There was good news for Irish rugby yesterday as the IRFU announced star scrumhalf Conor Murray has committed his future to Munster and Ireland, signing a new deal at Thomond Park until June 2022. The 29-year-old is yet to feature this season due to an unspecified injury, but yesterday's news allays fears over both his long term health and that he could pursue a move overseas. Indeed, as Gerry Thornley writes: "Instead it cements his status as Irish rugby's most valuable player and in giving a clear indication into the esteem in which he is held by the IRFU, Joe Schmidt and Munster, the new deal strongly suggests he'll be back playing before too long." The Munster nine, who has picked up 67 Ireland caps since his debut in 2011, is expected to earn in the region of €2 million over the next three years.
In her column today Sonia O'Sullivan talks about one of the greatest tools of recovery for an athlete - a walk in the sea - which is a method used by arguably Australia's biggest sporting star, the unbeaten mare Winx. The mighty Winx was pictured in the sea at Altona Beach, in the western suburbs of Melbourne, after she swooped to victory in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington last weekend - her 28th consecutive victory and 21st Group One. And this post-race routine is one familiar to O'Sullivan, she writes: "The Melbourne Cup may be the race that stops the nation, but Winx is the horse in form that stops people in their tracks. Her trainer, Chris Waller, has installed an aqua-walker in their stable back in Sydney, which mimics the water recovery method. This is clearly no old wives' tale. I also remember doing something similar when in school back in Cobh over 30 years ago."
It feels like yesterday that Dublin beat Tyrone 2-17 to 1-14 to secure their fourth All-Ireland SFC title on the bounce - but already tonight Jim Gavin's side will find out where their defence begins next season, as the draw for the 2019 Championship takes place. The Dubs are as short as 1-2 to win an unprecedented five-in-a-row, but could face a tricky opening clash in Leinster, with Meath, Kildare and Westmeath among their potential quarter-final opponents. The 2019 draw takes place live from Studio 4 in RTÉ (8.30pm).
In today's rugby statistics column John O'Sullivan has looked at the storming performance of winger James Lowe in Leinster's 30-22 win over Munster last weekend, with the 26-year-old offering more value than just his brace of tries at the Aviva Stadium. He writes: "His impact on the game is defined by 23 moments, the vast majority (17) that took place in the opening 40 minutes. Considering that Leinster had just 35 per cent of possession and 32 per cent of territory it accentuates the quality of his contribution."
And in her column this morning Joanne O'Riordan has asked if the #MeToo campaign has finally reached football, on the back of the rape allegations made against Cristiano Ronaldo. However, she questions if the movement is limited in its ability to protect victims and also prosecute those accused of assault. She writes: "Is #MeToo powerful enough to protect its survivors just like past Hollywood institutions and current football federations are powerful enough to defend their accused?"
