Damien Varley has had to call time on his rugby career. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

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• There was sad news for Damien Varley today as the Munster hooker was forced to retire aged just 31.
• Munster will also have to do without the services of Robin Copeland for the rest of this season after a shoulder injury.
• Three League of Ireland clubs are still awaiting their licences just three weeks out from the start of the new season.
• Rory McIlory continues to draw the big names for the 2015 Irish Open with Sergio Garcia and Ernie Els the latest to sign up.
• Andy Keogh is in Perth Glory’s bad books after a nightclub arrest.

Away

Rob Kearney runs through Phil Vickery in 2008. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

• Phil Vickery is the latest ex-England international to publicly state that Ireland’s Grand Slam ambitions will come crashing down against the Red Rose.
• A 26-year old Cardiff Blues player has been left ‘devastated’ after having to retire from rugby due to concussion.
• Liverpool’s Lazar Markovic has been handed a four-game European ban for the red card he picked up against Basel.
• Scott Laird earned a whole £1 for his goal against Manchester United last night. We hope he doesn’t spend it all in the one shop.

The best thing we shared today

Roy Keane is back on your TV screens tonight and we were very excited to see the Corkman back in the ITV studio.

On the record

“We must now work to ensure that the Markets Field is speedily brought into use and I look for all and everyone’s support to this end.”

Limerick FC Chairman Pat O’Sullivan today announced his team would have to find a new home for early stages of the new season.

Where we were today

Gerard O'Donnell, John Travers, Kelly Proper and Ciaran O Lionaird at today's launch. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Steve O’Rourke was at the launch of the National Indoor Athletics Championships in the Marker hotel today.

While Paul Dollery was finding out just why Kilkenny hurling star Jackie Tyrell is heading for Major League Baseball.

Will Jackie Tyrell be staring in his own version of Field of Dreams soon? James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

The fixture list

• In the GAA Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-finals, Cork IT take on NUI Galway at Cork IT with throw in at 2pm. UL take on UCD in the other game at 3pm in Limerick.
• There’s also a MacRory Cup quarter-final in Ulster where St Pat’s Maghera host St Pat’s Dungannon in Ballinderry at 7.30pm.
• The Champions League continues with Basel hosting Porto while Real Madrid travel to Schalke with both games kicking off at 7.45pm.

Showbiz, baby!

The Conor McGregor documentary continues to enthral and we looked at the best bits.

He accused me of being a stalker but I was just taking pictures of a stranger without their knowledge.

LIVE: PSG v Chelsea, Champions League

Damien Varley has been forced to retire from rugby at the age of 31