JONNY WILKINSON will finally emerge from the Lions’ New Zealand den this week, and England’s celebrated World Cup winner last night declared: “It is not a chance I want to waste.”

PORTUGAL coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has named his squad for the World Cup qualifiers with Latvia and Estonia.

THE Argentinian FA have confirmed Diego Maradona as the new head coach of the national team.

NAMIBIA captain Kees Lensing has taken a dig at Ireland boss Eddie O’Sullivan by declaring France are a “better coached side”.

Ireland went into the Rugby World Cup with high hopes of at least qualifying for the semi-finals, following a strong showing in the Five Nations Championship earlier in the year, but it all ground to a disappointing end yesterday in Paris.

IRELAND will return to their Polish training camp on Saturday as they step up preparations for the nation’s most eagerly-awaited World Cup campaign.

HOLDERS Brazil remain favourites to retain the World Cup after being drawn against Croatia, Japan and Australia.

It was a dark day for Tayto crisps as the famed spud failed to get out of their group.

Russian president Vladimir Putin has accused the US of meddling in Fifa’s affairs and hinted that it was part of an attempt to take the 2018 World Cup away from his country.

Roque Santa Cruz has been ruled out of Paraguay’s World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay because of a knee injury.

Global referees’ chief Paddy O’Brien has heaped praise on Australian television match official Stuart Dickinson, insisting there is “no doubt” he was correct to disallow Mark Cueto’s try in the World Cup final.

Munster-bound New Zealand wing Doug Howlett has been reprimanded over his drunken antics in London following the All Blacks’ exit at the World Cup.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has insisted he will shake hands with Sunderland manager Roy Keane when the two clubs meet in a Coca-Cola Championship clash at Molineux on Friday evening.

Rio Ferdinand has given a ringing endorsement of Michael Owen’s importance to England’s World Cup bid and is convinced the striker will eventually become his country’s record goalscorer.

Phil Taylor is targeting his third UK Open title as the ‘FA Cup of Darts’ gets underway at Bolton's Reebok Stadium this weekend.

Sven-Goran Eriksson today insisted Wayne Rooney is “injury free” and now just needs to obtain match fitness before he plays in the World Cup.

A man and a woman questioned about the murders of six men who were shot dead as they watched the 1994 World Cup in a pub were tonight released without charge.

New Zealand assistant coach Steve Hansen has returned home from the World Cup to be with his ill mother.

A memorial service for murdered Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer will be held in South Africa today.