FRANK RIJKAARD was yesterday confirmed as the new coach of Saudi Arabia, signing a three-year deal.

THOMAS LEVET described himself as living out a dream yesterday when he finally captured the French Open championship 25 years after first playing in it.

CONSIDER this. Since Dublin last won the Leinster SHC, exactly 50 years ago, the county has annexed six football All-Irelands and 23 provincial titles.

FORMER Tipperary All-Ireland winning hurler Michael Cleary will pedal a go-kart through Tipperary later this week to raise funds for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin.

WHILE David Haye was still spewing excuses in Hamburg a joke started swirling social networking sites that Wladimir Klitschko was going to have a tee-shirt mocked up showing him holding up his vanquished opponent’s severed toe.

THE perils of writing about women in sport are easily delineated, yet hard to avoid.

OLIVE LOUGHNANE expressed satisfaction with preparations for the World Championships in South Korea after covering the 3,000m walk in 12:52.85 — 15 seconds faster than last year.

HENRY Cecil’s multiple Group One winner Twice Over will attempt to redeem his reputation in the Sky Bet York Stakes on July 23.

CONNECTIONS of Grands Crus have not ruled out giving consideration to the Cheltenham Gold Cup for their talented novice chaser.

LITTLE did I know when addressing the issue of Martin Johnson’s resignation as England manager last Wednesday the calamitous fallout that was about to unfold as English rugby hit a new low.

MIKE TINDALL has blasted the RFU and accused them of making him a “scapegoat” in a statement released through the Rugby Players Association yesterday.

STEPHEN WARD has backed Giovanni Trapattoni to guide the Republic of Ireland to the 2014 World Cup.

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI has taken a 30% pay cut to secure his position as Republic of Ireland manager for the next two years.

MANCHESTER CITY boss Roberto Mancini says it is little wonder England struggle in major tournaments when players get little respite between domestic fixtures.

A TOP Rugby League World Cup official last night described the enthusiasm for the sport in Limerick as “overwhelming.”

MIKE TINDALL was last night reinstated in England’s elite player squad and had a £25,000 fine reduced to £15,000 after an appeal against the punishment meted out for his off-field World Cup behaviour.

YOU could be forgiven for thinking the end of the competitive golf season had finally arrived now we are almost into the month of December.

IF THERE is one thing that frustrates Rory McIlroy it’s seeing new girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki grasping golf quicker than he is taking to tennis.

GRAEME McDOWELL’S disappointing season came back to haunt him when he and Rory McIlroy again let victory slip from their grasp for a second time running in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China.

NOBODY who watched the last World Cup denied Spain were the best team in the tournament.