Gerry Thornley colum: scrap the Lions
The British and Irish Lions are one of the most romantic sides in sport, the cream of four nations travelling across the world to face one member of the mighty southern hemisphere triumvirate in their own backyard.
However, while the Lions tours are now a cash cow for both the tourists as well as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, providing all the unions involved with a healthy profit, Gerry Thornley suggests in his column today that in order to win the World Cup the home nations must scrap a concept which dates back 127 years.
He writes: “Yet, following on from none of the four teams making even the semi-finals for the first time ever, if the Home Unions really wanted to improve their chances at World Cups, arguably the best single thing they could do is scrap the Lions.”
The main issue with the tour in his opinion is that it must now be shoehorned into an already heavily congested calendar: “The ten-match tour in 2017 is even tougher than in 2005, taking in games against the Super rugby franchises as opposed to the provinces for the first time.
“It begins on June 3rd against a Provincial Union XV in Whangerei, and concludes on July 8th with the third Test in Eden Park. The competitive 2017-18 season will be just eight weeks away.”
Connacht dealt Henshaw blow
Top of the table Connacht were dealt a blow yesterday with the news starman Robbie Henshaw is facing up to six weeks on the sidelines with a fractured bone in his hand. The centre picked up the injury in the last play of their win over Munster at Thomond Park.
Towell targeting Ireland squad
Richie Towell is targeting a place in Martin O'Neill's Ireland squad after he was unveiled as a Brighton and Hove Albion player yesterday.
Diego Costa is expected to return to the Chelsea side for their Premier League game against Bournemouth on Saturday despite making his frustrations clear at ebing dropped to the bench for last weekend's draw with Spurs at White Hart Lane.
Stephen Rochford new Mayo boss
Elsewhere Mayo county committee ratified Stephen Rochford as the county's new football manager on Monday night, handing the former Corofin boss a three-year deal.
It has been a frustrating season for Darragh Michael Macauley and his delight at winning the All-Ireland with Dublin was tempered somewhat as he struggled injury, but he has the chance to end his year on a high in the Leinster Club football final with Ballyboden.
King Kobe to bow out
Meanwhile LA Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who inspired his side to five NBA championships, has announced he is to retire from basketball at the end of the season after 19 years.
Today Keith Duggan pays tribute to a career which, “has been dazzling and brash and egomaniacal and ugly and beautiful and jaw-dropping all at once.”
Lowry looking to end on a high
Shane Lowry is looking to end his year on a high at the Nedbank Challenge with a €6 million purse on offer and a field of just 30 golfers, as well as the chance to earn some precious Ryder Cup points.
Fury feared being drugged
New heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury has revealed he refused to drink anything at ringside following his win over Wladimir Klitschko for fear of being drugged.
What to watch out for:
Football
There are three League Cup semi-finals tonight, with Middlesbrough welcoming Everton to the Riverside (SS1, 7.45pm), Manchester City playing Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday travelling to play Stoke.
