Another week, another new tournament on the horizon.

European Rugby Cup has appointed an independent mediator in their attempts to thrash out a new tournament agreement for the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup competitions.

London’s Olympic Stadium has been confirmed as one of 13 venues for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and will host five matches, tournament organisers announced today.

Almost single-handedly, they salvaged the wreckage that was the 2007 World Cup in France.

MIKE MILLER is stepping down as International Rugby Board chief executive.

Bill Beaumont’s bid to replace Bernard Lapasset as chairman of the International Rugby Board will finally go to the vote in Los Angeles today.

France captain Thierry Dusautoir has been named International Rugby Board player of the year at a ceremony in Auckland.

The International Rugby Board has deferred the election of its chairman and vice-chairman positions until December.

A MINUTE’S silence honouring the dead from the September 11, 2001 terror attacks will be held prior to the United States’ opening World Cup match against Ireland, IRB president Bernard Lapasset has said.

France number eight Imanol Harinordoquy is the only player from the northern hemisphere to make the six-man shortlist revealed today for the International Rugby Board’s Player of the Year award.

THE International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced a trial of new protocol governing the process of substituting players.

The International Rugby Board will host a conference in Dublin next month to address global concerns over the way the game is being played and refereed.

ARGENTINA has moved a step closer to joining an expanded Tri-Nations in 2012 after the International Rugby Board yesterday announced a $10m (€7.5m) funding package to support the programme.

The International Rugby Board’s Executive Committee have ratified a financial package that moves Argentina a step closer to joining an expended Tri Nations competition from 2012.

ARGENTINA are set to join the Tri Nations in 2012 after International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman Bernard Lapasset confirmed the body would provide a crucial funding package.

FRANCE utility back Frederic Michalak will have surgery today after suffering a knee injury last weekend which could keep him out for a year.

Argentina is set to join the Tri Nations in 2012 after International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman Bernard Lapasset confirmed the body would provide a crucial funding package for the project.

Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll and number eight Jamie Heaslip have been nominated for the IRB World Player of the Year.

FABIEN PELOUS has been co-opted onto the International Rugby Board as a member of the Rugby Committee.

Ireland have been drawn in with England, France and Argentina in Pool B for the IRB World Junior (U-20) Championship in Argentina.

International Rugby Board officials are confident that preparations for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand are on track despite the financial uncertainties arising from the current global economic crisis.

The International Rugby Board has opted to implement two changes to the rules regarding uncontested scrums.

The International Rugby Board Council have approved 10 of the 13 Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) for adoption into the laws of the game.

THE MAUL’S place at the heart of rugby is set to be preserved following a meeting of nearly 60 senior rugby stakeholders.

IRELAND’S Susan Carty has been appointed to a major post in international rugby following her work with the Irish Rugby Football Union — the first ever women’s development manager for the global game.

New Zealand could open the 2011 World Cup with a revenge mission against France - and All Blacks coach Graham Henry has described it as “an intriguing” prospect.

MUNSTER chief executive, Garrett Fitzgerald, believes Munster could benefit long-term off the back of Tuesday’s hugely successful Zurich Challenge between the Heineken Cup champions and the All Blacks.

THE International Rugby Board has been warned there is a “serious risk” of the global game “going backwards” if the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand is a commercial failure.

IRELAND is among the record number of countries who have confirmed their intention for the right to host the Rugby World Cup either in 2015 or 2019.

A record number of countries are set to make official bids for hosting the 2015 or 2019 Rugby World Cup tournaments.

Former England international Brian Moore has claimed plans to stage a one-off match between the Six Nations and Tri-Nations champions would only serve to “devalue” existing international clashes.

The International Rugby Board will discuss plans to stage a one-off match between the Six Nations and Tri-Nations champions when the governing body meets with rugby union’s leading nations in Hong Kong on Sunday.

ALAN GAFFNEY is likely to return to Ireland as assistant to Leinster coach Michael Cheika — and not as backs coach with Ireland.

World Cup organisers will launch an investigation into an alarming security breach that occurred just prior to the presentation of the Webb Ellis Trophy to tournament winners South Africa last night.

FRENCH rugby chief Bernard Lapasset has confirmed there are two stand-out candidates in the running to replace Bernard Laporte as head coach of the national team.

France 25 Ireland 3

ALL THINGS considered, it’s been a pretty fraught few days in France for Ireland. Early in the week, there were allegations in the French press about Ronan O’Gara, not to mention the rumours of Geordan Murphy’s wish to leave the camp.

The general impression seems to be that Ireland are in danger of a hiding on Friday when they take on France in the Rugby World Cup in Paris. Michael Moynihan looked for reasons to be cheerful. And in the interests of balance, reasons to be fearful.

WELL, at least the beer on offer in the Stade de France is no longer under scrutiny.

The French Rugby Federation (FRF) are to open an inquiry following the incidents in Ireland’s World Cup warm-up match in Bayonne which saw Brian O’Driscoll sustain a fracture to his sinus.

ENGLISH and French clubs will play in next season’s European Cup and Challenge Cup, tournament organisers ERC confirmed yesterday following a meeting at Twickenham between all stakeholders.

French rugby chiefs insist the ball is firmly in the court of their English counterparts regarding the future of next season’s Heineken Cup.

ENGLAND Rugby Football (RFU) Union chiefs have urged their French counterparts to nominate alternative entrants for next year’s two European competitions if a proposed boycott goes ahead.

FRANCE coach Bernard Laporte wasn’t immune to a little bit of GAA- speak after watching his side’s heart-stopping 20-17 victory over Ireland at Croke Park.