BULLDOGS superstar Sonny Bill Williams dropped a bombshell on the NRL last night by fleeing the country to take up a reported $3m deal with French rugby union club Toulon.

DEFENDING champions St Helens overcame the unusual intense heat in Huddersfield and a spirited Leeds recovery to win the first semi-final of English rugby league's Challenge Cup 26-16.

CRONULLA captain Paul Gallen has won an unlikely ally in his bid to avoid being charged over a high tackle - the pregnant wife of his victim, David Stagg.

THE agent who helped broker Craig Gower's groundbreaking rugby deal has warned the Cowboys to brace for a French raid on star playmaker Johnathan Thurston.

DISBELIEF. That was my initial reaction to hearing Sonny Bill Williams was on a plane on his way to France on Saturday.

SONNY Bill Williams' Bulldogs teammates were left high and dry as they spoke of their shock and the disrespect of the New Zealand Test star's decision to walk out on the club and them.

SONNY Bill Williams' biggest mistake was joining rogue player manager Khoder Nasser's stable with Anthony Mundine. From the moment he linked up with the boxing promoter's circus, Sonny Bill's career was always going to be on the skids.

A SHATTERED Todd Carney was last night axed for the rest of the season and heavily fined by the Canberra Raiders, who showed they can survive without their halfback by belting Gold Coast.

Robbie Deans pulled off a memorable victory over his fellow countrymen when he masterminded a 34-19 win over Graham Henry's men in Sydney on Saturday.

A Keegan Daniel try six minutes from time snatched a crucial 16-11 win for the Sharks over the visiting Lions at the Absa Stadium, Durban on Saturday.It was billed as the match of the weekend, but poor execution in the

In what can only be described as lesson in controlled attacking rugby, the Vodacom Cheetahs scored eight tries in their convincing 55-14 victory over the Valke in an ABSA Currie Cup match in Bloemfontein on Friday night. The Cheetahs led

Boosted by the return of four Boks to their armour, Vodacom Western Province looked a team revitalised as they earned a convincing 50-10 victory at Newlands on Saturday afternoon.After back-to-back losses WP finally came good as they had promised earlier

WORLD Cup-winning captain Nick Farr-Jones believes the new-era Australia, with a beautiful blend of youth and experience, have the potential to become one of the all-time great rugby teams.

QUEENSLAND are fighting to retain another topline squad member, with centre Morgan Turinui rating himself only a 50 percent chance of staying with the Reds.

At his home WTCC race at Brands Hatch, triple World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx will take to the track at the wheel of a BMW Sauber F1 Team racing car to complete a series of demonstration laps. This is

For the second weekend in a row, the Team Penske duo of Ryan Briscoe and Helio Castroneves will start a race from the front row. This time, however, it will be Ryan on pole and Helio in the #2 spot

On Friday, the BMW Sauber F1 Team completed its four-day testing programme at the "Circuito de Jerez". Nick Heidfeld was on duty and completed a total of 99 laps. Weather conditions once again turned out to be summery at the

There was disappointment for Manchester United in the North West Masters competition on Saturday evening. The Red Devils, regional champions last season, were eliminated following narrow defeats against Leeds and Manchester City. Only club historians will have heard of most

The Leeds Rhinos’ march to the arch is over; The atmosphere was electric, as the majority of the Galpharm Stadium was filled with blue and amber shirts, but the Rhinos couldn’t pull off a comeback when it really mattered. The

Australia 34New Zealand 19