The fate of Leinster's Champions Cup clash away to Montpellier hangs in the balance, with a decision on whether or not the fixture will go ahead expected later today. The province have already delayed their scheduled 2pm flight to France due to a significant but unspecified number of positive Covid-19 cases within the camp. As Gerry Thornley reports this morning however, they are still preparing for the match to go ahead: "The Irish Times has learned that an estimated 35 players were in training on Wednesday at their base in UCD, and that Leo Cullen and his management staff are fully intent on bringing a matchday squad to Montpellier. However this hinges entirely on the latest round of PCR tests within Leinster and whether all are returned with negative results. If so, then Leinster will be in a position to travel with a matchday squad to Montpellier, and would most probably prefer to do so on the evening before the match." The situation is complicated by a number of positive cases within the French camp, which stands at five pending further tests. Should either side be forced to pull out of the fixture, they will concede it 28-0. Elsewhere yesterday, outgoing Munster head coach Johann van Graan confirmed he will be joining English Premiership's basement side Bath at the end of the season.
Arsenal are up to fourth in the Premier League, after they beat West Ham 2-0 at the Emirates last night thanks to second-half goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe. In the night's other fixtures Wolves scraped a 1-0 win away to Brighton, while Crystal Palace and Southampton played out a 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park. However another game was called off due to Covid, with Watford's trip to play Burnley at Turf Moor postponed less than three hours before kick-off. A number of the weekend's top flight fixtures could still be under threat, including Manchester United's clash with Brighton at Old Trafford. As it stands tonight's three games all go ahead, with Tottenham travelling to Leicester (7.30pm), Chelsea welcoming Everton to Stamford Bridge (7.45pm), and Newcastle making the trip to Anfield (8pm).
The Republic of Ireland will find out who they are to face in next year's Uefa Nations League later on today, with the draw set to take place in Nyon, Switzerland at 5pm. Stephen Kenny's side are currently competing in League B, with the Ireland boss making promotion one of his main targets for 2022. The Republic could find themselves in a tough group with Sweden, Scotland and Slovenia - a potential group of Iceland, Finland and Armenia could prove more favourable. The fixtures are scheduled to take place in June and September - Gavin Cummiskey has all you need to know ahead of the draw.
Elsewhere this morning Malachy Clerkin has written that 2021 belonged to sportswomen, after a year of unprecedented success for Ireland. "So in that spirit, here's a list of things that hadn't happened before 2021. There had never been a female winner of the Grand National. There had never been a female leading rider at Cheltenham. There had never been an Irish golfer at the Solheim Cup. There had never been a European rookie who went five matches unbeaten at the Solheim Cup. There had never been an Irish golfer who shot a 61 in a major. . ." The list goes on.
And Australia are without captain Pat Cummins for the second Ashes Test in Adelaide, after he was ruled out just hours before the toss after being identified as a close contact. Cummins was eating in a restaurant on Wednesday when a person at the next table was identified as a positive case. Without him Steve Smith captains the Aussies, who reached 45-1 at lunch after winning the toss - Stuart Broad removing Marcus Harris.
