Ireland

The Walt Disney-owned US free-to-air network ABC has renewed its TV rights deal for the British Open golf tournament.

Hopes for a Scottish-Irish bid for the 2008 European Championships were slim yesterday after the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in Ireland refused to amend a rule that bars football teams from its stadiums.

The decision on whether the 2003 Rugby World Cup will be hosted by Australia or co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand has been delayed until tomorrow when the International Rugby Board announces its preferred choice after a council meeting in Dublin.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced a number of major new appointments to its Dublin-based executive team.

Octagon CSI - the television arm of the global sports marketing agency - has signed a TV rights agreement with the Japan Football Association.

Satellite broadcaster BSkyB has decided not to bid for the rights to England's home Six Nations tournament matches, leaving the way open for UK public broadcaster the BBC to show all Six Nations matches from 2003.

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has finalised its plans to host all 48 matches of next year's Rugby World Cup.

Ireland's capital Dublin is set to join ice hockey's Superleague in three years time.

Australian Rugby Union (ARU) managing director John O'Neill has flown back to Britain for another meeting with World Cup officials to further discuss the ongoing issue of joint hosting the event with New Zealand.

The Scotland and Ireland Euro 2008 bid team have appointed Craigie Taylor International and their Scotland based associates RiversGani Communications to manage their International media relations campaign.

David Will, the non-elected FIFA vice-president, looks set to face a challenge for his 'British' seat on soccer's governing body.

Athletics' governing body the IAAF is set to discuss the first step in reviving London as a host of major sporting events today - despite the humiliation the city suffered in its inability to host the 2005 World Championship.

New Zealand rugby officials say they had approached the International Rugby Board (IRB) with a plan to resolve the hosting of next year's Rugby World Cup.

Internet service provider Yahoo! UK & Ireland and online sports content provider Sportev have both agreed to provide users of Yahoo! with direct access to rugby union webcasts.

New Zealand rugby officials are still holding out hope of co-hosting the 2003 World Cup with Australia but admit that obstacles to their role in the tournament remain.

Australian officials, desperate to avoid the 2003 World Cup being moved to the northern hemisphere, have met with International Rugby Board chairman Vernon Pugh to discuss their plans to host the tournament.