Sean signs deal
WELLINGTON - Crusaders winger Sean Maitland has farewelled a promising New Zealand rugby career to sign with Scottish club Glasgow Warriors. The 24-year-old former New Zealand age group standout and 2010 New Zealand Maori representative has signed a contract, subject to a medical and visa clearance, starting next month to keep him at the club until 2015. The move could have international implications, with Maitland qualified to represent Scotland through his Glasgow-born paternal grandparents.
Bolt undecided
SAO PAULO - Usain Bolt isn't sure whether he will try competing in the long jump because he doesn't want to risk a serious injury that could keep him from defending his sprint titles at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The Jamaican said he was still evaluating the possibility of taking on the long jump. "The plan is long jump maybe before the Olympics, but I have talked to my coach a little bit and he's shown some concern about the fact that long jump can bring some problems to the knee," Bolt said.
Serena survives
ISTANBUL - Serena Williams has overcome an injury scare during a winning start to her bid to cap a brilliant comeback season by regaining the WTA Championship title. The Wimbledon, US Open and Olympic champion appeared to pull a gluteal muscle attempting a retrieve in the first set yesterday but played through the discomfort to win 6-4 6-1 against Angelique Kerber. Williams' tenacious efforts earned her revenge over the improving German left-hander, who upset her in their last meeting, at Cincinnati in August.
Harrington leads
SOUTHAMPTON - Ireland's Padraig Harrington fired a five-under par 66 to seize a two-stroke lead over Masters champion Bubba Watson after the opening round of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. The four-man, 36-hole showdown for a $US600,000 ($F1.07m) top prize at Bermuda's Port Royal Golf Course was designed to feature the year's four major champions. But three-time major champion Harrington replaced British Open winner Ernie Els, the South African bowing out with a left ankle sprain, to become the only non-American in this year's field.
Dusautoir out
PARIS - France captain Thierry Dusautoir has been ruled out of the November internationals with a knee injury, the team has announced. Dusautoir's place in the initial 33-man squad will be taken by Toulouse teammate Yannick Nyanga, who won the last of his 25 caps in the third-place play-off against Argentina in the 2007 World Cup. Dusautoir, capped 54 times for France, twisted his knee in a tackle in Toulouse's 33-21 victory over Treviso in European Cup action.
Calls for unity
LONDON - Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has called for footballers to unite in their combat with racism, and says a breakaway union for black players would be a "bad" idea. A number of high-profile black players refused to wear anti-racism 'Kick It Out' T-shirts prior to last weekend's Premier League games, in protest at alleged laxity in the football authorities' attempts to tackle the issue. The controversy was followed by reports in the British media yesterday that Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is set to launch a new anti-racism union for black footballers.