Australia

England?s Rugby Football Union has refuted comments allegedly made by them that England?s Six Nations squad could be banned from international competition for life if they persist with their new contracts.

The 2004 Athens Olympic Games has exceeded combined national and international sponsorship targets, amassing more than $430 million, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Thursday.

Rugby union chiefs are threatening to ban England's top players from international competition unless they rip up an agreement signed with the country's leading clubs this week, the Daily Mail reported on Friday.

Sydney-based clothing manufacturer Classic Sportswear has signed a major kit deal with Great Britain?s Rugby Football League.

The Australian Sports Commission has appointed Michael Scott as new director of the Australian Institute of Sports.

The official website of the Australian Football League ? AFL.com.au, has been re-launched with a new look for the 2001 season.

Organisers of next year?s Commonwealth Games in Manchester have denied the event is in financial trouble.

Australia's Victorian Major Events is reported to have offered a $1.2 million (US$600,000) "sweetener" to ensure that if Australia's soccer team makes it to the final phase of the World Cup qualifying campaign, the decisive match will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Australian Swimming has launched a plan to lift the sport?s everyday profile.

Consulting firm, Sinclair Knight Merz is to design a suspended roof at the Rangiri Dambulu International Cricket Stadium, in Sri Lanka.

The toe-dipping around the Olympic pool is set to stop and the serious contenders are preparing to dive into the race for world sport's most powerful job - the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidency.

Foxtel's Fox Sports operations in Australia is beginning to pose problems for free-to-air rivals.

A call by Australian tour veteran, Jan Stephenson, for more support of women?s golf in Australia from American sponsors to boost prize money and promote the sport has received support from Australian golf authories.

South Korean soccer fans have applied for more than one million tickets for the 2002 World Cup finals, four times the number of seats offered in the first round of sales, organisers said on Thursday.

The opening match of this year's British and Irish Lions rugby tour of Australia has been brought forward by a day.

Australia's world champion Wallabies are planning an extensive end-of-season tour of Canada and Europe to prepare their defence of the World Cup in 2003.