Tottenham's Nacer Chadli celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game Fiorentina. John Walton John Walton

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• Ulster centre Jared Payne has signed a new two-year contract with the IRFU.
• Shamrock Rovers‘ pre-season trip to India has come to end with a 1-0 defeat to Brazilian club Atletico Paranaense in the Sait Nagjee Cup.
• Tommy O’Donnell and Donncha Ryan have been named in Munster‘s team for their Pro12 game against Glasgow Warriors tomorrow evening.
• Former Aston Villa defender Enda Stevens receiving a call-up to the Ireland squad would be ‘a dream’.
• Blackburn’s Irish midfielder Darragh Lenihan has been in the wars recently.
• Four of Limerick‘s brightest young GAA talents face a hectic schedule that could see them all have played at least 10 games in a month by the end of next week.

D'Angelo Cherry, USA, left, on his way to winning the AIT 60m men's final ahead of second place finisher Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Great Britain in Athlone. Cody Glenn / SPORTSFILE Cody Glenn / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE

Away

• Australia coach Michael Cheika has hailed the instant impact Eddie Jones as made in his role with England.
• The FA are investigating allegations that Mansfield Town striker Adi Yussuf urinated in view of supporters during a recent League Two game.
• A former World Rugby doctor says George North is one concussion away from retirement.
• The UFC has confirmed that it is investigating allegations relating to ex-lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn.
• Didier Drogba has leapt to the defence of Paris Saint-Germain full-back Serge Aurie after he was suspended for appearing to make homophobic remarks about manager Laurent Blanc.
• Robbie Lawler refused to be drawn on the prospect of facing Conor McGregor in a welterweight title bout.

The best thing we shared

If you didn’t know it already, here’s proof Andy Gray is a spoofer.
https://streamable.com/p4t5?t=0.0

On the record

“It’s all horseshit, that is.”

Conor McGregor insists that he has no intention of cutting his ties with the UFC, although he still aims to increase his earnings while competing under their banner.

Fixture list

• The Sigerson Cup reaches the semi-final stage on Friday. UCD face UL (1pm) in Jordanstown and UUJ play DCU (3pm) at the same venue later in the day. 
• In the Guinness Pro12, Munster travel to Scotland to face Glasgow Warriors (7.35pm) while Ospreys hosts Edinburgh and Treviso entertain the Dragons.

Showbiz, baby!

This was Eamonn Dunphy labeling Cristiano Ronaldo a disgrace to football, a cheat, a diver after Man United’s Champions League game against Barcelona in 2008.

Last night, he took it all back and admitted he was wrong about the Portuguese international.

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8 key players to watch in tomorrow’s Sigerson Cup semi-finals

More money, more problems: the cost of each Premier League XI makes for interesting reading