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The Kick Off: Cian Healy's injury worries grow

RUGBY Fears are growing over Cian Healy's fitness ahead of the Rugby World Cup. The loosehead u...



The Kick Off: Cian Healy's...
Off The Ball Radio

The Kick Off: Cian Healy's injury worries grow

RUGBY

Fears are growing over Cian Healy's fitness ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

The loosehead underwent surgery to repair a disc in his neck in May, and the Independent is reporting that recovery is taking longer than expected. 

The Ireland squad will take part in another open training session in Cork tomorrow, with the first of their warm-up games coming against Wales in Cardiff on August 8th. 

Joe Schmidt's side begin their Pool D campaign against Canada, back at the Millennium Stadium on September 19th. 

Trevor Hogan has backed Leo Cullen to succeed as Leinster head coach. 

The province's Branch President Robbie McDermott confirmed over the weekend that the Heineken Cup-winning captain had been offered a two-year contract to succeed Matt O'Connor. 

Hogan says his former second row partner has been slowly edging towards a senior coaching role since his return to the Blues in 2007. 

RACING

Day two of the Galway Festival features a mixed, seven-race card. 

Dermot Weld is already the leading trainer after two wins yesterday, and he has Stay The Night as favourite for today's feature, the Topaz Mile Handicap. That one is off at 18.50, while the first of the evening goes to post at 17.15. 

Across channel, today is the first day of Glorious Goodwood. The highlight of a seven-race card is the 300-thousand pounds Group 2 Qatar Lennox stakes.

GAELIC GAMES 

Dublin hurling manager Ger Cunningham insists he's looking forward to 2016. 

Speaking at the launch of the Bord Gáis Energy Munster Under-21 hurling final, Cunningham said that his side achieved their aims of being competitive and consistent this year. 

Cunningham kept the Dubs in Division 1-A of the National Hurling League, but saw them fall to a 5-point defeat to Waterford in Sunday's All Ireland quarter final. 

OLYMPICS

Boston has pulled out of the race to host the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics due to a lack of public support.

The US Olympic Committee says it will now attempt to find a new city to put forward a bid.

Paris, Rome, Hamburg and Budapest have confirmed their bids to host the Games, and Toronto is expected to enter the running.

SOCCER

Stoke completed the signing of Netherlands international Ibrahim Afellay last night. 
The winger's joined on a two-year contract following his release from Barcelona. Afellay is now the fourth former Barca player in the Stoke squad.

Qualifying for the Champions League continues tonight.

Following Dundalk's exit at the hands of BATE Borisov there's no Irish interest in tonight's matches.

The Belarusian side will face Videoton of Hungary tonight.

Among the other games tonight, Robin van Persie could make his competitive debut for Fenerbahçe as the Turkish club play host to Shaktar Donetsk  while AS Monaco travel to Switzerland to face Young Boys of Bern.

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