Every morning TheScore.ie brings you the stories you need to know before that first cup of coffee.
1. #HCUP There’s a very busy weekend of Heineken Cup action in store again over the coming days, starting with Ulster’s trip to Glasgow tonight.
Last year’s beaten finalists picked their side for the Round 2 clash yesterday. Elsewhere Ireland centre Brian O’Driscoll insisted he’s going nowhere, despite media speculation, ahead of Leinster’s game this weekend.
2. #TRAP Giovanni Trapattoni is back to work after surviving the past week. The FAI have signalled that the Italian will need to tweak his work practices in the future but the Daily Mail today report that James McClean may have been snubbed again by the manager, after Martin O’Neill revealed the winger was fit enough to feature on Tuesday.
3. #LANCE ARMSTRONG The disgraced former Tour champion is expected to break his silence today with a speech at a Livestrong event. His former masseuse Emily O’Reilly appeared on RTÉ last night and insisted her blowing of the whistle was ‘never about getting Lance’.
4. #LOILIVE There’s a busy night of Airtricity League action in store this evening. We’ll liveblog champions Sligo’s trip to Co Louth… but here’s everything you need to know about all the games.
5. #BOXING The big news yesterday was Katie Taylor’s announcement that she’ll stay as an amateur, shunning big money approaches from of the pro sport’s biggest names. The Irish Independent reports this morning that the IABA haven’t yet given up hope on John Joe Nevin staying amongst the unpaid ranks, despite his decision to sign with Amir Khan recently.
