Michael van Gerwen reacting in the final during the 2022 Cazoo Premier League in Brighton. Photo credit should read: Steven Paston/PDC
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Michael van Gerwen moved to the top of the Cazoo Premier League table with a second successive league phase night victory in Brighton on Thursday.
Van Gerwen became the first player to win back-to-back nights in this year’s Premier League, defeating Michael Smith 6-4 in a thrilling final on Night Five at the Brighton Centre to follow up last week’s Exeter success.
Arguably the best final of the competition so far saw both players average over 100, but after Van Gerwen opened up a 4-1 lead, Smith was unable to chase the Dutchman down.
Smith, who was looking to bounce back from the disappointment of losing last weekend’s UK Open final, pinned the bullseye for a 126 checkout to reduce the deficit to 4-3.
But after he missed tops for a level game, Van Gerwen tidied up 25 to move 5-3 up, and two legs later held throw to pocket the £10,000 top prize and five league points.
“I feel good, and I feel comfortable on stage at the moment,” said Van Gerwen. “I know what I’m capable of but sometimes you have to give yourself a bit of time to show it.
“It’s always a good feeling to be top of the table, it gives you confidence.
“The way I’m playing, I feel like winning a big tournament is coming soon; hopefully it will be the Premier League but there’s a long way to go.”
Van Gerwen’s evening began with a 6-5 win over James Wade, before he landed a 170 checkout in a 6-1 triumph over Joe Cullen, who received a bye into the semi-finals following Gerwyn Price’s withdrawal due to a hand injury.
Smith picks up three valuable league points thanks to wins over Gary Anderson and Jonny Clayton to lift him off the foot of the table.
Losing semi-finalists Clayton and Cullen leave Brighton with two points each, with Clayton defying a ten-point gap in the averages in his 6-5 quarter-final victory over birthday boy Peter Wright, who drops to second in the table.
The Cazoo Premier League roadshow heads to Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena on Thursday March 17 for Night Six of the league phase, as Van Gerwen meets Price in a mouth-watering clash.
The night’s other quarter-finals will see Wright take on Cullen, Smith up against Wade and Anderson face Clayton as the £1 million tournament resumes.
The Cazoo Premier League is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, through the PDC’s worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV for Rest of the World Subscribers (excluding UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria & Switzerland).
Lisnagar Oscar, one of the biggest priced winners at The Festival™ at Cheltenham in recent years, will bid to regain his Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle crown next Thursday (March 17th) in custom silks representing the national flag of Ukraine.
The Rebecca Curtis-trained gelding stunned racing fans by winning the Stayers’ Hurdle in 2020 at odds of 50-1. He failed to repeat the feat last year but his owners – The Racing For Fun syndicate – are hoping he can do them proud next week while also raising awareness and funds for the people of Ukraine.
The Jockey Club, which runs Cheltenham Racecourse, is supporting the charitable efforts of The British Red Cross in its response to the humanitarian crisis arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine with a series of initiatives throughout The Festival and has made a donation of its own to the British Red Cross’s Ukraine Appeal.
One of those initiatives is the wearing of the custom silks in the blue and yellow of the Ukraine flag and follows a suggestion by racehorse owner Colin Peake, who was determined to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis unravelling in Ukraine.
Peake explained: “Getting as much coverage as possible to highlight what is happening in Ukraine and getting people to put their hands in their pockets and support the humanitarian charitable efforts on the ground can only be a good thing.
“I thought to myself, ‘what better way to do it than have a horse running in the colours of the Ukraine national flag at Jump racing’s flagship event with all the coverage it receives?’ It’s all about getting the blue and yellow colours at the heart of the action.
“I got in contact with Allertons and they agreed to make a set of silks representing the flag of Ukraine at no cost and I then tried to find a horse that could wear them at The Festival.
Once again, horse racing fans are gearing up for the Cheltenham Festival, one of the most hotly anticipated events on the sporting calendar.
Four days of racing’s best squaring off in some of the most competitive races of the year. The unpredictability of the jump racing season is exemplified at Cheltenham, and with the coronavirus pandemic forcing last year’s Festival behind closed doors, this will be the first time spectators have been in attendance since 2020 — just a week before the country entered a national lockdown.
That aforementioned unpredictability means betting for Cheltenham 2022 is a particularly difficult task. It’s down to the work of the trainers to get their horses prepared for any occasion, and a good trainer can prove the difference between a place on the podium or not. Read on, as we go through some of the trainers to look out for this year at Cheltenham.
Henry de Bromhead
What a four days it was for Henry de Bromhead this time last year. The Irishman would hardly have expected to enjoy the purple patch he did, with seemingly everything he touched turning to gold. Heading into the Festival, we were all aware of how strong the County Waterford stable was, possessing a plethora of previous Grade One winners, but few would have imagined how dominant De Bromhead would be — picking up an impressive treble of the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup. His best hope of success this year comes in the Champion Hurdle, where the unbeaten Honeysuckle looks certain to retain the title, with Rachael Blackmore looking to win consecutive Leading Jockey awards.
Gordon Elliott
In complete juxtaposition to De Bromhead, last year at Cheltenham would have been strange for Gordon Elliott, who was serving a six-month ban after images were released of him sitting on a dead horse. The County Meath-based trainer will be eager to try and restore his reputation as one of the best in the business, and with 32 winners at Cheltenham, he’ll want to add to that as quickly as possible and make up for lost time. Elliott’s best race is the National Hunt Chase — one he’s been successful in four times — but with Conflated’s recent win in the Irish Gold Cup, and Tiger Roll potentially running for the last time in the Cross County Chase, Elliott certainly has the chance to write his name in the history books once again after a brief hiatus.
Willie Mullins
The Irish have dominated proceedings at Cheltenham in recent years as far as big winners are concerned, and Willie Mullins is no exception. He heads to Prestbury Park as the most successful trainer in the Festival’s history, saddling 65 winners in a career spanning over 25 years. Indeed, 2020 was Mullins’ silver anniversary of racing and while he celebrated it by picking up a plethora of accolades including the Gold Cup with Al Boum Photo, it would be the last time he would get to enter the winner’s podium in front of spectators for the best part of 18 months. It’s impossible to overlook Mullins for more success this year as well, simply due to the sheer quality of his stable and the rich experience he boasts in the variety of Grade One races.
Irish stables have dominated the leading races at Cheltenham Festival in recent history, and the 2022 competition looks to be no different with the yards of Willie Mullins, Henry de Bromhead and Gordon Elliott among others lining up major hauls at the week-long event. Five out of the last six Cheltenham Gold Cups have been won by Irish trainers, including back-to-back triumphs for Mullins in 2019 and 2020 when Al Boum Photo etched his name in the history of the sport.
The latest racing results will tell you that the Irish-trained horses are in fine fettle ahead of Cheltenham, including Galvin, A Plus Tard and Allaho. A look at the Cheltenham 2022 race cards will show that all three of those horses are among the leading contenders for the Gold Cup, which seems set to fall into Irish hands once more. The last year a trainer outside of the Emerald Isle won the Gold Cup was 2018 when Colin Tizzard and Native River won the crown, beating out the favourite Might Bite. Since then it has been held by Mullins and De Bromhead, who triumphed in the race for the first time when Minella Indo secured the title, while his stable-mate A Plus Tard finished second.
Irish dominance could be the theme of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival. The Champion Hurdle appears to be a straight battle between De Bromhead’s Honeysuckle and Mullins’ Appreciate It. Nicky Henderson does have a strong record in the race, but his hopes will rest on Epatante who was blown away by Honeysuckle at the race last season. The French thoroughbred has been on point to secure two victories over the course of the campaign, but it will take a special effort to dislodge Honeysuckle from the top spot, while Appreciate It also boasts outstanding pedigree.
The Champion Chase is perhaps the best hope for Henderson and it is arguably the lock of the week for a non-Irish trainer. Shishkin has been truly dominant over the course of his career, winning his two previous races at Cheltenham in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Arkle Chase. He has won his last ten races on the bounce, including a victory over Mullins’ top chaser Energumene in their last outing at the Clarence House Chase. Energumene is a fine horse and could deliver a performance for the ages to knock off Shishkin, but Henderson and Nico de Boinville will be ready for the challenge. Energumene came very close to beating out his rival at Ascot, and a slight improvement could pave the way for an Irish clean sweep of the major prizes.
The Gold Cup seems destined to fall into Irish hands. Galvin enhanced his claim for Elliott by beating A Plus Tard in Leopardstown at the Savills Chase. A Plus Tard won the Lancashire Chase earlier in the campaign with a fine performance and finished second in the Gold Cup last year. Minella Indo’s history in the race will undoubtedly allow him to contend, while Al Boum Photo and Allaho will hold the key for Mullins and a potential third crown. The best hope for a non-Irish trainer is Protektorat out of Dan Skelton’s yard, who he has impressed over the course of the term.
Irish-based trainers seem destined for another major haul at Cheltenham and it will take something special to deny another sweep of the major crowns outside of Shishkin and the Champion Chase.
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Andy Farrell has named the match day squad to take on England at Twickenham this coming Saturday in round four of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations Championships.
Johnny Sexton captains the side from out-half and has Jamison Gibson Park alongside him at halfback. Bundee Aki is restored to the midfield to partner Garry Ringrose while Andrew Conway and Hugo Keenan come back into the backfield alongside James Lowe who is retained from the Italy game.
Cian Healy wins his 115th cap in a front row that includes Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong. Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan line out in the engine room while Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris make up the backrow.
The replacements include Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery and Robbie Henshaw.
The game which kicks off at 4.45pm will be televised by RTE (ROI) and ITV (NI). Both sides require a victory to maintain their Championship ambitions.
IRELAND team v England, Round 4 Guinness Six Nations 2022
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 18 caps
14. Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 29 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 40 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 35 caps
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 10 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 103 caps CAPTAIN
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 15 caps
1. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 114 caps
2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 5 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 55 caps
4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 28 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 42 caps
6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 82 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 38 caps
8. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 15 caps
Mack Hansen misses out on the 23 to play England, very strange decision. But to be fair nothing surprises me from Andy Farrell. #rugby At least Bundee and Finlay are involved. pic.twitter.com/eYX5AvtotH
Paul Moynihan, Cork City Council; Deputy Lord Mayor Garrett Kelleher, An Tanaiste, Simon Coveney with members of IMART committee at the launch of launch IMART 2020 (International Mixed Ability Rugby 2020) and MAW 20 (Mixed Ability Week 20).
Photo Joleen Cronin
Cork will host the Mixed Ability Rugby World Cup between 5th & 10th of June 2022. The 3rd edition will feature 28 teams from 14 different countries.
It has been 4 years in the making, has sought off stiff competition from other would-be host countries, waited out a global pandemic, and spent endless hours working tirelessly with the EU, IRFU, Munster Rugby, Cork City Council, IMAS, and others in an effort to bring this event to Cork, but IMART 2022 is finally coming to Ireland.
This will be the 3rd edition of the worldwide Mixed Ability rugby showcase promoted by International Mixed Ability Sports (IMAS) and supported by the IRFU. The first ever MAW will see new sports like Football, Rowing and Boxing showcased, during this week knowledge workshops and international conference will provide the opportunity for this European Erasmus Plus for Sport supported event to spread the word and work of Mixed Ability Sports to a wider audience.
In the region of 1000 players both with and without disabilities, from 28 teams and 14 different countries such as England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, , Italy, Spain, Belgium, Canada, Argentina and Chile will come together to play rugby under same World Rugby laws as the XV a side game with only minor adaptations such as uncontested scrums.
This year’s event is made extra special by the fact that it will host the first ever Women’s Mixed Ability Rugby tournament in Cork, sponsored by KPMG.
Speaking at the launch James Healy of IMART 2022 Committee and player said,
“IMART 2022 will be the biggest tournament to date with 24 men’s teams competing for the overall Winners Trophy as well as the much-coveted Spirit Trophy and 4 women’s teams fighting it out to take home the inaugural winners and Spirit trophies .
Not only it one of the most important events in the global mixed ability sporting calendar, but it is a major coup for Ireland and especially for Cork as it will provide a huge boost to the local economy”.
Munster Rugby Captain, Peter O’Mahony, who is involved in IMART 2022 had this to say,
“I’m proud to support the International Mixed Ability Rugby Tournament coming to Ireland for the first time. Mixed Ability gives everybody the opportunity to be a rugby player regardless of size, shape or ability. This is an incredible opportunity to celebrate our core values, welcoming teams from around the world to experience our legendary Irish hospitality!”
Alan Craughwell, founder of the first Mixed Ability rugby team in Ireland, ‘Sunday’s Well Rebels’, and of Mixed Ability Sports Ireland, spoke of the ethos of IMART and how it’s representation in Cork began,
“Mixed Ability rugby and Mixed Ability sports are providing real opportunities for people with and without disabilities to experience social inclusion. Sunday’s Well Rebels became part the rugby family at ‘The Well’ in 2014, when I approached the club with the idea. Since then, the team has flourished. From the early days of 13 players, we now have more than 50 active players. It is a great example of real inclusion to see players with and without disabilities training, playing and, of course, socialising alongside each other every Friday night and feeling like valued members of Sunday’s Well rugby club.”
The Mixed Ability Model – championed by IMAS and promoted by Mixed Ability Sports Ireland – encourages social inclusion by removing barriers to participation for people who feel unable to join mainstream grassroots clubs or groups due to physical or learning disabilities, mental health issues, size, shape, age, prolonged inactivity, or a perception of ‘not being good enough’. It is hoped that the IMART and MAW events in Cork this year will enhance interest, participation and interaction of people of all abilities in the sport across Ireland and beyond, and help to build new connections between grassroots clubs, educational institutions, communities and local authorities.
Liam Maher, Manager of the Sunday’s Well Rebels, spoke of their plans to showcase all that Cork has to offer to the 1000 strong participants, as well as organisers and spectators who will flock to the event,
“There has been a lot of work in the background – not just in preparing the bid for this global tournament, but in getting recognised for Mixed Ability Rugby as an official part of the rugby game. We have been working with the IRFU since the Rebels were set up in 2014, and thankfully we have recently received much-deserved recognition for this forward-thinking, inclusive and inspiring sport.
Cork won the bid in part due to Ireland’s international reputation as a rugby powerhouse, but also because we have a reputation in Mixed Ability sport. Mixed Ability is about valuing everyone’s potential and celebrating what’s at the heart of true sport – participation, passion and fun!”
IMART 2022
IMART, now at its 3rd edition, has become the ‘World Cup’ for Mixed Ability rugby clubs, and is the only international event where people of all abilities play together in the same un-adapted, mainstream 15-a-side game abiding by World Rugby Laws.
Following the huge success of the inaugural tournament in Bradford (UK) in 2015, and the most recent 2017 event which was held in Vitoria-Gasteiz, capital of the Basque Country in Spain, the event now moves to Cork for 2022.
The Tournament aims to promote participation in rugby and disseminate rugby´s core values of integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline, and respect.
The Cork Host
The staging of the event in Cork marks a significant achievement for Sunday’s Well RFC, who coordinated the bid, and acknowledges the leading role which the Club now plays in championing the sport.
A further exciting aspect of this week is the 1st MAW, which will introduce the mixed ability model to a variety of new sports through showcase events and open taster sessions along with an interactive conference programme featuring renowned speakers who will present and discuss the latest research around Mixed Ability sport across many disciplines, drawing on and including participants’ experiences.
International Mixed Ability Sports Director Martino Corazza welcomed the choice of Ireland as the host country.
“Cork is a fantastic city, with a great rugby tradition, and Sunday’s Well Rebels are one of the best brilliant examples of rugby clubs being truly representative of their local community. We are incredibly proud of this event and recognise that staging the tournament in 2022 will give enough time to the teams to put in place the necessary arrangements. We trust IMART & MAW 2022 will spread IMAS’ inclusive message far and wide and inspire many more individuals, clubs and National Governing Bodies to take up Mixed Ability.”
This week of Sport and Inclusion in Cork will have three main strands:
1. The Sport Programmes, in which players from 14 different countries (and counting!) will take part in the 3rd International Mixed Ability Rugby Tournament, competing for the two main trophies, the ‘Winners’ Cup’ and the ‘Spirit of Mixed Ability Rugby Trophy’ awarded to the team who best embodies rugby core values. For the first time, a Mixed Ability women’s tournament will run a parallel competition. The extended sports programme showcase and taster events, will also see the first international mixed ability Rowing Regatta and FAI backed mixed ability Football blitz.
2. The Academic Programme, in which internationally known speakers and researchers from the sport, education, health and advocacy fields will present their studies and research about paths to inclusion in sport for people of all abilities in a participatory and interactive environment.
3. The Social Strand, in which concerts and post-match events will provide spaces to enjoy and share the best moments with teammates, players from the other teams and spectators.
Ultimately, IMART intends to promote a long-lasting shift in perceptions and behaviours around diversity, removing the barriers which prevent people of all abilities from enjoying mainstream sporting activities, using the power of rugby and education to make this world a better place.
Earlier this month the Women’s National Talent Squad (WNTS) programme kicked off with a skill development camp at the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus in Dublin.
The WNTS programme aims to identify, develop and support female players that have the potential to be selected for national squads and to accelerate their understanding of the demands of rugby at the elite level.
WNTS players will be provided with education in the areas of strength and conditioning, performance nutrition and video analysis and will be exposed to a high performance environment through a series of development camps.
The first players inducted into the programme have been identified via IRFU Talent Coaches, Provincial coaches and staff and club coaches. Establishing a sustainable talent identification network is a key deliverable for the programme.
The WNTS operates out of the IRFU’s High Performance Centre on the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin and is coordinated and delivered by former Ireland Women’s international, IRFU Women’s Performance Pathway Coach Katie Fitzhenry and Neill Alcorn Ulster Rugby Women’s Head Coach.
Initially 13 players have been enrolled in the programme which supports the Ireland U18 XV squad and is aligned with the National Women’s XV and 7s programmes to enable WNTS talent to be exposed to the senior women’s environment.
WNTS players Aoife Dalton, Leah Tarpey and Emma Tilly were recently included in the 41 player training squad assembled by Ireland Women’s head coach Greg McWilliams. The next WNTS camp is scheduled for 19-20th March.
IRFU Women’s Performance Pathway Coach Katie Fitzhenry, commented, “It was great to get the programme up and running and to give these young athletes their first taste of a high performance environment. These players have been identified through a mixture of the U18 Interpros last year and from feedback from provincial and club coaches. Developing a strong talent ID network will be a big focus of the programme as it grows year on year catering for more young female talent.”
“The aim of this programme is to advance players to a level where they can pull on a green jersey whether that is in XVs or Olympic 7s or be integrated into the senior women’s programmes. There is great alignment and support for the WNTS so it is an exciting time to be getting this programme up and running.”
2022 WNTS Players
Sophie Barrett (18yrs) – Enniskillen RFC/Ulster, Integrated College, Enniskillen Molly Boote (17yrs) – Connemara RFC/Connacht, Clifden Community School Hannah Clarke (16yrs) – Ougherard RFC/Connacht, St Pauls Secondary School Aoife Dalton (18yrs) – Tullamore RFC/Leinster, UCD Alanna Fitzpatrick (17yrs) – Portarlington RFC/Leinster, Colaiste Iosagain, Portarlington Kate Flannery (18yrs) – Fethard RFC/Munster, Rockwell College Brianna Heylmann (18yrs) – Tipperary Women’s Rugby/Munster, Waterpark College Aisling McEnroe (17yrs) – Virginia RFC/Ulster, Cavan Institute Éabha Nic Dhonnacha (17yrs) – Corinthians RFC/Connacht, Scoil Chumsitheach Chiarain Dannah O’Brien (18yrs) – Tullow RFC/Leinster, Tullow Community School Eva Sterritt (17yrs) – Greystones RFC/Leinster, Temple Carrig School, Greystones Leah Tarpey (18yrs) – Tullamore RFC/Leinster, Mountmellick CS Emma Tilly (18yrs) – MU Barnhall RFC/Leinster, Maynooth Post Primary
13 July 2021; George Dockrell of Ireland, centre, celebrates the wicket of Janneman Malan of South Africa with team-mates during the 2nd Dafanews Cup Series One Day International match between Ireland and South Africa at The Village in Malahide, Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
This summer is set to be the ‘Season of Stars’ – the largest-ever home season of international cricket that Irish fans have seen. Ireland Men’s senior side will take on four Full Members across a 15-match home international season against teams featuring many of the world’s best players.
Ireland Men will play white-ball series’ against India, New Zealand, South Africa and Afghanistan over a two-month period, starting 26 June at Malahide.
13 of the matches will be played across the international venues in Ireland, while the men’s series against South Africa will be hosted at The Bristol County Ground in Bristol.
The three-match ODI series between Ireland Men and New Zealand – the world’s top-ranked ODI side – will be part of the ICC World Cup Super League, being a crucial set of fixtures in Ireland’s 2023 World Cup qualification campaign. India men’s visit replicates the two-match series staged in Malahide in 2018 in front of sell-out crowds in the middle of that summer’s heatwave.
The five-match T20I series against Afghanistan is currently being finalised with dates and venues to be announced shortly.
Tickets will go on sale shortly for all venues and will be announced on Cricket Ireland’s website, social media channels and in our eNewsletter (sign up here).
Adding to the ‘Season of Stars’ that will be on show in Ireland, the full fixture list for Ireland Women will shortly be announced – and will represent the largest number of women’s home internationals for the senior squad, against top opposition. This will include an exciting set of fixtures at Bready that will be sure to draw fans from across Ireland.
Further international cricket updates
The scheduled multi-format men’s series against Bangladesh set for 2022 has been moved to summer 2023;
The scheduled home Test match and ODIs against Afghanistan set for 2022 will be rescheduled to a future date (dates TBC); and
The proposed men’s tour to Zimbabwe in April 2022 has been moved to early 2023.
Warren Deutrom, Chief Executive of Cricket Ireland, said:
“2022 is set to be the biggest summer of international cricket ever in Ireland, with Irish cricket fans able to enjoy watching some of the world’s best players on show.
“We are delighted to welcome back India Men’s team for the first time since 2018, as well as the number one-ranked ODI side – the Black Caps, who were last here in 2017. Just as important, given we will shortly after be heading to a T20 World Cup, are the two T20I series against South Africa and Afghanistan. Our thanks goes to Gloucestershire Cricket Club for agreeing to host the South African series.
“Tickets will shortly go on sale, as well as the re-launch of our membership programme to give fans even greater ways to engage with and enjoy our great game. We also look forward to also announcing shortly our international women’s programme, which will herald a new era in Irish women’s cricket.
“Arranging and allocating fixtures is always a complicated process given our facility constraints. These challenges require a juggling act around loading on our international pitches, hosting and touring costs, the needs of hosting clubs, reciprocity with opponents, scheduling our elite domestic competitions, profitability of fixtures and taking our men’s and women’s teams around the island. Of course, Covid has also played its part in shifting the sands of the FTP.
“Taking all these into consideration, we decided to postpone both this year’s planned tour to Zimbabwe in April and the home Bangladesh series into 2023. This will help alleviate some of these factors, spread the cost of men’s cricket over two years, and also spread the fixture load across 2022 and 2023, in particular given that the World Cup’s delay to the end of the year has left us to fill the 2023 home season. Even with these changes, we’re still hosting a record amount of men’s cricket against some of the world’s top teams this year – with more exciting announcements to come around our women’s fixtures.
“Just as importantly, with full crowds permitted to return, we look forward to seeing fans flock back to the grounds. Our thanks to our fellow ICC members, the Provincial Unions, host clubs and our event partners for supporting us on putting this programme together – with so many big teams and big names set to feature in Ireland, this will truly be a season full of stars.”
Ireland Men’s international schedule
Ireland Men v India Men T20I series
Sunday 26 June: Ireland v India, 1st T20I (Malahide) *
Tuesday 28 June: Ireland v India, 2nd T20I (Malahide) *
* Subject to licence
Ireland Men v New Zealand Men series
Sunday 10 July: Ireland v New Zealand, 1st ODI (Malahide)
Tuesday 12 July: Ireland v New Zealand, 2nd ODI (Malahide)
Friday 15 July: Ireland v New Zealand, 3rd ODI (Malahide)
Monday 18 July: Ireland v New Zealand, 1st T20I (Stormont)
Wednesday 20 July: Ireland v New Zealand, 2nd T20I (Stormont)
Friday 22 July: Ireland v New Zealand, 3rd T20I (Stormont)
Ireland Men v South Africa Men T20I series
Wednesday 3 August: Ireland v South Africa, 1st T20I (Bristol)
Friday 5 August: Ireland v South Africa, 2nd T20I (Bristol)
Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) superstar Neymar Jr. has admitted he likes the idea of playing in the United States’ Major League Soccer (MLS) before the end of his career. Neymar, who is contracted to France’s big-spenders PSG until the summer of 2025, said that he would “love to play there for at least a season”. The fact that the 30-year-old is already talking about life after PSG will almost certainly irritate many PSG fans, as well as those within the club’s hierarchy.
His time at the Parc de Princes has been something of a roller-coaster. He helped PSG to a domestic quadruple in 2019/20, before losing in the Champions League final. He has scored 60 goals in 82 appearances across his five-year stay. However, 82 games in five seasons is by no means a great return from the world’s most expensive player, with PSG forking out €222m to entice him from La Liga giants Barcelona.
Ankle problems have plagued Neymar in recent seasons, with his latest setback occurring in November 2021, forcing him out until mid-February. There have also been ongoing reports that Neymar and the rest of the ‘star’ recruits within the PSG roster are by no means having a positive effect on team morale and structure.
The Brazilian insists he is often misunderstood by the football press and fans alike. Although many revere him as an icon, others consider his personality to be impetuous and childish, both on and off the field. To that end, Neymar Jr. agreed to take part in a one-off documentary with Netflix to document his career to date. The programme, titled ‘The Perfect Chaos’, attempts to lift the clouds of mystery that have surrounded one of football’s biggest talents of the modern era.
During the trailer of this documentary, Neymar admits he “didn’t choose” to be an icon and would rather have grown up “anonymous than famous”. However, this would appear to fly in the face of his plans to move to the MLS in the coming years. Any MLS franchise which signed Neymar would bring unprecedented media attention to the league, akin to the arrival of David Beckham in Los Angeles back in 2007.
Neymar was talking in a podcast for ‘Fenomenos’, during which he admitted he was more likely to play in the MLS than return to his homeland for a pre-retirement swansong. Although Neymar said that he has “joked with his friends” about the prospect of retiring from football at the age of 32, it’s true that there does not appear to be a significant appetite for the Brazilian to stay at the top table of European football for as long as he can. He believes the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will also be his last in a Brazil jersey. He said that his “mental health is the most important thing” when making a long-term decision on his next club.
MLS commissioner warns Neymar he won’t get an easy ride stateside
During Neymar’s discussion on the Fenomenos podcast, he also joked that he was attracted to playing in the MLS due to the “three-month holiday” on offer to players. The MLS has a long heritage when it comes to enticing world-class players to their shores in the twilight of their careers. Aside from David Beckham’s move to LA Galaxy, the MLS has also seen the likes of David Villa, Didier Drogba, Gonzalo Higuain, Kaka, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney make the move in the last decade.
Neymar’s comments reached MLS commissioner Don Garber, who was promptly asked about the likelihood of Neymar making the move. Garber insisted the league did not “need big name players to come to MLS to retire”. Garber believes the MLS has outgrown the need for ageing marquee acquisitions seeking a final payday, due to the ever-increasing profile of the league.
Instead, Garber believes the MLS “story” should increasingly be about “young players coming here at the earliest stages” of their careers. Garber also used the example of Zlatan Ibrahimovic moving from LA Galaxy to AC Milan, saying that no-one claimed that the Swedish powerhouse “went to retire in Italy”. Garber’s strong comments suggest that the MLS is trying hard to get tough and cement its reputation as one of the world’s fastest-growing top-flight football leagues.
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