Away
- Louis van Gaal has been sacked by Manchester United and Jose Mourinho is expected to be confirmed as the club’s new manager soon.
- Meanwhile, the chaos surrounding the management situation at Old Trafford has been good for business. United’s share price rose by over 4% at one stage and it meant the club’s owners – the Glazer family – have seen their share value increase by around $50m.
- Liverpool have been dealt a blow with the news that top target Mario Gotze is set to stay with Bayern Munich.
- Roy Hodgson has dropped Jamie Vardy from his England squad to the Leicester City striker can prepare for his wedding.
- England rugby coach Eddie Jones has said that leaving Chris Ashton out of the squad for the upcoming tour to Australia was an ‘easy call’.
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- Ireland’s Marc Wilson has been ruled out of this summer’s European Championship due to injury.
- Katie Taylor is just one win away from securing a place at the Rio Olympics after winning her round of 16 bout at the World Boxing Championship.
- Jamie Heaslip says his provincial and international team-mate, Johnny Sexton, is ‘a very emotional man’ after the out-half’s recent criticisms of the environment at Leinster.
- Eoin Morton was the unlikely hero at today’s stage of the Rás as Taco van der Hoorn retains the overall lead.
The Best Thing We Shared
This is ‘The Irish Roar‘ – the country’s official Euro 2016 song. It’s performed by Seo Linn and features a lovely tribute to the late Bill O’Herlihy.
It’s well worth a listen and will certainly get you in the mood for the summer.
On The Record
They’re four-time champions and three time Heineken Cup winners. We must be 50/1, are we? They know how to win finals, they’ve got big-game players so definitely they have the advantage. It’d be remiss of me to say that Leinster aren’t going to be huge favourites. You saw Jamie Heaslip get man of the match (against Ulster), all of their big players came to the fore. If you were a betting man you’d be backing Leinster.”
Connacht captain John Muldoon is stirring the pot very nicely ahead of next Saturday’s hotly-anticipated Pro12 final against Leinster.
Showbiz, Baby!
Jose Mourinho‘s next game at Old Trafford?
You’ve guessed it – Soccer Aid 2016, when he’ll manage an England team comprised of ‘celebrities’ like Olly Murs, Jack Whitewall and Jonathan Wilkes – y’know, that guy who’s known for being Robbie Williams’ best friend.
Anyway, ‘The Special One’ has been in attendance before – in 2014 – when he famously and delightfully put Murs on his arse.
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