Injured Israel Folau misses out on Tonga World Cup squad
Tonga will be without Israel Folau for the Rugby World Cup after the former Australia international was ruled out of the tournament due to injury.
Ireland Sport News
Marco Riccioni and Stephen Varney named in Italy squad
Prop Marco Riccioni and scrum-half Stephen Varney are both included in Italy's 33-man squad for next month's Rugby World Cup, despite suffering injuries against Ireland in their recent warm-up game.
Deputy out-half picture no clearer for Andy Farrell as Ross Byrne and Jack Crowley vie for position
Andy Farrell may have hoped to get more clarity on who is his back-up out-half, but Ross Byrne's outing against England is unlikely to have swayed the head coach one way or the other.
Italy World Cup squad includes Capuozzo, Riccioni, Varney
Prop Marco Riccioni and scrum-half Stephen Varney are both included in Italy's 33-man squad named on Tuesday for next month's World Cup, despite suffering injuries against Ireland in their recent warm-up game.
England stars Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola face disciplinary hearings
England’s Rugby World Cup ambitions could be badly dented later today, with two key players facing sanctions that may rule them out of the opening weeks of the tournament. Both Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola are staring at suspensions after being sent off in England’s last two warm-up tests. Vunipola goes before an independent disciplinary hearing over a dangerous tackle against Ireland at the weekend. Any potential sanction could be announced straight after the hearing or on Wednesday, leaving England to sweat over the fate of the only true number eight named in their 33-man squad for the tournament, which kicks off on 8 September. Farrell received a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Wales loose forward Taine Basham, which was later upgraded to a red during the match on review. A Six Nations Rugby independent judicial committee reduced it back to a yellow but World Rugby has appealed the surprise decision. It means the England captain faces an independent disciplinary panel for the second time in a week, amid widespread criticism of the initial decision on one hand and condemnation of the coverage of the case on the other. World Rugby’s appeal is also being heard today but again with no date or time given for the announcement of the decision.
Owen Farrell ban hearing live updates as England captain learns World Cup fate after red card
The Owen Farrell red card saga appears to finally be approaching a conclusion.
Billy Vunipola ban hearing live updates as England No. 8 discovers punishment for World Cup after red card
Billy Vunipola is set to discover whether he will miss the start of England's World Cup campaign later today.
FAI Cup quarter-final draw set to take place today
The draw for the quarter-finals of the Sports Direct FAI Cup will take place this afternoon.