Other sports news in brief
Davis Cup centre stage at Madrid's bullring
TENNIS:As world number one Rafael Nadal and his Spain team-mates geared up to face the United States, workers were putting the finishing touches to another big draw of this weekend's Davis Cup semi-final, Madrids bullring.
It will be the first tennis event played at the 77-year-old Las Ventas ring - a Mecca for matadors and bullfighting fans - and should provide a dazzling showcase for the Spanish capital as it competes for the right to host the 2016 Olympic Games.
In just 10 days, a small army of workers have built a clay court in the middle of the sandy arena, transforming the ornate, perfectly circular plaza into the worlds second-biggest tennis venue after New York's Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Teenager Juan Martin del Potro will face world number six Nikolay Davydenko on his Davis Cup home debut after the draw for todays opening singles of Argentinas semi-final against Russia. David Nalbandian will open the tie for the hosts against Igor Andreev before Del Potro (19) takes on Davydenko.
DAVIS CUP WORLD GROUP
SEMI-FINAL DRAW
ARGENTINA V RUSSIA:Today's singles: David Nalbandian v Igor Andreev, Juan Martin del Potro v Nikolay Davydenko Tomorrow's doubles: Agustin Calleri/Guillermo Canas v Igor Kunitsyn/Dmitry Tursunov. Sundays reverse singles: Nalbandian v Davydenko, del Potro v Andreev.
SPAIN V US:Today's singles: Rafael Nadal v Sam Querrey, David Ferrer v Andy Roddick. Tomorrow's doubles: Feliciano Lopez/Fernando Verdasco v Mike Bryan/Mardy Fish. Sundays reverse singles: Nadal v Roddick, Ferrer v Querrey.
Wright leads at Necarne Castle
EQUESTRIAN:Matthew Wright, winner of both CCI classes last year, leads the Necarne Castle two-star event after the first session of dressage with John Peace's mare Caunton Welldone on a score of 46.5 penalties, reports Margie McLoone.
British raiders fill the first nine places with John Paul Sheffield lying second on 47.9 with his 2006 winner Riverside James. The best-placed Irish rider is Co Armagh-based Richard Irwin with his parents' seven-year-old mare Youngstars Mombasa, which achieved a score of 56.3.
The home team is faring far better in the CCI*, with Michael Ryan and the Puissance six-year-old Dromgurrihy Blue heading the field on 45.7.
This weekend also sees the final of the 2008 Samsung Super League in Barcelona and Robert Splaine, Horse Sport Ireland's show jumping team manager, will wait until tomorrow before naming the four riders who will complete in the following afternoon's concluding round.
Wood joins London Irish
RUGBY:Former Ireland captain Keith Wood (above) has become a director of London Irish. Wood will be joined by fellow board newcomer Nigel Northridge, who is a non-executive director with Paddy Power and Thomas Cook.
Meanwhile, England flanker James Haskell has been charged with head-butting an opponent during Wasps' 11-10 English Premiership defeat to Worcester last Sunday. Team-mate Richard Birkett has been charged with stamping.
