Thursday Lunch Sport

Kill's Tracy Rugby Retirement; Ireland 48th in FIFA Rankings; Man City v Liverpool Tonight; Sallins GAA Fundraising; World PDC Darts; Men's Olympic "Artistic" Swimming!

Leinster hooker James Tracy has been forced to retire from rugby on medical grounds.

The 31-year-old native of Kill was unable to return to playing having sustained a neck injury in April of this year.

He made 141 appearances for Leinster and also won six Ireland caps.

A Champions Cup winner in 2018, the Kildare native also won four league titles with Leinster.

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Sallins GAA has begun 3 days of fundraising for club development today.

Members will be bagpacking in Reilly’s Supervalu Sallins today, tomorrow and Christmas Eve.

Naas GAA is holding its Goal Mile on Christmas morning in the club grounds at 11am

Any donation welcome and you can donate online also on the club’s website.

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The Republic of Ireland are 48th in the latest FIFA world rankings.

World Cup winners Argentina are up to second, with Brazil holding on to top spot.

England remain fifth after going out in the quarter-finals in Qatar, while runners-up France climb to third, above Belgium.

Wales, who exited in the group stages, drop nine places to 28th.

Scotland are 42nd with Northern Ireland in 59th.
 

Manchester City and Liverpool renew their rivalry tonight.

The two sides meet in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup at the Etihad Stadium from 8pm.

The draw for the quarter-finals will take place afterwards.

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Today's action at the PDC World Darts Championship gets underway shortly.

World number 16 Ryan Searle's meeting with Adam Gawlas of the Czech Republic is among the matches on stage this afternoon.

Tonight, two-time champion Gary Anderson begins his campaign against Madars Razma of Latvia.

James Wade and Vincent van der Voort are among the others involved in the evening session.

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Men will be allowed to compete in artistic swimming at the Olympics for the first time in the sport's history.

The International Olympic Committee has given its approval for males to compete in Paris 2024 - but no more than two in a team of eight.

American Bill May was the first ever man to be crowned champion at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships.