WORLD Cup finalists France have jumped into the top three of the IRB world rankings following their semi-final victory over Wales.

Italy defender Alessandro Nesta is unlikely to recover in time for Friday's World Cup quarter-final clash with Ukraine.

Bookmaker William Hill today said its profits for last year were likely to be above expectations as it looked forward to a strong 2006 buoyed by betting on the football World Cup.

Sweden’s stranglehold at the top of World Cup Qualifying Group Eight was strengthened with a superb 3-0 win at closest rivals Bulgaria.

Russia have been expelled from the Rugby World Cup qualifying tournament after it was found they fielded three ineligible players.

The FAI have announced they will launch an independent external review of the squad's involvement in the World Cup following the competition.

Kieron Dyer is today on the brink of being ruled out of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s England World Cup squad.

ENGLAND’s Howard Webb will be the referee for Sunday’s World Cup final.

JAPAN have been backed in their bid to host the 2011 World Cup by Martin Johnson and Nick Farr-Jones.

Declan Kidney will be closely watching Wales' game against Samoa on Friday and Scotland's clash with South Africa on Saturday as Ireland sweat on their rankings for the Rugby World Cup draw.

Cameroon’s prospects of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup in Germany were dealt a massive blow today when FIFA announced that they would be docked six points from their qualification tally as punishment for wearing one-piece kits during the African Nations Cup.

Fatboy Slim and Paul Oakenfold are planning club tours to coincide with the World Cup.

SHAY GIVEN jetted in from Newcastle to begin the search for a team to represent Ireland in the Danone Nations Cup World finals in September.

Australia today completed a comprehensive and almost inevitable triumph over India to become the first side to lift the World Cup three times.

England today issued a warning that international rugby could run out of money within five years.

A war of words has broken out at the highest level of FIFA over criticism of Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid due to extreme temperatures in the country in June and July.

Former Munster and Irish flanker Alan Quinlan has expressed his concern that Ireland’s lacklustre 2007 World Cup campaign could reoccur in New Zealand over the coming weeks.

Ireland remain in 15th place in the latest FIFA World Rankings while Northern Ireland edge up two places to 112th.

IF Nelson Mandela can wear a Springbok’s jersey to a World Cup final, surely we can cope with God Save the Queen at Croke Park?