Ireland
Business

World rugby union chiefs have said they had no contingency plans to stage the 2003 World Cup outside Australia and New Zealand, the two countries due to co-host the event.
Business

Irish cigarette maker Gallaher Ltd has said it is withdrawing its sponsorship of the Benson and Hedges Irish Masters snooker tournament following recent government moves to ban tobacco advertising.

The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) has rejected plans for a Celtic League involving teams from Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Stadia

The Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is moving a step closer to realising his ambitions for a #200 million national sports stadium in Dublin, according to The Irish Times newspaper.

Dick McGruther, the Australian Rugby Union chairman criticised the English rugby establishment yesterday, demanding that they pull their clubs into line after three years of inertia

Famed English soccer club Manchester United Plc opened its first official retail store outside Britain on Thursday when it unveiled an outlet at Dublin airport, the club said in a statement.

Business

The European Union has urged European soccer's ruling body UEFA to stick to an EU ban on sports fixtures involving teams from Yugoslavia.
Business

Irish soccer?s League Cup has secured a new sponsorship deal with insurance firm the Co-operative Insurance Society (CIS).
How to Develop Effective Sponsorship Programmes: A new report from SportBusiness Group: Click here
Media

Ireland's three remaining Six Nations rugby union internationals have been postponed until next season because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak.
Stadia

The future of Irish soccer?s planned Eircom Park remains uncertain with the Football Association of Ireland now considering scrapping the project altogether.
Sponsorship & Marketing

Manchester United wants to increase sales from its merchandising operation abroad by transferring responsibility for its overseas stores to regional partners with local expertise.
Business

European Rugby Cup Ltd (ERC) has signed a five-year partnership deal with the Paris-based sports marketing agency Havas Advertising Sports.
Business

Lifestyle designer Kathy Ireland and Greens.com, the online specialist in providing free
Business

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.
Business

International rugby union officials are to give countries the power to cancel tours if they feel their opponents are sending sub-standard teams following controversial trips to the southern hemisphere by British teams this year.

The vice-chairman of Scottish Premier League champions, Glasgow Rangers, has resigned after reports that he sang anti-Catholic songs at a victory celebration following Rangers' defeat of Glasgow Celtic in the Scottish Cup Final.
Business

Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Bill Watson believes that media coverage of the new Celtic League can boost the Scottish game.
How to Develop Effective Sponsorship Programmes: A new report from SportBusiness Group: Click here
Business

The Wales v Ireland Six Nations rugby union match appears likely to be played next season, even though a final decision to postpone the game won't be taken until April 1.