A brother and sister were among four adults who were killed when a river rapids ride malfunctioned at a popular theme park on Australia's east coast.

An Australian man charged over the death of a New Zealand tourist who plummeted from his apartment balcony after the two began arguing during a date has been found not guilty of murder.

Kerry starlet Mark O’Connor is ready to put his childhood dreams of All-Ireland glory in the green and gold to one side in a bid to become a professional sportsman in Australia.

Ireland suffered a 23-run defeat to world champions Australia in a rain-affected one-day international at Belfast.

Nineteen people were injured when a pick-up truck smashed into a cafe in northern Australia, sparking a fire that engulfed the building, police said.

Leinster’s rugby league convert Ben Te’o is undecided as to whether he will remain in union beyond his current deal — and possibly strive to qualify for Ireland — or if he will be lured back by the 13-man code.

Ireland’s favourite Australian was in Cork this weekend and Ray Meagher is as much a darn good bloke as Alf himself.

Australia’s main domestic security agency has raised the terrorist threat level against police from “medium” to “high” in response to recent international attacks targeting officers.

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the deaths of eight children in an Australian home.

Leinster have signed rugby league player Ben Te'o from the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Well before last Saturday Jamesie O’Connor was a Sky Sports man.

A star-studded Wallaby and All Black combined team could face the British and Irish Lions next November.

The great Noel Kelly retired from rugby league in 1970 after what Americans would call a Hall of Fame career and, 43 years later, the suburb of Goodna in the Queensland city of Ipswich honoured their famous son by naming a street after him.

Mayo's Pearce Hanley has reportedly agreed a new five-year contract with Australian Rules side Brisbane Lions, with the deal set to be confirmed by the Queensland club tomorrow.

Australian rugby chiefs are to fire national coach Robbie Deans and replace him with Queensland’s Ewen McKenzie following the Wallabies’ series loss to the British and Irish Lions.

Off-field scandals continue to plague Australian mainstream sport

On a difficult night in Brisbane for the Wallabies, Ben Mowen was one of the shining lights for Robbie Deans’ wounded troops during their ill-fated opening match against the Lions.

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS TOUR:

Finally the ARU have shown a bit of leadership and common sense.

Head coach Michael Cheika welcomed back two key players as the Waratahs bid to beat the British & Irish Lions on Saturday, promising that “anything in red that moves, we’ll have a crack at”.

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.

Munster and Ireland’s Simon Zebo was last night winging his way from Texas to Australia following his call-up by the British & Irish Lions as injury cover for international team-mate Tommy Bowe.

Queensland Reds 12 British & Irish Lions 22

Queensland Reds 12 British and Irish Lions 22

After two false dawns in terms of competitive opposition, the Lions tourists should finally get a taste of what Australian rugby has to offer at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane this morning.

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS TOUR:

Cian Healy’s British and Irish Lions tour could be over in the next 24 hours.

Graham Rowntree has underlined the British and Irish Lions’ ambition to raise the performance bar in their clash against Western Force tomorrow.

“Hopefully going forward, if we’re going to take the Lions seriously, we need to make sure there is enough preparation to make a fist of it”.

Fly-half Quade Cooper has finally ended speculation surrounding his future by signing a new two-year deal with the Australian Rugby Union and Queensland.

Quade Cooper will make his professional boxing debut in February, but, as yet, is no closer to signing a new deal with the Australian Rugby Union.

Quade Cooper will make his professional boxing debut in February, but is no closer to signing a new deal with the Australian Rugby Union.

Reds coach Ewen McKenzie admits he has not heard from Quade Cooper but remains confident the controversial fly-half will play for the side next season.

The Australian Rugby Union has not been able to shed any light on reports that Quade Cooper may have quit international rugby.

Prostitutes have won the right to work from motel rooms in an Australian state after a court ruled that refusing them was discrimination.

Australia 27 Wales 19

Former Australia and Saracens fly-half Michael Lynagh has been released from hospital, two weeks after suffering a stroke.

Australian playmaker Quade Cooper has finally found peace after a tumultuous World Cup campaign, which he believes suffered for over-analysis.

THE British and Irish Lions will play Test matches in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney when they tour Australia in 2013.

AFTER weeks of polished smiles and high-heel-induced blisters, hot favourite Tara Talbot has been crowned 2011 Rose of Tralee.

Rocky Elsom has been sensationally dumped as Australia skipper for the World Cup campaign.

IRELAND backs coach Alan Gaffney is convinced the decision to play four tough Rugby World Cup warm up matches in successive weeks is the right one.

Flooded communities across eastern Australia could be under water for more than a week, with the clean-up bill expected to hit billions of dollars, officials said today.