Ireland’s Paul McGinley, keen to remove any lingering doubts about his making a Ryder Cup debut next month, shared the early lead at the NEC world championship in Akron today.

Clive Woodward has issued a confident and upbeat message to English fans ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup semi-final showdown with France at Telstra Stadium.

The contents of a notorious note passed between two FIFA members has indicated that Spain/Portugal and Qatar’s World Cup bids will escape any action over allegations of collusion.

Associate nations such as Ireland could yet play a part at the 2015 World Cup after International Cricket Council president Sharad Pawar asked the governing body's executive board to reconsider the composition of the tournament.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi insists he will not rush chief playmaker Andrea Pirlo back from injury at the World Cup.

The Ireland squad flies out to France today ahead of the start of the World Cup.

England boss Brian Ashton has named his 30-man World Cup squad – with Mike Tindall and Charlie Hodgson the big-name casualties.

Chris Hatherall looks ahead to today’s World Cup action as eight teams go into Day 13 looking to finish the group stage on a high.

Dani Alves will honour the memory of Brazil legend Carlos Alberto when he skippers the side against Argentina in Belo Horizonte tonight.

Hawk-eye will make its competitive debut at the Rugby World Cup. Here is how it will make its presence felt during the tournament.

Cricket: Ireland batsman Andy Balbernie believes his team-mate Ed Joyce’s experience could be crucial at the World Cup, which gets underway this weekend.

Before the World Cup, Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom said that it would be a "failure" if Ireland missed out on the quarter-finals.

England centre Manu Tuilagi has sought to restore his reputation by outlining his version of the events that led to his conviction for assaulting two female police officers

IRISH show jumping has suffered another setback with the news yesterday that Jessica Kürten is unable to compete her top horses after a disagreement with their owner Lady Georgina Forbes.

ED JOYCE has been given special dispensation to represent his native Ireland in the 2011 World Cup, the International Cricket Council (ICC) last night confirmed.

GORDON BANKS has warned Wayne Rooney he risks wrecking England’s dreams of World Cup glory if he produces a repeat of Monday’s “ridiculous” behaviour which saw him booked for insulting a referee.

The many exhaustive inquests into Ireland’s elimination from the European Championship by Switzerland in Basle lost sight of one enduring truth about Ireland.

AUSTRALIA coach Eddie Jones insisted yesterday that Saturday’s World Cup final against England was just another stepping stone in the Wallabies’ development.

ENGLAND’S patient waiting game continued last night over potential fall-out from the Dan Luger 16th player issue.