Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson heads into his first game at the helm tomorrow confident his team have the ability to progress from the World Cup’s ’group of death’ next month.

HEAD coach Warren Gatland has warned Wales players plying their trade in England they face missing out on a World Cup spot due to Premier Rugby’s “ridiculous” decision not to release them until August 4, the latest date allowed, next year.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has stressed he will not risk damaging the club’s Barclays Premier League campaign for the sake of progress in Europe.

Cardiff. The very mention of the city’s name has long been enough to bring a broad smile to the faces of Irish rugby fans.

A change of attitude worked instant wonders for Welsh World Cup winner Bradley Dredge on his 33rd birthday today as he took a share of the first round lead in the European Open at the K Club near Dublin.

The ‘Big Brother’ housemates will be able to watch today’s England World Cup match against Germany.

This German effort about the West German team during the l954 World Cup, the first in Europe since the end of WW2, has a limited audience appeal.

New Uruguay boss Jorge Fossati has named Diego Forlan amongst 31 European-based players for a three-day training session in Madrid.

Stewart Cink, named as a wild card for America’s Ryder Cup team last Monday, made captain Hal Sutton feel even better about his choice when he won the NEC world championship in Akron.

Denmark midfielder Stig Tofting is determined Zinedine Zidane will not make up for lost time at the World Cup against his side.

Denmark Women's World Cup qualifier against Sweden has been cancelled due to the ongoing pay dispute.

Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka appeared to have put any recent differences behind them after the world number two posted a picture on Twitter of the Davis Cup team-mates looking all smiles.

Ireland flanker Sean O’Brien has signed a new three-year contract with the Irish Rugby Football Union that will keep him at Leinster until after the 2019 World Cup.

Prince Bishop defeated the best of America in California Chrome and Lea to spring a surprise in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan.

Wales are playing an anxious waiting game before knowing the full extent of injuries suffered by Rhys Webb and Leigh Halfpenny during their final World Cup warm-up game against Millennium Stadium visitors Italy.

The Republic of Ireland are to face Oman in a friendly at Fulham as they gear up for their World Cup qualifying campaign.