Thurs Lunch Sport

FIFA and UEFA Breakaway Decision Upheld; Leinster and Connacht Rugby Sides Named; Becker to be Released?; PDC World Darts Begins

UEFA and FIFA have won legal support for their handling of controversial plans for a breakaway European Super League.

The EU’s Court of Justice says the decision by football’s governing bodies to block the new competition was compatible with law.

12 teams threatened to separate from their domestic leagues last year.

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The Leinster team to play Gloucester in the Heineken Champions Cup tomorrow, at 8pm in the RDS, has been named.

11 of the team who started last weekend’s bonus point win over Racing 92 are named to start.

Hugo Keenan starts at full-back, with Eadestown’s Jimmy O’Brien and James Lowe on the wings.

Garry Ringrose captains the team and is partnered by Charlie Ngatai.

Ross Byrne and Luke McGrath are the half-backs.

Ronan Kelleher is joined in the front row by Andrew Porter and Michael Ala’alatoa

Ross Molony and James Ryan are the second row.

The back row is Jack Conan, Caelan Doris and  Josh van der Flier.
 

Bundee Aki is among eight changes for Connacht, ahead of their Challenge Cup game against Brive in France.

Jack Carty, Finlay Bealham and Suncroft’s Cian Prendergast among those rested.  Mack Hansen is out with a leg injury.

Aki starts alongside Tm Daly in the centre.

Kill’s Adam Byrne and Diarmuid Kilgallen continue on the wings, with Conor Fitzgerald brought in at full-back.

David Hawkshaw retains his place at out-half, while Kieran Marmion at scrum half.

In the pack, Sam Illo makes his first start for the province at tighthead, with Peter Dooley and Shane Delahunt in the front row, while there's also a first start for lock Darragh Murray, who packs down alongside Gavin Thornbury.

Paul Boyle captains the side from number 8, with Oisin Dowling and Shamus Hurley-Langton both at flanker.

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Reports suggest that six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker will be released from prison and deported from the UK.

The German was jailed earlier this year for hiding hundreds of thousands of pounds of assets after he was declared bankrupt.

Becker was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison – he has served eight months.

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Ronnie O'Sullivan is among those in action at the English Open this afternoon.

The seven-time World Champion faces Martin Gould for a place in the last 16.

Mark Allen is due back on the table tonight after his win over Ding Junhui last night.

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Irish players will feature prominently in the PDC World Darts Championship.

The tournament gets underway tonight, with Tyrone's Mickey Mansell up against Ben Robb of New Zealand.

The winner of that match will return to the stage later in the night to face defending champion Peter Wright.

Also this evening, Meath’s Keane Barry meets South Africa's Grant Sampson.

Tyrone’s Nathan Rafferty is on the oche against Jermaine Wattimena of the Netherlands.

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Mick Schumacher and Ferrari have parted ways after four years.

The 23 years old, son of former champion Michael, joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2019 and progressed to Formula One two years later, driving for the Ferrari partner team Haas.

But he was dropped for next season in favour of Nico Hulkenberg.

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An inspection will take place at Fairyhouse tomorrow morning in advance of Saturday's planned meeting.

Today's card at Naas was postponed due to the weather and will take place next Tuesday.