Brian O'Driscoll will be assisting with Ireland's 2023 Rugby World Cup bid. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

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• Clare senior football manager Colm Collins has been hit with a 12-week ban following an incident with a linesman during his side’s league clash with Fermanagh.
• Galway, Westmeath and Offaly all named their teams for this weekend’s championship action.
• Dundalk’s Richie Towell — who else? — was named SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland Player of the Month for April.
• The Oversight Board for Ireland’s bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup was revealed, with Brian O’Driscoll named as bid ambassador.
• Paul O’Connell promised to make a decision on his future playing plans after winning two honours at the IRUPA awards.
• Each of the four Irish provinces will enter a team into the second Limerick World Club Se7ens Series this summer.

Nineteen-year-old Brazilian prospect Nathan is heading to Stamford Bridge. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Away

• Chelsea announced the signing of rising star Nathan from Atletico Paranaense.
• Clarke Carlisle has been banned from driving for three years after pleading guilty to a drink-driving offence.
• Steven Gerrard said he hopes to ‘keep it together’ when he bids farewell to Anfield on Saturday.
• The Premier League’s oldest player announced his intention to retire at the end of the season.
• The ‘Save The Children’ charity poured cold water on reports that Cristiano Ronaldo donated €7million in order to help those impacted by the recent earthquakes in Nepal.

The best thing we shared

How well do you remember that time Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy almost started a civil war? Find out by taking our Saipan quiz.

"How can we compete at a World Cup when our bottled water is warmer than room temperature, ya langer?" INPHO INPHO

 On the record

“A few small results got away from us at the end of games, but we’re learning all the time. This is the first time in a while that we’ve had something to play for in the last game of the season, so it’s massive for Connacht.”

Ireland and Connacht centre Robbie Henshaw looks ahead to a very important weekend in the Guinness Pro12.

Where we were today

Ben Blake was at the Davenport Hotel in Dublin to speak to Dundalk midfielder Richie Towell, who was picking up his SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland Player of the Month award for April.

Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE

The fixture list

• There are three games tomorrow in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division — including champions Dundalk versus Derry City at Oriel Park — plus three more in the First Division.
• Two Leinster MFC quarter-finals are down for decision: Laois versus Kildare and Longford versus Carlow.

Showbiz, baby!

Who’s getting your vote for the goal-of-the-month award? Some absolute crackers from the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division in April.

“Who’s Dana Carvey?”

We’re struggling to pick a winner for the SSE Airtricity League’s goal of the month award

‘I feel I have played well’ – Gareth Bale insists he’ll learn from this season