The IRFU yesterday declined to name Seán O'Brien or reveal what the London Irish bound flanker did the night after lifting the Guinness Pro14 trophy in Murrayfield to warrant a "sanction." O'Brien, who could not be reached for comment, allegedly urinated on another man in Cassidy's pub on Camden Street. In the Pay for Play pages this morning, John O'Sullivan has full details on how you can make the most of a trip of a lifetime - to Japan for the Rugby World Cup.
The quarter-final pairings of the Copa America 2019 were decided last night as Edinson Cavani bagged a late Uruguay goal to beat Chile and top their group. They'll face Peru on Saturday, Chile will take on Group B winners Colombia the day before. Hosts Brazil play Paraguay on Thursday, and Venezuela face Argentina on Friday. In the Women's World Cup, the United States set up a quarter-final with hosts France, by beating Spain 2-1. Both goals were Megan Rapinoe penalties, one of them controversially confirmed after a lengthy VAR review. In Premier League news, Newcastle revealed on Monday that their hugely popular and successful manager Rafael Benitez would be leaving the club at the end of the week.
The third round draw for the football championship qualifiers was made yesterday, with Mayo hosting Armagh in Castlebar next Saturday afternoon, after Kildare take on Tyrone in Newbridge. The four winners from round three will play the four provincial losers for the remaining four spots in the Super 8s, and the draw really opens things up for those finalists. Two of them will be facing the winners of Westmeath v Clare, and Offaly v Laois. Read here for the full draw details. In his column this morning, Kevin McStay writes that Donegal are shaping up as the biggest danger to Dublin: "What really launches you into the All-Ireland series proper is how you perform in winning your province. Winning it with 10 or 11 guys in top form means, you go forward with a deep conviction. That is the difference in how Kerry and Donegal have come out of Munster and Ulster."
Meanwhile, click here to listen to this week's Added Time Podcast. Malachy Clerkin, Gavin Cummiskey, Eamon Donoghue, Keith Duggan and Philip Reid react to the GAA qualifier draw, the weekend's provincial finals, and James Sugrue having his life flipped upside down on account of his winning the British Amateur Championship in Portmarnock.
