IRISH cricket chiefs have hailed the decision to allow the national team the opportunity to compete in the 2015 World Cup.

TEENAGERS who want a high-flying career should take up reading, research suggests.

Morrissey was in hospital today after collapsing on stage with breathing difficulties.

MARK TAYLOR reckons Brian O’Driscoll will earn the right to regain the British Lions captaincy — if Ireland clinch the Grand Slam tomorrow. Ireland face Wales in a Six Nations decider aiming to deliver their first Slam in 61 years.

MORE than 180 sailors from five countries helped make the GUL Ward Topper Championships at Tralee Bay Sailing Club in Fenit a huge success.

Connacht 24 Ospreys 20

FT Ireland 12 Wales 16

Newcastle will resume talks with Barcelona over their move for Brazilian defender Edmilson on Monday.

Former Leeds chairman Gerald Krasner believes the battle for control at Elland Road is only just starting.

LEEDS chairman Ken Bates confirmed his reputation as football’s wheeler-dealer supreme yesterday by putting the club into administration and immediately forming a new company to buy it back again.

Leeds United’s appointed administrators KPMG have agreed to sell the business and its assets to a newly formed company called Leeds United Football Club Limited, the directors of which are Ken Bates, Shaun Harvey and Mark Taylor.

The Ospreys have confirmed the capture of former Wales centre Mark Taylor on a two-year contract.

ADAM GILCHRIST is confident Australia will retain their status as the world’s best Test side even though several of their great players are approaching the end of their careers.

PHILIPPE Saint-Andre has challenged English champions Sale Sharks to “kick-start” their Heineken Cup campaign tonight by collecting a maximum points haul against minnows Calvisano.

Philippe Saint-Andre has challenged English champions Sale Sharks to “kick-start” their Heineken Cup campaign tomorrow night by collecting a maximum points haul against minnows Calvisano.

London Irish 14 Sale 31

Biarritz 11 Sale 6

Munster 31 Sale 9

DIFFICULT to know what to make of Sale Sharks after their stuttering 30-10 Heineken Cup win over the Gwent Dragons on Sunday.

NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have made nine changes from the team that defeated Connacht in last Friday night’s Celtic League clash for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup Pool One match against Sale Sharks.

Sale 35 Castres 3

Sale 35 Castres 3

WALES have appealed to the International Rugby Board to take immediate action after Sale Sharks demanded centre Mark Taylor be released for club duty this weekend.

Dafydd James will win his first Wales cap in three years on Saturday after head coach Mike Ruddock announced sweeping changes for the Millennium Stadium clash with South Africa.

London Irish boss Brian Smith wants the Exiles to “steal a win” when they tackle Guinness Premiership rivals Newcastle at Kingston Park tomorrow night.

Wales coach Mike Ruddock has made 11 changes from the side mauled by New Zealand for Friday night’s Millennium Stadium clash against Fiji.

Sale Sharks 27 Munster 13

Sale Sharks 29 London Irish 3

FEW members of the British & Irish Lions squad returned from New Zealand with their reputations enhanced after the 3-0 whitewashing at the hands of the All Blacks.

Leinster 31 Llanelli Scarlets 25

Wales 32 Ireland 20

Wales 16 Ireland 6

Glorious sunshine greeted Wales’ Grand Slam bid at the Millennium Stadium with the pre-match entertainment setting the scene for what promised to be a spectacular occasion.

Rhys Williams tonight rallied Wales for the final assault in their fearless Grand Slam mission, by declaring: “We want to create our own history.”

RONAN O'GARA returns to a near full-strength Munster team for tomorrow's vital Celtic League clash with Llanelli Scarlets at Stradey Park (5.30pm, Setanta Sport).

New Leeds chairman Ken Bates has vowed to give manager Kevin Blackwell the chance he craves to finish a job he only started in the summer.

Former Westlife singer Bryan McFadden has given himself six months to record a solo album - and hired Enrique Iglesias's writing team to help him.

Wales full-back Gareth Thomas will complete his move to two-time European champions Toulouse tomorrow morning.

Dario Franchitti feels he is “pretty close” to the ideal set-up as he looks to follow in the footsteps of fellow Scot Jim Clark and win the Indianapolis 500.

New Wales coach Mike Ruddock will be without several top players for next month’s tour to Argentina and South Africa.

Llanelli Scarlets 10 Biarritz 27

Borders 8 Llanelli 41

Wales 44 Italy 10

Flanker Martyn Williams has told his fellow Welsh players to forget about trying to impress their new coach and ensure they give Steve Hansen a winning send-off against Italy in tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations finale in Cardiff.