Forty-eight hours after being told by the National Rugby League that he was not allowed to coach Manly's SG Ball team, John Hopoate "was calling the shots at the team's training session at Narrabeen." The 41-year-old was "mortified" on Tuesday when Manly received a letter from NRL GM of Integrity Nick Weeks, saying he was "not allowed to coach the team." Embarrasingly for the NRL, however, the NSW Rugby League -- which runs the SG Ball competition -- over-ruled Weeks and gave Hopoate "the green light to continue coaching" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 11/5). ... A British man has been arrested "in connection with an illegal betting case at last week's WTA Finals tennis tournament in Singapore." The police did not give the nationality of the individual but a spokesperson for the British High Commission in Singapore said that it was "aware of the arrest and had provided consular support" (REUTERS, 11/5). ... Former English rugby player Simon Halliday said that control of the England team "should be removed from the Rugby Football Union." The ex-RFU board member has called for "serious structural change" to improve the fortunes of the the national side. Halliday: "No one wants to see England at 8th or 9th in the world. We all want to get back up to the top of the tree, so let's make the changes" (BBC, 11/4).
WAIT AND SEE: Lotus Deputy Team Principal Federico Gastaldi said that F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone wants to take Formula 1 back to Argentina but "is waiting to see who wins presidential elections later this month." Gastaldi, an Argentine whose family was involved in promoting the last grand prix in Buenos Aires in '98, said that his brother Marcos "had been discussing a new proposal with Ecclestone." Gastaldi: "Bernie had this idea to wait and see what happens with the election which is in a couple of weeks. So we might have a good chance. Some homework is being done this year and we might be able to work things out if it’s the right environment" (REUTERS, 11/4).
