All Blacks legend Richie McCaw is excited about Ronan O’Gara’s impending move to the Crusaders, after it was announced yesterday that the Corkman will take on the role of assistant coach with the Super Rugby franchise in January.

Saxon and their frontman Biff Byford have survived nearly 40 years as a band and are still going strong, writes Ed Power

Surprisingly, the only winning favourite on day five of the Galway Festival came in the ultra-competitive Arthur Guinness Handicap, but it was no shock to punters who backed the Tony Martin-trained Tudor City down from a high of 7-1, to a starting price of 5-2. There were a couple of anxious seconds before he prevailed in the cool hands of Fran Berry.

It was the only time he took it lying down — beaten but far from broken.

Falling Sideways

SAMOA, marshalled by dynamic Crusader’s half-back Kahn Fotuali’i, is a world-class unit that combines the qualities of raw power and unbridled flare that has characterised Pacific rugby for decades.

A 31-YEAR-OLD Ennis tyre fitter is set to take on the world after helping Ireland to a record-breaking run in a gruelling 100km ultra marathon in Scotland at the weekend.

A 31-YEAR-OLD tyre fitter is to swap his work overalls for a green singlet when he represents Ireland for the first time in an ultra marathon of 100km next month.

IMPRESSIVE as the New Zealand starting 15 for today’s Test against Ireland undoubtedly is, the true barometer of the All Blacks’ current strength will lie on the Aviva Stadium benches as well as on armchairs dotted around the North and South Islands.

THERE are many Septembers in which the GAA form book is as solid and reliable as a Presbyterian family’s leather-bound Bible.

AL-QAIDA’S north African wing has said it had carried out its threat to kill a British hostage it was holding in the Sahara.

Leicester’s Scott Hamilton is after a rare double of Super 14 and Heineken Cup medals in consecutive years. He compared rugby in both hemispheres with Edward Newman

AN Iraqi terrorist group has launched a competition to design its new website and is offering the winner a chance to fire missiles at a US army base, according to a US-based research institute.

Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven (Fox) is a mish-mash of an epic that falls well short of the standard set by such as the illustrious El Cid and Ben-Hur.

AN eye surgeon from a wealthy Egyptian family, Ayman al Zawahri is believed to be the brains behind the murderous al-Qaida network.

Al-Qaida’s number two, Ayman al-Zawahri, released a new video today denouncing the US concept of reform and saying armed jihad is the only way to bring change in the Arab world.

A law banning Islamic head scarves from France’s public schools was definitively adopted with the Senate voting 276-20 in favour.

A law banning Islamic head scarves from France’s public schools was definitively adopted tonight with the Senate voting 276-20 in favour.

OSAMA BIN LADEN'S right-hand man has warned the US to prepare for more al-Qaida attacks.

THE Super 12 final tomorrow is a lineup of the great constellations for rugby fans — a dream-like test of brawn and brilliance under Eden Park’s bright lights.

JONAH LOMU and his Wellington Hurricanes team-mate Tana Umaga have been dropped from the New Zealand squad named yesterday for the opening Tri-Nations clash of the season against Australia.