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It was a tough day for rising equestrian star Bertram Allen. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

• Top Irish showjumper Bertram Allen will miss the Rio Olympics after Greg Broderick was picked ahead of him despite Broderick’s inferior world ranking.
• Two of Ireland’s leading bookmakers — Paddy Power and BoyleSports — announced that they will stop taking bets on underage sporting events.
• Wales U20 lock Adam Beard has been cited for an alleged eye gouge on Ireland’s Kelvin Browne during yesterday’s World Championship clash.
• Connacht backs coach Andre Bell is leaving the province and will return to his family in New Zealand ahead of next season.

Away

Wales manager Chris Coleman was in good spirits as his side took to the training ground in Dinard in north-west France. PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

• Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova has been handed a two-year suspension by the International Tennis Federation following her failed drugs test
• Villareal defender Eric Bailly has become the first signing of Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United tenure after the Ivory Coast international completed a transfer from Spain worth a reported €38m.
• Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the highest-paid athlete in the world for the first time in his career.
• Former Celtic boss Neil Lennon has reportedly agreed terms with Hibs and is set to take charge of the club on a one-year rolling contract.
• British Olympic long jumper Greg Rutherford has decided to freeze his sperm because of fears over the Zika virus at this summer’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
• Former Germany international goalkeeper Tim Wiese has accepted a training invitation from the WWE as he moves one step closer to his wrestling dream.
• Sky Sports football presenter Ed Chamberlin has been announced as the face of ITV Racing for next year, meaning he will leave Monday Night Football.
• France security chiefs have launched a ‘terror alert’ app for football fans ahead of the European Championship finals this month.
• Former Nigeria defender and coach Stephen Keshi has died at the age of 54 after suffering a cardiac arrest early on Wednesday morning.
• Tiger Woods has confirmed that he will miss next week’s US Open at Oakmont as he continues his rehabilitation from back surgery.

The best thing we shared

This outrageous, long-range effort from Giannis Maniatis was something to behold and helped his side claim a 2-1 win against Australia in Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium.

On the record

A puck-out came from the Killinan End to the right-hand side. He came out, won it in the air, turned, ran the whole way through and stuck the ball in the net. It encapsulated everything I remember about Shane Long — strength, athleticism in the air, and that turn of pace.

He may have given up the game in his teens but Shane Long left a lasting impression on former Tipperary senior hurler James Woodlock.

Where we were today

David Maher / SPORTSFILE David Maher / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE

Ben Blake landed in France this morning, as did the Ireland squad, management and backroom staff, ahead of their opening fixture of Euro 2016 against Sweden next Monday evening.

The fixture list

• Pádraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell will tee it up at the FedEx St Jude Classic which starts in Memphis tomorrow. Elsewhere, Paul Dunne, Peter Lawrie and Michael Hoey are in the field for the Lyoness Open in Austria.
• In the Copa America, there are two fixtures early tomorrow morning; Brazil v Haiti (12.30am) will be followed by Ecuador v Peru (3am).

Showbiz, baby!

The Ireland rugby squad got up close and personal with a great white shark in Cape Town today. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

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