Australia

Following its meeting in Madrid, soccer governing body FIFA has granted the winning team from the Oceania qualifying group a direct route into the 2006 World Cup Finals.

The New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) has looked outside of rugby circles in appointing Chris Moller as its new chief executive.

The winter edition of Australia's Sweeney Sports Report has been published with swimming heading the list of most popular sports and Uncle Tobys winning the race for the highest sponsorship recall.

Wisden.com, in conjunction with technology firm Sportev, is targeting the North American market with interactive coverage of the current one-day series between Australia, England and Sri Lanka.

Gary Burns, the head of sport at Australia's Nine Network, is leaving the free-to-air broadcaster after 10 years.

Cricket governing body the ICC is set to unveil its findings following its recent trip to Zimbabwe which will confirm whether or not the country will host part of the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has approved three new national members to its ranks.

Remo Nogarotto has been appointed as the new chairman of Soccer Australia following the resignation of former incumbent Ian Knop.

The troubled board of Soccer Australia will meet tomorrow to vote in a replacement for the departed chairman, Ian Knop (pictured).

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has confirmed Germany and Spain are to host the next Men's and Women's World Cups in 2006.

The Bauer Partnership has signed a binding letter of intent to acquire the issued and outstanding shares of Wimbledon Unreal Grass Pty. Ltd - the Australian private company which specialises in synthetic grass.

World motorsport governing body the FIA has rejected Arrows' application to race in next year's Formula One World Championship.

Sportsworld has been appointed an official tour operator for the Rugby World Cup 2003 in Australia.

UK public free-to-air broadcaster the BBC has renewed the TV rights to tennis' Davis Cup for a further four years.

Following the mass resignation of its primary management team, the remaining members of Soccer Australia's executive board have moved to dismiss concerns over the governing body's future.

Australian rights agency and consultancy Sporting Frontiers has undergone a rebranding, becoming Frontiers Group Australasia.