Ashton is given a consolation gong for cup final loss.

Brian Ashton, the head coach of the England rugby union side, has been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours after the team reached the final of the sport's World Cup.

Despite a poor start to the tournament England overcame Australia and hosts France to reach the final where they were beaten by South Africa.

Ashton, 61, the former head coach of Bath, has retained his England position for the 2008 season.

Jason Robinson, 33, who was persuaded by Ashton to return to the England side, has been awarded an OBE after retiring from rugby following the World Cup.

The former Sale Sharks captain, and ex-Great Britain rugby league player, already had an MBE awarded when he helped England to the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Veteran commentator Des Lynam receives an OBE for nearly four decades of broadcasting on sport.

Gordon Taylor, the long-serving chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, also receives an OBE as does Rachael Heyhoe-Flint, who captained the England cricket team when they won the inaugural women's World Cup in 1973.

There is a CBE for former distance runner Brendan Foster, the founder of the Great North Run. Foster, Olympic bronze medallist in the 10,000m in 1976, already had an MBE.

Peter Jones, formerly chairman of the Horserace Totalisator Board (the Tote) also receives a CBE for services to racing.

Other awards include MBEs to snooker player John Higgins, MCC head coach Clive Radley, ex-runner Derek Ibbotson and, from tennis, Frederick Seaward, the head groundsman at Wimbledon.

New Year's Honours: pages 4, 5 and 6