There may not be any Irish teams running out in Cardiff later today, but Ireland will be represented by referee Alain Rolland and assistant referee George Clancy in the 19th Heineken Cup final.

Frankie Dettori led the Rest of the World team to a convincing 138-102 victory over Great Britain & Ireland in the Shergar Cup at Ascot .

The Republic of Ireland have received a boost ahead of Saturday's World Cup qualifier, as the latest FIFA World rankings see them up two places to 14th - their highest position since June.

Ashley Cole’s lawyer today denied gay sex allegations and said it was “disgraceful” the England star should face such “insinuation and innuendo” before his wedding to Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Tweedy.

France coach Roger Lemerre conceded his star-studded Les Bleus had only themselves to blame after they failed to clear the first hurdle of the World Cup’s group stage.

England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has played down concerns over his fitness and says he will be ready for the tourists’ first Test against Australia in Perth a week on Saturday.

African football chief Issa Hayatou insists the continent’s football decision-makers are yet to decide whether they will be challenging Sepp Blatter’s 12-year reign as FIFA president at the next elections.

The latest rugby season may still be in its infancy but thoughts turn temporarily to the 2015 World Cup for now, given it all gets underway this very day next year, when England face Fiji at Twickenham in the tournament’s opening gambit.

MARTIN JOHNSON yesterday insisted his decision to drop Jonny Wilkinson does not signal the beginning of the end for England’s World Cup-winning fly-half.

GETTING dropped was a new experience for Luke Fitzgerald last season and it’s not one he wants to repeat.

JAPAN’S first World Cup win in 45 years could provide the inspiration for a new generation of players in the country, Shigeki Maruyama believes.

Robbie Keane is convinced the Republic of Ireland can beat Italy and book their own trip to South Africa 2010 via World Cup qualifying Group Eight at the reigning champions' expense.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has named Holland, Australia and the United States as the trio he would like England to avoid in this evening’s World Cup draw.

West Ham manager Alan Pardew believes the Football Association stooped to an all-time low when they appointed Sven-Goran Eriksson as England manager.

Returning Scotland lock Stuart Grimes admits he was far more concerned about regaining his place in Ian McGeechan’s World Cup plans than winning a 50th cap.

Steve McClaren is confident that England skipper David Beckham is ‘‘well on course’’ to play in Sunday’s World Cup opener with Sweden after he came through a second training session in 24 hours with no adverse reaction.

England defender Danny Mills believes the ‘‘wounded animal’’ of Nigeria and not the heat could shatter their World Cup dream.

Wales’ RBS 6 Nations title push has been given a boost with World Cup lock Luke Charteris in the selection mix for next Saturday’s Millennium Stadium clash against Italy.

South African World Cup winner Japie Mulder has retired from rugby because of a neck injury.