British & Irish Lions
• British & Irish Lions tour Australia in 2013
Ireland Rugby
More Automatic Qualifiers for Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup board members have announced an increase in automatic qualifiers from eight to 12, who will progress straight through to the competition in New Zealand for the 2011 World Cup.
England, South Africa, Australia, Wales, New Zealand, Scotland, France and Ireland are likely to fill the original slots after the World Cup in France this September/October.
But the top three teams in each of four pools will now avoid qualifying matches for 2011, suggesting Samoa, Fiji, Italy and Argentina could all benefit.