Ireland’s Covid saga takes another twist; Gerry Thornley on Saracens tainted titles

The Covid-19 confusion in the Ireland camp – which resulted in the FAI saying yesterday that an unnamed player had tested positive for the virus on Sunday but negative on Monday – took another twist late last night with the latest statement from the association revealing that the player had, on their third test, returned a positive result again. The latest developments only add to the difficulties of international football at the current time after Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah both rejoined the squad yesterday as a result of the fact that the FAI staff member who they had been deemed to be close contacts of and who had tested positive for Covid-19 in Bratislava last week had, in fact, returned a false positive. In all Stephen Kenny is without six players for tomorrow's Nations League match in Helsinki – two who have tested positive for the virus and four who are close contacts. The Ireland under-21s – who face Italy in a European qualifier in Pisa this morning – have also seen the impact of the virus with the Italians forced to play their under-20s tonight due to multiple cases in their under-21 squad.

On to rugby and in his column this morning Gerry Thornley writes that Exeter are dead right and Saracens should lose their titles. A new book by the Guardian's rugby correspondent Robert Kitson, entitled: The Exe Men: The Extraordinary Rise of Exeter Chiefs, comes down hard on Saracens and their "tainted titles." He writes: "Ultimately Saracens accumulated trophies by assembling a squad no other club could afford, including Exeter, who by comparison are an honestly run club, and the only profit-making one in last season's Premiership." Meanwhile, Jordan Larmour has been ruled out of Ireland's pre-Christmas schedule because he has to undergo shoulder surgery this week for a dislocation suffered in Italy. Larmour could also miss the opening two rounds of 2020-2021 Champions Cup which take place in December.

In GAA, former president Liam O'Neill believes that the Association must keep open the option of cancelling the intercounty season, depending on the trajectory of the pandemic. "If the hard decisions have to be taken it will be for the best and accepted as such. If everything goes without much of a hitch that will be brilliant too, but realistically the situation is again difficult." On of the county teams hit hardest by the virus is Fermanagh who, currently, are without 17 players because of positive cases or close contacts. This morning, Declan Bogue speaks to Aidan Breen about the physical and mental strain of the virus which he says has left him unable to even go out for a walk without gasping for breath.

On to golf and Rory McIlroy will begin his preparations for next month's US Masters at this week's CJ Cup in Las Vegas where Shane Lowry will also be in the field. The limited field, no-cut event will be played at Shadow Creek and McIlroy comes in to the event after adding some more distance to his armoury over the last while, recently posting ball speeds of 191mph which is very close to Bryson DeChambeau territory. However, that may not be DeChambeau territory for much longer as the US Open champion is currently looking to add even more distance with the use of a 48-inch driver ahead of next month's third Major of the year.