Welsh rugby's ever-mounting chaos may have claimed another victim, with team captain Gareth Thomas doubtful for next Sunday's RBS Six Nations visit to Dublin after being taken to hospital with a severe migraine, writes Huw Richards.

Thomas, 31, had come under critical scrutiny for his role in the events leading up to the sudden departure last week of grand slam-winning coach Mike Ruddock, in particular his leadership of a boycott of a press conference and suggestions that he had criticised Ruddock to Welsh Rugby Union officials.

He was taken ill late on Sunday after an emotional appearance on a BBC Wales rugby programme in which he debated vigorously with journalist and former Wales captain Eddie Butler, denying that player-power had brought about Ruddock's departure, and admitting that he had suffered five consecutive sleepless nights since the coach's resignation. A poll for a Sunday newspaper, which found 73 per cent of Wales supporters blamed the players, would not have helped his peace of mind.

Thomas spent yesterday recuperating at home and his condition will be reviewed again this morning before the announcement later today of the team to play Ireland.

The ironic consequence of doubts over Thomas is that it increases the likelihood of a recall for Gavin Henson, whose ghosted autobiography created the controversy that led to the press conference boycott. In the absence of Thomas's versatility - he has played international rugby at centre and wing as well as his current position of full-back - Henson's ability to switch positions would become that much more important.

Worries over Thomas further unsettle Wales just as defence coach Clive Griffiths was suggesting that the worst after-effects from Ruddock's departure were past. As well as the team announcement, for which wing Shane Williams is also in doubt following a dead leg, today will also see a meeting between Ruddock and the WRU's 18-strong board of directors requested by the deposed coach.

There was better news for another Six Nations captain as Italy's lock forward Marco Bortolami, currently playing for Narbonne, signed a two-year contract with Gloucester that begins in the summer.

*League champions Chelsea were handed a home tie against Newcastle United in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in Monday's draw. Chelsea, who are chasing a treble of league, Champions League and FA Cup, are the favourites to triumph in the world's oldest cup competition and face a Newcastle side seeking their first FA Cup trophy since 1955. The north-easterners will be hoping for a repeat of last year's fifth-round when they defeated Chelsea 1-0 at St James' Park.

Liverpool will visit Birmingham City, who will be hoping to end their 75-year jinx against the Merseyside club in the competition. Birmingham are also in the last eight for the first time in 22 years and bidding to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1975.

Charlton Athletic, whose only FA Cup final victory came in 1947, are at home to Middlesbrough, who have never won the trophy. The other tie depends on two replays as either Aston Villa or Manchester City will host Bolton Wanderers or West Ham United.

Instead of the traditional weekend fixtures, the quarter-finals will be evening kick-offs from Monday to Thursday in the week beginning March 20, as part of a plan to shorten the season to give the England squad more time to prepare for the World Cup.

*Andrew Murray's debut ATP Tour victory has elevated him into the world's top 50 for the first time, the Scot moving up 13 places to 47th in the latest rankings. The 18-year-old beat Australia's Lleyton Hewitt 2-6 6-1 7-6 to land the SAP Open in San Jose and £35,000 in prize money late on Sunday, having beaten top seed Andy Roddick in Saturday's semi-finals. Victory over two top-10 ranked players, both former world number ones, confirmed Murray's potential and represented another landmark in his rapidly developing career.

Murray is in sight of Greg Rusedski (43) and Tim Henman (40) in the battle to be the sport's top-ranked Briton. His coach Mark Petchey said the next goal was to "try to get him in the top 32 before the French Open so that he gets seeded".

*England's fast bowlers shared six wickets to bowl out the Cricket Club of India President's XI for 75 and register a 238-run victory on the final day of a three-day warm-up match in Mumbai. Simon Jones and Steve Harmison took two apiece and Andrew Flintoff and Liam Plunkett one each as the home team, set an imposing target of 314 in a possible 36 overs, were bowled out in just 26.2 overs.

Earlier, Ian Blackwell hit 59 in an England second innings of 265, boosting his chances of winning the spinner's spot for the first Test in Nagpur, which begins on March 1.

*Austria enjoyed a double skiing success at the Winter Olympics when Benjamin Raich won the men's giant slalom and Michaela Dorfmeister took gold in the women's super-G.

Raich, this season's overall World Cup leader, won the giant slalom with a two-run combined time of 2min 35sec to give Austria its first gold medal in men's Alpine skiing at the Turin games. Compatriot Hermann Maier took bronze, while Joel Chenal of France was second. Raich was fifth after the opening leg but won the gold with a brilliant second effort.

Dorfmeister, 32, won her second gold of the Turin games, having also won the downhill. It represented a perfect finale to her career, as she plans to retire at the end of this season. Janica Kostelic of Croatia took silver, and in so doing became the most decorated woman in Olympic Alpine skiing history.

The 24-year-old Kostelic's silver was her sixth Olympic medal, four of them being gold. Austria's Alexandra Meissnitzer won the bronze, while Britain's Chemmy Alcott finished 19th.

Meanwhile in the curling, Britain's men will face Finland in Wednesday's semi-finals. The USA will play Canada in the other semi-final.