Friday Lunch: Eadestown’s Jimmy O' Brien Named In the Leinster Team For Sunday's United Rugby Championship Match Against Connacht

Two Kildare players have been named in the Connacht team to face Leinster

RUGBY

Johnny Sexton is back in the Leinster team for Sunday's United Rugby Championship clash with Connacht.

The side shows 13 changes in all following the St Stephen's Day win over Munster, with Jordan Larmour and Ryan Baird the only players to retain their place.

Eadestown’s Jimmy O Brien starts at full back.

📥 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 #𝐋𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐑𝐮𝐠𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑!

©️ Johnny Sexton captains the side
🏉 Milne and Deeney set for first starts of the season
🎓 Three Academy players on the bench#LEIvCON #FromTheGroundUp pic.twitter.com/zyNWFaPXSt

— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) December 30, 2022

Connacht have made eight changes for the trip to the RDS.

Suncroft’s Cian Prendergast starts at blindside flanker, while Eadestown’s Diarmuid Kilgallen starts on the wing.

Brothers Niall and Darragh Murray set to start together for the first time in the second row.

🟢 𝙏𝙀𝘼𝙈 𝘼𝙉𝙉𝙊𝙐𝙉𝘾𝙀𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏 🟢

Meet the first Connacht squad of 2023 🙌#LEIvCON #BKTURC

Full story: https://t.co/oJ4bYhKq0m pic.twitter.com/dkfqZxF1Sy

— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) December 30, 2022

Meanwhile, Mike Haley is back from injury to take his place at full-back in the Munster team to face Ulster.

The Ulster side includes Billy Burns at out-half, after he missed the win over Connacht.

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England prop Joe Marler's been charged by the Rugby Football Union after he verbally provoked Bristol flanker Jake Heenan while playing for Harlequins.

It's reported he made a comment about his opponent's mother during Tuesday's Premiership defeat.

Marler will face a disciplinary hearing this afternoon.
 

SOCCER

Pele will be remembered at Premier League matches from tonight, with players wearing black armbands and a minute's applause to be held before games.

The Brazil legend, regarded by many as the best to have ever played the game, died yesterday aged 82.

Flags at the base of world football's governing body FIFA are flying at half-mast, in what a spokesman says is a "symbol of mourning and respect".

Tonight's games in the English top tier see West Ham take on Brentford from 7.45, while Liverpool host Leicester at 8.

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Celtic have confirmed the signing of Tomoki Iwata
 

The 25-year-old, who can play in both defence and midfield, joins from Yokohama F Marinos subject to international clearance.

Iwata will initially join on loan before the move becomes permanent next summer.


DARTS

The action is underway at the PDC World Darts Championship.

The last 16 meeting between Belgian duo Kim Huybrechts and Dimitri van den Bergh is in the early stages.

World number four Michael Smith will also feature in the afternoon session when he plays Joe Cullen shortly after 3pm.

Tonight, three-time champion Michael van Gerwen and 2018 winner Rob Cross are both in action.