You may have heard of players sporting sponsors' names on their hurleys or boots but Tongan flanker cum winger Epi Taione has officially changed his name to Paddy Power ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

Munster fans will be familiar with the former Sale Sharks player after he was suspended for six months for biting Denis Leamy in January 2006. The ban was reduced to 18 weeks. He now plies his trade in Japan.

"I haven't got any Irish heritage - although I'm partial to a nice pint of Guinness and like listening to U2 - but I just did it for the fun of it." Eh, right. The five figure sum Taione receives from the bookmakers will be handed over to the Tongan union to cover World Cup expenses.

Australian skipper Stirling Mortlock has been forced to sit out training with a disc injury, giving the Wallabies a major scare ahead of the World Cup.