Wigan's mixed bag

Rugby league Wigan Warriors were relieved after Trent Barrett, the stand-off, avoided suspension last night despite being cited for a “spear” tackle on Paul Johnson during Saturday’s 32-20 loss to Warrington Wolves. The offence was downgraded to grade B and Barrett was fined £300. However, Wigan will be without Richard Mathers, the full back, for three matches after he was sent off for a high tackle on Matt King.

Higgins faces tough opener at Crucible

Snooker The first-round draw for the 888.com World Championship has done John Higgins, the holder, no favours. The Scot faces Matthew Stevens, twice a finalist and three times a losing semi-finalist since 2000. “It's true when people say there are no easy draws these days but Matthew is one of the toughest and most experienced players,” Higgins said.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, the favourite to collect the £250,000 first prize, opens against Liu Chuang, a 17-year-old from China who will be making his Crucible debut. Mark Selby, last year's finalist and winner of the Masters and Welsh Open this year, plays Mark King.

Taylor in record deal

Darts Phil Taylor has signed a five-year contract with Unicorn worth about £500,000, thought to be the largest equipment sponsorship deal in the sport's history. The 47-year-old has twice changed his darts after his indifferent performance in the Ladbrokes.com PDC World Championship last December. The 13-times world champion rediscovered his form last week to throw an average of 111.14.

Cunningham on list

Rugby league Keiron Cunningham is the latest victim of an early-season injury epidemic for St Helens. The former Great Britain hooker, 31, is out for up to two months with a badly torn thigh muscle, although St Helens hope to have three more international forwards - Jon Wilkin, Maurie Fa'asavalu and Jason Cayless - available for Saturday's visit to Catalans Dragons.

Hide back in frame

Boxing Herbie Hide battered Rüdiger May to defeat in under five minutes in Halle, Germany, last night to raise the possibility of him boxing soon for a version of the world cruiserweight title. Hide, 36, who twice held the WBO heavyweight title in the previous century, knocked down May, a former WBO title challenger, twice before the bout was stopped, somewhat belatedly, in the second round.

Dennis vows to stay

Motor racing Ron Dennis, the McLaren Formula One team principal, has quashed speculation regarding his future. At the team's Woking factory yesterday, Dennis addressed staff before the opening grand prix of the season, in Melbourne on Sunday, to assure them that he is to remain as principal and also as chairman and chief executive of the McLaren Group.

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