Sport in brief: South Wales side ready to sting

Rugby League: The game's newest professional club is to be known as the South Wales Scorpions. The Neath-based outfit, admitted to the Co-operative Championship One to fill the geographical void left by Crusaders' move to Wrexham, settled on their identity after a poll among their prospective supporters.

Other contenders were South Wales Celts and South Wales Phoenix, but the club's director, Phil Davies, said that the name adopted projected a new image for sport in the area. The club, which will lean heavily on the Crusaders' young Welsh players, has interviewed for a coach, but has yet to name one.

Featherstone have denied any intention of playing any matches at Wakefield's new stadium, if and when it is built alongside the M62. Rovers, who play in the Co-operative Championship, say that their priority is to improve their own ground as part of a future bid for Super League status.

David Shillington, a member of Australia's victorious squad in this year's Four Nations, has been arrested for drink-driving in Sydney. Danny Wicks, the Newcastle Knights' winger who faces eight counts of drug trafficking, has voluntarily cancelled his contract while he awaits his court hearing. Dave Hadfield

Pacquiao's blood fears put showdown in doubt

Boxing: Floyd Mayweather's camp have claimed the American's planned fight with Manny Pacquiao is "in jeopardy". Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer said: "Todd [Top Rank president Todd duBoef] told me that Pacquiao has difficulty with taking blood and doesn't want to do it so close to the fight. He, Pacquiao, would only agree to have blood drawn before the kick-off press conference and after the fight." Mayweather's management have requested that the fighters submit to blood-testing prior to the bout, to ensure both men are clean. The pound-for-pound showdown had been expected to take place in March.

Del Potro pips Messi to Argentina SPOTY crown

Tennis: US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro has beaten Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi to the Argentine Sportsperson of the Year award. The 21-year-old enjoyed a stunning year, winning his first Grand Slam and reaching the final of the ATP World Tour Finals in London as well as triumphing in seven ATP events. Del Potro, who finished the year in fifth place in the ATP rankings, was delighted with his award. He said: "I'm happy because this distinction is obtained competing against the country's other great athletes, who I have to congratulate and take the opportunity to wish that they fulfil their aims in 2010."

Blow for Irish as Leamy misses the Six Nations

Rugby Union: Ireland international Denis Leamy has been ruled out of this season's Six Nations Championship. The Munster back-row forward suffered a serious knee injury during his team's Heineken Cup victory over Perpignan in France last Sunday. And the 28-year-old could struggle to play again this season, with Munster expecting him to be sidelined for between four to six months. Leamy was hurt during the build-up to wing Doug Howlett's try in the last play of a game that Munster won 37-14. He underwent a scan on his knee the following day, and was operated on in a Dublin clinic yesterday. His lengthy absence is a major blow for Munster.