Angola playmaker Paulo Figueiredo has warned his team-mates not to become too obsessed with the match against Portugal.

Welshman Nigel Owens has been appointed to referee next Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and Australia at Twickenham.

An octopus “oracle” – born in England, but raised in Germany – has predicted a German win over England in Sunday’s World Cup game, it was revealed today.

Bolton striker El-Hadji Diouf in the squad for Senegal’s World Cup qualifier against Liberia on March 26 – even though he will be in the middle of a three-match domestic suspension.

Stuart Lancaster will outline his blueprint for how England can win the 2015 Rugby World Cup when he has his interview for the job of head coach this afternoon.

FOUR years ago, the Irish rugby team failed to make it past the group stages of the Rugby World Cup for the first time after telling everyone and anyone that they had what it took to win the tournament.

ENGLAND’S 2003 World Cup-winning fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has admitted there is “a challenging effect” created by the balls being used at Rugby World Cup 2007 in France.

IRISH and New Zealand rugby chiefs have rubbished claims that they fixed New Zealand's selection as the venue for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in return for an appearance by the All Blacks at the opening of the redeveloped Lansdowne Road.

Steve Hansen will leave his role as New Zealand head coach with his record “unsurpassed”, according to All Blacks chairman Brent Impey.

South Africa - Ireland’s chief rivals in the battle to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup - will not be permitted to bid for the event, according to their Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula.

Gavin Henson has been ruled out of the World Cup after failing to make the Wales squad for Saturday’s Test against England at Twickenham.

Steve Bruce has joined Rafael Benitez in questioning how forcing a key England player like Steven Gerrard to play twice in 48 hours will aid Sven-Goran Eriksson’s bid for World Cup glory this summer.

Problems with venues, IT services, and a lack of experience were major contributing factors which have left Ireland’s dream of hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup in tatters.

Having spent the majority of his six weeks in New Zealand with the Irish World Cup squad as a spectator, Leinster summer signing Sean Cronin is eager to get some game time with his new club.

Ireland show jumping manager Robert Splaine says that as a “pragmatic” manager he had no qualms in allocating the World Cup slot in Geneva to Denis Lynch at the weekend.

England’s Chelsea pair John Terry and Ashley Cole will both miss this week’s World Cup qualifier away to Belarus because of injury.

FRANCE central midfielder Benoit Pedretti was yesterday ruled out of the World Cup qualifiers against Ireland and Cyprus next month.

Catch up on this morning's headlines...