Sam Burgess is assured of a warm welcome on his return to rugby league as speculation intensifies over his future.

Ireland began their World Cup preparations with a five-wicket defeat to Sydney grade club Randwick Petersham.

One of the most senior doctors in the Department of Health, Colette Bonner, has responded to assertions from the wind lobby that her review on the health effects of turbines was “extremely limited and incomplete”.

It has been ignored, ridiculed, blamed for the departure of every Irish player to the AFL, castigated for occasional outbreaks of violence and, more than once, even shelved. However, the International Rules Series is back. Again.

It was not just the Wallabies downed in Australia at the weekend by men who had travelled halfway across the globe.

Twelve years ago George Smith was gearing up for the Wallabies’ crunch third Test with Graham Henry’s Lions outfit in Sydney’s magnificent Olympic Stadium.

British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton has been ruled out of Saturday’s Test series decider against Australia in Sydney.

Ex-Wallaby second row John Langford travelled north to become one of Irish rugby’s most significant overseas signings during a three-season spell with Munster from 1999 to 2002. He doesn’t get to watch the game he loves too often these days but he's making an exception this summer.

Ewen McKenzie could be prepared to shelve his stated ambition of coaching Australia if the opportunity arose for him to take charge of Ireland.

Tadhg Kennelly believes AFL clubs will continue to look at Ireland as a potential source of recruits, pinpointing Kildare duo Daniel Flynn and Paddy Brophy along with Kerry’s Pádraig Lucey as bright prospects.

Liverpool’s already slim offensive arsenal decreased further last night after the Italian FA confirmed striker Fabio Borini has suffered a fractured right foot.

Sydney FC striker Alessandro Del Piero has admitted rejecting an approach from Liverpool out of respect for victims of the Heysel disaster.

Alessandro Del Piero is set to confirm his move to Australian club Sydney FC this lunchtime, despite interest from Liverpool.

A significant change to regulations relating to developmental players is likely to see an increase in interest in Irish players by AFL clubs.

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

SETANTA Ó hÁILPÍN is adamant his next club will reap the benefits of Carlton’s Irish experiment, after the club abandoned him after eight years.

TOMMY WALSH has secured his desired move to Sydney Swans on the final day of the AFL trade window yesterday despite St Kilda’s attempts to persuade him to remain.

Tadhg Kennelly has said "the time is right" for him to retire from Australian Rules football and move on to the next stage of his career.

TADHG KENNELLY’S AFL future is in serious doubt after the former All-Ireland winning Kerry footballer was dropped from the Sydney Swans squad for tomorrow’s crucial clash with St Kilda.

PEARCE HANLEY had a career high 30 disposals but it was another losing effort by Brisbane as they lost to a James Podsiadly-inspired Geelong, 133-104.

MAYO’S Pearce Hanley was amongst Brisbane’s best again as the injury-plagued Lions put up a stout resistance against Hawthorn before falling away in the final quarter to lose 105-63 in round 16 of the AFL season on Saturday.

Staff at an Australian library were left stunned after a Charles Darwin book was returned 122 years late.

THE Sydney Swans’ pre-season training kicked off without Tadhg Kennelly yesterday but the club’s new head coach insisted the Kerryman will not be turning his back on the AFL for another stint in green and gold.

The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and their Aussie Rules counterparts, the AFL Players Association (AFLPA), have announced a player transition agreement to assist Irish players returning after a period in the Australian Football League.

SETANTA O hAILPÍN could be on the brink of leaving AFL club Carlton.

SETANTA O hAilpín has returned from injury to reclaim his position in the Carlton team to play Brisbane in what is a vital AFL game for both sides at the Etihad Stadium today.

IT was a dreadful weekend for the two Irishmen playing in the AFL at the weekend.

TADHG KENNELLY made an eye-catching return to the AFL on Saturday as Sydney defeated Carlton in the first round of the pre-season NAB Cup, 71-59.

TADHG KENNELLY yesterday revealed the role Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos played in his decision to return to the AFL after winning an All-Ireland with Kerry.

SYDNEY SWANS coach Paul Roos has hailed the return of Tadhg Kennelly to AFL after the Kerryman agreed a two-year deal with the club.

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.

THE GAA has rejected a proposal that would see Irish clubs compensated by ‘a transfer fee’ for players lost to the AFL.

SYDNEY SWANS officials have given short shrift to claims that Tadhg Kennelly is set to walk out on the AFL club and return to Kerry in the short term.

Wembley Stadium officials today responded to renewed scrutiny over the state of their pitch by insisting they “always endeavour” to provide the best possible playing surface.

A RUGBY film with a difference airs tonight at the Cork Film Festival. Walk Like A Man follows the Sydney Convicts and the San Francisco Fog as they prepare for the Bingham Cup, the World Cup of gay rugby.

Sydney Swans defender Tadhg Kennelly will miss the upcoming International Rules Series after undergoing surgery on a troublesome groin injury.

THE Irish International Rules team will play the Australian Gaelic football champions, New South Wales GAA, in Sydney in addition to their clashes with the cream of Australian Rules in the international series itself.

China isn’t the only country to fake a musical performance during an Olympic opening ceremony - it turns out that Australia knows a thing about miming music, too.

Tyrone minor footballer Kyle Coney has signed a two-year rookie contract with Australian Rules club Sydney Swans, where he will link up with fellow Irishmen Tadhg Kennelly and Brendan Murphy.

Michael Shields, right corner-back in the Cork team that lost last year's All-Ireland SFC final, could be back in county colours next month after his surprise return from Australia.

A HEALTH expert has come up with a novel idea to tackle the country’s expanding childhood obesity problem — pay children to stay healthy.

TADHG KENNELLY claims his decision on when to leave the Sydney Swans and return to Kerry will be ‘just as hard’ as that which saw him leave Ireland for the AFL in the first place.

Derby boss Paul Jewell today began the rebuilding of his squad by signing Australia international Ruben Zadkovich.