Munster pop Dave Kilcoyne is determined to make the most of his chance to impress on the international stage after being selected in Declan Kidney’s starting XV to take on Fiji in Saturday’s showdown at Thomond Park (5.30pm).

Owners of marijuana-selling cafes in The Netherlands are urging their customers to vote for politicians who oppose new plans to rein in drug use.

No one is quite sure why they’re called the Fighting Irish, but it seems like everyone has an explanation.

Leinster will once again show why they have arguably the strongestsquad in European rugby when they play Edinburgh in tonight’s RaboDirect Pro 12 match.

I was amazed to read Stephen Ireland wants to wear the green jersey again.

A HOME RaboDirect Pro 12 league game against Italian side Aironi for Munster in Musgrave Park this evening and a chance to make up some ground on table-toppers Ospreys, but if the team chosen by coach Tony McGahan is any indication, all eyes are very much on the upcoming Heineken Cup series.

WYCLEF JEAN has stepped down as leader of the embattled aid group he founded as he prepares to formally declare his candidacy for the Haitian presidency.

ULSTER are believed to have pulled off a second big signing in the space of the week, with former All Black back row Xavier Rush set to be Belfast-bound next season.

Eddie O’Sullivan’s reign as Ireland coach has ended, and the hunt will soon begin for his successor.

There was disappointment all round for Ireland's trio of golfers at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Regional Championships this week, despite some good individual performances.

Seamus Power collected his first collegiate win in grand style today by taking the individual title at the Atlantic Sun Conference championships.

Ulster have pulled off the signing of Australian lock Justin Harrison, famously branded an “ape, plod and plank” by England’s Austin Healey during the 2001 Lions tour of Australia.

DETECTIVES yesterday released CCTV stills of men they wish to question in connection with the July 12 riots in north Belfast.

JIM WILLIAMS will remain with Munster in a coaching capacity for at least a year.

Eddie O’Sullivan insisted the performance of referee Jonathan Kaplan in today’s Super 12 final will not come under the scrutiny of the Lions management - though the form of the potential All Blacks will.

ALAN GAFFNEY has shouldered part of the responsibility for Munster’s poor Celtic League opening but believes his side can set the record straight against Connacht at Thomond Park on Saturday.

AUSTRALIAN U-21 coach Chris Webb has tipped Ireland to create a World Cup shock here at Hughenden in Glasgow tomorrow. Ireland face the might of holders New Zealand and Webb refuses to dismiss Ireland's challenge.

Northampton have completed the signing of South Africa international forward Selbourne Boome.

SHAUN PAYNE has been given a licence to roam by Munster coach Alan Gaffney in today's Heineken Cup quarter-final clash at Thomond Park.

AUCKLAND admit they have only a 50-50 chance of keeping Rupeni Caucaunibuca as the Fijian World Cup star contemplates a move overseas.

The US is closing its embassy in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh tomorrow because of terror threats.

South Africa coach Rudolf Straeuli believes he has a squad rich in youthful talent but has also backed the importance of his veterans going into Saturday’s quarter-final against New Zealand in Melbourne.

An Indonesian court has sentenced two men to 15 years in prison for helping finance last year's terrorist bombings on the tourist island of Bali by robbing a jewellery store.

A COURT acquitted a Muslim cleric accused of heading an al-Qaida-linked Asian terror group and plotting to overthrow the government, giving a surprise verdict in a case seen as a test of Indonesia's willingness to fight terror.

A court in Indonesia was today due to deliver its verdict in the trial of the alleged spiritual leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist network.

Rising star Mark Gerrard has extended his Super 12 contract with the ACT Brumbies until 2005.

ABOUT 3,000 Muslim militants rallied yesterday in the city of Solo to support detained Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, who allegedly heads the al-Qaida-linked group accused in the deadly bombing at Jakarta’s Marriott Hotel.

At least four people were feared dead today after a huge explosion tore through the Marriott Hotel in the Indonesian capital Jakarta.

The 2003 IRB U21 World Cup kicks off in London today, with South Africa keen to retain their title as champions.

Gloucester could find their Zurich Premiership title hopes destroyed tomorrow by a player nicknamed the "Silent Assassin".

A number of militants believed to be linked to the Riyadh bombings have been arrested in Saudi Arabia, Interior Minister Prince Nayef said.

A KEY suspect in last October’s Bali nightclub bombings apologised to the victims’ families yesterday and showed reporters how he and others allegedly assembled the explosives that killed 192 people, most of them foreign tourists.

LEINSTER coach Matt Williams is spearheading a call for changes in European Cup Rugby disciplinary measures.

Indonesian police said today that a man they are interrogating has confessed to planting a bomb in an attack on Bali nightclub that killed nearly 200 people last month.

Graham Henry can expect an Australian Rugby Union apology following a beer-spraying incident after the Lions’ tour opener against Western Australia in Perth.

Duncan McRae will relaunch his rugby career against the Lions tomorrow after firing a parting shot at Premiership under-achievers Saracens.

Otago Highlanders 23 Auckland Blues 8

England and France are being targeted to play in the southern hemisphere's Tri-Nations series.