Rugby: Pro12
Peter Stringer was yesterday announced as Sale Sharks’ new signing for the 2015/16 season, putting to bed the lingering rumour that the former Munster legend would be joining Leinster.
Stringer says that while there was plenty of talk with the Irish province over a possible deal to join their ranks during the World Cup, the current Bath scrumhalf was looking for something longer term and hence opted for the one year deal offered by Sale.
He’s 37 but he says he’s still feeling great, and confident in his own ability.
Only 12,000 tickets have been sold ahead of Munster's do-or-die clash with Ospreys but head coach Anthony Foley is still holding out for that famous Thomond Park X Factor to drive his team through.
“Thomond Park is literally just a pitch and a stadium. What made it special was the people in the stands and in the stadium and the atmosphere they brought with them that allowed us to feed off them.
“Throughout the years, the supporters were there for us. Hopefully we see the same on Saturday.”
Meanwhile Glasgow head coach Greg Townsend is hopeful too that the lively Scottish crowd can be the difference in the other Pro12 semi-final against Ulster.
Townsend says that before coming into the jobs the two teams he looked up to were Leinster and the All Blacks.
GAA: Championship 2015
The Munster hurling championship begins this weekend, Clare versus Limerick, and one man who is sure to make an impact is Shane O’Donnell.
Clare were relegated from the league and have had much of their 2015 shadowed by off-the-field controversies. Mainly being the claims of Davy O’Halloran and Nicky O’Connell regarding their disciplinary treatment.
O'Donnell says though that it's all ancient history, which if anything brought the group closer together.
In Darragh O Se's first column of the 2015 Championship this morning the former Kerry midfielder says all the talk about sledging from the weekend's Ulster championship reminded him of a challenge match from Páidí's time as Kerry manager. His abiding memory is that Kieran McGeeney "was giving Maurice Fitzgerald plenty of it.
“Maurice hit him a puck at one stage and McGeeney being McGeeney wasn’t going to back down. He was full of chat for him. “Come on,” he says. “Come on, I can take it, I can take it.”
I only know this now because McGeeney said it to me later on. He’d have had plenty of running battles with fellas down the years but Maurice’s reply was unique. “I know you can,” he says. “But I need it more. Hit me back but make sure Páidí sees you do it. Come on we’ll go over here beside him here – he thinks I’m soft.”
Soccer: Premier League
Arsenal’s second season resurgence has been put down to the performance of none other than Francis Coquelin.
The young defensive midfielder has been heralded by manager Arsene Wenger who says if the club had splashed out on a huge transfer fee for the player instead of inheriting him through their youth system, everyone would be talking about him.
Liverpool's American owners the Fenway Sports Group have scheduled a post-season investigation into the club's disappointing season. Manager Brendan Rodgers is to provide an explanation of sorts in a meeting planned to follow the season's final game at Stoke, but it's not believed that his job is in any immediate danger.
They have also reiterated their stance on the Raheem Sterling contract talks, the player will not be sold whether he signs a deal or not.
Golf
Former world Number One Luke Donald says the stipulated number of events to retain a European Tour card should be scaled back. Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter are skipping the Tour's flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, and Donald believes a reduction in the number of counting events needed to participate would encourage others from around the world to play.
In cycling and the An Post Rás, UCD's Ian Richardson has continued his impressive showing moving up to fourth overall. The Italian team Idea 2010 ASD took stage three in a big bunch sprint into Bearna.
What to watch out for:
The latest stage of the Giro d'Italia is live on Eurosport today, Stage 11: To Imola.
Eurosport from 1.30pm-4.30pm
The Premier League action continues today, only a few matches left so cherish it while you can. Even if there is very little left for grabs. Arsenal host Sunderland at 7.45pm.
Sky Sports 1 from 7.30pm
