Rugby is under threat and it's starting from schools level. So writes former IRFU referee director Owen Doyle this morning as he points to the examples set in New Zealand where participation numbers are falling rapidly. While Irish rugby is in good shape, Doyle writes that it is not immune to similar problems which, if they beset the rugby-mad nation of New Zealand, can have the same affect anywhere. "Don't doubt it for a moment, but parents are thinking twice about allowing their kids to play and it wouldn't take too much for that ball to start rolling. Stopping it would be another matter," he writes. Elsewhere, Ireland under-20s coach Noel McNamara spoke to John O'Sullivan about the scale of the task his team faces in defending their Grand Slam title when they get the Six Nations underway against Scotland next Friday.
Moving on to soccer and Niall Quinn says he is happy to step into the breach as he takes the deputy CEO role at the FAI, even if it is only on a short-term basis. According to the association, Quinn's role will be a fairly sprawling one with the Dubliner set to have a hand in developing a brighter future for the League of Ireland, helping to improve "player pathways" working with the grassroots of the game and rebuilding relationships with stakeholders, including Government and the media. Meanwhile, our new series begins this morning on Irish people making a living abroad in football with Danny Ledwith first up as he speaks to Aonghus Ó Maicín about combining playing and his football development role in New Zealand. On the pitch, Liverpool made it 22 wins from 23 games last night as Roberto Firmino struck six minutes from time to give them a 2-1 win away to Wolves to remain 16 points clear of Manchester City with a game in hand.
In GAA, the news came out last night that Henry Shefflin has stepped down as Ballyhale Shamrocks manager after guiding the club to back-to-back All-Ireland titles during his two years in charge. "Speculation will turn to a possible involvement with the Kilkenny team although the season is about to begin and Brian Cody, embarking on his 22nd season as manager, has already brought in DJ Carey as a selector," writes Seán Moran. In football a big weekend is in store as officials and referees brace themselves for new rules coming into place. The new rules were trialled in last year's league, but there's no mistaking the heightened urgency of rules that are here to stay, compared to 12 months ago when everyone knew they wouldn't apply for the championship. With the football and hurling leagues getting underway this week we will have full guides to all divisions between today and tomorrow, starting with Malachy Clerkin's guides to Division Three and Division Four.
In golf, Rory McIlroy for his 2020 off to a hot start in San Diego last night as he fired a first round of 67 to sit one shot off the lead at the Farmers Insurance Open. McIlroy is the only Irish player in the field at Torrey Pines and he is nicely placed heading into the second round while Tiger Woods is also lurking. In Flordia, Stephanie Meadow got her LPGA Tour season off to a solid start with a round of 71 while Leona Maguire's much-anticipated debut did not start as she would have wanted with the Cavan golfer eventually signing for a 79. ON the European Tour, Shane Lowry gets his second round underway at the Dubai Desert Classic within the next hour with the British Open champion starting at level par but that sees him now sit nine shots off the lead which is currently held by Eddie Pepperell who is six under through his first 14 holes of the second round. Pádraig Harrington also takes to the first tee shortly after his opening round of one under.
Finally to tennis and Caroline Wozniacki's career came to an end this morning as she was beaten by Dayana Yastremska at the Australian Open in Melbourne, paving the way for her retirement to be confirmed. Meanwhile, Serena Williams also crashed out with a surprise defeat to China's Wang Qiang.
