Animal Kingdom, impressive winner of this year’s Kentucky Derby, will not race again this season.

England’s 2018 World Cup bid received a huge boost today after Vladimir Putin, prime minister of Russia, confirmed he would not be travelling to Zurich for the World Cup vote.

Arsenal defender William Gallas is confident he will be fit to play for France at the World Cup.

Tottenham have submitted a planning application with Haringey Council for their new 56,250-capacity stadium on land adjacent to White Hart Lane.

Republic of Ireland defender Sean St Ledger has said that the experience of his fellow defenders will help him cope with the pace of the French strike force in the World Cup play-off today.

Birmingham have beaten off competition from top European clubs to sign Ecuador striker Christian Benitez from Mexican side Santos Laguna.

Giovanni Trapattoni's Republic of Ireland side may have suffered a double injury blow ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifiers against Italy and Montenegro.

Jessica Kurten upped her status as favourite to capture the 2008 World Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden, when she streaked home to win tonight's second competition in the weekend series.

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has confirmed 10 of his intended starting 11 for tomorrow night's World Cup qualifier against Georgia, with doubts surrounding who will fill the right-back slot.

Dimitar Berbatov is likely to be on the bench for Manchester United’s Club World Cup final clash with LDU Quito in Yokohama tomorrow.

The Republic of Ireland may be going into Euro 2012 as underdogs but according to Shay Given that suits the Boys in Green just fine.

World Cup-winning rugby star Sonny Bill Williams won the New Zealand heavyweight title with a first-round knockout of Clarence Tillman.

FORMER New Zealand wing Jonah Lomu has had a kidney transplant.

IRELAND are even closer to qualifying for the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies.

THE new Wembley Stadium is an integral part of the Rugby Football Union’s revised bid to bring the 2007 World Cup to England.

Cristiana Girelli scored a hat-trick as Italy cruised into the last 16 of the Women's World Cup with a 5-0 win over Jamaica in Reims.

Ulster confirmed that Addison had recently undergone back surgery and it "is hoped that he will return to full fitness for pre-season."

Irish Examiner rugby writers Brendan O'Brien and Simon Lewis look ahead to the World Cup quarter-finals.