Attack attack attack
D-Day is looming for Leinster and Matt O’Connor, as they head to Marseille on Sunday knowing a win against the might of Toulon is the only way to salvage what has so far been a very disappointing season for the province.
And in order to beat the back-to-back champions of Europe in their own back yard Leinster have to go toe-to-toe and take the game to them, something which both Wasps and Grenoble did with relative success despite their respective defeats to the French Galacticos, writes Gerry Thornley.
In order to topple Toulon, whose eight losses in the Top 14 this season show they are far from being completely invincible, O'Connor's side must use their heads and deploy some 'chaos attack', writes Liam Toland.
Ulster and Ireland tighthead Declan Fitzpatrick, whose last of seven international caps came in Ireland's hearbreaking defeat to the All Blacks in 2013, has announced his early retirement from rugby on medical advice after being plagued by head injuries.
Ireland skipper Paul O'Connell will compete with Conor Murray, Jonathan Sexton and Robbie Henshaw for the Hibernia College Irupa Player's Player of the Year 2015, while Henshaw has also been nominated for the Nevin Spence Young Player of the Year and Try of the Year gongs.
O’Neill enjoying Given’s renaissance
Martin O'Neill has suggested Shay Given's new lease of life at international level and his cup run with Aston Villa has edged him back towards the Ireland number one jersey despite him turning 39 on Monday, although the Ireland boss has rued his side's lack of a star man like Poland's Robert Lewandowski.
In the Europa League last night Napoli stunned second in the Bundesliga Wolfsburg 4-1 away from home, while holders Sevilla beat Zenit St Petersburg in Spain, Sergei Rebrov's Dynamo Kiev conceded late in a 1-1 draw with Fiorentina and Club Brugge and Dnipro produced a stalemate in Belgium.
In the League of Ireland champions Dundalk head to Tallaght to face Shamrock Rovers tonight, while Bohemians take on St Patrick's at Dalymount, Derry City welcome Bray Wanderers, Drogheda welcome Cork and Sligo make the trip to Longford.
Connolly pays tribute to Billings
St Vincent's and Dublin forward Diarmuid Connolly spoke to Ian O'Riordan as he looks to put last season's disappointments behind him, as well as paying tribute to the late Dave Billings.
German by name but Kilkenny by nature, 23-year-old star Mark Schutte was man of the match as Dublin cruised past Limerick to set up Sunday's Allianz League semi against Cork.
Meanwhile Cork are back to full strength for the fixture at Nowlan Park, with manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy welcoming Alan Cadigan, Mark Ellis and Stephen McDonnell back into his starting line-up.
Irish Open cast gets even better
The stellar cast for next month's Irish Open at Royal County Down keeps expanding, with Luke Donald and Martin Kaymer the latest stars recruited by Rory McIlroy, writes Philip Reid.
Graeme McDowell has a share of the lead at the RSC Heritage in South Carolina after he carded a fine 66 to leave him five under par after the first round, while Masters winner Jordan Spieth looked jaded as he limped round in 74.
Elliott considers Don Cossack for Punchestown
Elsewhere Gordon Elliott is weighing up whether to give Aintree winner Don Cossack a run out at the Punchestown Festival.
What to watch out for:
Golf
Sky Sports 4, 5.30am-10.30am, Genzon GC Shenzhen International
Sky Sports 4, 8pm-11pm, South Carolina RBC Heritage
Rugby
BT Sport 1 from 7.30pm, (7.45) Edinburgh v N-G Dragons
Tennis
Sky Sports 3, 9.30am-5.30pm, ATP Monte-Carlo Masters
Cricket
Sky Sports 2 from 2.30pm, 1st Test, D5 West Indies v England
Football
Sky Sports 1 from 7.30pm. (7.45) Norwich City v Middlesbrough
