Thursday Lunch: Athy's Jeremy Loughman Will Earn His First Cap For Ireland Against Fiji This Weekend

Maynooth's Mark Travers and Leixlip's Nathan Collins are both included in Stephen Kenny's side to take on Norway next Thursday

RUGBY

Athy's Jeremy Loughman will earn his first cap for Ireland this weekend in the game against Fiji this weekend.

Also named in the forwards is Eadestown's Tadhg Beirne.

In the backs, Eadestown's Jimmy O'Brien is at full back, with Athy's Joey Carbery named in outhalf taking the place of Johnny Sexton.

Suncroft's Cian Prendergast has been named on the bench.

Your Ireland line up to face Fiji at a sold-out Aviva Stadium! ✊#TeamOfUs | #IREvFIJI

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) November 10, 2022

Munster head coach Graham Rowntree says tonight's clash with South Africa 'A' offers a chance for improvement.

The Springboks selection are in Cork for the first meeting between the sides in over 50 years.

Munster lost to Ulster by a single point in their last United Rugby Championship outing.
Kick off at a sold-out Páirc Uí Chaoimh is at half seven.

SOCCER

The Republic of Ireland squad for this month's international friendlies will be named today.

Stephen Kenny's side take on Norway next Thursday, before a meeting with Malta three days later.

Maynooth's Mark Travers and Leixlip's Nathan Collins are both included, while fellow Leixlip man Andrew Omobamidele misses out. 

Ireland play Norway next Thursday at the Aviva Stadium before travelling to Malta on Sunday 20th November.

The full squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Gavin Bazunu (Southampton), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth).

Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Nathan Collins (Wolverhampton Wanderers), John Egan (Sheffield United), Dara O'Shea (West Bromwich Albion), Darragh Lenihan (Middlesbrough), Liam Scales (Aberdeen, on loan from Celtic), James McClean (Wigan Athletic), Robbie Brady (Preston North End).

Midfielders: Josh Cullen (Burnley), Jeff Hendrick (Reading, on loan from Newcastle United), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Will Smallbone (Stoke City, on loan from Southampton), Jamie McGrath (Dundee United).

Forwards: Michael Obafemi (Swansea City), Callum Robinson (Cardiff City), Scott Hogan (Birmingham City), Chiedozie Ogbene (Rotherham United), Will Keane (Wigan Athletic), Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion), Callum O'Dowda (Cardiff City).
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The draw for the fourth round of the Carabao Cup will be made tonight.

It'll follow the meeting of Manchester United and Aston Villa in the last of the third round ties.

Kick off at Old Trafford is at 8pm.

Meanwhile, Southampton have appointed former Luton boss Nathan Jones as their new manager.

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Former Donegal Gaelic football boss Jim McGuinness is among the names linked to the Finn Harps managerial role.

McGuinness - who guided his home county to the 2012 All-Ireland title - has since moved into soccer.

He had a spell in charge of Charlotte Independence in the United States, while he also held a coaching role with Celtic.

Harps are on the lookout for a new manager following the departure of Ollie Horgan.


CRICKET

England have cruised into the final of the T20 World Cup with a 10-wicket hammering of India.

Captain Jos Buttler and fellow opening batter Alex Hales both hit unbeaten half centuries as they passed a target of 169 with 4 overs to spare.

Chris Jordan's 3 wickets helped restrict their opponents to 168 for in Adelaide.

Buttler's side will play Pakistan in Sunday's showpiece in Melbourne.


SNOOKER

Jordan Brown is one match away from a place in the UK Championship.

The Antrim man takes on Zak Surety in the final round of qualifiers at Ponds Forge this afternoon.

The first to six frames will earn their place in the first round.


GOLF

Leona Maguire returns to action later.

The Cavan native joins Stephanie Meadow in the field for the Pelican Women's Championship in Florida.