EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING, TheScore.ie brings you the stories you need to know before 9am.
1. #HEINEKEN CUP Kicking off a packed weekend of mouth-watering European Cup rugby action, Ulster welcome Guinness Premiership heavyweights Leicester to Ravenhill tonight.
The Irish province named their side to face the Tigers yesterday evening with both Ian Humphreys and Pedrie Wannenburg included.
Connacht, Leinster and Munster are expected to release their selections at lunchtime today ahead of their weekend games.
2. #DREAM MOVE Robbie Keane yesterday completed his six-week loan move to Aston Villa. The Ireland skipper will be available for Villa’s games against Wolves, QPR, Newcastle, Manchester City and Wigan, as well as the FA Cup fourth round tie against Arsenal at the end of the month. He is waiting on international clearance for this weekend’s game with Everton.
“I’m delighted to be back in the Premier League,” Keane said. “This is only short-term, of course, but there has been a lot of speculation over the years linking my name to Villa and, finally, I’m here.”
3. #CATS Henry Shefflin will miss all of Kilkenny’s Allianz National Hurling League campaign.
The reigning All-Ireland champions open their account against last year’s beaten finalists Tipperary on February 26. Selector Martin Fogarty has revealed that it could be another four months before the All-Star forward features again for the Cats.
4. #MYSTERY MAN Amir Khan has been granted a rematch with Lamont Peterson. You’ll remember that Peterson took a split points decision after Khan was docked two points in Washington.
The British fighter’s camp have since complained about the performance of referee Joe Cooper, as well as the presence of “mystery man” Mustafa Ameen at ringside. Now he gets his chance to back it up.
5. #AUSTRALIAN OPEN Interesting… Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are in the same half of a grand slam for the first time in seven years after the draw for the Australian Open in Melbourne.
6. #SHOW ME THE MONEY Remember Jerry Maguire? Well the sports agent who was the inspiration for the hit movie is filing for bankruptcy.
Leigh Steinberg, who struggled with alcohol for many years but has been sober since 2010 says he just lost track of his finances while he was in rehab.
