Last season the total was 4,000 short of a million.It is no great surprise that Andy Robinson, the England coach, will watch this weekend’s opening round before finalising his 30-man squad for the autumn internationals, due to be announced next Wednesday. No one predicted growth on this scale when the tournament took its first tentative steps in 1995-96, watched by less than 100,000 spectators. The most captivating annual tournament in world rugby does not generate nearly enough income, which is why some of the major participants are forever threatening to stage a boardroom coup, but with the single exception of the boycott season in 1998-99 – the result of a political crisis rather than a financial one – the competition continues on its onwards and upwards trajectory. There are people who have money, and there are people who have something better. Those most closely associated with the Heineken Cup, which begins this evening with a humdinger of a match between the swankiest team in Wales and the strongest team in England, can be found in the second category. He will join the Warriors as back-up to Micky Higham, replacing Wayne Godwin, who has joined Hull.The Scottish rugby union international Jon Steel has agreed a one-year contract extension with Hull KR, whose prop, James Garmston, is joining Doncaster on a two-year deal.The St Helens winger Ade Gardner has withdrawn from the Cumbria team to play Tonga on 25 October because of injury..

The Australian agreed an extended contract in mid-season but has requested a release. The centre Michael Shenton and the prop Craig Huby, both aged 20, have agreed to stay on. Shenton was a target for Wakefield, who have already signed Waine Pryce and Danny Sculthorpe from Castleford.
Leeds have agreed to release Shane Millard clearing the way for the hooker to join Wigan. “I would be lying if I said that [a 59] didn’t creep into my mind, I was 10 under par through 12 holes so it was all there for the taking, really “. Castleford have received a confidence boost for next season with the decision of two of their most promising young players to reject Super League offers and stay with the relegated club. The previous course record of 61 was shared by Mark Lyle and Carl Pettersson. “That is by far my lowest round, I was in uncharted territory today,” Rose said.

Playing on the Lake Buena Vista Palms course, Rose’s round included a remarkable run of 10 birdies over his first 12 holes, including six straight from the seventh hole. Consecutive wins would push Harrington to the top of the money list but he looks more likely to miss the cut here.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Justin Rose carded a course record 12-under-par 60 to grab the early first-round lead at the Walt Disney Classic in Miami last night. Harrington trails Paul Casey by £147,900 in the Order of Merit with two tournaments left, and added Majorca to his schedule at the last minute following victory in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship this month. The Irishman slumped to an opening 77, seven over par, to lie 11 shots off the lead held jointly by Gary Murphy, Niclas Fasth and Andrew McLardy. Padraig Harrington’s worst round of the year dealt a severe blow to his attempt to become European No 1 here at the Majorca Classic yesterday. I have accepted their requests because a final term of office will allow me to truly secure a legacy for the future.”. I stand by that record and feel no need to make short-term promises with a view to gaining votes.”I am once again a candidate because many in the global football family have asked me to stand to ensure continuity and stability at this crucial time in the European game.

He added: “There are always pressures to destabilise what we have created and even at times to break away, protect only the richest and undermine our successful competition structure.”I have stood firm against those pressures and worked tirelessly to protect our structures and deliver commercial success of benefit to all in a genuine spirit of partnership and solidarity.”Johansson also points out that under his leadership, the Champions’ League and the European Championship have enjoyed fantastic commercial success.He added: “I believe that I have a track record to be proud of. “We need to achieve better financial transparency in club football and work with the relevant authorities to take even more effective action on betting, match-fixing and doping. I also want Uefa to put in place a new European-wide system of rules to regulate agents to end the abuses which have taken place in recent years.”Johansson has been a strong opponent of G14, the grouping of ?te European clubs including Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, and he insisted he would continue to ensure balance across European football. But for Crouch the immediate future appears less straightforward.. Lennart Johansson, European football’s most powerful figure, yesterday launched his campaign to be re-elected as president of Uefa, the European game’s governing body, by promising to tackle football’s murky financial dealings and toughen up regulations on agents.