Womens Rugby
Womens Rugby - Vagabonds v Leigh

Vagabonds Womens Rugby Team begin their season on Saturday with a home fixture against Leigh. There have been a number of changes at Vagabonds over the summer and this together with the absence of Janine Cringle and Anne-Marie Rivers gives a slightly unfamiliar look to the starting line up with a number of new players having their first competative game. Rachel Purnell leads the team from the front row with the experienced Sarah-Jane Sleddon adding some firepower to the tight five before returning to premiership duties with Vale of Lune. Hannah King makes her debut in the back row partnering Gemma Rae and Amy Wheeler. Behind the scrum Nikki Davies makes a welcome return to the side at 10 partnering sister Rachel Beckley. Becky Newton is another new face partnering the rapidly improving Katie Croft at centre.

Women's Team To Take On Wallaroos

In their final game at the IRB Women's World Cup in Edmonton, Ireland will face Australia, who are known as the Wallaroos, in Saturday's 7th-8th place play-off.

That clash will kick-off at Ellerslie Rugby Park at 12am Irish time and IrishRugby.ie will be running a live match tracker. A live internet broadcast of the gamewill also be availablethroughwww.rwcwomens.com and www.247.tv.

Ireland's narrow 11-10loss to Scotland on Tuesday, which ruled them out of contention for fifth place, came despite a brave last ditch effort from the girls in green. They came within a whisker of stealing the victory with a last-minute unconverted try from Jeanette Feighery.

The Walloroos lost 29-12 to theUSA in their play-off game on Tuesday.

For Ireland to beat Australia and finish seventh in the tournament, that would be some achievement, considering their two early losses and their initial seeding of tenth at the outset of the tournament.

Matalan drops rugby star Henson in £5m campaign

Matalan has dropped Welsh rugby star Gavin Henson from its forthcoming £5m ad campaign in favour of Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels star Nick Moran.

The switch comes as the retailer alters its strategy to boost its focus on womenswear. Matalan will continue to use Melanie Sykes in TV and press executions, while Moran will play a smaller role in the TV ads.

The retailer would not comment on why it was no longer using Henson in the campaign, which was created by Beechwood. According to those close to the brand's marketing department, however, the player's poor performance in research and lower profile following the end of the rugby season led to the switch.

Matalan is currently embroiled in a management takeover, with founder and chairman John Hargreaves making an indicative offer of £817m last week.