Brendan Bugler leaves the field as Davy Fitz looks on. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Home

• Clare’s relegation playoff with Kilkenny became even more difficult with news that Brendan Bugler‘s appeal was rejected.
• Sad news in Kilkenny as former Cats boss Fr. Tommy Maher – mastermind of seven All-Ireland wins – passed away aged 92.
• Leinster can call upon seven returning internationals as the Pro12 returns and have named Ian Madigan at 12 for their clash with Glasgow.
• We learned that next season’s Champions Cup will start just two weeks after the World Cup final.
• Twenty Irish athletes are set to benefit from the highest level of Sports Council funding.

Xavi in one of his earliest appearances for Barca. Matthew Ashton / EMPICS Sport Matthew Ashton / EMPICS Sport / EMPICS Sport

Away

• After 17 years with the club, Xavi is set to leave Barcelona to join Al Sadd in Qatar.
• Real Madrid’s Jack Harper was left out of the Scotland U19 squad because he’s ‘not physical enough’ and people are not happy.
• Jonas Gutierrez has criticised Newcastle for not looking after him properly after his cancer diagnosis.
• The NFL banned the genius formation the New England Patriots fooled the Ravens with in the playoffs.
• Speaking of the NFL, it is now home to Wales’ performance guru Adam Beard after he switched rugby for American football.

The best thing we shared today

This is why you really, really should not over-celebrate a goal:

Where we were today

Murray Kinsella was at the Leinster press conference ahead of tomorrow’s game.

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

On The Record

“We’re not worried about trophies at the moment,”

– Matt O’Connor said his side will instead focus on the things they can control this season.

The Fixture List

There is a raft of fixtures in the Premier and First division of the SSE Airtricity League while both Leinster and Ulster are in Pro 12 action.

Showbiz, Baby!

Things got pretty heated between Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor in Boston last night

“They’re all metal heads and hipsters.”