AUSTRALIAN rugby union faces a complete overhaul after the nation’s shock World Cup quarter-final defeat to England. The overwhelming favourites lost 12-10 in Marseille as Brian Ashton’s side booked a meeting with France.

Rugby fans packing their bags for Cardiff this Saturday can expect to pay anything between €4,000 and €20,000 to follow Ireland’s World Cup odyssey.

Rob Kearney says the Ireland squad are desperate to give Paul O’Connell a ‘fairytale’ send-off by winning the Rugby World Cup.

Failure to reach next year’s World Cup has denied the FAI a potential €9m in prize money and allowances, thereby undermining their chances of becoming debt-free by 2020.

More than 1,400 police officers and Brazilian Marines rolled into a massive complex of slums near Rio de Janeiro’s international airport before dawn yesterday in the latest security push ahead of the World Cup.

England’s women rugby stars, who defeated Ireland en route to the World Cup title this month, will be handed the chance to turn professional for the first time next month, the Rugby Football Union has announced.

France defender William Gallas today claimed that Marco Materazzi must have severely provoked Zinedine Zidane for the midfielder to headbutt Italy‘s defender.

Brazil defender Roberto Carlos insists that he will not allow any fears of joining Michael Ballack in being suspended for the World Cup final to cloud his mind in today’s semi-final against Turkey.

Jorge Costa hopes his move to Charlton will re-ignite his dream of playing for Portugal in the World Cup.

Daniel Chopra's play-off loss to Australian Aaron Baddeley at the Mastercard Masters in Melbourne has put the Florida-based Swede in seventh place on the world points list from which the first five spots in Europe's Ryder Cup team will be filled next August.

Golf fans in 75 countries around the world will find out if they have bagged a ticket for next year’s Ryder Cup today, after record demand.

Aidan O’Brien’s highly-touted St Nicholas Abbey is a fascinating possible contender for the Diamond Stakes at Dundalk on October 1.

AIDAN O’Brien’s highly-touted St Nicholas Abbey is a fascinating possible contender for the Diamond Stakes at Dundalk on October 1.

David Beckham’s wife Victoria believes England can win the World Cup, despite Wayne Rooney’s foot injury.

Japan became the first country to book their place at next year’s World Cup finals, other than hosts Germany, with a 2-0 win over North Korea today.

The Republic of Ireland qualified for their first World Cup finals since USA in 1994 despite losing 1-0 to Iran at a hostile Azadi Stadium in Tehran.

IRELAND play Scotland, France and England next August as part of their preparations for Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand.

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