Rugby: Bastareaud inspires France

Mathieu Bastareaud returned from the international rugby wilderness to score two tries as France opened their Six Nations campaign with an 18-9 victory away to Scotland on Sunday.

Legendary American boxer Muhammad Ali has visited the birth place of his ancestors in Ireland, prompting thousands of well-wishers to line the streets of the town.

World number one Roger Federer held off the challenge of Argentine Jose Acasuso to reach the second round of the Cincinnati Masters — where he will be joined by fourth seed Novak Djokovic.

Big-spending Manchester City have further strengthened their squad with the signing of veteran Brazilian defender Sylvinho on a one-year contract.

The New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl for the first time in the team’s 43-year history with a 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

Timo Glock is confirmed as Manor Grand Prix’s lead driver for their maiden Formula One campaign in 2010. The German had been left without a drive following Toyota’s withdrawal from the sport.

Manchester City’s expensively assembled team began their English Premier League campaign with a 2-0 win at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

Bayern Munich went back to the top of the Bundesliga with a 3-0 win over Mainz in the Allianz Arena on Saturday.

England striker Wayne Rooney scores his 100th English Premier League goal to help Manchester United keep their title hopes alive with a stunning 3-1 win at rivals Arsenal.

Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez leads at the halfway stage of the Scandinavian Masters in Malmo after a second successive 68 on the the Barseback course in Sweden.

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Hans Jorg Butt scores again from the penalty spot as they eliminate fellow European powerhouses Juventus from this season’s Champions League with a superb 4-1 win in Turin on Tuesday night.

World No. 1 Tiger Woods shoots a four-under-par 67 to share the lead with fellow American Mark Wilson at the halfway stage of the BMW Championship in Illinois.

Michael Phelps swam the first leg for the winning U.S. 4 x 100 meters relay squad as the first day of competition in the pool at the world championships in Rome saw six world records tumble.

Kim Clijsters exclusively tells CNN she is happy to provide an inspiration to working mothers everywhere after sensationally winning the U.S. Open women’s singles title just a month on from her retirement return.

Britain’s Andy Murray comes from a set down to see off the bold challenge of Croatian Marin Cilic to reach the final of the Australian Open with a 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-2 victory in Melbourne on Thursday night.

Prize money for golf’s richest tournament in Dubai has been cut by 25 percent because of the global economic downturn.