Hideki Matsuyama has become the first Asian player to win the Masters and the only Japanese male to win a major. Matsuyama's 10 under par saw him win the first major of 2021 by one from Will Zalatoris. Jordan Spieth closed in a share of third with Xander Schauffele at minus seven. Shane Lowry's final round 72 for a level par 288 total gave him a top-25 finish that, perhaps, provided some indication of a forward path for future attempts to add a green jacket to his wardrobe.

Two Irish boats made it to the podium in the finals of the European Rowing Championships in Varese, Italy, for a gold and silver weekend. The lightweight pair of Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy, convincingly won the gold medal to add to the World Championship gold they won in 2019, while the Women's Four of Emily Hegarty, Eimear Lambe, Aifric Keogh and Fiona Murtagh, came from a slow start in their final to edge out Britain for the silver.

A Challenge Cup semi-final away to Leicester on April 30th – May 2nd awaits Ulster after their flawed but uplifting win over Northampton. Leinster have been drawn away to La Rochelle in the semi-finals of the Champions Cup, meaning a meeting with the French club's Director of Rugby, Jono Gibbes as well as their head coach Ronan O'Gara. The other four-time winners, Toulouse, will host Bordeaux-Begles in the other semi-final in three weeks' time.

Meanwhile, West Ham held off a Leicester comeback to regain fourth place in the Premier League, before Manchester United came from a goal down to beat Tottenham 3-1. The concession of a soft early goal undid the Republic of Ireland women as they lost to Belgium in Sunday evening's friendly in Brussels. In his column this morning Ken Early explains why it's time for Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold to claim the middle ground.