PERSONALITY clashes and personal problems either did not exist or did not have any bearing on Ireland’s awful performance at the Rugby World Cup, a management consultants’ investigation has found.

GRAHAM HENRYS future as All Blacks coach hung by a thread last night as the New Zealand Rugby Union said he would have to reapply for his job following the failed World Cup campaign.

In an echo of the FAI investigation after the Saipan debacle, independent consultant Brian Porteous of Genesis Consulting is to commence a review of the Irish team's performances in Rugby World Cup 2007.

ENGLAND’S 2003 World Cup-winning fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has admitted there is “a challenging effect” created by the balls being used at Rugby World Cup 2007 in France.

HE’S a thief, a cheat, a master of skullduggery, a guy who does his best work in dark and hidden spaces, away from human eye.

“The guys are buzzing, getting stuck into each other (at training) as though it were the French game.”

The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) has today extended the contract of national coach of Eddie O'Sullivan until 2012.

A GOOD start, maintain the tempo, control the football, be accurate and disciplined and don’t be intimidated by a partisan crowd – these will be some of Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan orders to his team as the first of two “trials” ahead of Rugby World Cup 2007 kicks off at the Estadio Brigadier Estanislao Lopez del Barrio Centenario in Santa Fe later today (kick off 8:10pm Irish time).

FURTHER evidence that Rugby is going soft? Well, that’s the obvious conclusion when hard-as-nails All Black Carl Hayman was forced to sashay down a catwalk in New Zealand at the behest of the moneymen from adidas.

The France 2007 Organising Committee has announced that the public ticket allocation for the Rugby World Cup Final and semi-finals will be managed through a random draw process.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) is to introduce a new tough but more rational policy to deal with illegal and foul-play offenders.

IRELAND remain fifth in the IRB world rankings but are now less than two points adrift of South Africa in fourth.

Tickets for the Rugby World Cup 2007 in France will go on sale on Monday at 8am Irish time, it was announced today.

ENGLISH rugby’s club versus country crisis has deepened — barely a fortnight before England kick off their autumn Test series.

Gordon D'Arcy, the Player of the RBS Six Nations in 2004, has signed a contract with the IRFU that will stretch right to the end of Rugby World Cup 2007.

ORGANISERS of the 2007 Rugby World Cup have announced that the Pool B encounter between Wales and Australia will be played in Cardiff.

New Wales coach Mike Ruddock will be without several top players for next month’s tour to Argentina and South Africa.

Ireland, Wales and Scotland today welcomed the decision to award France host nation status for Rugby World Cup 2007.

England will host rugby union’s Under-21 World Cup later this year.

English rugby chiefs today unveiled their plans to stage the 2007 World Cup.