New Zealand apart, the order of world rugby is changing rapidly, says Donal Lenihan

Ireland’s bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup has been “holed”, but not sunk, by the report that placed them third of the three bids, IRFU chief, Philip Browne, has said.

PREMIER LEAGUE:

In a market that is set to become even more competitive given increased revenues from their domestic and European broadcast deals, the English and French clubs are set to make life a lot more difficult for the Irish provinces.

The English RFU will hold another meeting with their Irish, Welsh, Scottish, Italian and French counterparts early next year as they bid to save the Heineken Cup.

The latest twists in the already serpentine bid to reach agreement over the future of European club rugby’s flagship competitions came last night with what was, ultimately, a hardening of resolve on both sides of the barricades.

France head coach Philippe Saint-Andre has voiced his opposition to bonus points in the Six Nations, saying it is against the spirit of the competition.

Toulouse president Rene Bouscatel has waded into the row over the re-scheduled Six Nations game between France and Ireland with a withering attack on rugby union’s organising bodies, the IRB and the Six Nations organising committee.

The Irish Rugby Football Union has reached agreement with the French Rugby Federation for the refunding of match tickets for the postponed France versus Ireland match last Saturday.

Ireland’s hopes of a swift resolution to finding a new date for the postponed RBS 6 Nations clash in Paris were stymied last night by a club versus country conflict in France.

The Stade de France was the centre of farcical scenes last night when Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations match against France was postponed just 10 minutes before kick-off.

ENGLAND’S quarter-final opponents France appear to be on the brink of civil war — a crisis which puts the disciplinary challenges facing Martin Johnson into stark perspective.

France coach Marc Lievremont has conceded after the “shame” of yesterday’s shock defeat to Tonga that his squad are not united in pursuit of a first Rugby World Cup title.

Nicolas Anelka fired two first-half goals to put Chelsea on the way to a comfortable 4-1 victory over MSK Zilina and then revealed the meaning of his ’handcuff’ goal celebration.

Patrice Evra insists he is “surprised” that he and four France team-mates have been singled out by the French Football Federation following their farcical World Cup campaign.

IRISH goalscoring legend Niall Quinn has added his voice to those who believe that it is now time for Irish football to put the ‘Hand Of Gaul’ firmly behind it and begin to look, with confidence, to the European Championship campaign.

THERE still won’t be a rematch but the fallout from Ireland’s controversial World Cup play-off defeat to France has prompted FIFA President Sepp Blatter to call an extraordinary meeting of the governing body’s Executive Committee in Cape Town, South Africa next week.

SOUTH AFRICAN fury over the off-key rendition of their national anthem before the Springbok-France rugby test last Friday continues unabated, with former South African star Naas Both blaming the rendition for South Africa’s defeat, the French saying the South African embassy picked controversial singer Ras Dumisani – and Dumisani blaming his equipment.

Former Great Britain scrum-half Bobbie Goulding was today appointed as national coach of France.

The AIB-sponsored Irish Amateur Open Championship, which will be played at The Royal Dublin Golf Club on May 9-11, has attracted a record 91 overseas players from 17 countries.

Former France captain Raphael Ibanez has extended his contract with Wasps for another year.

SO WHERE’s the fire? Why the siren-wailing drama to appoint a new Republic of Ireland manager when we have nothing more serious than bragging to play for until next September? (On that point, why would we want May’s friendly opponents, Serbia, going back telling their cousins in Montenegran how good those Irelanders are?)

LAST Thursday was a black day for European rugby.

CHELSEA have consulted lawyers after allegations of a bust-up involving manager Jose Mourinho and chief executive Peter Kenyon over the sale of William Gallas to Arsenal.

Chelsea have consulted lawyers after allegations of a bust-up involving manager Jose Mourinho and chief executive Peter Kenyon over the sale of William Gallas to Arsenal.

FRANCE coach Raymond Domenech has insisted that the door is still open for Arsenal star Robert Pires to return to the national team fold.

France coach Raymond Domenech has insisted that the door is still open for Arsenal star Robert Pires to return to the national team fold.

Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires will have to pay a €50,000 fine for wearing the wrong t-shirt at a television show in October.

ORGANISERS of the 2007 World Cup were yesterday forced to re-think the venues for one of the series of pool matches after the Irish Rugby Football Union announced that Lansdowne Road would not be available.

Organisers of the 2007 World Cup were today forced to re-think the venues for one of the series of pool matches after the Irish Rugby Football Union announced that Lansdowne Road would not be available.

Greece 1, France 0.

IRELAND may be forced to play all of their 2007 World Cup games on French soil if the re-development of Lansdowne Road commences before the tournament.

IT was a masterstroke by the French Federation when in November 1999 they appointed Bernard Laporte as coach of the national team.

MARC FARRY of France, one of six members of The European Tour who underwent voluntary drug testing during the Open de France in June, has tested positive, The European Tour announced yesterday.

THE ORGANISERS of the Heineken European Cup are to press ahead with the final in Dublin.

THERE was a time when the South of Ireland was known as one of Ireland's premier sporting exports.

IF handicaps are a reliable criteria then the entry for the Shell South of Ireland Championship starting at Lahinch today is assuredly the strongest ever.

The latest cancellations in the Six Nations Championship will mean that any arrangement of fixtures will impose huge burdens on the Irish players particularly those involved in Munster’s European Cup bid as well.