Senegal will become the first African team to play at the Aviva Stadium when they visit Ireland for a friendly in June. Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side will then head to Luxembourg for another friendly, their last fixture before World Cup qualification begins in September. Ireland last faced an African side 15 years ago when Algeria visited Dublin with the home side running out 3-0 winners.
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Rory McIlroy claimed his second Players Championship title with a comfortable victory over JJ Spaun in a three-hole play-off at Sawgrass. It is the Northern Irishman’s second PGA Tour win of the season – and 28th of his career – and comes in the most prestigious event outside of the annual four majors. “I am unbelievably proud and happy to win my second Players,” said the world number two. “It’s the third time I’ve won on St Patrick’s Day. It’s been a good-luck charm for me.”
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Newcastle United secured their first domestic trophy for 70 years – and ended a wait for a major prize stretching back to 1969 – with a deserved Carabao Cup final win over Liverpool at Wembley. The Toon Army were sent into ecstasy as goals either side of half-time by Dan Burn and Alexander Isak but endured an anxious finish after a late Federico Chiesa strike during a lengthy spell of injury time gave Liverpool brief hope of a fightback.
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Lando Norris mastered treacherous, changing conditions in a dramatic, incident-packed race to beat Max Verstappen and win the Australian Grand Prix. Norris and his McLaren team made the right calls in a race punctuated by crashes, three safety cars and an aborted start. Norris was forced to fend off a late threat from Verstappen while Mercedes’ George Russell finished third ahead of his rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli.
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France secured the Six Nations championship with a flourish – and quashed England’s hopes – by ultimately overpowering a dogged Scotland in Paris. Four French tries did not just secure the title in terrific style, it also brought their tally to 30 across the five games – a new Six Nations record, breaking a mark set by the English in 2001. Fabien Galthie’s team roared into an early 10-0 lead thanks to the first of Yoram Moefana’s two tries and a penalty from Thomas Ramos, who later surpassed Frederic Michalak as France’s all-time top points scorer.
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