ENGLISH and French clubs will play in next season’s European Cup and Challenge Cup, tournament organisers ERC confirmed yesterday following a meeting at Twickenham between all stakeholders.

Danish defender Andreas Bjelland has promised that the visitors will not lack for fight if tomorrow's World Cup play-off second leg against the Republic of Ireland boils down to the final minutes or extra-time, writes Brendan O’Brien.

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has urged his players and his country to move on from their devastating World Cup semi-final defeat to Germany.

Italy will unveil a vastly-changed line-up when they take on Russia in Ireland's Group C of the Rugby World Cup tomorrow, with only three players retained from the 32-6 mauling at the hands of Australia.

Italy coach Nick Mallett believes Ireland are capable of reaching the World Cup final, asking: “Where is their weakness?”

JP Duminy's valiant 99 helped South Africa battle through a top-half batting failure against Ireland's disciplined bowling to reach 272 for seven in their World Cup Group B game at Kolkata today.

France captain Patrice Evra has revealed an enquiry is to be opened by the French government into Les Bleus’ disastrous World Cup campaign.

Radomir Antic dedicated his side’s stunning World Cup victory over Germany to the Serbian people as Group D was blown wide open.

Diego Maradona will demand his players give everything for Argentina in Cape Town this afternoon.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels England were "killed by their own impatience" as they crashed out of the World Cup to Germany in Bloemfontein.

John Terry has revealed the hamstring injury that will see him miss the start of England’s European Championship qualifying campaign dates all the way back to the World Cup.

FIFA will consider scrapping extra time at World Cups or reviving the ’golden goal’ rule, the organisation’s president Sepp Blatter has announced.

Spain surged into a two-stroke lead at the top of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup leaderboard midway through second round foursomes today.

Uncapped Newcastle scrum-half Lee Dickson has been called into the England training squad preparing for next Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against Italy in Rome.

Kevin Kilbane has called on Ireland’s veterans to stay on and help the Boys in Green reach the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

UTV, which owns Cork’s 96FM, saw revenue at its Irish radio division fall 4% in the first six months of the year to £11 million (€12.4m).

AUSTRALIA’S top players may be given a role in choosing who replaces Eddie Jones as Wallabies coach but a decision is not expected until next year.