WALES suffered a major injury blow yesterday when it was confirmed that number eight Ryan Jones had been ruled out of the World Cup.

FABIO CANNAVARO was proud to become the first defender to be named FIFA World Player of the Year after collecting the award at the annual gala ceremony in Zurich.

FRANCE have emerged favourites, ahead of England, to host the 2007 Rugby World Cup .

JONAH LOMU fears he faces life in a wheelchair if he does not get a kidney transplant.

CLIVE WOODWARD looks set to unveil his first post-World Cup squad today - and the identity of England’s new captain.

ARSENAL defender Sol Campbell has claimed he is likely to join Fenerbahce this summer.

He may have been left out of Ireland’s 31-man squad, but Leinster flanker Dominic Ryan has kept a close eye on the early action in the Rugby World Cup.

Tomas Cubelli insists freedom of expression will be crucial to Argentina’s chances of reaching a maiden World Cup final.

Ireland’s comprehensive 21-5 defeat to France at a rain-soaked UCD Bowl saw Tom Tierney’s side fail to qualify for the Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-finals last night.

Tonga captain Nili Latu is battling to be fit for his team’s World Cup eliminator against England in Paris on Friday night.

Brian O’Driscoll admits it will be “disastrous” if Ireland fail to crush Namibia in Sunday’s World Cup opener at the Stade Chaban-Delmas.

Ireland World Cup cricketer John Mooney hopes that his new invention will help prevent deaths like that of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes.

Ireland World Cup players John Hayes, Donncha O'Callaghan and David Wallace will start with Jerry Flannery, Marcus Horan and Denis Leamy on the bench for Munster's Magner's League trip to Glasgow.

A man and a woman were being questioned today about the gunning down of six men as they watched the World Cup in a pub in the North 12 years ago.

Italy’s Alessandro Nesta is confident he will return to play for the Azzurri again in this World Cup but will not be ready until the semi-finals.

Australia and Japan have signed an historic accord designed to promote co-operation between the two rugby football unions.

Wayne Rooney admits he was “disappointed” by Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo’s actions during the controversial World Cup semi-final between England and Portugal but has forgiven him.

Newly-appointed Blackburn manager Mark Hughes is delighted he will be allowed to remain in charge of Wales for their World Cup qualifiers against England and Poland next month.

The job of All Blacks head coach is up for grabs after New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Jock Hobbs invited applications for the role.