ORGANISERS of the 2007 Rugby World Cup have announced that the Pool B encounter between Wales and Australia will be played in Cardiff.

Gareth Bale is likely to miss Wales’ crucial World Cup qualifier with Ireland at Aviva Stadium next March as his recovery from an ankle injury is now expected to take four months.

Rugby fans have been urged to buy World Cup tickets through official channels after a recent spate of fakes.

Skibbereen talent Timmy Harnedy has made a telling breakthrough in sculling circles at the World Cup in Munich this morning, stroking brilliantly through to the A final of the lightweight singles.

FORMER Republic of Ireland manager Jack Charlton believes Roy Keane will regret his behaviour after being sent home in disgrace from the Irish World Cup squad.

Birmingham City’s new signing Aliou Cisse has rubbished claims that voodoo was responsible for Senegal’s success in the World Cup finals.

Britain's National Criminal Intelligence Service today warned it would be ‘‘naive’’ to expect a hooliganism-free World Cup.

The Republic of Ireland are up five places to 36th in the latest FIFA world rankings despite not having participated in the World Cup.

Croatia defender Josip Simunic will miss the World Cup after being banned for 10 matches by Fifa for shouting a fascist salute following his team’s play-off victory over Iceland last month.

New Zealand may be the bookies’ favourites for the 2003 World Cup but it is England who enter the competition on top of the Zurich World Rankings, according to the latest standings released today.

Wales 1 Azerbaijan 0

David Beckham admits “the whole nation” is willing Wayne Rooney to be fit for the World Cup – and gave a glimmer of hope by revealing the striker “looked fine” when he was dancing at the England skipper’s party.

Darren Clarke’s third place finish in the Mercedes Championship in Hawaii, opening event of the US Tour season, has taken him top of the European Ryder Cup table – but down in the world rankings.

Robbie Keane will use the memories of his 2002 World Cup finals adventure to fuel his bid to return eight years later.

The World Cup in Germany could attract gangs trafficking women and children for sexual exploitation, it was claimed today.

YOURI DJORKAEFF is expected to stand in for the injured Zinedine Zidane in France’s World Cup curtain raiser against Senegal on Friday but he believes the Real Madrid star is irreplaceable.

By Gavin Ellison, Miyagi