Ben Flower has been handed a six-month ban for the punches that marred the Super League Grand Final.

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.

Michael Clarke is hailing Australia’s Ashes victory as a special achievement to compare with their whitewash of England in 2006/07.

England team director Andy Flower said David Warner got it “horribly wrong” when he publicly criticised England batsman Jonathan Trott, who yesterday left the Ashes tour with a stress-related illness.

Kylie Minogue believes rock stars get cooler the "more wrinkly" they get.

Kevin Pietersen holds the key to whether he ever plays for England again, England coach Andy Flower said yesterday.

ENGLAND’S worst World Cup fears were realised yesterday when their leading one-day batsman and former Irish star Eoin Morgan was ruled out of the tournament with a fractured finger.

MANY old and sick people came to look at a big man’s heart in the Mater Hospital in Dublin yesterday hoping to draw strength from it.

EOIN MORGAN is likely to get the opportunity to boost his Ashes credentials against Pakistan this summer after England lost the services of Ian Bell for the series.

ANDY FLOWER is unrepentant about England’s management of the ball, despite South Africa’s transitory suspicions that tampering might have been afoot during the third Test.

ENGLAND cricketer Tim Bresnan has apologised to his bosses over an expletive-laden rant at a fellow Twitter user.

ENGLAND are confident their surprise call-up of Warwickshire batsman Jonathan Trott for this week’s fourth Ashes Test will not backfire in a similar manner to last year’s shock selection for the Headingley Test.

ENGLAND coach Andy Flower feels Australia captain Ricky Ponting “made a meal” of perceived stalling tactics during the final afternoon of the first Ashes Test.

Willie Muir experienced plenty of ’seconditis’ at this time last year but admitted after We Have A Dream’s gutsy triumph in Folkestone’s Bet Romania v France – Betdaq Handicap that the cards are falling in his favour this time around.

Wales U-20 15 Ireland U-20 17

Mystery surrounds the death of a wheelchair-bound man who suffered horrific burns in a hospital fire.

Zimbabwe, strong favourites to win their World Cup match against Holland in Bulawayo, reached what should be a match-winning total of 301 for eight in their 50 overs.

Brad Hogg claimed three crucial wickets as Australia took command of their World Cup Pool A match with Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

Victims of ‘‘economy class syndrome’’ have told of their fury over claims that airlines had shunned scientists researching the condition.