Lions legend Bill Beaumont said that full Government support and strong partnerships with the GAA and other sporting bodies will be the key to a successful IRFU bid to stage the Rugby World Cup in 2023.

England’s women rugby stars, who defeated Ireland en route to the World Cup title this month, will be handed the chance to turn professional for the first time next month, the Rugby Football Union has announced.

England 13 Ireland 10

The scrum queens kept their 100% record intact with a battling victory over Wales in round two of the 2014 RBS women’s six nations.

Munster will sell naming rights to Thomond Park if the right offer is tabled — but at the moment, the commercial arm of the operation if putting all its efforts into securing a shirt sponsor for next season.

The draw for the pool stage of the 2015 Rugby World Cup takes place in London today. Ireland are in 'tier two'.

Paul O’Connell is a major doubt for Ireland’s summer tour to New Zealand after the Munster captain was ruled out for the next four to six weeks due to a knee injury.

Robbie Williams will headline a concert raising money for wounded British troops, it was announced today.

Leinster’s Heineken Cup game with London Irish on January 23 has been switched to Twickenham, it was announced today.

The Rugby Football Union has vowed to stage the biggest World Cup ever after unveiling details of its bid to host the 2015 tournament in England.

Malcolm O'Kelly has been ruled out of Leinster's crucial Heineken Cup match against Edinburgh because he has been found guilty of stamping on London Wasps and suspended for two weeks.

Leinster will run the risk of losing Malcolm O'Kelly when he appears before an independent disciplinary committee in Dublin on Thursday to answer an allegation of stamping on the head of London Wasp Phil Vickery in the Heineken Cup at Twickenham Stadium last Saturday.

England rugby international Mike Tindall was today charged with drink-driving.

Alain Rolland has been replaced by Alan Lewis for the Heineken Cup semi-final match between London Irish and Toulouse at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, April 26.

All 120,000 tickets for The Police's comeback UK tour were snapped up in under an hour yesterday.

REUNITED pop group The Police appear to have snubbed their Irish fans yesterday when they confirmed dates and venues for the European leg of their world tour — and no gig here is planned.

Reigning champions Munster will be in action in the first quarter-final in the 2006/2007 Heineken Cup when they travel to Stradey Park to face Llanelli Scarlets on Friday, March 30 (kick-off 7.30pm).

Munster and Leinster have been lucky in their choices of opponents for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals to be played on the weekend of March 30 and 31 and April 1.

The 2007 Heineken Cup final will be staged at Twickenham, it was announced today.

The Rugby Football Union, boosted by England’s World Cup success, today announced profits of £13.5m (€19.3m) for the year ending June 30.

Controversial rapper Eminem has lined up his biggest UK shows to date with concerts in Milton Keynes and Glasgow this summer, it was announced today.