The Morning Sports Briefing

Rugby: Pro12

Jonathan Sexton returns to Leinster next season, and Ian Madigan says he wouldn’t be “naive” enough to think he will be in the number 10 jersey ahead of him.

Instead he accepts that his best chance of continuing his progress with the province will be playing at number 12.

For now though Madigan is looking to impress against the Barbarians this day next week to nail down his World Cup place.

Munster's Donnacha Ryan is another who harbours ambitions of securing a place on that final Irish squad, he though has only recently returned to play after a career-threatening foot injury which had sidelined him since March 2014.

He has been taught to literally take his career a day at a time, never mind game by game.

GAA: Championship 2015

The topic of sledging has been dominating the GAA landscape these past few weeks, particularly since the Ulster championship clash between Donegal and Tyrone last weekend.

This morning former Kilkenny hurler Henry Shefflin said that it's not something he's ever encountered, a point echoed by Cork's Pat Horgan. Which is particularly reassuring considering hurlers are usually very quick to point out the flaws in the sport (sarcasm).

There's a statistical analysis in this morning's paper on why Clare's Tony Kelly is the most dangerous and well rounded player in the Munster championship.

The 2013 Hurler and Young Hurler of the Year is in even better form so far in 2015 than he was two years ago, with a very impressive contribution to the team’s scoring percentages from play.

Meanwhile it's hoped that a major fund-raising event in New York next Thursday will provide a large chunk of the €5.8 million necessary for Kerry to complete the building of their new GAA Centre of Excellence.

The plans really do show a facility more than fit for the All-Ireland champions, they include six pitches (one of which being all weather) and a perimeter running track.

Soccer: Premier League

Sunderland secured their top flight status with a 0-0 draw with Arsenal last night, causing manager Dick Advocat to break into a flood of tears upon the final whistle. Of course bitter rivals Newcastle remain in the dog fight to avoid that final relegation place.

Manchester United transfer target Harry Kane has expressed his desire to remain at Tottenham for "a very long time." The English international is tied down to the London club until 2020, but it would be far from the biggest U-turn of all time if we were to see him in Louis van Gaal's set up next season.

Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fàbregas has had his three-match ban reduced to just one after Chelsea successfully argued the initial punishment was excessive. The Catalan midfielder kicked a ball at the back of Chris Brunt's head during a break in play in the 3-0 defeat at West Brom on Monday night.

Eyebrows were raised last night when Irish footballer Stephanie Roche had her contract with US soccer team Houston Dash ended after three months with the club.

The Texas club has announced the signing of two new foreign players and said that Ms Roche was one of two players leaving club to make way for the new signings on the club’s playing roster.

Golf: Wentworth

Rory McIlroy tees off at the European Tour's flagship event at Wentworth this morning, back in the venue which he says last year proved the catalyst for his subsequent remarkable 2014 form.

“This is what kickstarted everything really. This win, it gave me a lot of confidence to go on into the summer and do what I did.”

Cycling: Rás

Still wearing that yelllow garment is the Austrian rider Lukas Postlberger, who finished fifth on the stage and thus conceded no time to his rivals. First home was the Lithuanian Aidis Kruopis who outsprinted the Italian Davide Vigano (Team IDEA 2010 ASD), the Briton Ian Bibby (NFTO), Irishman Martyn Irvine (Madison Genesis) and three others on the uphill rise to the line.

What to watch out for:

The practice rounds of the highly anticipated F1 Monaco Grand Prix are live on Setanta Sports from early this morning.

Sky Sports F1 from 8.45am

Setanta from 8.55am

The golfing action from Wentworth is underway on TV from 10am, with John O'Sullivan's Live Blog already underway.

Sky Sports 4, 10am-6pm

There's also more live action of the Giro d'Italia, Stage 12 today to Vicenza.

Eurosport, 1.30pm-4.30pm