Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier embarked on the club’s UEFA Cup campaign feeling able to rest senior stars who had slight injuries, with vital league games against Charlton and Arsenal coming up.

In the continuing saga of the Ryder Cup eligibility controversy, Jesper Parnevik has rejoined the European Tour and can now win a fourth cap in Detroit this September.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has offered Croatian international star Milan Rapaic the chance to win a dream move to Parkhead after inviting him to train with them this 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.

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.

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.

WORLD CUP-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro has paid a glowing tribute to Marcello Lippi, who yesterday made an “irrevocable” decision to step down as coach of Italy.

The perspective of a Romanian rugby fan might not be easy to understand for an Irishman. 

The injury that rules Tommy O’Donnell out of the World Cup

Captain Trent Johnston has challenged Ireland’s new generation to finally come of age when they step out against international heavyweights India tomorrow.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan and his team flew out of Australia contemplating a World Cup which he believes represents a fundamental shift in the way Irish rugby is played and perceived.

Roy Keane has sensationally agreed to play for the Republic of Ireland again.

DAVID BECKHAM is like a "kid with a new toy" as he aims to make the most of his World Cup reprieve by proving himself on the biggest stage of all, England assistant coach Steve McClaren has revealed.

Uruguay captain Diego Godin bristled at the suggestion that his team might resort to a physical approach to neutralise Egypt forward Mohamed Salah on his return from a shoulder injury in their World Cup opener today.

MANY of golf’s finest are snubbing this week’s World Cup at Sandy Lane in Barbados.

There was less than a minute gone at the UCD Bowl when England centre Megan Jones shrugged off a poor excuse of a tackle and crossed the Spanish line for the first score of the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

DERBY hero Workforce is far from certain to return to Epsom for the Investec Coronation Cup in June.

The former Manchester City boss is said to have agreed a two-year deal to take charge of the Azzuri.