New Zealand

All Black legend Zinzan Brooke has called on New Zealand to pull out of the 2003 rugby World Cup after their revised plans to co-host the event were rejected by the International Rugby Board yesterday.

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) is to host the 2003 World Cup on its own after the International Rugby Board (IRB) rejected New Zealand's bid to co-host the event with its Australasian neighbour.

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 New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) has made an unreserved apology to International Rugby Board chairman Vernon Pugh for derogatory comments made during the recent Rugby World Cup hosting row.

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.

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.

Zimbabwe will be allowed to compete in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester despite strong calls for the country to be banned amid political turmoil in the African country, which has already been suspended from the Commonwealth proper.

The UK is to host the Rugby League World Cup in 2005 - the third successive time it has staged the tournament.

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.

New Zealand has tied up a TV rights deal for this summer's soccer World Cup with KirchMedia, accepting a joint bid from the country's two main broadcasters.

New Zealand rugby chiefs have denied they were under pressure to resign to help the Kiwis regain their role as co-hosts of the 2003 Rugby World Cup (RWC).

Australian Rugby Union (ARU) managing director John O'Neill (pictured) has expressed full confidence that Australia will be the sole hosts of the 2003 World Cup after its presentation to the Rugby World Cup Board (RWC) next week.

The directors of the Rugby World Cup have spoken out in support of their chairman Vernon Pugh amid criticism that he has been acting 'inappropriately' during negotiations about whether New Zealand can co-host the 2003 World Cup with Australia.

Germany has abandoned preparations to compete in yachting's most prestigious trophy, the America's Cup, next year due to a lack of sponsorship.

New Zealand's hopes of co-hosting the 2003 Rugby World Cup are still alive, the NZ government said today.

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.