Sean O’Brien faces a “nightmare” six months sidelined with shoulder trouble that threatens to wipe out his Six Nations campaign with Ireland.

Just when Brazilians thought it couldn’t get any worse after Tuesday night’s total humiliation in Belo Horizonte, they must now dry their tears and play host to their final from hell.

The pots for Saturday’s draw the 2014 World Cup qualifying groups were revealed today.

The IRFU has announced the appointment of former South African international, Gert Smal as forwards coach to the Irish team.

Arsene Wenger believes Danny Welbeck will go to the World Cup with England if the Arsenal striker can remain fit in the coming months.

Brazil crushed Venezuela 3-0 to finish top of the South American World Cup qualifying group.

GAA president Liam O’Neill is confident the overwhelming majority of the organisation’s members will be behind Central Council’s decision to make six of the grounds available for a Rugby World Cup bid by the IRFU.

IRELAND’S cricket team has been “outrageously” excluded from the 2015 World Cup despite beating England and Pakistan in the last two competitions.

England have been named as one of the seeds for next summer’s World Cup finals in Germany.

Chelsea legend Peter Osgood has died aged 59.

With the official team season now done for 2019, attention turns to the individual jumping circuit with the first European round of the FEI World Cup series taking place in Norway at Oslo Horse Show this weekend.

Manchester United have confirmed new manager Louis van Gaal will join up with the club for their full pre-season tour.

Currys and PC World owner DSG International said today that persistent summer downpours had helped boost sales of flat screen TVs and laptops.

Chelsea left-back Wayne Bridge will put eight months of injury heartache behind him tonight when he returns to Jose Mourinho’s squad against Charlton in the Carling Cup third round at Stamford Bridge.

Toulouse players Trevor Brennan and Gareth Thomas will both face misconduct complaints following the controversial Heineken Cup clash against Ulster last Sunday.

The 2007 European Solheim Cup team will be announced after the Wales Ladies Championship of Europe in August.

Brazil have spent four years trying to atone for its last World Cup match, the calamitous 7-1 defeat as hosts by Germany.

IAN POULTER reaped the rewards for Sunday’s hard-fought one-stroke victory at the Barclays Singapore Open as the Ryder Cup contender ended a two-year winless streak to leap to a career-high 15th in the world.

SPRINGBOK midfielder Jean de Villiers will stay at home when the rest of his team-mates depart on a two-match tour of Ireland and Scotland later today.

Whatever you call him - Ronaldo Luiz Nazario da Lima as it says on his birth certificate, or Ronaldo, as we know him - he is back and ready to banish the nightmare memories of his last World Cup game.