It is all but impossible to imagine how Dublin football manager Jim Gavin’s successor might emulate his record five-in-in-a-row All Ireland titles.

GORDON D’ARCY has undergone surgery on an ankle injury sustained in Leinster’s Heineken Cup victory over Northampton Saints in Cardiff last month.

ENGLAND World Cup hopeful Manu Tuilagi looks likely to miss the English Premiership final with Saracens after a “thuggishness” attack on Northampton winger Chris Ashton.

ENGLAND flanker James Haskell has been passed fit for selection against Ireland on Saturday.

Bolton have signed Ivory Coast defender Abdoulaye Meite from Marseille, subject to a medical and receiving international clearance.

France captain Fabien Pelous has been cited for allegedly elbowing Australia hooker Brendan Cannon during his side’s 26-16 win.

Alan Curbishley insists speculation linking him with the England job will have no impact on the way he operates at Charlton.

Ryder Cup star Henrik Stenson, Thomas Bjorn and Colombian sensation Camilo Villegas are the latest players to commit to playing in the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai next month.

Justin Rose is to rejoin the European tour in the hope of making a Ryder Cup debut in Ireland next September.

Everton boss David Moyes has pleaded with Australia coach Guus Hiddink not to use Tim Cahill in Sunday’s friendly against Jamaica at Craven Cottage.

Paul Casey might appear like a lamb to the slaughter entering the US Open at Pinehurst today.

The threat to the future of the Northern Ireland Events Company has been lifted, it was revealed today.

El-Hadji Diouf was facing magistrates today over an alleged spitting incident involving rival fans.

Brian Kerr believes the Republic of Ireland can go into the “hot” atmosphere of the Amsterdam Arena to face Holland on Saturday with plenty of confidence from their recent end-of-season friendlies.

The Spitting Image puppet of former Manchester United footballer Eric Cantona was today sold for £4,000 at an auction of footballing memorabilia.

Newport are expected to announce the signing of former New Zealand All Blacks scrum-half Junior Tonu’u today.

Taribo West has put pen to paper and agreed to stay with Derby until the end of the season.

Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf today revealed he would be happy to stay at Stamford Bridge for another season.

Jay Rodriguez faces six months on the sidelines after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament, extinguishing the Southampton attacker’s hopes of going to the World Cup.

Brazil coach Luis Felipe Scolari was less than impressed with taking only a point against Mexico as his side played out a frustrating goalless draw in Tuesday night’s World Cup Group A fixture at Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza.