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Leinster fans will be hoping Graham Henry can make a big impact in a short space of time. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

• New Zealand’s World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry will join Leinster as a consultant on a short-term contract from 30 July.
• Rory McIlroy has surged to the top of the French Open leaderboard with a second-round 66 in Paris while Padraig Harrington is six shots further back.
• The inclusion of David McInerney is one of four changes in personnel to Clare’s starting team for their senior hurling qualifier against Laois tomorrow.
• Irish amateur middleweight Conor Wallace has been drafted into Conor McGregor‘s training camp ahead of UFC 202.
• Dublin boss Ger Cunningham has made three changes to his Dublin team ahead of their senior hurling qualifier on Leeside tomorrow evening.
• Donegal manager Rory Gallagher has named an unchanged starting XV for his side’s Ulster semi-final replay against Monaghan tomorrow.
• Former St Pat’s player Chris Forrester, who earlier this week was named Peterborough’s club captain for this coming season, has signed a new three-year deal with the club.
• Pro12 champions Connacht have signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Elverys Intersport, reinstating a relationship they had originally formed in 2005.
• Artem Lobov is reportedly being lined up for a bout with Chris Avila on the undercard of UFC 202.

Away

Red seems to suit Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

• Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Sweden star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
  
• It was also revealed that Ryan Giggs will leave Old Trafford after 29 years at the club.
• Juan Martin del Potro claimed a major scalp in his first Grand Slam since the 2014, dumping fourth seed Stan Wawrinka out of Wimbledon.
• Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Celta Vigo and Spain forward Nolito on a four-year deal for a reported €16.5m.
• In-demand Barcelona star Neymar has signed a new five-year deal with the club that will see his buyout clause reach €250m.
• The Chiefs seized top spot on the Super Rugby ladder from the Crusaders with a 23-13 win over their New Zealand rivals in Suva this morning.
• Elsewhere in Super Rugby, the ‘Tongan Thor’ marked his debut with a try for the Reds.
• Crystal Palace have announced the signing of Andros Townsend from Newcastle United on a five-year contract for a fee of £13m (€15.5m).
• Former NFL player Jarryd Hayne could be on his way to Super Rugby, rather than the NRL, according to reports.

Juan Martin del Potro celebrates his win. Ben Curtis Ben Curtis

The best thing we shared

Irish gymnast Kieran Behan is looking sharp ahead of the Rio Olympics.

 On the record

Going back it was a man’s game and if you were a young lad going out against the likes of ‘The Rock’ [Diarmuid O'Sullivan] and Seán Óg hAilpín they were strong men. The game has changed now in that you need speed now more so than physicality. For myself I concentrated on conditioning and nutrition and I think it has helped.

Kilkenny forward and reigning Hurler of the Year TJ Reid opened up on his progression from fringe player to leading light with Brian Cody’s side.

 The fixture list

• The quarter-finals of Euro 2016 continue tonight with Wales and Belgium facing each other in Lille from 8pm. Tomorrow night, at the same time, two European giants, Germany and Italy, will battle it out in Bordeaux for a spot in the final four.
• Closer to home, Derry City host Dundalk in the SSE Airtricity League from 7.45pm tonight. Tomorrow night it’s Bray Wanderers v Wexford Youths and Longford Town v Bohemians (both 7.45pm starts).
• There is plenty of GAA action to keep you entertained tomorrow. In Gaelic football, Laois and Armagh play their refixture in Portlaoise (3pm). In Breffni Park, Donegal and Monaghan will replay their Ulster semi-final after their draw last weekend. In the qualifiers, Sligo and Leitrim square off in a Connacht derby in Markievicz Park from 6pm.
• There are also four fixtures in the hurling qualifiers: Wexford v Offaly (3.30pm, Innovate Wexford Park), Westmeath v Limerick (5pm, TEG Cusack Park), Clare v Laois (7pm, Cusack Park) and Cork v Dublin (7pm, Páirc Uí Rinn).
• In the senior camogie championship there are three Group 1 fixtures: Waterford v Wexford (2.30pm), Cork v Offaly (3.45pm) and Clare v Limerick (4.30pm). And two fixtures in Group 2: Dublin v Galway and Tipperary v Kilkenny (both 2.30pm).
• In tennis, action continues at Wimbledon
• While in golf, Rory McIlroy is tied for the lead in the French Open, six shots clear of Padraig Harrington. Shane Lowry is way off the pace as he looks to defend his WGC-Bridgestone title in the US. But the Offaly man will still play this weekend as there is no cut at the event.
• The Tour de France also gets under way in Mont-Saint Michel tomorrow. Ireland’s Dan Martin and Sam Bennett are in the field for the three-week race.
• In motorsport, Formula 1 is in the Styrian mountains this weekend for the Austrian Grand Prix. The third practice and qualifying is on tomorrow.

Showbiz, baby!

Not too many new signings could command this kind of attention.

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