Stewart Downing has brushed aside speculation linking him with a move to Tottenham by insisting he wants to stay at Middlesbrough.

Robbie Savage claims all the pressure will be on Chelsea to seal a place in the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley stadium.

Manchester United’s new forward Louis Saha claims his team-mate Ruud Van Nistelrooy is not as complete a player as his Arsenal rival Thierry Henry.

American Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin wants Tiger Woods on his team at Celtic Manor in October and says his view of him has not changed since news broke of the world number one’s infidelity.

World Cup-winning second row Bakkies Botha must join French second division club Toulon by April 1 or face the prospect of legal action.

Real Madrid have hit out at Uefa president Michel Platini for suggesting the Ballon d’Or should go to a member of Germany’s World Cup-winning squad rather than Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ireland coach Darren Smith admits there is plenty of scope for improvement as his side continue their Olympic qualification campaign with a clash with Turkey at UCD today.

World Racing Series champion jockey Frankie Dettori fears the Japanese challenge as he prepares to travel to Hong Kong for Sunday’s Audemars Piguet QEII Cup, the second leg of this year’s championship.

Paul Pogba has hit back at spectators who booed France and Denmark players before, during and after the first goalless draw of the World Cup on Tuesday.

DOUG HOWLETT hasn’t shut the door on a possible return to New Zealand at the end of this season and bid to reclaim his place in the All Blacks squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O’Neill has rated England as “absolute and deserving favourites” to win the World Cup in November and all but dismissed his own side’s chances.

Former rugby league chief Maurice Lindsay flew out to Sydney today with a mission to rebuild the international game.

THERE’S much talk of the spirit of ’88 in Stuttgart this morning but, as we indulge the ancient sport of straw-clutching, we shouldn’t forget the last time Ireland visited Germany – and came away with a win.

An earless baby bunny had his 15 minutes of fame brought to an abrupt end when he was accidentally stepped on by a television cameraman.

France 13 England 24

England back Mathew Tait has signed a new one-year contract at Newcastle Falcons, tying him to the Guinness Premiership club until 2009.

Henrik Stenson’s runaway nine-stroke victory in the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa has lifted