THREE days before England should have been opening their Rugby World Cup campaign in Christchurch, Martin Johnson led a red rose delegation on a goodwill visit to the earthquake-torn city.

AS many as 5,000 fans will travel from Ireland to New Zealand for this year’s Rugby World Cup, which gets under way on Friday.

IRELAND’s glamorous Rugby World Cup warm-up against England at the Aviva Stadium next month will not be broadcast live on RTÉ or any terrestrial network, it has emerged.

WITH a year to go to Rugby World Cup 2011, tournament organisers in New Zealand says preparations are well on track, despite last week’s earthquake near Christchurch.

The IRB World Rankings will for the first time be used to seed teams at the 2011 rugby World Cup in New Zealand.