Canavan opts out of BBC ceremony despite award

All-Ireland winning Tyrone skipper Peter Canavan has opted not to attend the upcoming BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony on Sunday next.

Canavan was invited after scooping the Northern Irish award and was rumoured to have amassed a significant amount of votes for the overall prize after an aggressive e-mail campaign by fans.

However, he'll be in the USA with Tyrone boss Mickey Harte while the awards are taking place with England's rugby World Cup winning out-half Jonny Wilkinson expected to win.