Ex-England wing Dan Luger has blasted the Rugby Football Union for giving England virtually no chance of defending the World Cup.

Former New Zealand captain Tana Umaga has signed a lucrative one-year deal with French second division club Toulon.

LEADING New Zealand referee Steve Walsh has been red-carded by the IRB after a verbal sideline row with Shane Horgan during the Lions tour.

WALES forward Ryan Jones has been summoned to join the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand amid growing concerns over Simon Taylor’s fitness.

WHAT a difference a year makes! Rewind just short of 365 days and Denis Hickie's world wasn't a fun place.

England coach Andy Robinson tonight conceded the inevitable and ruled Jonny Wilkinson out of next week’s first autumn Test against Canada at Twickenham.

England boss Clive Woodward has decided to rest three World Cup-winning stars for next month’s tour to New Zealand and Australia.

Munster scrum half Peter Stringer is faced with a new challenge today in the shape of Gregory Mahe — but his level-headed attitude will help him cope, reports Barry Coughlan.

Perpignan 6 London Wasps 34

Celtic Warriors 16 Perpignan 15

He may not like it, but Jonny Wilkinson has catapulted himself into the sort of superstar category enjoyed by his new friend and advertising colleague David Beckham.

England boss Clive Woodward today adopted a “horses for courses” selection policy as he recalled centre Mike Tindall to face Australia in the World Cup final.

“DID I ever tell you about the time that I ...”

MIKE CATT will complete one of English rugby’s great comebacks when he runs out in the World Cup semi-final against France on Sunday.

England boss Clive Woodward today thrust Mike Catt into the World Cup semi-final spotlight, and declared: “He deserves his chance.”

MATT DAWSON yesterday admitted England had hit a plateau just as the French appeared to be surging towards their peak.

BERNARD Laporte last night insisted there would be no mind games from France in the run-up to the World Cup semi-final showdown against England.

Bernard Laporte today insisted there would be no mind games from France in the run-up to the World Cup semi-final showdown against England.

For the second time in a week Wales shook a World Cup favourite senseless and still suffered the agony of defeat.

After watching New Zealand and France flex their World Cup muscle in impressive style over the past 24 hours co-favourites England stepped into the spotlight at Suncorp Stadium tonight.

Josh Lewsey has been ruled out of the England side for the World Cup quarter-final against Wales at Suncorp Stadium.

Josh Lewsey erased memories of England’s darkest day as the Six Nations champions cruised towards a World Cup quarter-final showdown with Wales next Sunday.

Joe Worsley tonight received a severe reprimand from England boss Clive Woodward following an incident during the World Cup record victory over Uruguay.

Josh Lewsey led an England try-fest as the Six Nations champions concluded the Pool C campaign with their record victory in the World Cup over tournament minnows Uruguay at Suncorp Stadium.

CLIVE WOODWARD last night urged rugby chiefs to hand England's £10,000 World Cup fine to cash-strapped Samoa.

Clive Woodward has urged rugby rulers to hand England’s £10,000 (€14,500) World Cup fine to cash-strapped Samoa.

New Zealand referee Steve Walsh was today handed a one-match ban by World Cup chiefs following an altercation with a member of England’s management team.

THE England squad have confirmed they will bear the £10,000 fine imposed upon them for fielding an extra player during Sunday’s World Cup win over Samoa.

ENGLAND’S World Cup fate could be decided in the surreal setting of a Sydney solicitors’ office today.

England boss Clive Woodward has made 11 changes for his team’s final World Cup Pool C match against Uruguay at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.

ENGLAND’S patient waiting game continued last night over potential fall-out from the Dan Luger 16th player issue.

Australian international Toutai Kefu has called for England to be docked points over the Dan Luger 16-man saga.

England’s patient waiting game continued tonight over potential fall-out from the Dan Luger 16th player saga.

Clive Woodward today pledged that England would “fully comply” with a World Cup probe into how his team briefly fielded 16 players against Pool C opponents Samoa.

ENGLAND’S below-par performance against Samoa last night has provided prospective semi-final opponents France with some vital information – but it will not be assessed until they eventually reach the last four.

ENGLAND received support last night from an unlikely source as they found themselves at the centre of a World Cup investigation — Australian coach Eddie Jones.

England have been asked to submit a report into how they ended up with 16 players on the field for a short period during yesterday’s victory Samoa in Melbourne.

World Cup organisers tonight confirmed that they are investigating why England briefly had 16 players on the pitch during today’s Pool C clash against Samoa.

England survived a major World Cup scare as they fought back from a half-time deficit to clinch a quarter-final place at Telstra Dome.

Bath scrum-half Martyn Wood was tonight preparing for a flight to Australia as England’s World Cup camp assessed the extent of injuries to Matt Dawson and Kyran Bracken.

England 84 Georgia 6

England 34 Georgia 3

England winger Dan Luger has warned his team-mates that South Africa will use their recent turmoil to good effect in the crucial Pool C World Cup showdown on October 18.