Sports briefs: Argentina qualify for rugby World Cup; “Big Phil” says “no” to Brazil; Ronaldo in recovery

-Argentina qualified for next year’s rugby World Cup after shutting out Uruguay in Buenos Aires. The “Pumas” will be placed in a difficult group against Ireland and hosts France.

-Portugal team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari (left image)signed a contract extension with Portugal, thus spurning offers to return to coach Brazil (whom with he won the 2002 World Cup).

-Speaking of Brazil, star forward Ronaldo will be out for a month while he recovers from surgery over the weekend on his left shin.

-Safe travel around the Caribbean during next year’s cricket World Cup will be one of the main topics of discussion during a meeting of cricket officials in Antigua this week.

-Juan Pablo Montoya’s (right image) recent decision to race in NASCAR next year has caught the attention of other open-wheel drivers who are flirting with the notion of riding full-time for NASCAR such as Danica Patrick and 1997 Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve.

-The 20^th edition of the Central American and Caribbean Games opened on Sunday in Cartagena, Colombia. This regional competition will last two weeks and will be attended by athletes from 32 countries.

-Mexican-American boxer Fernando Vargas succumbed to Shane Mosley after a 6^th round TKO during their bout in Las Vegas Saturday night.

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