Wigan forward Ben Flower faces a lengthy ban after being charged for his attack on St Helens half-back Lance Hohaia in the Super League Grand Final.

Yesterday, the final of Europe's top Rugby League competition - the Super League - was virtually decided in the opening minutes, as Wigan prop Ben Flower delivered a shocking punch to a defenceless opponent on live TV.

Gary Anderson landed an amazing 19 180s before edging out John Bowles in a tie-break as the second round of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship began on Friday afternoon, with Andy Hamilton and Dave Chisnall also winning through at Alexandra Palace.

Newport Gwent Dragons have signed Samoa international centre Andy Tuilagi on a two-year contract from Sale Sharks.

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’S rugby league international with France at Thomond Park this afternoon (5pm) hasn’t been setting the sporting world alight in terms of hype and publicity.

Ireland will make history tomorrow when they host France in the first rugby league match to be held at the rugby union stronghold of Thomond Park in Limerick.

St Helens’ rising star Jonny Lomax is in contention to make his England debut in the Four Nations Series after being called into coach Steve McNamara’s elite training squad.

New Zealand have included two uncapped 20-year-olds in their 19-man squad for Friday’s Anzac Test against Australia.

Rugby League Ireland have sown the seeds for a potential entry into Super League within the next five years with a scouting academy in Limerick this weekend.

YOU’D think a rugby league forward would be one of the hardest sportsmen in the business but St Helens will be without Jon Wilkin for almost a month after he was injured while sweeping.

Danny Brough has turned his back on Scotland for a second time in a bid to achieve his dream of playing for England against Australia.

ANOTHER little bit of important sporting history was consigned to the scrapbooks and the video archive this Easter weekend.

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

WHILE Ireland celebrated Super Saturday, fitness expert Mick McGurn was handed further evidence that his Midas touch was in operation.

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

FORMER Ireland rugby fitness coach Mike McGurn has joined the Cork senior hurling backroom team.

France remain on course to join the Tri-Nations Series in 2009 despite their World Cup flop, according to Rugby Football League executive chairman Richard Lewis.

Ireland 34 Samoa 16

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.

Dwain Chambers has a “good chance” of making his rugby league debut against St Helens on Sunday, according to Castleford coach Terry Matterson.

Great Britain forward Gareth Ellis tonight confirmed he is to leave Super League champions Leeds Rhinos at the end of the season to challenge himself in Australia’s National Rugby League.

Thirteen-time world champion Phil Taylor survived an epic tussle with Lancashire's Alan Tabern to advance to the fourth round.

World number nine Wayne Mardle fought back from a set down to see off the brave challenge of America’s Ray Carver on the opening night of the Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in England.

Harlequins look to continue their blazing start to the engage Super League season when they take on Warrington at the Twickenham Stoop tomorrow afternoon.

Alan Tabern won a sudden-death leg against Denis Ovens as the second round of the Ladbrokes.com World Championship produced another epic encounter in Purfleet tonight.

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

New Zealand have included two British-based Kiwis and three uncapped players in their 19-man squad for Friday’s Test against Australia in Brisbane.

Munster have confirmed the signing of former Great Britain rugby league full-back Gary Connolly ahead of the Heineken Cup registration deadline.

Andy Farrell, Wigan and Great Britain’s record-breaking rugby league captain, is poised to claim a place in history by becoming the first high-profile rugby league forward to make the switch to union.

PUT any spin you like on this but unless Munster immediately perk up their level of performance by a good 20%, the dream of winning the Heineken European Cup after six years of constant disappointment will end up on the rubbish heap.

Cardiff Blues have completed the signing of Samoan international Freddie Tuilagi from Leicester Tigers.

Cardiff Blues have completed the signing of Samoan international Freddie Tuilagi from Leicester Tigers.

Opera star Katherine Jenkins will sing the British national anthem at this year’s Rugby League Challenge Cup Final, it was announced today.

St Helens are to carry out their own inquiry into an alleged betting scandal involving two of their high-profile players.

Former leading Rugby Football League official Greg McCallum is back in the game after being appointed to a new-look judiciary in Australia.

Welsh star Scott Gibbs has confirmed his retirement from professional rugby.

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

LEO CULLEN may have missed out on the World Cup but Leinster coach Gary Ella is delighted to have him back as Leinster captain for the visit of Edinburgh to Donnybrook this evening.

England's Wilderspool Stadium has been chosen to host the final of the inaugural European Nations Cup on Sunday, November 16.

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

SHAUN Payne will be glad to put his final year at Swansea behind him when he pulls a Munster jersey on for the first time at the start of next season.