CJ Stander will captain Munster in his Thomond Park farewell tonight. Stander, Tommy O'Donnell and James Cronin will make their farewell appearances at Thomond Park after being named in Munster's starting XV for their Pro14 Rainbow Cup game against Cardiff Blues. This will be a win-or-bust fourth-round tie in the pursuit of a place in the North v South final in Treviso on June 19th. Ulster's Rainbow Cup game against Scarlets on Saturday has been cancelled after four players tested positive for Covid-19.

A further Covid doubt hangs over the Kilkenny-Wexford league fixture this weekend, as Kilkenny have tested their panel for coronavirus after a player proved positive earlier in the week. Writing in his weekly column, Jackie Tyrrell thinks things are changing quickly in hurling and I'm all on for it: "I, for one, am all on for it. Finally defenders are getting credit – and in some cases doing the forwards' jobs for them."

Johnny Watterson writes this morning, that it was interesting to see that after 127 years just 16.6 per cent of Portmarnock GC members preferred to remain faithful to an old court decision. The court case from 2009 still stands but sometimes old institutions just need a nudge. Jordan Spieth and Sergio Garcia, both past champions at Colonial Country Club, finished the first day of the Charles Schwab Challenge tied atop the leaderboard as both fired bogey-free rounds. Ireland's Graeme McDowell carded a 74 for a share of 98th.

Meanwhile, Republic of Ireland international Robbie Brady will leave Burnley when his contract expires at the end of next month, the Premier League club have announced. While Jamie Jackson reports Manchester United will aim to end their trophy drought with Pau Torres, Declan Rice, Jadon Sancho and Harry Kane among the club's summer transfer targets.