Rowell names strongest squad

Rugby Union

Jack Rowell, the England coach, has selected his strongest possible squad to face Australia in Sydney on 12 July. The 36-man party will see England's original squad for the recent Argentina tour reinforced by the return of several Lions from the tour of South Africa.

Mike Catt, the Bath stand-off, and lock Nigel Redman are recalled by Rowell, having left England's tour last week to join the Lions as replacements.

Scottish Rugby Union officials have secured a pounds 500,000 three-year agreement with BBC Scotland on domestic broadcasting rights for club rugby. The deal includes coverage of club league and cup matches, the European qualifying tournament and Scotland internationals against, for example, Fiji, Italy, Argentina or Western Samoa.

The New Zealand Maoris shut out Ireland's tourists in the second half to secure a comfortable 41-10 win in Palmerston North. The Maoris outscored their opponents by four tries to one in a stop-start match played in constant drizzle. The frequent whistling of Southland referee Paul MacFie also contributed to a disappointing spectacle. The official frustrated the Irishmen, who found themselves on the wrong end of a penalty count and were in trouble at virtually every breakdown.

ENGLAND SQUAD (v Australia, Sydney, 12 July): Full-backs: T Stimpson (Newcastle Falcons), N Beal (Northampton). Wings: A Adebayo (Bath), J Sleightholme (Bath), R Underwood (Newcastle). Centres: P de Glanville (capt, Bath), N Greenstock (Wasps), W Greenwood (Leicester), J Guscott (Bath). Stand-offs: M Catt (Bath), P Grayson (Northampton), A King (Wasps), M Mapletoft (Gloucester). Scrum-halfs: K Bracken Saracens), M Dawson (Northampton), A Gomarsall (Wasps), A Healey (Leicester). Props: D Garforth (Leicester), J Leonard (Harlequins), G Rowntree (Leicester), K Yates (Bath). Hookers: R Cockerill (Leicester), P Greening (Gloucester), M Regan (Bristol). Locks: M Haag (Bath), M Johnson (Leicester), N Redman (Bath), S Shaw (Bristol). Back rows: N Back (Leicester), B Clarke (Richmond), M Corry (Bristol), L Dallaglio (Wasps), R Hill (Saracens). No 8s: T Diprose (Saracens), T Rodber (Northampton), C Sheasby (Wasps).

The glass manufacturing company Pilkington has ended its nine-year sponsorship deal with the Rugby Football Union, after offering to withdraw from the remaining two years of its contract if an alternative company wished to step in.