World Cup a statement of intent
Ireland has been named as the venue for the 2017 Women’s World Cup, with the pool games being held at the University College Dublin campus before the tournament heads north for the knock-out stages, which will be played at Queen’s University Belfast and at Ulster’s Ravenhill ground, the venue for the final.
The tournament will cost €3.5 million to hold and doing so is a statement of intent, says IRFU chief executive Philip Browne.
Hosting the tournament is a further testament to the meteoric rise of women's rugby in Ireland in the last few years, writes Gavin Cummiskey.
Nine years after he was first given the award, Paul O'Connell has stepped in the footsteps of Gordon D'Arcy and Tommy Bowe to be named the Irish Rugby Union Players' Association Player of the Year for a second time.
O’Connell came top of a shortlist which included Robbie Henshaw, Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton, and the 35-year-old puts his continued good form down to having a better approach to match preparation.
Meanwhile Ulster have been boosted by the news Iain Henderson will face no further action for his red card in last Saturday's 23-23 draw with Munster after a disciplinary committee deemed his dismissal unwarranted.
Juventus reach Champions League final
Real Madrid are the latest team to fail to defend their Champions League crown after a 1-1 draw with Juventus last night, a result which sends the Old Lady to their first European Cup final since 2003.
A Cristiano Ronaldo penalty put Madrid in the ascendancy but Alvaro Morata’s second half goal was enough to send Juve through to the final against Barcelona in Berlin on June 6th.
Ireland Under 17s are out of the European Championship following a 1-0 loss to England. Tom Mohan's side scuppered a number of chances but finished rooted to the bottom of Group D without having scored.
Ireland international Fiona O'Sullivan is an integral part of Sue Ronan's side, and the Notts County forward speaks about difficulty of losing her fiancé, professional basketball player Devougn Lamont.
Rory looking for 11th PGA title
Rory McIlroy is the favourite to win the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow, the tournament where he picked up his first win on US soil in 2010, and the world number one will take an aggressive approach on the greens in order to try and find his groove with the putter.
Connacht closer than ever
It is 21 years since Leitrim last won a Connacht title and they head into this year's Championship with odds of 2,000/1 to lift the All-Ireland, however Roscommon's Senan Kilbride won't be taking them lightly this Sunday, with the 29-year-old of the belief Connacht football is at its strongest for some time.
Meanwhile GAA/GOA player of the month award winner Kevin Moran expects injured team mate Pauric Mahony, who is recovering from a broken shin bone, to stick with the squad and help plot Championship success.
Ban dopers for life, says English
Elsewhere, Mark English believes athletes found guilty of doping should be banned for life.
What to watch out for:
Golf
Rory McIlroy is looking for his 11th PGA Tour title back in the place it all began, Quail Hollow. Sky Sports 4 8pm onwards.
Sergio Garcia will be hoping to bounce back from play-off defeat in the Players at The Spanish Open. Sky Sports 4 10.30am onwards.
Football
Second leg of the Europa league semi-finals between Dnipro and Napoli (ITV 4, 8.05pm ko) and Sevilla and Fiorentina (3e 8.05pm ko)
Racing
Flat racing from York, including the Dante Stakes. Channel 4 2pm-4pm
