European Super League unravels as English clubs pull out; Gordon D’Arcy on a final Lions audition

The European Super League is on life support just days after the proposals were revealed, with all six English clubs pulling out of the competition last night amid widespread criticism across the continent. The plans, which would have seen 12 clubs form a breakaway competition, had been lambasted throughout the day and seemingly began to unravel ahead of Chelsea's Premier League clash with Brighton. Around 1,000 supporters protested the plans outside Stamford Bridge before it was announced the Blues would be the first side to withdraw. Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester City all all later released statements last night to confirm their intended U-turns. The European Super League has subsequently released a statement of their own, vowing to reshape the proposals which it insists are legally sound. A dramatic evening also saw Manchester United confirm controversial vice executive chairman Ed Woodward is to leave his role at the end of the season, but maintain this was unrelated to the collapse of the Super League. On the pitch, Brighton held lacklustre Chelsea to a goalless draw with Danny Welbeck hitting the post late on for the Seagulls. There are two Premier League fixtures tonight - 29-year-old Ryan Mason takes charge of Spurs for the first time as they take on Southampton at home (6pm), while Manchester City travel to play Aston Villa (8.15pm).

In his column this morning Gordon D'Arcy has looked ahead to Saturday's clash between Leinster and Munster - a fixture which will remain competitive despite yesterday's effective collapse of the inaugural Rainbow Cup. And D'Arcy has suggested the match - which will have echoes of Rocky V - can serve as one final Lions audition for some Irish stars who could be struggling to make the plane to South Africa. He writes: "As a bolter, Joey Carbery would need to light the RDS up on Saturday. He knows that Leinster is the worst place to come when you are trying to prove a point." And he has also asked who is going to finally take some responsibility for women's rugby in Ireland, following last weekend's heavy Six Nations defeat to France. "History will show that the greatest period in the history of the men's game - when our carefully created professional structures allowed Ireland to become the second best team in the world - also covers a pass-the-parcel treatment around our women's game."

Yesterday it was confirmed all four South Africa franchises would no longer be travelling to Europe to participate in the first-ever Rainbow Cup - news which hardly came as a surprise during a global pandemic. However, the competition is set to go ahead, with the 12 remaining Pro14 teams likely to be split into two groups of six and the winners of each to play each other on the final weekend of June 19th. And, as Gerry Thornley writes this morning, an already dubious idea is now a dog's dinner. "The Pro14 organisers have had the additional logistical difficulties of overseeing a cross-border tournament with teams from four different countries, in contrast to the Top 14 and Premiership, which more than ever have looked like vastly superior competitions this season. But why then take the risk of bringing in another four teams from a fifth country on the other side of the world for a less than meaningful hybrid competition?"

Elsewhere Sonia O'Sullivan is set to take up a coaching role with Nike based in Portland, Oregon, where she will help athletes in the build-up to the Tokyo Olympics. She said: "It's a way for me to travel again in an Olympic year, even though it's very nice here in Melbourne with no Covid restrictions, it feels very far from the action."

European Super League vows to ‘reshape’ after English clubs depart

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In this morning's edition of the My Sporting Passion series Ardal O'Hanlon has discussed his love for tennis, which he believes changed his life as the light of his football career dimmed: "Tennis just suited me. The club I play with is just around the corner from me, five minutes away. You're in and out in a couple of hours. You're back at your desk or back in front of the television - it's not a whole day like golf is. There's no great planning involved."

There were five League of Ireland matched last night, with Daniel Mandriou's injury-time winner giving Premier Division champions Shamrock Rovers a 1-0 win away to Drogheda. Elsewehere Dundalk drew 1-1 at Derry, Sligo Rovers won 3-1 at Bohs, St Pat's beat Waterford 1-0 and Longford and Finn Harps played out a stalemate.

And after the return to training for intercounty athletes, Seán Moran has looked ahead to the real action in his column this morning. Expect more of the same this season, he writes: "With the starting line in sight, what are the prospects of surprise contenders in the All-Ireland championships? Unfortunately both football and hurling are under the rule of particularly dominant teams and little variety appears to be on the horizon."