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Cathal Marsh holds a ball with his injured hand at Leinster training. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

• Ireland will be without Robbie Henshaw and Jonathan Sexton for Saturday’s Test match against Australia through injury.
• The UFC is still working on staging a Conor McGregor fight in Croke Park but admits the process is “very complicated”.
• Dundalk have taken full ownership of the lease for Oriel Park and the Youth Development Centre building, moving the club one step closer to upgrading their home ground and pitch.
• A free-taking competition will replace replays in the knockout stages of the National Hurling League next year, and the mark will be introduced to all Gaelic football games from 1 January.
• The International Rules Series will return to a two-Test format when Ireland take on Australia Down Under next November.
• Shamrock Rovers have announced further positive news on the personnel front as they confirmed the signing of winger Darren Meenan from Dundalk and that Simon Madden has signed a contract extension.
• Leinster prop Mike Ross could be out for a number of months with a high-grade hamstring tear.
• Cork City FC have announced an agreement with University College Cork which has been described as a “major partnership” between the two parties.
• Ireland have moved up to fourth in the rugby world rankings despite losing their second Test against New Zealand on Saturday.

Away

Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari reacts after hitting a three-point basket against the Utah Jazz. David Zalubowski David Zalubowski

• England lock Joe Launchbury has been handed a two-week suspension for kicking Fiji centre Asaeli Tikoirotuma in their Test match on Saturday.
• Lewis Hamilton has conceded that the odds are stacked against him if he is to retain his Formula One drivers’ title in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
• The United States women’s soccer team are considering strike action as they escalate their push for equal pay.
• The Dallas Cowboys and the New England Patriots remain on course for a Super Bowl showdown after both sides claimed important victories.

The Best Thing We Shared

It’s a huge week for Dundalk and Irish football as a whole — this video should get you ready for Thursday night’s game at Tallaght Stadium.

On The Record

It was tough, the cauldron that is the Aviva against the number one team in the world. It was a pretty cool occasion to be part of and it was incredibly physical.

Leinster and Ireland centre Garry Ringrose reflects on a remarkable couple of weeks that saw him earn his second international cap against New Zealand on Saturday.

Where We Were Today

Sean Farrell was at Carton House for an Ireland rugby press conference with team manager Mick Kearney and vice-captain Jamie Heaslip.

Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Ryan Bailey was at Leinster HQ ahead of their Guinness Pro12 clash against Scarlets on Friday. He caught up with scrum coach John Fogarty, Adam Byrne and Mike McCarthy.

Leinster scrum coach John Fogarty. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

The Fixture List

• The Champions League is back this week for round five of the group stages and two English clubs are in action — Tottenham and Leicester. Spurs could be knocked out of the competition if they fail to win at Monaco. The Foxes, meanwhile, can secure their progression to the last 16 with a win at home to Club Brugge.
• Full fixtures (19.45 kick-off unless stated): Group E:  CSKA v Bayer Leverkusen (17.00), Monaco v Tottenham Hotspur. Group F: Borussia Dortmund v Legia Warsaw, Sporting Lisbon v Real Madrid. Group G: FC Copenhagen v FC Porto, Leicester City v Club Brugge. Group H: Dinamo Zagreb v Lyon, Sevilla v Juventus.
• In the NFL, the Oakland Raiders host the Houston Texans from 1.15am, live Sky Sports 1.

Showbiz, Baby!

From scorpion kicks to ridiculous individual goals, here’s the Fifa Puskas Award shortlist.

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