Rugby Union: Rees ruled out of tour

ROUND-UP

DAVID REES, the exciting young Sale wing, is the latest player to be ruled out of England's tour of the Southern Hemisphere this summer. Clive Woodward, the England coach, watched Sale's defeat at Gloucester yesterday and said afterwards: "I've just learned that David will be unavailable as he needs two months' rest following a groin operation."

Better news for Woodward came when John Mitchell, Sale's coach and a key member of his back-up staff, contradicted a previous statement and confirmed his availability to tour.

West Hartlepool will resume their love-hate relationship with the top flight of English club rugby after securing second place in Allied Dunbar Premiership Two yesterday with a 48-29 home victory over the champions Bedford. One year after being relegated from Premiership One, West bounced back with a six-try blitz of opponents who had five touchdowns themselves. Consolation for the visitors, though, came with Bedford Athletic beating Stroud 29-24 in extra time at Twickenham to lift the NPI Cup.

Francois Pienaar and Michael Lynagh are both doubtful for the league leaders Saracens' match with London Irish at Vicarage Road this afternoon. Pienaar has a hamstring problem while Lynagh is taking longer than expected to recover from the removal of a growth on his groin.

Va'aiga Tuigamala should shake off a calf injury in time for Newcastle's home league game against Leicester tomorrow for which over 8,000 tickets have been sold. Tony Underwood (foot) and Jim Naylor (ankle) are Newcastle's other concerns.

Pontypridd moved within a point of second-placed Cardiff in the Welsh Premier Division with a 61-19 mauling of Neath. Paul John and Gerrant Lewis each bagged a brace of tries. And in a dummy run for the Swalec Cup final, Ebbw Vale seized a psychological advantage by beating visitors Llanelli 26-15.

Nicky Brown ran in five tries as England opened their defence of the women's World Cup in Holland with a 75-0 win over Sweden. Scotland beat Italy 37-8 but Ireland went down 21-0 to Australia and Wales lost 38- 18 to Spain. New Zealand showed why they are favourites by hammering Germany 134-6.

The holders Auckland moved into the Super 12 semi-finals by edging ACT Brumbies 27-24 in Canberra. Waikato Chiefs kept their semi-final hopes alive by beating Western Stormers 27-6 in Rotorua but Coastal Sharks' prospects were dented 12-8 by Northern Bulls in Pretoria.