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FAI confirms all second batch of Covid-19 tests return negative results

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has confirmed that all of the second batch of Covid-19 tests carried out on players and staff at four SSE Airtricity League clubs on Monday last, June 1, have returned negative results.

The FAI’s Medical Director Dr Alan Byrne received the results today from the tests carried out at Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers, Derry City and Bohemians. All of the indivduals tested have been informed of their negative result.

All four clubs will undergo further testing next Monday, June 8, when they return to collective training.

Horse Racing Ireland arranges 48 new dates for cancelled meetings

Horse Racing Ireland have 48 new dates to make up for some of the cancelled meetings due to the coronavirus pandemic. RTE Sport are reporting that the flat season will be extended by one week, while five further meetings at Dundalk in November are just some changes announced.

Horse Racing Ireland the fixtures for June and July last month, but have added a further 39 in the last 5 months of 2020. The total number of fixtures for the year according to  RTE is 331 compared to 370 the previous year. September and October will be busy months seen an extra 10 and 11 meetings respectively. Three all weather meetings will take place once the flat season comes to and end. These will take place Monday, Wednesday and Friday in November.

Director of Horse Racing Ireland, Jason Morris said, “We have worked closely with all racecourses to develop a fixture list for the remainder of 2020 which is appropriate for both the horse population and each individual track, and we are very grateful for the excellent co-operation received from racecourse managers”. He continued, “We have spread the additional opportunities throughout the year and over both codes to reflect the meetings that were lost over the March to June period”.

Mr Morris said there is still some doubts over Laytown and Listowel festivals. He said,”The meeting at Laytown on 1 September will be kept under review to determine, based on the government guidance that will apply at the time, whether it is possible to implement the necessary protocols at the beach venue”. In regards to Listowel he said, “Depending upon social distancing requirements and potential crowd limitations in late September, Listowel could host mixed cards on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of their seven-day Festival”.

 

Premier League to have five substitutes on return

Premier League teams will be allowed to have five when action returns later this month. BBC Sport report that the clubs approved the new rules which will see clubs now allowed to make 5 substitutes instead of the original three.

It is also expected clubs will be allowed to name 9 substitutes instead of 7. Although teams will be allowed 5 substitutes each team will only have three opportunities to make changes in the games to minimise disruption. The main purpose of the change is to help workload of players who are returning to action on the back of coronavirus pandemic. The players are in fact likely not to have much of break for the remainder of the year as next season will start in August given the players limited rest periods.

The Premier League released a statement on Thursday confirming the news. It said, “Premier League Shareholders today agreed to temporary changes to the rules relating to substitute players. For the remainder of the 2019/20 season, the number of substitutes that can be used during a match will increase from three to five players”. The statement continued, This is in line with the temporary law amendment made by the International Football Association Board last month. Shareholders also approved for Clubs to increase the maximum number of substitute players on the bench from seven to nine for the rest of the 2019/20 season.”

In Germany, the five substition rule was also put in place in May with the same rules in place. Just like what the Premier League have adopted the Bundesliga coaches will only have three opportunities to use all the five substitutes if needs be.

Shane Long signs new contract with Southampton

Republic of Ireland international Shane Long has put pen to paper and has signed a new two year contract with Premier League side Southampton. 

RTE Sport report that long, who was due to become a free agent is now set to remain at St Mary’s till the end of the 2021/22 season. Long has been ever present at the club since 2014. He has made over 200 appearances for the club. The 33 year old is said to be delighted. The Tipperary man has been a key part of Ralph Hassenhuttl’ squad for the last 18 months and he now has another two years to look forward to. Long has scored 35 goals for the club, with 8 coming since the new managers arrival.

Speaking to Southamptonfc.com Saints boss Hassenhuttl said, “Shane is an outstanding professional. He has been an important player for me and I know also for the managers before me. He continued, “He has scored some big goals for us and helped to create many more for his teammates too. I think that is one of his top qualities. He is a great team player, and someone who has a positive impact on the group as a whole when he plays”.

Long also speaking to the club website said “he loves what the clubs stands for” and is looking forward to the next couple of years to see what the club can achieve. He continued, “I can see the club pushing up the league, back to where we all want to be, and I want to be part of that. I’m just delighted to get it done.”

Hassenhuttl has also signed a new deal at club for another four years. Alongside Ralph, Richard Kitzbichler has also extended his contract as First Team Assistant Coach, and will continue to work alongside the existing first team staff of Craig Fleming, Dave Watson, Kelvin Davis, Andrew Sparkes and Alek Gross. Speaking to the Southampton website he said, Ralph Hasenhüttl said: “This, for me, was a simple decision. Simple because of the relationship that I have built with the club, the players and the fans, and also because of the relationship they have built with me too.”

 

Carter returns to rugby in New Zealand

Dan Carter has made a surprise return to rugby in his home country New Zealand. Carter has joined up with the Auckland Blues for the New Zealand Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.

The 38 year old will link up with fellow fly-half Beauden Barrett. Former Wales and Ireland coach Warren Gatland joked with the media saying “He’s getting a bit old now, 38 or something”. He continued, “For him to be able to come back to New Zealand and lace his boots up, I just think it’s good for the youngsters.”

Carter had neck surgery last year and has not played a game since February. He did say he is unlikely to be match fit for several weeks. He said, “I’ve played six games in the last 18 months, and had three months of no rugby training, no contact … it’s going to be a process getting up to speed.” Current Blues coach Leon McDonald, who played with Carter with New Zealand said, “We’ll take our time and make sure we progress Dan safely,”.

McDonald stated that Carter will likely be used as a utility player. Stating he could play at full back. However, he acknowledged that it will be a while before he gets on the field of play due to fitness. He said, “He’s got a lot of work to get through before he’s considered for selection.

Carter has spent the last two seasons playing for Kobelco Steelers before the coronavirus brought a halt to the league. He spent all of his professional career in New Zealand playing for Crusaders. Howeverm he moved to Racing 93 after the 2015 World Cup. He said, It’s a chance to put the boots on whether I play or not,”. “I have not played for several months so it will be a number of weeks before I will be ready to be considered to play. And then only if my form warrants it. I’m fit but not rugby fit.”

He said it will give him an opportunity to be with his family as well as playing rugby. He said, “I guess this gives me an opportunity to do what I love and to be able to go home at the end of the day and be with my family,” “Being [able to play] in the same city where my kids go to school is a big factor behind me being here today.”

The 10 week competition gets underway on June 13th. It will feature all 5 of New Zealand’s Super Rugby sides.

5 Live Sports to watch this weekend

More and more sport is gradually returning to our screens and after nearly 3 months without it we can all finally sit down and enjoy some this weekend. Check out my top 5 live sports to watch this weekend.

1. UFC 250, Las Vegas – Sunday, 01.00am, BT Sport 1 

Some big fights on the card in Las Vegas with Amanda Nunes v Felicia Spencer the main event on the night. Raphael Assuncao and Cody Garbrandt also face off in the octagon where something will have to give as both fighters are unbeaten, Other fights on the card include Sean O’Malley v Eddie Wineland, Neil Magny v Anthony Rocco Martin and Aljamain Sterling v Cory Sandhagen.

2. Live Racing Newmarket – Saturday 1.15pm, Racing UK

A big racing festival in Newmarket with the 1000 and 2000 Guineas down for decision. The 2000 takes place on Saturday, with the 1000 on Sunday. Ireland’s very own Aidan O’Brien will have a plethora of runners in the race. All eyes will be on the unbeaten Pinatubo for Godolphin though. On Sunday, the 1000 Guineas take place. Quadrilateral heads the market along with Love. The races takes place at 3.35pm. 

3. Snooker Championship League – Saturday, 4.00pm, ITV4

The competition is currently ongoing and with already some cracking games. More group games will take place on Saturday from the groups. The pick of matches include Stuart Bingham v Ricky Walden.

4. German Bundesliga – Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich – Saturday, 2.30pm, BT Sport 1

A win here for Bayern would not wrap up the title but will go a long way of doing so especially if Dortmund fail to win against Hertha Berlin later that evening. Bayern are 7 points ahead of their Bundesliga rivals at present. Leverkusen are in 5th place and are still in with a chance of getting a Champions League spot.

5. IndyCar Texas 600, Sunday, 01.00am, Sky Sports F1

If you love your racing then this is for you. Indycar returns to Texas early Sunday morning Ireland time. The president of Indycar said this week that the safety plan in place is thorough and that it will be a fantastic event.

Connacht Rugby announce six professional contracts

Connacht Rugby have announced six professional contracts at the province. The six contracts all come from players making the step up for the Academy. Niall Murray, Jordan Duggan, Colm Reilly, Sean Masterson, Conor Dean and Peter Sullivan are the six players who will be in the squad for next season.

Niall Murray as you all may know is a player familiar to SportsNewsIreland. Murray has come through the grassroots at Connacht. He played with Buccaneers. Moreover, he made his debut in December at lock, when coming on as a substitute in the Heineken CUp against Gloucester. He has played at U20 international level for Ireland at the World Cup in 2019 and in the Six Nations.

Prop Jordan Duggan has also played at U19 and U20 international level for Ireland. He played at the U20 World Cup with his team mates Paul Boyle, Conor Dean, Oisin Dowling and Sean Masterson. Another player who has signed a contract is Colm Reilly. Colm has represented both Ballinasloe and won a Connacht Schools Cup with the famed Garbally College. He scored the winning Grand Slam try for the U20’s in 2019 against Wales to clinch the Six Nations title.

Sean Masterson, is the younger brother of current Connacht player Eoghan. He has experience of playing with the side already. He made his debut in the back row against Italian side Treviso, incidentally replacing his brother Eoghan. Conor Dean plays at out-half has also been capped by the province. He played in the final game of the 2018/19 season which was against Munster. He has also played for the Connacht Eagles side in the Celtic Cup.

Peter Sullivan is the least experienced of all the players to sign a contract, however he is a quality player . He joined the Connacht academy last season and has obviously impressed Andy Friend to warrant a professional contract. In addition, he played a big part in the Connacht Eagles side in the 2019/20 season. Speaking to the Connacht Rugby website, current head coach Andy Friend said, “We are delighted to confirm today’s news as we build for the future. I am a firm believer that a club’s lifeline is its Academy structure, and this exciting group of young players proves that the Connacht Academy is extremely healthy, and will continue to have a positive impact on our squad going forward”.

Eric Elwood, former Connacht player and current academy manager said, “I would like to congratulate the six players on their first professional contracts and joining up with the pro squad for next season. It has been a pleasure to watch the players develop and grow over the years and we wish them well on the next step of their journey in their rugby careers”. 

 

New Zealand rugby tournament to allow red card replacements

BBC Sport report that a New Zealand club rugby tournament will allow red carded players to be replaced 20 minutes after they have been sent off in New Zealand’s new Super Rugby tournament.

The tournament will begin on June 13th after getting approval from the relevant authorities that it can go ahead. It will feature the country’s five Super rugby sides in a mini domestic series. The games will be played behind closed doors. New Zealand’s head of profesional rugby Chris Lendrum said “Paying rugby fans, players and coaches want to see a fair contest,”. He continued, “Replacing a player after 20 minutes strikes the right balance.”

Furthermore, rules have also been changed at the breakdown. Rules will now see both ball carriers to play the ball and tacklers to move away quicker. Stuff.co.nz say that the red card will work that when a player is sent from the field. The affected team has to allow 20 minutes before making a replacement. They state “The red carded player can’t return and will still face a judical process”.

Another new rule in the new mini league named Super Rugby Aotearoa is “golden point”. This will basically determine a winner if scores are tied after 80 minutes. The first team to score a drop goal, penalty goal or try will be deemed the winner. The period will 10 added minutes extra time. Mr Lendrum said, “The first team to score – by drop goal, penalty goal, or try – during a 10-minute period of extra time will win the game and remove the prospect of “feeling a little empty”.

He said he wanted to make the competition look and feel different. Mr Lendrum also said that there was great support from all the clubs,coaches, players and referees to make the Super Rugby Aotearoa tournament faster and more exciting than ever before.

GAA to sign off on Return to play protocol

The GAA looks set to make steps from exiting the lockdown with the association saying they a return to play protocol will be agreed on by the GAA’s Covid 19 Advisory Group. This will then be ratified by the GAA hierarchy.

RTE say that the plan will likely be announced this coming Friday which is line when the government is expected to announced a move to phase 2 from Monday June 8th. The plan is set to look a gradual unrolling of restrictions. Of course this will be dependent on goverment advice and the R rate of the virus remaining low. Phase 2 will see the opening of walking tracks but it won’t be till phase 3 really till we start to see players back out on the pitches. GAA pitches will likely reopen and of course the clubs will have appointed Covid officers and supervisors to keep on top of things.

RTE have said that county boards have been planning and organising a return to the club championship which could see some club championships compacted and completed by the end of July. The pressure on clubs is quite high. They are not getting any gate receipts from games or sponsorship. However, if club grounds were to open then clubs will have to have the correct signs in place which show social distancing, as well hand washing facilities and sanitiser been placed around each club ground. It is also expected all equipment used will have to be washed and sanitised.

We all need to understand that the way the GAA will operate will be obviously different when it gets back. Everything we do in life has obviously now changed, be it queing to get into a shop, constantly hand washing, social distancing, these are just going to part and parcel of Ireland for the next couple of months at least. When the GAA does come back we will all certainly have the appetite for it !

 

Virtual Season Tickets offered to SPL fans

The Scottish Premiership and Sky Sports have come on board to offer SPL fans virtual season tickets. These tickets will allow fans to watch broadcasts of their clubs home games when action resumes in August.

RTE Sport report that the Scottish Professional League announced it had agreed terms with Sky Sports on a new package to show 48 games next season. They have also spread the cost of rebate for fixtures not completed this season in a five year contract. Chief Executive of the Scottish Professional Football League, Neil Doncaster said, “This is an innovative and pragmatic solution to the challenges posed by Covid-19 and I’m grateful for the flexibility shown by our clubs and by Sky Sports”.

He continued, “This agreement means that any liability for games not delivered during Season 2019/20 has now been settled, on terms that reflect Sky’s status as a committed partner and supporter of Scottish football.” Celtic were confirmed Scottish Champions earlier last month after it was determined the season would not be completed. It was the Glasgow based side 9th sucessive title in a row in Scotland.

Meanwhile, the SPFL have also asked clubs if they would back 14 team Scottish Premiership next season. BBC Sport report that letters have been sent to clubs in the top two tiers. The proposal would mean Inverness Caledonian Thistle would be promoted if it was passed. Hearts owner, Ann Budge, has already been in talks with the SPFL. She has suggested a change for two seasons to replace the 12-10-10-10 configuration. This would also mean the Edinburgh based club would avoid relegation.

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