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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.

Humphreys steps down as Gloucester director of rugby

Former Ulster and Ireland fly-half David Humphreys has said he will leave his position as director of rugby of Gloucester. He will leave his role at the end of the month.

Humphreys has been with Gloucester since 2014. He has been succesful at the club, winning the European Challenge Cup in his first season in charge. His side finished third in last year’s England Aviva Premiership. However, Gloucester, have only had four wins this campaign from 13 games. The campaign just like most other sports across the world are on hold due to Covid 19. Humphreys will leave the side a month after Johan Ackermann stepped down from his position as head coach.

The former fly-half has obviously thought deeply about the decision. He has opted to  leave  Gloucester can start off with a new coaching ticket. Speaking to the Gloucester Rugby site he said, “It has been a huge honour to have played a small part in the history of this great club.” Humphreys said he loved every minute and that he was fortunate to work with great staff and players. He stated he took time following the departure of Ackermann from the head coach position, to consider his own role at the club, he said, However, following Johan Ackermann’s departure last month, I took some time to review my own position at Gloucester and in light of many new challenges facing professional rugby as a result of Covid-19, I felt it was the right time for me to move on”.

Lance Bradley is said to be on the hunt for the new coach. An appointment and new coaching structure are set to be announced in July. The club chairman Martin St Quinton said. “It’s been a real pleasure getting to know David during his time at Gloucester, both from a professional and a personal point of view”.

Rugby Australia let go third of staff

Rugby Australia have announced they will let go almost a third of full time staff to mitigate the impact of Covid 19 in terms of finances of the union.

The organisation announced that 47 of it’s 142 full time staff will be leaving over the next few months. The news comes after they announced cuts which will include 30 contractors and casual workers who will lose their jobs immediately. Just last month Rugby Australia announced they could be at a loss of $120 million. Furthermore, they let go three players who refused to take pay cuts. BBC Sport that senior staff will take a 5% decrease in salary, while Rugby Australia’s wage bill will by over $5 million dollars. The Australian rugby website has also been cut, rugby.com.au, which is an independent news arm. The Sunday Morning say that Rugby Australia will now push out it’s own content without a dedicated team of reporters.

Interim Chief Executive of Rugby Australia, Rob Clarke said, “We have delivered the news to staff this morning and told them that Rugby Australia values the contribution of each and every one of them, some of whom have given significant service to Rugby Australia and to the game over many years.” Mr Clarke speaking to the Sunday Morning Herald defended the cuts and stated they were “difficult but prudent in the current landscape”.

Clarke said that a key part of financial planning is a successful Wallabies. He said, “A key part of our financial underpinning is a successful Wallabies,” Clarke said. “It’s not everything but it’s certainly a key part of it. We’ll be protecting that as much as possible … to help get the Wallabies where they need to get to as a world ranking”.

Dave Rennie who is the new head coach won’t have to take a pay cut according to the Chief Executive. He said, “Dave hasn’t started yet, so he will be excluded from that,” Clarke said. “All other staff over a certain threshold will be invited to take a five per cent pay cut. It’s a legal requirement and so we’ll be following the law there”. He also stated the National Rugby Championship would not take place this year. However, he said there has been talks regarding the Bledisloe Cup matches. This of course between Australia and New Zealand, with the likely scenario two games in each country. He said the Wallabies will likely host New Zealand, World Champions South Africa and Argentina in a revised Rugby Championship.

 

College Football Game postponed at Aviva Stadium

The Aer Lingus Classic American football game between the Navy and Notre Dame  has been cancelled at the Aviva Stadium. The game will now be played in America according to RTE Sport.

In truth the game was never going to be likely played. This coming after the government in April issued a ban on events and public gatherings of more than 5,000 people. RTE say that organisers of the event told them they didn’t need a licence and therefore that regulation wouldn’t come into effect. A statement on Tuesday said, “Following extensive consultation with the Irish government, medical authorities and the leadership teams at Navy and Notre Dame, the Aer Lingus Classic football game scheduled for 29 August will not be played at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland”.

The statement said the game will now be played in Annapolis and will open the 2020 college football season. It said, “It is the intention of both Navy and Notre Dame to open the 2020 college football season with the 94th consecutive playing of the longest continuous intersectional rivalry in the country at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, USA”.

Nearly 40,000 American visitors were due to attend the game but obviously now that won’t be happening meaning a knock on effort for restaurants, pubs, clubs and hotels. Many are struggling and many remain closed and will be until July. The game was also due to be live on ESPN which would broadcast to a potential 6 million people.

Leo Varadkar said about the game,  College football is one of the greatest spectacles in world sport and we had been thoroughly looking forward to welcoming Navy and Notre Dame here this summer for the first game of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic Series”. He continued “Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, that is now not possible, but we hope to see both universities return to Aviva Stadium in the coming years.”

Ighalo to remain at United until January

Odion Ighalo will remain at Man United until January according to BBC Sport. Ighalo joined United on loan from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua which was meant to be until the end of May.

BBC state that United won’t have an option to by the 30 year old  Nigerian international when his loan expires at the end of January. Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, United manager said, “It’s been a dream for him and hopefully he can finish what he started and win a trophy with us”.

Ighalo has had a fantastic few months at Old Trafford. He has scored 4 goals in 8 appearances for the side. He scored in United’s 5-0 trashing of Austrian side Lask Linz in the Europa League meeting between the sides. Incidentally that was the last time Manchester United played a competitve fixture before everything was brought to a halt by the lockdowns and restrictions across Europe and the world due to Covid 19.

Last week it was announced that the Premier League will return on June 17th. Man United currently sit in 5th place in the Premier League standings on 45 points, they are 3 points off fourth placed Chelsea who are on 48 points with nine rounds of matches to go.

Solksjaer’s side will have plenty to look forward to when action resumes. As well as the hunt for the Champions League spot, United will carry that five goal advantage into the second leg at Old Trafford, while they will also play in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

IRFU issue roadmap for rugby

The IRFU have issued a roadmap for a return to rugby for its 217 clubs and will issue more guidelines and details on Friday.

A statement issued by the IRFU said the main reason why the roadmap was drawn up  was to provide high level clarity to clubs and ensure Covid 19 safety measures are taken before activities can take place. The rugby guidelines will be issued on June 5th, in accordance to both the Irish and Northern Ireland governments.

A club Covid 19 safety officer is also appointed to ensure compliance with public health protocols at the club. However, RTE Sport state that they may only return to work only in accordance to government protocols. Director of Rugby Development, Colin McEntee said, “Like everyone else, our community has been following the updates to government roadmaps and recovery plans and asking when clubs can reopen. That’s from junior clubs right up to our men’s and women’s clubs in the Energia All-Ireland League”.

He continued, “Many clubs are already looking at revised operating procedures. This plan is about helping all clubs move forward as one in providing health and well-being opportunities for their community”. Mr McEntee said, “”I’m hopeful our clubs can rise to the challenge. The support will be there for them at both national and provincial level. From there, we can look at a graduated return to rugby with a focus on reduced activities and non-contact forms of the game along the way.”

Let’s hope we can some sort of return to games in the coming days and weeks.

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