Rugby Union

England A lock Dave Sims will miss the first eight weeks of Gloucester's season because of an Achilles tendon injury. Last season's Gloucester captain has pulled out of the club's 10-day pre-season tour in France and is not expected to be fit until mid-October. Currently in plaster because of the vertical tear in his right tendon, Sims has targeted the League match with London Irish on 19 October for his comeback.

A total of 76 players, drawn from each of the four provinces, have been offered part-time or full-time contracts by the Irish Rugby Football Union. The full-time players will be offered a pounds 25,000 retainer, plus additional bonuses, while the offer to the part-time players is a retainer of pounds 7,500 plus bonuses. "This is a critical step in our programme to re-establish Ireland as a major force in world rugby," Niall Brophy, the IRFU President, said.