Premier League

The acquisition of Salford City Football Club, partly-owned by former Manchester United stars Gary and Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, has been formally approved by the Football Association and the Northern Premier League.

Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers rolled back the years tonight as they lined up together in a ’Class of 92 and friends’ XI for a friendly against Salford City, the non-league outfit they bought between them this year.

Interim player-manager and club legend Ryan Giggs was last night presented with a lifetime achievement award at the Manchester United awards ceremony.

Rio Ferdinand was delighted to give Alex Ferguson a winning send-off in his final Old Trafford match as Manchester United manager following the “devastating” news the long-serving Scot would be stepping down at the end of the season.

A TOP Rugby League World Cup official last night described the enthusiasm for the sport in Limerick as “overwhelming.”

The 2013 Rugby League World Cup will be staged in four countries, the Rugby Football League announced today.

IRELAND coach Andy Kelly has included 13 Super League players in his 30-man training squad for next month’s Alitalia European Cup. The contingent is headed by prop Eamon O’Carroll and hooker Mick McIlorum but Warriors team-mate Pat Richards, one of Ireland’s heroes from their 2008 World Cup campaign, is not available.

Former Huddersfield captain Chris Thorman will leave Hull along with long-serving forward Paul King as part of an end-of-season clear-out.

Wigan and England forward Gareth Hock is facing an automatic two-year ban after his B sample tested positive for a banned substance.

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

Harlequins prop Gareth Haggerty hopes a lightweight Ireland pack can run rings around their heavyweight Samoan opponents in tomorrow’s World Cup Pool C decider at Parramatta.

IRELAND coach Andy Kelly insists his side will not go chasing points in their crunch World Cup clash with Samoa in Parramatta.

Ireland will have 10 Super League players in their team to take on Tonga in their World Cup opening pool C match against Tonga at Parramatta Stadium tomorrow.

Former Leeds stand-off Graham Holroyd’s debut for Ireland has been put on hold for at least nine days due to injury.

AMIR KHAN believes the first defeat of his career has given him a “kick up the backside” after being spectacularly knocked out in less than a minute by Colombian Breidis Prescott.

SALFORD City reverts to the smaller obstacles when he tackles the Grade Three Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle over two miles at Tipperary tomorrow.

BERTIE SOPRANO was sick of the wise guys who thought they were big enough to take him down.

Dean Kiely has vowed to push Shay Given all the way as he attempts to add to his haul of international caps.

A brilliant tactical ride by Barry Geraghty saw Nicky Henderson’s Punjabi decisively land the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

Head coach Andy Kelly says Ireland will leave no stone unturned to ensure his team are competitive at the 2008 World Cup in Australia.

Michael Carrick is expected to be the big winner at Manchester United this season following confirmation Paul Scholes will be out of action for three months with a knee injury.

Salford’s long-serving centre Stuart Littler will lead Ireland’s bid to reach the 2008 World Cup.

DANNY SIMPSON is hoping a few training ground tussles with Cristiano Ronaldo will help him cope with Coventry in the Carling Cup tonight.

PAUL SCHOLES is refusing to get carried away by Manchester United’s stunning four-goal triumph atTottenham on Sunday.

Leicester Tigers have changed their focus from Aaron Mauger to his New Zealand midfield partner Luke McAlister, according to the Blues player’s father and agent.

Ireland coach Andy Kelly has included six players from Widnes Vikings in his provisional 25-man squad for the World Cup qualifying matches against Russia and Lebanon.

Halifax hooker Phil Cantillon led an incredible second half comeback by Ireland in Navan last night as they bounced back from 10-3 down at half-time to thrash Scotland 43-10 and earn a place in the European Nations Cup final.

Ireland 43 Scotland 10

Barry Coughlan

Former Great Britain forward Barrie McDermott will play for Ireland in their European Nations Cup group decider against Scotland in Navan.

New Scotland coach Steve McCormack has named 10 uncapped players in his 20-man squad for the European Nations Cup games with Wales and Ireland.

Wales 12 Ireland 25

Salford centre Stuart Littler and Halifax’s Australian-born loose forward Pat Weisner are among the newcomers named in Ireland’s 19-man squad for the European Nations Cup.

Wigan winger Brian Carney has dismissed talk of a move to NRL side South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Ireland 18-26 France

Ireland have made just one change for their final European Nations Cup pool match against France at Dalymount Park, Dublin, tomorrow.

Man Utd 5 Panathinaikos 0

Australia Test player Chris McKenna is set to play for Ireland in the European Nations Cup at the end of the season.

Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes could make a shock return to first-team action at Charlton on Saturday.