World Rugby has cleared Ireland of accusations levelled by a Sunday newspaper that the IRFU applied pressure on the World Cup organisers to stop the Japan v Scotland match being rearranged in the wake of Typhoon Hagibis.

JUST as an outward looking and more confident America can be a force for good so too can the great friendships built on sport.

Argentina coach Diego Maradona has been handed a two-month ban from “any football-related activity” by a FIFA disciplinary committee for his outburst following the World Cup qualifier against Uruguay last month.

Human rights group Amnesty International has called on FIFA to take a stance against the “abuse of migrant workers” in Qatar, the host for the 2022 World Cup.

WORLD football chief Sepp Blatter is under pressure after it emerged he oversaw the award of a €350 million World Cup contract to a company part-owned by the firm his nephew runs.

One of the World Cup’s main sponsors has urged FIFA to properly investigate allegations of corruption being involved in Qatar’s successful bid to host the 2022 tournament.

"I and others on the FIFA executive committee agreed to accept bribes in conjunction with the selection of South Africa as the host nation for the 2010 World Cup."

Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra is sweating over his fitness ahead of the World Cup finals in South Africa this summer.

The Irish Rugby team will kick off their 2019 World Cup campaign against Scotland.

TV sport veteran Bob Wilson is to retire at the end of the month after eight years with ITV, he announced today.

Japan have revealed the Backstreet Boys’ biggest hit as the soundtrack to their World Cup campaign.

Eamon Dunphy is leaving RTÉ after 40 years working with the broadcaster.

Former Australian rugby coach Eddie Jones has branded Munster legend Paul O’Connell “a fading star” with nothing more than one Test match performance left in his 33-year-old legs.

GEORDAN MURPHY admits he is likely to retire from international rugby before next year’s Six Nations.

Half the World Cup venues are now under police control after the local organising committee confirmed the force had stepped in at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg following strike action by workers for a private security firm.

Spain’s World Cup winners enjoyed a heroes’ reception as jubilant supporters took to the streets of Madrid in their droves to welcome home Vicente Del Bosque’s history-makers today.

The Minister for Enterprise Micheál Martin, has announced the signing of a new contract between ESB International and Eskom, the South African electricity company in Johannesburg during the Irish trade mission to South Africa.

All Blacks superstar Dan Carter admits that expectation comes with the territory for World Cup favourites New Zealand.