Richie Gray made the decision to opt out of World Cup selection with Scotland, according to assistant coach Danny Wilson.

Catch up on the headlines.

Mick McCarthy has opened up about his relationship with Roy Keane in a candid interview with Eamonn Dunphy.

Lions coach Warren Gatland believes the 2011 World Cup has demonstrated that selecting a large number of England players for this summer’s tour to Australia will result in unwanted media attention.

CRISTIANO RONALDO has defended Wayne Rooney over criticism of his World Cup displays so far and backed his former Manchester United team-mate to improve.

GREECE coach Otto Rehhagel has urged his players to play “beyond their limits” if they want to claim a place in the 2010 World Cup by defeating Ukraine in their two-legged play-off.

UNWORRIED and full of courage. That’s how Giovanni Trapattoni wants his Ireland side to face the French – “just like Trap the player when he came up against Pele”.

MARCELLO LIPPI failed to weave his magic in his first match since returning to the Italy helm as the Azzurri were forced to recover from two goals down to draw with Austria in a friendly in Nice last night.

DENIS Hurley is set to start at full back in Munster’s final Magners League tie against Glasgow Warriors at Musgrave Park tomorrow (5.30pm).

PARAGUAY stunned visitors Brazil in Asuncion in their South American World Cup qualifier last night.

JUSTICE Minister Brian Lenihan recently stated that the Government would not become complacent about killings in the face of gangland crimes, but would redouble efforts to deal with drugs and the abuse of alcohol which were the cause of many of the problems.

CORK’S reputation as a Munster rugby fortress crumbled last night as Leinster ended their 22-year hoodoo on Rebel territory.

ITALY’S World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro has been named European Footballer of the Year.

ALEX FERGUSON backed Cristiano Ronaldo in his condemnation of Gareth Southgate’s cheating allegations and insisted the Manchester United winger did not dive to win a penalty at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

ROB ANDREW called into question the future of summer tours in the year of a World Cup after England yesterday named a squad missing a staggering 41 players for the two-Test trip to South Africa.

ITALIAN club Perugia is courting the star of Sweden’s World Cup women’s football team Victoria Svensson apparently to play in the Serie A.

Ireland began their World Cup preparations with a five-wicket defeat to Sydney grade club Randwick Petersham.

Despite being branded a jinx for the football teams he backs, Mick Jagger is refusing to take the blame for Brazil’s World Cup thrashing on Tuesday, which he watched live in Belo Horizonte.

Sports stars, politicians, pundits and broadcasters joined forces to wish the Irish women's rugby team good luck in the World Cup.