The Rugby Football Union (RFU) insist that World Cup hosts New Zealand are happy for England to wear an all-black ’away’ kit during this autumn’s tournament.

Germany coach Joachim Low today signed a two-year contract extension which ties him to the role until after the 2014 World Cup finals, the German Football Federation announced.

The Rugby Football Union have announced their “absolute intention” not to select overseas-based players for England following the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is confident his goalkeeper Shay Given has the mental toughness to cope with his World Cup agony.

Ireland will be out to prove the doubters wrong when they meet Tonga in their opening Rugby League World Cup Pool Three clash at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday night.

It could be as late as Friday before we finally get to crack the open or shut case of the Friends Arena roof in Stockholm.

GEORGIA captain Ilia Zedginidze has warned Ireland his side enter today’s Bordeaux showdown driven by the need to preserve their World Cup future.

James Whelan

Joe Schmidt was French Rugby President Bernard Laporte's first choice to be appointed as the new head coach of Les Bleus.

France launched the 2007 Rugby World Cup tonight amid huge expectancy levels in coach Bernard Laporte’s final assignment before he takes up a French ministerial post.

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta is looking to cement his place in Spain’s squad by shining against Saudi Arabia in Friday’s World Cup Group H clash.

Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko believes his team has the heart to see off Italy and book a place in the last four of the World Cup.

Australia captain George Gregan has signed a three-year contract with the Wallabies which will take him through the 2007 World Cup in France.

Scottish rugby marketing director Phil Anderton is confident Murrayfield will get the chance to host the Heineken Cup final within the next few years.

Vicente del Bosque has signed a two-year extension to his contract as Spain coach, the Spanish football federation have confirmed.

Scotland manager Walter Smith believes the summer departure of Sven-Goran Eriksson will give the England manager an added impetus to end his tenure by winning the World Cup.

World Cup officials have launched an investigation into an alleged fight between two players from the Italy team.

The 2015 World Cup final will kick off at 8pm with ticket prices ranging from £150 (€180) to £715 (€850), the tournament organiser has announced.

The corruption crisis surrounding Germany’s 2006 World Cup has intensified after tax authorities launched raids on the country’s football federation (DFB) and private residences.

Donnacha Ryan and Keith Earls will both end 29 months without Test rugby when they start Ireland’s World Cup warm-up clash against Wales in Cardiff.