RUGBY
Fergus McFadden has returned to fitness in time for Leinster’s Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final with Saracens.
The international wing has recovered earlier than expected from a calf injury.
Leinster will continue to monitor the fitness of both Tadhg Furlong and Dan Leavy ahead of the Saracens game - neither has played since rugby’s resumption.
Meanwhile, Saracens prop Mako Vunipola could be fit for the game at the Aviva after missing their recent Premiership games with a back spasm.
===
Munster have confirmed that their head of athletic performance is leaving at the end of October.
The New York native joined the province in May of 2018, but is returning home for personal reasons.
SOCCER
Timo Werner and Kai Havertz could make their Chelsea debuts tonight.
Frank Lampard’s side begin their Premier League season away to Brighton.
Fellow new signings Hakim Ziyech, Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell all miss the trip to the Am-Ex.
Kick-off is at 8.15.
Before that, Sheffield United welcome Wolves to Bramall Lane from 6.
After challenging for Europe last season, United boss Chris Wilder says they can’t rest on their laurels
GOLF
Scottie Scheffler will miss golf's US Open next week after testing positive for coronavirus.
His place at the second major of the year will be taken by Branden Grace - who missed the PGA Championship after contracting covid-19.
MOTORSPORT
F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is being investigated by the FIA for wearing a political t-shirt on the podium at yesterday's Tuscan Grand Prix.
He sported a shirt with the message 'Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor' on the front.
Hamilton also finished his post-race interview by saying "Justice for Breonna Taylor."
Ms Taylor, who was 26, died in March in Kentucky after being shot by three plainclothes police officers who’d entered her home.
Racing
Jack Kennedy returned with a winner on his first ride back after recovering from a leg fracture when the Apollo Horse Racing Syndicate and Gary Hassall-owned Get Rich Die Plyin easily won the 2m7f maiden hurdle at Punchestown on Wednesday. The 21-year-old rider suffered his injury at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown in February but had the perfect reintroduction to race-riding as the strong 5/4 favourite hacked up by all of 15 lengths.
On dismounting, Kennedy said, “I couldn’t have asked for a better start, so long may it continue. I’ve been back riding out for three weeks, and I’m having a good old blow after that today. Everything felt as good as expected.” Winning trainer Gordon Elliott said, “It’s great to have Jack back with a winner. Everyone knows he’s been off since February but he showed at the Dublin Racing Festival the class of rider he is. He’d just won the Irish Gold Cup and to get back with a winner is very important. Everyone is delighted for him.”
Kennedy went to Kilbeggan on Friday evening and was a winner again as he partnered the Elliott-trained 9/2 chance Metal Man to win the 3m1f novice hurdle. It wasn’t quite as easy this time as the four-year-old lasted home to win by a head from the Phillip Enright-ridden Friary Rock, trained by Mouse Morris.
