The Ireland Under-20s' first ever IRB Junior World Championship semi-final ended in defeat last night as defending champions England proved a class apart in Auckland.

Munster, Ulster and Leinster have all given steps up to inexperienced squad members in naming their additional players for the European knockout stages next month, as former provincial Heineken Cup winners Peter Stringer and Rocky Elsom boosted squads elsewhere.

RYAN TAYLOR scored a goal his six-week-old son will be hearing plenty about in the years to come to cemented Newcastle’s place among the Premier League’s top three.

Everyone in the Laoshan Velodrome was ready to usher Chris Hoy into the company of Olympic greats – except the Scot himself.