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Donnacha Ryan plays with the kids as the Irish rugy squad visited The Bhudesl Pride Charity. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

• Rory McIlroy pulled out of this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero over fears of the Zika virus.
• This obviously brought quite a bit of reaction, with Ireland team captain Paul McGinely expressing his disappointment.
• Team news has started to roll in ahead of Ireland’s crunch Euro 2016 clash with Italy.
• Donegal’s Neil McGee has failed in his appeal to be cleared from suspension for Saturday’s Ulster senior football semi-final against Monaghan.
• Ireland’s Nicolas Roche doesn’t feature on Team Sky for this year’s Tour de France.
• Leinster have confirmed their pre-season fixtures, including a tie with Ulster in Navan.

Away

Ireland fans ahead of the match in Lille. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

• Paul Clement has been appointed as Bayern Munich assistant manager five months after he was sacked by Derby.
• England coach Eddie Jones has backed Dylan Hartley to captain the British and Irish Lions next year on their tour of New Zealand.
• Italy international Andrea Masi has called it a day due to a long-standing Achilles injury sustained at the Rugby World Cup.
• Ma’a Nonu has been ruled out of Toulon’s Top 14 final against Racing 92 on Friday with a head injury.

Where we were today

Ben Blake and Paul Fennessy are in Lille ahead of tonight’s big match, Murray Kinsella was at a media event for the women’s rugby sevens, and Ryan Bailey made his way to Croke Park as Herbalife announced their sponsorship of TJ Reid and Shamrock Rovers FC.

Lucy Mulhall and Audrey O'Flynn at the media event. Gary Carr / INPHO Gary Carr / INPHO / INPHO

The best thing we shared

Paul McGrath was at it again on Twitter today.

On the record

“It’s a pity your team is shit,” one French journalist told The42. “Because your fans are the best.”

The fixture list

Before facing into a two day break at the Euros, we end the group stages on a high tonight. The nation holds its breath: Ireland v Italy (8pm) and Sweden v Belgium (8pm). Meanwhile, Colombia play Chile in the Copa America semi-final (1am Irish time)

Showbiz, baby!

Don’t get on the wrong side of Cristiano Ronaldo, that’s for sure.

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‘I have cried tears & spilled blood in trying to qualify for Rio’ – reacting to Rory’s decision

RTÉ’s montage for Ireland’s crunch game against Italy will have you believing again