Eddie O’Sullivan admitted he was hugely relieved to have achieved his goal of reaching the World Cup quarter-finals after the team’s nail-biting 16-15 win over Argentina in Adelaide.

Jonny Wilkinson has been named as new captain of the England rugby team.

Jason Leonard will equal international rugby’s world cap record when he lines up for England against Wales on Sunday.

BLACKBURN defender John Curtis admits that the Ewood Park club will have to fight hard to keep hold of his Republic of Ireland teammate Damien Duff following his impressive World Cup display.

By Mark Bradley

Sven-Goran Eriksson believes a World Cup quarter-final clash with Brazil would be ‘‘tricky’’, and has dismissed suggestions that the South Americans have a dodgy defence.

Mark Kinsella is confident the Republic of Ireland will re-write the history books on Tuesday by scoring two goals in a World Cup match for the first time.

Ireland take a nil all draw into the dressingroom at half time in their crucial World Cup Qualifier against Holland.

Martin Johnson believes the World Cup would become devalued if England and France joined rugby union’s three southern hemisphere heavyweights to contest an annual tournament.

The hut of thatch walls was as rickety and windblown as any other in Zamzam Camp for refugees on the sand dunes of western Sudan, but dozens of men and boys squeezed inside to watch the TV broadcasts of the World Cup.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is assessing nine offers from companies seeking to buy the commercial and broadcasting rights for a new club competition he hopes will become the most lucrative in world football, usurping Europe’s Champions League.

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 .

Ireland’s men begin their 2018 World Cup qualification journey with a new-look panel charged with winning World League 2 in Belfast over the coming week.

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.

Bacary Sagna will be leaving Arsenal “for sure”, the defenders has told reporters in France.

Tottenham have agreed a €20m deal to sign midfielder Paulinho from Corinthians, according to the Brazilian club.

Louis Saha appeared in his first FA Cup final in five attempts as Everton bid for their first trophy for 14 years in their clash with Chelsea at Wembley.