The Irish Times/ Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year awards take place this afternoon, for what is arguably the competition's most competitive ever renewal. Rachael Blackmore, Leona Maguire, Kellie Harrington, Katie McCabe . . . ? Take your pick. As Mary Hannigan writes: "Quite genuinely, six or seven, maybe even more, of those who won monthly awards in 2021 could have been an overall winner in any other year, the breadth of their achievements over the last 12 months - internationally and domestically, in team and individual sports - simply exceptional." You can register to watch the awards ceremony for free and see who comes out on top after a year to remember HERE - the event starts at 12.30pm. Meanwhile in his column this morning Johnny Watterson has paid tribute to Katie Taylor - Ireland's genuine sporting super star who now spends much of her time boxing in the shadows. He writes: "If you want to watch Taylor compete it is by subscription channel or travelling over to the UK, where she has fought 14 times, or to the USA, where she has had six fights. None of her fights since she turned professional after the Rio Olympic Games have been broadcast on RTÉ. Yet there she is. Not only did Taylor emerge this year as the most admired Irish sports personality of the Onside survey 2021 but she was also the first in 2020, in 2019, in 2018 and in 2017."
Leinster's second Champions Cup fixture away to Montpellier tonight has been called off, with the province forced to forfeit the game 28-0 due to a Covid outbreak within their camp. Leo Cullen had named his matchday 23 for the trip to France yesterday lunchtime, however later it was confirmed the Pool A clash would not go ahead. Leinster released a statement voicing their "disappointment" at the EPCR's decision to cancel the fixture, having rescheduled their flight to France for Friday morning. John O'Sullivan reports: "EPC Rugby released a statement of its own outlining that on foot of medical advice they had been obliged to cancel the fixture on the basis of "new positive Covid test results from the Leinster Rugby playing squad. The implication was that Leinster had suffered more positive tests in the matchday 23 that they had named to travel to France; that isn't the case and is undoubtedly a source of annoyance for the Irish province." With Leinster out of action Ulster will take centre stage tonight, as they look to follow up on their opening win away to Clermont with the visit of Northampton Saints to Belfast (kick-off 8pm, BT Sport).
The Premier League also continues to be heavily-hit by Covid, with last night's fixture between Leicester and Tottenham called off during the afternoon. Manchester United's game at home to Brighton on Saturday has also been called off - their second postponed fixture of the week after Tuesday's clash with Brentford was pulled. According to reports, Ralf Rangnick only has seven available first team players after an explosion of cases within his squad. Four further top flight games this weekend - Southampton v Brentford, Watford v Crystal Palace, West Ham v Norwich and Everton v Leicester - have been postponed. In the two fixtures which did go ahead last night, Chelsea slipped up at home again as they were held 1-1 by a youthful Everton side at Stamford Bridge. Liverpool meanwhile kept up the pace at the top with a 3-1 win over struggling Newcastle at Anfield.
The Republic of Ireland learned their Uefa Nations League fate yesterday, with Stephen Kenny's side handed a tricky but intriguing group for next year's competition. Ireland will meet Ukraine, Scotland and Armenia as Kenny looks to fulfil his goal of topping the group and winning promotion - as well as boosting Ireland's chances of reaching Euro 2024.
And England are trying to claw their way back into the second Ashes Test in Adelaide after Australia dominated yesterday's opening day. The hosts reached stumps at 221-2 and are currently 340-5 on day two with Steve Smith ominously unbeaten on 73.
