SCOTLAND rugby coach Frank Hadden today climbed down from his angry stance over three of his key players being told they must play for their English clubs this weekend.

As revealed in later editions of yesterday's SportTimes, Hadden was left furious when Sean Lamont, Jim Hamilton and Rory Lawson had to sit out a Scotland training session.

They had been instructed to do so by the English Premier League, who hold the players' contracts.

Hadden felt this was obstructive ahead of Scotland's Six Nations game against Italy on Saturday week.

But he said today: "Northampton have got injury problems, and Paul Grayson, their coach, told me he knows Sean is needing a rest, but they've got a relegation battle this weekend against Harlequins, and there is nothing they can do about that. We accept that.

"Jim is on the bench, that is a sympathetic view from Leicester, but then, they have a lot of resources and can afford to do that.

"I think it's probably a good thing that Rory is playing for Gloucester. We expect guys who have not played a lot of games recently to play this weekend."

Hadden confirmed that included Magners League players. He will name his Scotland side next Monday.

SNOOKER: Stephen Hendry begins his Welsh Open campaign with a second-round clash against Ben Woolaston of England at Newport today. Graeme Dott faces Northern Ireland's Gerard Greene, with Jamie Burnett - a 5-2 winner against England's Robert Milkins - up against Mark Williams of Wales.

John Higgins was a shock casualty after qualifier Andrew Higginson came from behind to win.

Higgins squandered a 3-0 lead against the qualifier to crash 5-3.

Stephen Maguire moved into the third round with a 5-0 victory over Alan McManus.