South Africa launched the defence of their Rugby World Cup crown with an 18-3 triumph against Scotland at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille.

D opener.Competition is due to resume on Thursday (September 14) with a Pool A match between hosts France

Japan dominated proceedings during the finals of the Karate 1-Premier League event in Dublin in Ireland.

Male Kumite under-75kg category went to Hasan Masarweh of Jordan after his opponent Enzo Berthon of France

Romania claimed two gold medals on the final day of the World Rowing Championships in Belgrade as The Netherlands added two further titles to cement their place at the top of the overall standings.

Kristina Wagner and Sophia Vitas placed third in 6:50.45.They qualified boats for the Olympics along with France

came home in 6:13.41.The other Olympic qualifiers are Italy, China, Spain, Romania, Germany, Norway, France

clocked 10:07.70 for silver.Ukraine’s Anna Sheremet completed the podium in 10:10.31, while Israel, France

Beatrice Chepkoech concluded the final World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting of the season in Zagreb by shattering the world best for the women’s 2,000 metres steeplechase with a time of 5min 47.42sec.

victory in 13.10 from Daniel Roberts of the United States, who clocked 13.15 and Wilhem Belocian of France

Portugal’s Rui Costa emerged victorious from stage 15 of the Vuelta a España while Sepp Kuss of the United States continues to lead the overall standings going into the final week.

rider rolled back the years to win in 3hr 30min 56sec - 10 years after winning a stage at the Tour de France

World Rugby says it is taking steps to improve access to the Stade Vélodrome after fans faced major delays and congestion entering the Paris 2024 venue, prior to the men's Rugby World Cup clash between England and Argentina.

before kick-off with thousands of fans queuing on steps outside ground to get inside.World Rugby and France

The France 2023 Organising Committee can confirm that it is taking steps to improve access to Stade de

World Cup and Paris 2024 after the chaos of last year's UEFA Champions League final at the Stade de France

independent report commissioned by UEFA found "it is remarkable no one lost their life".The Stade de France

Picture Gallery

beaten by England ©Getty ImagesAustralia and Georgia played out a physical encounter at the Stade de France

George Ford produced a kicking masterclass as he guided 14-man England to a 27-10 victory over Argentina in their Rugby World Cup opener in Marseille.

handling of last year’s UEFA Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France

Saint-Étienne.Full-back Ben Donaldson registered 25 points in Australia’s 35-15 triumph against Georgia at the Stade de France

Irina Zaretska and Elena Quirici are set to go head-to-head to crown the new Grand Winner of the Female Kumite under-68 kilograms division at the Karate 1-Premier League event in Dublin.

meet European champion Quirici of Switzerland who edged through a semi-final against Alizee Agier of France

Britain captured five gold medals on an impressive day at the World Rowing Championships in Belgrade where further boats sealed spots at next year’s Olympics and Paralympics in Paris.

event.A new United States crew came second in 6:06.37 with New Zealand earning bronze in 6:08.44, while France

New data has revealed that global participation in rugby union is on the rise as France stages the 10th

trial in the community game.World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont believes the Rugby World Cup in France

to the sport in their millions or taking it up for the first time ahead of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France

Belgium's Arnaud De Lie won his first International Cycling Union (UCI) World Tour event with a sprint victory in the one-day Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec in Canada.

fifth.Britain's Adam Yates of UAE Team Emirates, third in the general classification on this year's Tour de France

New Zealand have sealed a place at Paris 2024 by overpowering ten-player Fiji 9-0 in the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Men's Olympic Qualifier in Auckland.

Cups.Football at Paris 2024 is due to be played at venues in seven cities in France.New Zealand joins hosts France

Hosts France got their Rugby World Cup campaign off to the perfect start with a 27-13 victory over three-time

from Damian Penaud and Melvyn Jaminet as well as 17 points from boot of full-back Thomas Ramos saw France

💪#UnisPourUnRêve #FRAvNZL #XVdeFrance #NeFaisonsXV #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/4HPBpfmfKW— France

from Ramos to edge 6-5 ahead on the 20-minute mark.Richie Mo’unga and Ramos then traded penalties as France

held a 9-8 lead at half-time.Like the start of the match, France were caught napping at the beginning

The fact is they had won all of their 31 [previous] pool games," said France coach Fabien Galthié in

Ukrainian Olympic silver medallist Anzhelika Terliuga was among the athletes who sealed a place in the finals at the last Karate 1-Premier League event of the year in Ireland's capital Dublin.

number one seed Abdullah Shaaban of Jordan 3-1 to reach the kumite under-60kg final.Rayyan Meziane of France

the draw with an 8-0 win against Italy's Luca Maresca.Hasan Masarweh of Jordan and Enzo Berthon of France