We begin with rugby this morning and Tadhg Furlong's new one-year deal with the IRFU. The Union would undoubtedly have been keen to secure the services of the tighhead until the 2023 Rugby World Cup but, as Gerry Thornley reports this morning, "that Furlong, after nigh on five months of negotiations, ultimately decided on a one-year extension long after the other new central contracts were completed suggests the discussions were not the smoothest," while Leinster coach Felipe Contepomi yesterday said a one-year extension was at least "better than none". Moving on and Gerry Thornley writes in his column this morning that, even two rounds into the hotchpotch Rainbow Cup, it seems that no one quite knows what form it will take but it may well prove to be a pot of gold for Munster. Meanwhile, Bill Corcoran reports from Cape Town that the South African government is under pressure to allow fans attend the Lions series despite a worsening Covid-19 situation.
On to soccer and a new documentary on the playing and managerial career of Alex Ferguson – as well as his recovery from a life-threatening stroke – is set to be released soon. Speaking to Donald McRae, the former Manchester United manager went into detail on the loneliness and fear he experienced after undergoing surgery. Last night Fulham were condemned to relegation just one season after promotion as Ashley Westwood and Chris Wood struck for Burnley to secure their top-flight status.
In GAA, Cork's James Loughrey has called time on an intercounty career which also included wearing the jersey of his native Antrim. Speaking of Antrim, but in the other code, Seán Moran writes this morning about their rise back to top-flight hurling which saw them beat Clare on Sunday - their first win over an established county since 2012. "Antrim club hurling is getting stronger and stronger. If you look at last year's championship there were five clubs: Loughgiel and Cushendall from the glens, Dunloy, just on the periphery and then St John's and Rossa in the city. There was just a puck of a ball between the five. There's a good spread of city and county," says county chairman Ciarán McCavana.
Moving on to golf and Ireland's Niall Kearney will take his place in the British Masters at the Belfry this week after a final round of 61 at last week's Canary Islands Championship changed his course from the Challenge Tour to the main tour. "Kearney's form - tied-21st in the Gran Canaria Open, tied-60th in the Tenerife Open and tied-fourth in the Canary Islands Championship - has also seen him make a big move up the world rankings, from 1,276th at the start of the year to a current position of 576th, a career best," writes Philip Reid.
