Conor McGregor has announced his retirement from the sport, tweeting on Tuesday morning: "Hey guys quick announcement, I've decided to retire from the sport formally known as "Mixed Martial Art" today." But is he for real this time? In a 2016 Twitter post, he also wrote: "I have decided to retire young. Thanks for the cheese. Catch ya's later." However this was widely seen as a negotiating gambit. The 30 year-old former two-weight UFC champion lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov last October, in his first fight in the octagon in nearly two years.
The Republic of Ireland hope to make it two wins from two at the start of their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign, as Mick McCarthy's team host Georgia at the Aviva tonight. Emmet Malone's probable Irish team sees two changes in personnel, with Matt Doherty unlikely to start on the right of midfield again and John Egan and Robbie Brady likely to come into the XI. Last night England were 5-0 winners over Montenegro, in a match that was overshadowed by racist chanting.
In his column this morning, Gerry Thornley argues that the Six Nations must remain on free-to-air television: "Assuredly the biggest factor in ensuring the Six Nations has historically reached out into the hearts, souls and minds of audiences young and old, both diehard and casual fans, in the competing countries and beyond, is that it has been kept on free-to-air television. The benefits are immeasurable, the damage of any change incalculable." Paul O'Connell is set to join the Toulon coaching staff and Ronan O'Gara is to "potentially" be co-opted onto the French coaching ticket, Gavin Cummiskey has all the latest on those stories here.
Meanwhile Rory McIlroy could return to the world number one spot if all the stars align at the WGC-Dell Technologies Matchplay Championship. He would need to win and for Dustin Johnson to fail to make the semi-final stage and for Justin Rose to finish outside the top three. McIlroy and Shane Lowry are the two Irish players in the championship which sees players compete in pool matches for three days (Wednesday to Friday) with only the 16 group winners advancing to the knockout phases over the weekend.
