Guinness PRO12 bosses are determined to realign rugby's global season before progressing plans to create a franchise in the USA.

After a thrilling weekend of World Cup quarter-finals in England, we are finally down to the business end of the tournament but, of course, Ireland will not be there.

Nothing characterises the Irish sporting psyche like our attitude to the respective Tests this autumn against South Africa and tomorrow’s Test against Australia.

Bulk is officially beautiful — certainly on the rugby pitch.

Dan Lydiate has no doubt that Wales will be “ready to go” for their RBS 6 Nations title defence this season.

Clive Woodward believes England’s demolition of New Zealand makes them the team to be avoided in tomorrow’s Rugby World Cup draw.

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Triple Grand Slam winner Gethin Jenkins has set his sights on extending Wales’ upward curve Down Under this summer.

There have been no emails this week to the respective coaches but Ireland coach Declan Kidney is confident his players can get on the same page as RBS 6 Nations debutant referee Chris Pollock at Aviva Stadium today.

WORLD refereeing chief Paddy O’Brien has urged for consistency throughout rugby in the application of recently introduced interpretations of the game’s laws.

England manager Martin Johnson hailed today’s 21-20 victory over Australia in Sydney as “pretty special” and the perfect way to silence the critics.

AMID an injury crisis of unprecedented levels, and in the midst of preparations for one of the most anticipated clashes of his reign, there was finally some positive injury news for Declan Kidney last night.

France 12 New Zealand 39

DWAYNE PEEL is relishing the chance to rekindle one of Welsh rugby’s most prolific half-back partnerships.

Munster’s Jerry Flannery has said the Ireland team has to forget what they have achieved this year when they tackle the southern hemisphere giants of Australia and South Africa in the November internationals.

New Zealand may be heavy favourites to win the World Cup, but they are taking all the pressure in their stride ahead of their opening Pool C game against Italy in Marseille tomorrow.

NEW Zealand provincial powerhouses Wellington Hurricanes and Canterbury Crusaders have staked early claims to this year’s Super 14 rugby title.

Wales 3 New Zealand 41

Ground conditions could play a major role in the outcome of tomorrow’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Newmarket with good going expected.

Wallaby lock forward Justin Harrison is looking to make a fresh start and an immediate impact for Ulster on his new adventure into northern hemisphere rugby.

Eddie O’Sullivan insisted the performance of referee Jonathan Kaplan in today’s Super 12 final will not come under the scrutiny of the Lions management - though the form of the potential All Blacks will.

THERE are supposed to be seven stages of grieving. It begins with shock, ends with acceptance and, along the way, passes through anger, denial, guilt, fear and depression.

IRELAND centres Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy have agreed to play for the Barbarians on next month's three-match tour of Britain.

Ireland skipper Keith Wood has vowed there will be no complacency in the camp when his team open their World Cup campaign against Romania on Saturday.

Inspirational captain Keith Wood has admitted he would never have made Ireland’s World Cup party if he had not been on this summer’s southern hemisphere tour.

OPEC producers agreed a surprise cut in oil supplies yesterday that could raise fuel costs this winter and hamper economic growth.

Australia coach Eddie Jones today poked fun at Clive Woodward on the eve of the Wallabies’ departure to South Africa for their opening Tri-Nations clash.

DRY track or not, the Wallabies aren’t expecting the Irish to stray from the game plan that has seen them win 10 of their past 11 Tests and start throwing the ball around at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

SIX NATIONS organisers were urged yesterday to overhaul the championship to avoid a repetition of this year’s series which sees England opening the tournament against France next month.

Clive Woodward is not afraid to tinker with an England line-up who have defeated both New Zealand and world champions Australia in the past fortnight ahead of Saturday’s clash with South Africa.