Warren Gatland has put the brakes on the Paul O’Connell Lions bandwagon but will be in Limerick this evening for the Munster and Leinster derby to run the rule over Ireland’s hopefuls for his squad.

Emergency services say the conditions surrounding more than 130 bushfires in one Australian state have reached "catastrophic" levels.

SYDNEY Swans coach Paul Roos has given Tadhg Kennelly until the end of the week to decide whether his AFL future is with the New South Wales club.

ROCKY ELSOM has confirmed that there will only be one winner if it comes to a straight choice between Leinster or Australia next season – and it won’t be the Irish province.

Teenager James O’Connor is set to become the second-youngest player ever to pull on an Australia jersey after being named in the squad to tour Europe later this year.

Robbie Deans has named seven uncapped players in his first Australia squad for the Test against Ireland on June 14.

CARDIFF Arms Park has been a graveyard for Leinster’s Magners League ambitions this past two seasons and coach Michael Cheika accepts that they will be up against it again when they return to the Welsh capital this Friday.

New South Wales avoided a series clean sweep by edging Queensland in a tense third State of Origin clash at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday.

THE next time an Irish team takes to the field will be in Cardiff next February on the opening Six Nations weekend and, according to Pacific Islanders coach Pat Lam, there is likely to be only one winner.

Rob Kearney, Cameron Jowitt and Brian Blaney have all been included in Leinster's squad to play Munster in the Magner's League at Lalsndowne Road on Friday night.

Lions skipper Brian O’Driscoll tonight labelled Jonny Wilkinson as “world-class” – wherever he plays.

Clive Woodward is set to name Jonny Wilkinson in his Lions squad to tour New Zealand on April 11 even though the influential fly-half will still be sidelined with a knee injury.

New South Wales coach Phil Gould and legendary stand-off Brad Fittler bowed out of representative rugby league football as winners today as the Blues beat Queensland 36-14 to retain the State of Origin series.

SOUTH AFRICAN rugby’s two governing bodies have ordered an independent inquiry into allegations of racism in the national team, following the resignation of communications manager Mark Keohane yesterday.

New South Wales clinched the 2003 State of Origin series with a 27-4 demolition of Queensland in the second game in Sydney today.

TOULOUSE'S hopes of beating Munster in the semi-finals of the European Cup next week suffered a double injury scare at the weekend when two of their key players limped off the field in the French championship play-offs.

Myles Hodgson

KEITH GLEESON’S rugby career took an ironic twist when he opted to leave Australia and throw his lot in with Leinster.

Australia’s rugby union Wallabies today captured another rugby league Test star, with winger Lote Tuqiri announcing his decision to switch codes.

Lions centre Rob Henderson today set the scene for a titanic first Test against world champions Australia by declaring: "Collectively, we will have to play the best game of our lives."

Lawrence Dallaglio today put a brave face on his Lions injury agony and admitted: ‘‘The right decision has been made.’’

Dan Luger has been ruled out of the Lions’ team for Saturday’s game against New South Wales at the Sydney Football Stadium.

Jonah Lomu insists his Barbarians team-mates will be doubly grateful for the expected good weather this weekend.