Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts became Volvo World Match Play champion today, beating Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell in the final at a windsept Finca Cortesin in Spain.

The All Blacks had held the top spot for close to a decade, from November 2009 until this month.

ENGLAND’S new interim head coach Stuart Lancaster admitted his first job will be to “get the culture right” in the wake of the country’s World Cup fiasco.

THE Republic of Ireland, with 714 points, have stayed in 14th place in the latest FIFA rankings.

Robbie Williams has injected a little sporting passion into his European tour dates by hosting a soccer match at every city he plays in honour of the game's World Cup.

Football Association chief executive Alex Horne insists he will push for reform in the World Cup bidding process.

Ivory Coast became the second African nation to qualify for the 2010 World Cup tonight after a second-half strike from Chelsea star Didier Drogba earned them the point they needed to secure their place in South Africa.

Referees for this season’s RBS 6 Nations championship have been told to carry on their emphasis on the International Rugby Board’s five main areas of concern outlined before the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Munster have called David Wallace into their 41-man Heineken Cup squad for their quarter-final clash with Ulster.

ENGLAND and Lions star Josh Lewsey is set to make his first appearance of the season when Wasps tackle Powergen Cup opponents London Irish tomorrow.

Padraig Harrington has picked up two places in golf's world rankings, which are still being led by Vijay Singh. Sixth place marks a career-high for the Irish Ryder Cup hero.

THE Republic of Ireland remain unchanged in 38th place in the latest FIFA rankings.

Continent heads a field of 28 for Saturday’s totesport Ayr Gold Cup.

France and Portugal have not been named among the eight top seeds for next summer’s World Cup.

Former All Black Zinzan Brooke has warned that France will aim to peak for their crunch World Cup pool match with Ireland next month.

Wales coach Steve Hansen believes high public expectation of his team is warranted as they prepare for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against Scotland.

England World Cup winner and former captain Lewis Moody has retired from rugby with immediate effect.

England had to reshuffle their pack last night after suffering an injury blow ahead of the World Cup warm-up clash with France on Saturday.

Protesters and Brazilian police have clashed in Sao Paulo, just hours before the first World Cup match was to be played in the city.