Two construction workers died when a giant crane came crashing to the ground at the stadium due to stage the opening match at next summer’s World Cup.

SOUTH AFRICAN police used pepper spray to stop scuffles and a pensioner died in a queue as thousands of fans rushed to buy 500,000 World Cup tickets being sold over the counter for the first time yesterday.

ASK Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll for an insight into France’s outside-centre Tony Marsh, and the initial response may leave you a trifle underwhelmed.

South Africa are preparing to unleash electric-fast flying winger Sibusiso Zuma on the World Cup this summer.

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.

The candidates to succeed Ireland and Joe Schmidt as World Rugby Team and Coach of the Year have been announced.

When Ireland begin their ICC World T20 campaign against Oman on March 9, there may be just a handful of “Blarney Army” supporters in the 23,000-capacity cricket stadium in the Indian city of Dharamsala.

Former captain Rio Ferdinand accepts a “naive” England did not deserve to stay in the World Cup, but is confident the young squad will grow stronger from the disappointment of Brazil 2014.

SITTING in the bowels of the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, Gareth Thomas’ voice cracked with raw emotion as he surveyed the smouldering wreckage of Wales’ World Cup campaign.

Argentina defender Pablo Zabaleta would love nothing more than to win the World Cup in the spiritual home of Brazilian football.

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.

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.