ANDY FARRELL remains part of England’s World Cup plans despite not having played a single game of competitive rugby union since his expensive cross-code switch to Saracens over a year ago.

Sara Dabritz hit the only goal of the game as Germany beat Spain to take control of their Women's World Cup group.

ENGLAND’s RFU will submit a government-backed bid to stage the 2015 World Cup. Twickenham, Wembley, Old Trafford and Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium are set to be included as venues in the RFU’s blueprint.

ROY KEANE says England needs to get over not winning the right to stage the 2018 World Cup.

GOLF and soccer lovers are queuing up to dig deep in aid of a very worthy appeal.

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah was last night named the African Player of the Year for 2017.

Kieron Dyer insists he must build up his fitness with Newcastle before the World Cup can enter his thoughts.

Uruguay and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is confident he will play at the World Cup as he makes a cautious return to fitness after knee surgery.

"If you get a re-injury on the same site then you are in a situation where his World Cup could be in doubt."

Shane Jennings has been called into the Ireland Rugby World Cup squad to replace David Wallace who was injured in this afternoon's defeat to England.

Rio Ferdinand was today officially ruled out of the World Cup.

Argentina coach Diego Maradona is keen to sign a new contract – so long as he is allowed to retain his entire backroom staff.

Gregory Coupet has hailed his successor as France number one, Hugo Lloris, a “phenomenon” after the Lyon goalkeeper’s clean sheet against the Republic of Ireland put Les Bleus on the brink of the World Cup finals.

The Football Association were offered votes for bribes during their unsuccessful bid for the 2006 World Cup, according to former executive director David Davies.

GAA president Liam O’Neill said the organisation would more than likely be unable to make their stadiums available to the FAI for any future bid to host or co-host the European Championships.

DERVAL O’ROURKE put the finishing touches to another successful season with an impressive if not spectacular performance at the IAAF/VTB Bank Continental Cup in Split yesterday when she finished fifth in the 100m hurdles in 12.99 secs.