THOSE of a nervous disposition should probably avoid Cork’s Musgrave Park this evening as the leading Irish rugby stars are set to rejoin battle in an eagerly awaited match between Munster and Leinster.

Yokohama F Marinos have confirmed they are interested in taking Celtic’s Shunsuke Nakamura back to Japan.

Northern Ireland boss Lawrie Sanchez is determined to use his side’s shock World Cup defeat of England to mount a serious challenge for qualification for the 2008 European Championships.

England rugby star Jonny Wilkinson was undergoing a scan today on an injury which could have been inflicted during the World Cup final.

Tom Rees has been tipped as a potential England great as he prepares to make his delayed pre-World Cup arrival on Saturday.

Germany’s jubilation at their historic 7-1 World Cup semi-final win over Brazil was kept in check by the realisation that their ambitions will be unfulfilled if they do not triumph in Sunday’s final.

Newly-appointed Ireland coach Declan Kidney has hinted he may take the captaincy away from Brian O’Driscoll.

JUVENTUS defender Lilian Thuram looks set to follow Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makelele in coming out of international retirement after receiving a call-up from the French football federation for the friendly against the Ivory Coast on August 17.

South Africa flanker Schalk Burger wants his team-mates to “keep it simple” when they take on England in the World Cup final tonight.

Irish show jumpers drove to victory across Europe at the weekend, with Jessica Kurten in the driving seat when claiming a €40,000 Subaru car in the grand prix in Odense, Copenhagen.

The England women’s football team were disappointed at a decision to exclude them from playing in the next Olympics but were determined not to let it spoil their upcoming World Cup campaign, coach Hope Powell said today.

Brian Kerr has urged Republic of Ireland fans to be “realistic” about their hopes of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.

United States coach Bruce Arena described it as a ‘‘great day for US soccer’’ after his side reached the last eight of the World Cup for the first time in 72 years.

Roy Keane shrugged off his ‘‘personal problems’’ and trained with the rest of his Ireland team-mates in Saipan this morning.

IN the current lull that marks the final countdown before the frenzy of the Rugby World Cup kick off, the media has been scraping the story barrel, scrounging around for stories of the off-the-ball — or off-the-wall — variety.

England’s new director of elite rugby Rob Andrew warned today that Andy Robinson’s job as head coach is not guaranteed through to next year’s World Cup.

ROB ANDREW admitted England had “rewritten the rules” after reaching the World Cup final despite three years of upheaval and just 10 months of dedicated planning.