Israel Folau is not your typical rugby league superstar, or Aussie Rules hero for that matter.

After posing serious questions of the British & Irish Lions' defence in Brisbane on Saturday, there was undisguised relief in the camp when the management learned that Quade Cooper would not be facing them during the Test series with Australia.

Ewen McKenzie says he’s had no contact with the IRFU but admits coaching Ireland is “the type of job I’m interested in”.

Australia 34 England 14

NEW Laois boss Justin McNulty is likely to have the services of Conor Meredith next season after the former minor star was released by AFL side North Melbourne yesterday.

WHILE Championship football can be the most unforgiving of sporting arenas — just ask Joe Kernan this morning — Australian Rules isn’t too far behind its northern hemisphere cousin.

ST KILDA coach Ross Lyon has confirmed All-Ireland winner Tommy Walsh will make his AFL debut in the side’s NAB Cup opener with Collingwood next week.

Laois teenager Conor Meredith has become the latest Gaelic footballer to sign forms with an Australian Rules club.

Australia 20 New Zealand 34

Australia have suffered a major injury blow on the eve of the World Cup final against New Zealand with veteran prop Steve Price ruled out.

Australia 52 Fiji 0

Ireland 14 Fiji 30

ALAN GAFFNEY last night returned to Thomond Park, a ground he knew and loved from his time with Munster, as he looked forward to helping mastermind an impressive performance from Ireland in tomorrow’s clash with Canada.

Ireland 34 Samoa 16

Ireland started strongly in their quest to deny Australia a three-in-a-row of International Rules Series successes, by carving out a hard-earned 45-44 victory before a 35,153 attendance at the Subiaco Oval in Perth.

AT LEAST one of the Irish players heading down under for the International Rules series will be playing Australian Rules professionally within months, according to the Australian media.

Former Wigan forward Mick Cassidy, who played for England in the 1995 World Cup, will bridge a 13-year gap when he represents Ireland in this year’s Rugby League tournament in Australia.

The IRFU announces the appointment of Les Kiss, formerly of the New South Wales Waratahs, as the new Ireland defence coach.

The appointment of Wayne Bennett as New Zealand Rugby League coach moved a step closer today when officials met with the veteran Brisbane Broncos boss for face-to-face talks in the Queensland capital.

Tadhg Kennelly's Sydney Swans moved back into the top eight of the AFL Premiership ladder earlier today courtesy of a resounding 112-64 win over the Melbourne Demons in Canberra.

Australia have been placed in a super pool with England, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea for the group stages of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

Down teenager Martin Clarke has made an encouraging start to his fledgling Aussie Rules career, starring for Collingwood in yesterday's exhibition match against the Sydney Swans.

New Zealand Rugby League have apologised for fielding an ineligible player and confirmed they will not appeal the two-point Tri-Nations penalty imposed yesterday.

Australia scored twice in the final six minutes to stun New Zealand in the second Test of the 2006 Tri-Nations at Melbourne's Telstra Dome.

News of Jonah Lomu’s possible switch of codes has been met with a mixed reaction by Australia’s rugby community.

Australia kick-started their 2006 Tri-Nations campaign in emphatic style with a 30-18 victory over reigning champions New Zealand at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.

Australia’s selectors broke with tradition by naming St Helens centre Jamie Lyon in their Tri-Nations squad.

Tadhg Kennelly has been forced to apologise to an Australian Catholic girls school and its principal after a prank backfired on the former Kerry minor footballer.

Tadhg Kennelly is back in training with the Sydney Swans for the first time since his father Tim's untimely death last month.

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has emerged as favourite to lead the Kangaroos to the 2008 World Cup following the sudden resignation of Wayne Bennett.

Wayne Bennett has sent shockwaves through the Australian rugby league community by announcing his resignation as Test coach.

Sydney Swans defender Tadhg Kennelly has been afforded a month's compassionate leave by the AFL Premiership champions following the death of his father Tim.

Australia comfortably claimed the 2005 International Rules Series and the Cormac McAnallen Cup in Melbourne today as Pete McGrath's Ireland side were soundly beaten 63-42 in front of 45,428 spectators at the Telstra Dome.

Andrew Johns was today ruled out of the Kangaroos' Gillette Tri-Nations Series matches against Ireland and Great Britain.

Australian coach Kevin Sheedy has named a speed-laden, new-look squad for the forthcoming International Rules Series with Ireland.

IRISH AFL star Tadhg Kennelly put in another impressive performance when his Sydney Swans crushed fellow championship contenders, the Kangaroos at the SCG on Sunday.

FORMER Young Hurler of the Year Setanta Ó hAilpín is on the brink of a dramatic first team breakthrough in his adopted game of Australian Rules.

Australia today re-appointed Wayne Bennett as national coach but kept alive the debate over the Kangaroos captaincy.

Bradford skipper Robbie Paul has vowed to bounce back after producing his “worst-ever” performance for New Zealand.

Despite a total of 17 withdrawals, Australian coach Garry Lyon has insisted that his new-look squad is ready to win a third consecutive International Rules series later this month.

Newport Gwent Dragons have appointed Australian Rugby League boss Chris Anderson as their new coach.

Andrew Johns has turned down an offer to play rugby union with the NSW Waratahs and decided to stay in rugby league.

New Australia coach Wayne Bennett has included nine players who missed last November’s Ashes Series in a provisional 25-strong squad for the Anzac Test against New Zealand in Newcastle on April 23.

Plans were today unveiled for a rugby league World Cup to be held in Australia in the autumn of 2008, as part of the celebrations to mark the centenary of the game in the southern hemisphere.