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• Nicolas Roche has triumphed at the 18th stage of Spain’s Vuelta.
• Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish is set to declare for England, despite representing Ireland at underage level, according to reports this morning.
• Connacht have named their side for tomorrow’s clash with Glasgow.
• More than 120,000 Irish football fans travelled to Britain to watch football in 2014, it has been revealed.
• An Irish fighter believes he is closer to a UFC contract.

Away

• USADA have dismissed claims that Floyd Mayweather had violated any sporting drug laws prior to his fight with Manny Pacquiao.
• The first footballer has been charged with ‘feigning injury,’ after a new ruling was implemented by the FA.
• Paula Radcliffe has compared the recent pressure on her to release blood data to abuse.
• All Black Charles Piutau has joined Wasps on a short-term deal ahead of his 2016 move to Ulster.
• Louis van Gaal has suggested Ryan Giggs will be his successor as Man United manager, while some senior players are understood to have confronted the Dutchman over the manager’s training techniques.

The Best Thing We Shared

Check out this charming cartoon of England’s World Cup stars.

On The Record

There’s credit for having the balls to go for these type of players as they are the kind that Man United should be going for, but getting them has been hard over the last year or two.

Rio Ferdinand gave some rare praise to Ed Woodward today.

The Fixture List

• There’s one match in the Championship, with Reading taking on Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich.
• There’s some Pro12 action tomorrow, with Connacht travelling to play Glasgow.
• The US Open continues, with Serena Williams among the stars in action.
• Stage 19 of the Vuelta takes place.

Showbiz, Baby!

Will Ferrell paid humorous tribute to Jose Mourinho at the GQ Awards recently.

Through all the changes at Old Trafford, an unlikely Antrim youngster remains>

Ferdinand defends under-fire Woodward for ‘having balls’, points the blame at Van Gaal’s system>