VUVUZELA horns will continue to drone on at World Cup matches despite warnings from experts that they can cause permanent hearing damage.

The eyes of the country will be on the rugby match in Cardiff this afternoon. It is more than 60 years since Ireland won its only grand slam, and this would be our first in the Six Nations Championship.

A FIERCE wind drove coarse, dirty sand across the Freedom Park township in Cape Town throughout the weekend, caking a layer of grime over skin, clogging ears and turned the snot in your nose jet black.

THE BBC have unveiled a shortlist of 10 sportsmen and women who are in contention for the Sports Personality of the Year award — including Irish golfer Darren Clarke.

An estimated 300 people are living in modern day slavery in Ireland, according to a new global report on the issue.

Man of the match O'Brien admitted he could not believe his feat after Ireland pulled off a stunning three-wicket win over England in Bangalore today.

Fifa will allow the public to vote in a rebranded version of its player of the year of the award, world soccer’s governing body said yesterday.

An estimated 300 people are living in modern-day slavery in Ireland, according to a global report on the issue.

LIKE many torn reputations that emerged from the car-wreck of the Rugby World Cup, Andrew Trimble’s was one in need of some repair.

England’s build-up to their World Cup semi-final against New Zealand took a theatrical turn yesterday after Eddie Jones claimed that their training session was spied upon.

KEITH ANDREWS has admitted the Republic of Ireland’s hopes of clinching automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup are all but over but insists Giovanni Trapattoni’s side can still reach South Africa via the play-offs.

TOTTENHAM striker Robbie Keane hopes his namesake Roy will be back in the Republic of Ireland fold in time for their next Euro 2004 qualifier against Georgia in March.

ENGLAND headed for Melbourne last night with their World Cup campaign gathering huge momentum, and red rose supreme Clive Woodward declaring: “I think we are going to get better and better.”

CLIVE WOODWARD last night urged rugby chiefs to hand England's £10,000 World Cup fine to cash-strapped Samoa.

New Zealand back-row colossus Kieran Read has targeted an improvement from the All Blacks at next year’s World Cup.

Jonathan Davies believes mental toughness must be prominent in Wales’ armoury if they are to emerge from the so-called World Cup pool of death.

With France, it’s always about the known unknowns.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan believes the Pacific Islands hold the key to establishing a more competitive World Cup.