Rugby

In his column this week Liam Toland is full of praise for Connacht and Pat Lam, saying that Irish rugby can learn a lot from the New Zealand native.

“Connacht, like Bath, are clearly doing something different with the ball than the others. We don’t have access to Bath, so Irish rugby can learn an awful lot from Pat Lam and Connacht,” he says.

Riding high at the top of the Pro12 table, Connacht take on Cardiff this evening with Lam making seven changes for the clash. Quinn Roux and Eoin McKeon are two of the players to come into the starting line-up as Lam’s side look to remain top of the table.

Also in action this evening are Ulster and Gerry Thornley has been speaking to hooker Rob Herring about his new two-year deal at the province.

Despite Ulster’s poor early season form the South African says it was “an easy decision” to remain in Belfast and is confident that they will turn things around – starting with a home tie against Edinburgh this evening.

Soccer

Yet more controversy hit Fifa last night as 16 prominent Central and Sputh American officials have been indicted by US authorities with charges including racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud.

Among the 16 are a former president of Honduras, a judge on the Constitutional Court of Guatemala and the current and former presidents of Brazil’s national soccer federation.

In domestic news League of Ireland clubs look set to receive around €10,000 a year as part of a new deal with Austrian company Trackchimp, who will stream every league game live overseas next season.

The reaction to the news has been quite mixed however as the quality of streams is quite poor and they are mainly focussed on the betting market.

Unveiled as the new Valencia manager yesterday, Gary Neville said he couldn’t possibly turn down the offer from such a “wonderful club” as he takes his first steps into management.

GAA

The AFL talent co-ordinator – Tadhg Kennelly – says that core GAA skills are being rapidly undermined by increasing levels of physical fitness.

This weekend 22 hopefuls will gather in DCU to attempt to impress Kennelly and secure a move to Australia.

However, Kennelly believes the strength and conditioning culture necessary for professional rugby has contributed to an environment in which GAA teams are following suit and that the emphasis on strength and fitness is changing the way football is played.

Meanwhile, John Leonard's Dub Sub Confidential has won the inaugural Setanta Sports Book of the Year award.

The revealing memoir charts Leonard’s career as understudy to Stephen Cluxton, as well as his constant battle with drugs.

“When I first got back onto the Dublin team in 2006, I knew that I had been in India smoking opium less than two years earlier. I knew that I had been doing ketamine every day and losing my marbles.

“And I just thought that that journey, from being in the Himalayas smoking opium to winning an All-Ireland with Dublin, would have made a great story.”

Golf

Paul Dunne shot a 75 in the second round of the Australian PGA Championship overnight, but remains in touch as tough conditions saw the players struggle. Sweden’s David Lingmerth leads the field on three under par.

At the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa, Shane Lowry will get his second round underway at 8.21am after an opening round of 74 left him eight shots off leaders Henrik Stenson and Jaco van Zyl.

Racing

Coral has signed a three-year deal with Leopardstown racecourse to sponsor the full seven-race card on January 17th – including two €100,000 feature races.

The deal comes as the dispute between certain bookmakers and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) over the future funding of the sport in Britain became more entrenched.

What to watch out for

Rugby: In the Pro12 Connacht take on Cardiff (TG4 from 7pm) while Ulster welcome Edinburgh (BBC2 NI from 7.30pm).

Soccer: Salford City continue their FA Cup journey with a second round tie against Hartlepool (BBC Two from 7.45pm).

In the Championship Ipswich Town take on Middlesbrough on Sky Sports 1 from 7pm.

Golf: Day two of the Nedbank Challenge on the European Tour begins on Sky Sports 4 at 8am. On the PGA Tour coverage of the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas begins at 5pm.