The Champions Cup returns tonight with Ulster travelling to play the Scarlets needing a victory to keep their hopes of progressing from Pool Four realistic. Rory Best - who will equal Andrew Trimble's provincial record of 71 European appearances - captains the side in west Wales, with Jacob Stockdale, Iain Henderson and Will Addison all starting. Both Leinster and Munster will name their XVs at midday today as they take on Bath and Castres respectively this weekend, and Gerry Thornley has assessed how the provinces are shaping up ahead of the third round of European action. You can read his pool-by-pool guide here, and you can follow both Leinster's trip to The Rec (Saturday, 3.15pm) and Munster's clash at Thomond Park (Sunday, 1.0pm) as they happen via the Irish Times liveblog.
Meanwhile Leinster coach Leo Cullen has rejected claims there is a legal painkiller issue within Irish rugby. This comes after his former teammate Brian O'Driscoll revealed on Wednesday that prescription painkillers Difene and co-codamol were regularly handed out to Leinster and Ireland rugby players so they could 'play their best game.' Ahead of Saturday's trip to play Bath, Cullen said: "To say there is an image of medication being handed out wily-nilly, I think that is a very unfair reflection on the environment we have here at the moment, and that's all I'm really concerned about - the environment we have here at the moment - I'm not interested in dragging up things from the past."
Ireland take on England in the Hockey World Cup today, knowing a draw would be enough to put them into a play-off for a place in the tournament's quarter-finals. Alexander Cox's side were profligate last time out, spurning a number of chances to draw 1-1 with China, but require just a point this afternoon in India. That match gets underway at 1.30pm Irish Time at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar and is being broadcast live on BT Sport.
Elsewhere Kerry football legend Jerome O'Shea has died aged 87. O'Shea - the father of Italy rugby coach and former Ireland international Conor - won three All-Irelands with the Kingdom during the 1950s.
