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.

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

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

TOMORROW’s World Cup final could be Victor Matfield’s last opportunity to pick up a major piece of silverware — and he is determined to grab it with both hands.

Rassie Erasmus will step down from his role as coach of the Springboks after next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Manchester United have refuted reports which suggest Wayne Rooney is definitely out of this summer’s World Cup.

Wales coach Steve Hansen has made four changes to his starting line-up for Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final against England at Suncorp Stadium.

Sven-Goran Eriksson insisted England’s World Cup 2006 qualifying draw is “absolutely not easy” after being paired with Wales and Northern Ireland.

Austin Healey tonight classed himself as “an outsider” to make England’s World Cup squad.

Disgraced former FIFA official Jack Warner made a profit of around £11m (€14.97m) on World Cup television rights that Sepp Blatter sold him for a fraction of their true value, it can be revealed.