Rival coaches Eddie Jones and Michael Cheika have both sprung selection surprises heading into a “do or die” World Cup quarter-final between England and Australia but there are sound reasons behind their dramatic decisions.

Defending world champions New Zealand are ready to conquer their quarter-final nerves and seize the slightest opportunity when they take on Ireland tomorrow (19), a side that has beaten them twice in their last three meetings.

Having reached the top four, along with Royal College, Maris Stella College and Jaffna Central College, Gateway completed a very successful season by winning the All-Island (Jathika Pasal) Under-20 Schools Basketball Championship that was organised b

Minister of Sports Harin Fernando yesterday (17) approved the 16-member squad led by Lasith Malinga for Sri Lanka’s forthcoming three-match T20I series against Australia.

The 18th annual Ananda-Nalanda hockey encounter will take place on Saturday (October 19) at the Astro Turf Intentional Hockey Ground in Reid Avenue from 3:30 pm onwards.

The 93rd Men & Women Clifford Cup Boxing Championship concluded at the Royal College MAS Arena boxing ring with Army BC regained the men’s title after a lapse of eight years, while MAS Unichela BC retained the women’s title.

Lebanon defeated Sri Lanka 3-0 in their FIFA World Cup Qualifier worked off at the Racecourse Grounds in Reid Avenue yesterday (15).

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not willing to bear the expenses of hosting another home series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and wants Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to share the financial burden if it decides not to tour Pakistan for the two-Test

Former Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Thilanga Sumathipala was formally banned from holding any position at SLC following a directive issued by Sports Minister Harin Fernando, based on the findings and recommendations made by a three-member commit

Tonga gave captain Siale Piutau a parting gift of a first victory of the Rugby World Cup with a 31-19 win over the United States on Sunday that left the Eagles pointless at the end of their campaign.

Wales set up a Rugby World Cup quarter-final with Six Nations rivals France as they topped Pool ’D’ with a far-from-perfect 35-13 win over minnows Uruguay today (13). A largely second-string Welsh side committed a slew of handling errors and forw

The Rugby World Cup Pool ’B’ match between Namibia and Canada which was scheduled to be contested later on Sunday in Kamaishi has been cancelled because of the destruction caused by Typhoon Hagibis, World Rugby said.

Japan’s “Ferraris” hit top gear Sunday as the hosts beat Scotland 28-21 in a barnstorming Rugby World Cup clash to create history by reaching the quarter-finals.

Ireland skipper Rory Best is taking a philosophical approach to Saturday’s critical clash with Samoa, keeping calm as Typhoon Hagibis wreaks havoc on the Rugby World Cup schedule.

Australia fine-tuned preparations for a likely Rugby World Cup quarter-final against England with a hard-fought, error-strewn 27-8 Pool D victory over Georgia at Shizuoka today (11).

Renowned international athletics coach Tonie Campbell promised to unearth and develop Sri Lanka’s next Olympic medal prospect, along with his former protégé Susanthika Jayasinghe and the National Olympic Committee (NOC).

With the emergence of the likes of Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Osadha Fernando and Minod Bhanuka, National Selectors are spoilt for choice in preparation for next year’s ICC World T20, Chief Selector Ashantha de Mel said yesterday, adding that only a handfu

Escaping an incoming super typhoon, Australia will warm up for the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals with a last Pool ’D’ outing tomorrow (11) against “tough” Georgia.

Sri Lanka lost to India 3-1 in the finals of the mixed team event at the South Asian Under-21 Regional Badminton Championships which is taking place in Addu City, Maldives.

Fly-half Nicolas Sanchez showed Argentina what they had been missing with a masterful first-half performance today (09), as the eliminated Pumas restored some pride with a 47-17 win against the United States at the Rugby World Cup.

Scotland will play Japan for a spot in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals after a 26-point haul from Adam Hastings helped them to a nine-try, 61-0 thrashing of Russia today (09).

Winger Josh Adams grabbed a hat-trick of tries as a battered and bruised Wales battled to a 29-17 bonus-point win over Fiji on Wednesday to book their place in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.

Newcomer Bhanuka Rajapaksa hit a whirlwind half-century while Nuwan Pradeep and Wanindu Hasaranga recorded career-best bowling figures as Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 35 runs in the second Twenty20 international in Lahore on Monday.

South Africa face one final hurdle in their bid for a Rugby World Cup quarter-final place but seem certain to brush aside the challenge of minnows Canada when the teams meet in a Pool ‘B’ encounter at the Kobe Stadium tomorrow (8).

France qualified for the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals today (6) with a nailbiting 23-21 win against Tonga that sets up a winner-takes-all clash with England to top Pool ’C’. First-half tries by Virimi Vakatawa and man-of-the-match Alivereti Rak

An experimental New Zealand side recovered from a sticky start and two yellow cards to hammer Namibia 71-9 and move one step closer to finishing top of their pool at the Rugby World Cup today (6).

South Africa ramped up the physicality to crush an Italy side reduced to 14 men for most of the second half 49-3 today (4), moving above the Italians and New Zealand to the top of Rugby World Cup Pool ’B’ in the process.

Ireland began to put their World Cup back on track after the shock loss to Japan but it took them over an hour to secure a bonus point and strengthen their quarter-final chances in an unconvincing 35-0 win over a stubborn Russia on Thursday.

Fiji finally found their feet at the Rugby World Cup with a dominant 45-10 victory over Georgia on Thursday as their jet-heeled backs tore their Pool D rivals apart in a seven-try rout at a rain-drenched Hanazono Rugby Stadium.

It is a game Ireland dare not lose and one in a sense they cannot ’win’ when they try to revive their Rugby World Cup campaign against Russia tomorrow (03).