WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange was on the sharp end of some unwelcome exposures himself yesterday as a former ally spilled the beans on the controversial Australian and his whistle-blowing organisation.

THERE might have been a time when Peter Stringer was in awe of French opposition on French soil but these days, not even the mention of a plethora of international names associated with Toulon makes the veteran Munster and Irish scrum-half shiver.

PAUL WARWICK has stressed the necessity of Munster sprinting from the blocks at Stade Felix Mayol on Sunday afternoon, knowing that anything less could signal the end of an era for the Irish province.

WATERFORD bounced back from their opening day defeat to Wexford to claim a historic first Division Three victory at Fraher Field, Dungarvan.

LEINSTER will have Welsh referee Nigel Owens in charge of their Heineken Cup quarter-final clash with Leicester, following the latest round of appointments for next month’s European Rugby Cup matches.

UNIVERSITY College Cork will contest their first ever national senior final after coming from behind to see off Clontarf 2-1 in a fraught Irish Hockey Trophy semi-final at the Mardyke on Saturday.

INNISCARRA isn’t so much a place as a feeling and, lately, that feeling has been jubilant. The parish, eight kilometres or so from Cork city is home to about 7,000 souls but, right now 33 of them are the ones who really matter.

IT really does come to something when the most exciting moment of a Premier League encounter occurs when two silver-haired 40-somethings have a little tantrum with each other at the final whistle.

BOLTON boss Owen Coyle repeated his belief that he can persuade striker Johan Elmander to sign a new contract after the Swede took his season’s tally to eight with a brace in the 5-1 win over Newcastle.

ANOTHER evening peppered with bad vibes at the Aviva.

THE WikiLeaks highlights make great reading, though strangely enough most of the information is no surprise to the public and no doubt to countries diplomatic services.

ARSENE WENGER has called on his Arsenal team not to let the club’s 125th anniversary celebrations detract them from delivering a match-winning performance against Everton today.

GAA President Christy Cooney has broken his silence on the controversial Leinster SFC final between Meath and Louth admitting he would have liked to have seen the game replayed.

THIS World Cup has been dominated by South American sides, so what odds on them dominating the semi-final line-up by the time the whistles blow in Cape Town and Johannesburg on Saturday?

LOUTH forward JP Rooney admits he had little sympathy for under-fire referee Martin Sludden as he was bundled out of Croke Park last Sunday.

ALEX FERGUSON has played down fears about Wayne Rooney’s fitness ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

LEEDS United boss Simon Grayson paid tribute to his players after they came from behind to beat Bristol Rovers and clinch promotion to the Championship on Saturday.