Ireland women’s first full international since last winter’s World Cup ended in a 0-0 draw against Japan in Den Bosch, Holland, today.

BEN FODEN warned England will be heading into the “danger zone” against France in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final.

FORMER All Black selector Peter Thorburn claims no team can halt New Zealand’s march to World Cup glory and has rubbished their reputation as ‘chokers’.

The Italian official accused last week of favouring Argentina and Lionel Messi has been chosen to referee their World Cup final against Germany.

Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has apologised to Michael Ballack for the challenge which ruled the Germany captain out of the World Cup.

UEFA president Michel Platini will try to persuade FIFA next month to limit the 2018 World Cup candidates to European bids.

Kieron Dyer is in ‘‘intensive training’’ in a bid to prove his World Cup fitness to England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson by Friday, according to his agent Jonathan Barnett.

Anti-apartheid campaigner and IOC member Sam Ramsamy wants to bring the Olympics to South Africa so that he can fulfil one of Nelson Mandela’s last wishes.

Brian Ashton is set to be retained as England’s head coach when Rob Andrew delivers his World Cup review at Twickenham tomorrow.

Niamh Briggs, currently in France preparing for tonight’s World Cup semi-final, has been shortlisted for the IRB Women’s Player of the Year award.

The European Union’s highest court has dismissed an appeal from Fifa and Uefa and sided with member states that insist on keeping the World Cup and European football championships on free TV.

"There is a culture creeping in – I call it the football culture – of simulation."

Spain coach Luis Aragones has called up Getafe defender Mariano Pernia to replace the injured Asier Del Horno in his World Cup squad.

Japan coach John Kirwan has called for an end to the “political games” and insisted the International Rugby Board must take the 2015 World Cup to Asia.

Robert Heffernan and Olive Loughnane will lead the Irish teams for the European Race Walking Cup in Miskolc, Hungary, on Saturday, May 21.

Not that Ireland haven’t enough to be getting on with, but there was little evidence in Scotland’s 34-0 defeat of Samoa in Kobe today that Gregor Townsend’s men are ready to rain on Japan’s World Cup parade come their decisive Pool A clash at the World Cup on Sunday October 13th.

An emotional Eddie Jones choked back the tears as he reflected on what it meant to guide England into the 2019 World Cup.