Rugby
New Zealand made it a double victory in the Rugby Sevens in Sydney on Sunday, winning both the men's and the women's tournaments to top the overall standings.
Scotland coach Gregor Townsend will hand a Test debut to Glasgow centre Sam Johnson for the Six Nations opener at home to Italy on Saturday.
The opening match will be between Egypt and Iraq.
The New South Wales Waratahs will take their Super Rugby game against the Auckland Blues to the heart of rival code rugby league after a clash of dates at their regular home ground.
The 29-year-old, who played his last Brumbies match in July 2016, had his return from a year-long sabbatical delayed after picking up a knee injury in January.
Ulster flyhalf Jackson, 26, was also found not guilty on a separate charge of sexual assault.
Heaslip, who won 95 caps for Ireland and captained the national team 13 times, has struggled to recover from a back injury he suffered last year.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt on Thursday named the team to face Wales in the Six Nations at the Aviva Stadium.
England prop Joe Marler was banned for six weeks on Tuesday, ruling him out of their opening two Six Nations games against Italy and Wales
England wing Elliot Daly and back row Nathan Hughes will miss the start of the Six Nations campaign.
New Zealand-born centre Hadleigh Parkes scored twice on his test debut for Wales as they held off South Africa to emerge 24-22 victors
An first-half try to Boyd Cordner and desperate defence helped Australia win their 11th rugby league World Cup title with a 6-0 victory over England in a bruising final at Lang Park on Saturday.
South Africa have handed number eight Dan du Preez and winger Warrick Gelant first starts but will be without experienced prop Tendai Mtawarira for Saturday’s.
New Zealand flyhalf Beauden Barrett joined an elite trio of All Black greats when he was named World Rugby Player of the Year .
Blake Enever will make his debut for Australia against England at Twickenham on Saturday after lock Adam Coleman failed to recover from a thumb injury.
Codie Taylor was drafted in to replace an injured Dane Coles as New Zealand made only one change to their line-up as they look to preserve their 112-year-old.
France will host the 2023 Rugby World Cup after the Council of the sport's governing body went against the recommendations of an extensive evaluation report.
The national team of Rugby Sevens won the silver medal of the Arab Championship held in Jordan in October.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen named the following side on Thursday to play Argentina in their Rugby Championship.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen named the following side on Thursday to play Argentina in their Rugby Championship.
