership rivals Saracens.
Haughton (29) has agreed a two-year deal and moves to Wasps following a Saracens career which saw him make more than 160 first-team appearances.
He won additional representative honours at England A, under-21 and under-18 levels.
Wasps rugby director Tony Hanks said: “Richard is a top-quality player who is equally comfortable at wing and fullback, and he brings with him a host of experience in the game.
“Richard has a huge desire to play at the highest level, and his 10 years with Saracens, combined with his impressive records on the sevens circuit, make him a very valuable addition to the squad.”
Premiership newcomers Exeter have announced two further signings. They recently confirmed the capture of former Bath wing Andrew Higgins, and 24-year-old back Ryan Davis – Higgins’s former Recreation Ground colleague – now joins him in moving to Sandy Park.
Exeter have also recruited frontrow Jon Vickers from Northampton.
Hearn takes control of World Snooker after vote
SNOOKER:BARRY HEARN was yesterday handed control of World Snooker after claiming a narrow victory in a vote of the sport's top 64 players.
The veteran promoter will through his Matchroom Sport business take a 51 per cent controlling stake in the commercial business, which will now be separated from the regulatory body – the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association.
Hearn believes that he can return snooker to the levels of popularity it enjoyed in the mid-1980s, and has also promised higher prize-money, greater television exposure and more tournaments.
Until the former Olympic shooter and businessman John Davison came forward with a rival bid last week, Hearn looked certain to get the go-ahead. He won on a vote by 35 to 29.
Next season’s calendar includes new tournaments, including a quick-fire Shoot-Out event, a ranking event in Germany and a Player Tour Championship series.
McGee reaches quarter-finals
TENNIS: Ireland's James McGee powered his way past two opponents to clinch a quarter-final place in the ITF Men's Futures event in Tunis.
Sixth seed McGee defeated Czech Republic’s Tomas Hrabec 6-3, 6-1 and followed up with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Egypt’s Omar Hedayet.
Today, the 22-year-old Dubliner takes on Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri, who eliminated McGee’s Davis Cup team-mate Colin O’Brien 6-3, 6-3.
