South Africa

South African rugby boss Louis Luyt has announced he would defy a black-led demand for his head, setting the stage for another period of isolation for white South Africa's favourite sport.

The Australian Rugby Union team, the Wallabies, have a new sponsor's name emblazoned on their jerseys. Vodafone Network, which is the third Australian mobile phone group, has paid about $A7 million in a naming rights sponsor deal.

An IOC report says preliminary results indicate that the XVIII Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, were broadcast in more countries than ever before and that the global cumulative audience is likely to equal Lillehammer's record??.

South Africa's National Sports Council said on Sunday it was too soon to abandon plans to call for an international boycott of the rugby Springboks despite white rugby boss Louis Luyt's resignation.

Former Springbok captain Morne du Plessis has said he would be willing to succeed Louis Luyt as president of the South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU).

Springbok captain Gary Teichmann and the majority of South Africa's leading rugby union players have announced they were forming a players' association.

The South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) executive is set to bow to pressure and and vote themselves out of office according to Reuters.

International rugby union is again in turmoil after England announced an under strength party to tour the Southern hemisphere, leaving the Australian union fuming and sponsors concerned about the series.

South Africa's black-led National Sports Council (NSC) has rescinded its call for an international boycott of the the nation's rugby union team following the resignation of white rugby leader Louis Luyt.

Sepp Blatter's bid to become FIFA president was given a significant boost on Friday when England declared it would vote for him in Monday's election.

The UK government has removed England's home cricket international matches from the list of events that terrestrial television stations can cover freely.

Washington and Baltimore are to announce an unprecedented joint bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games, according to the Washington Post.

South Africa became the latest edition to the world motorcycle calendar when organisers said the country would host a round of the 500cc world championship next April.

Australian soccer authorities have made a formal application to host the World Cup in 2006 or 2010.

The three southern hemisphere rugby superpowers have announced they would not in future accept tours from understrength United Kingdom teams.

England's bid to host the World Cup in 2006 has not been damaged in the long term by the violence of their fans which blighted France 98, campaign director Alec McGivan said.