Fourie du Preez has revealed plans to quit South Africa and head to Japan to further his career following next year’s Rugby World Cup.

Luke McGrath insists that Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final sticking point will not taint departing head coach Joe Schmidt’s legacy.

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England coach Brian Ashton has already decided his starting line-up for the opening Rugby World Cup pool match against the USA in Lens on September 8 – but he will not tell the players until Tuesday.

Sacked Wales coach Gareth Jenkins insisted he leaves the job with no regrets despite failing to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

Raymond Domenech admits he is relieved to have Zinedine Zidane, Lilian Thuram and Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele available for selection again but insists the “moment of truth” is looming for Les Bleus.

Connections of Gio Ponti have decided to skip taking on one superstar filly Zenyatta in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and will instead take on another in Goldikova in the Mile.

Gabriel Heinze’s fledgling Manchester United career is set to suffer further disruption from yet more international demands with Argentina.

Tickets should sell fast for this one.

THE fans needed smelling salts and stiff drinks and fresh air and hugs for support. They shut their eyes tight, dropped their jaws wide, held their heads in agony and threw up their hands in delight.

Scotland, Ireland and Japan have all been drawn in Pool A.

Wales appear on course to select from strength for Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against Ireland.

Donncha O’Callaghan is predicting an epic duel between opensides Sean O’Brien and Sam Warburton at Wellington Regional Stadium on Saturday.

Facing genuine world stars like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid can only help to improve Ireland's cricketers, according to captain Trent Johnston.