Rugby union
Jack McGrath will be free to start Ireland's RBS 6 Nations campaign after Leinster chose not to appeal against his three-week ban for stamping.
McGrath (above) will miss Leinster's crucial European Champions Cup Pool Two matches in the next fortnight, but will then return in time for Ireland's Six Nations opener in Italy.
The 25-year-old should retain his starting berth for Ireland's first Six Nations clash in Rome on February 7, with Cian Healy still battling back from long-term injury.
Leinster said in a statement: "After considering all the options and taking considerable advice, including legal, Leinster Rugby have confirmed that they will not be appealing the decision by the Guinness Pro12 disciplinary committee to suspend Jack McGrath for three weeks, effectively ruling him out of the two Champions Cup Pool Two games this weekend and next. "The matter is now at an end and Leinster Rugby will be making no further comment."
McGrath was banned for three weeks for stamping in Leinster's 24-11 Pro12 victory over Ulster on January 3. Leinster could have jeopardised McGrath's early Six Nations participation with an appeal: had the case been thrown out, the 12-cap prop's ban could have been increased.
Ice hockey
The Belfast Giants crashed out of the Challenge Cup last night losing the second leg of their quarter-final, 4-2, at the Cardiff Devils and the tie 8-5 on aggregate, writes Nigel Ringland. For the second time in three games the Giants raced into a 2-0 first period lead only to cough up the next four goals.
Trailing 4-3 from the first game at the Odyssey Arena, the Giants weathered the early Devils storm and took the lead at 13:29 on the powerplay.
Mike Kompon's pass was picked up by Calvin Elfring who took the puck around one defender, before shooting past Ben Bowns.
The Giants nudged ahead in the tie overall at 18:40 when Kompon scored his 19th goal of the season following an excellent play by Darryl Lloyd to turn the puck over in the Devils zone. Leading on the night and on aggregate there was hope that the Giants could move on in the competition but the Devils came storming back to tie the game and move ahead overall by the end of the second period. Brent Walton opened their account at 25:22 and with Kevin Westgarth and Jeff Mason both sitting in the penalty box, Carl Hudson scored on the 5-on-3 powerplay at 38:54. It was still all to play for heading into the final period but Chris Culligan's effort at 42:19 made it an uphill struggle for the Giants and Jake Morissette's strike at 50:06 sealed their fate.
Soccer
Nice have been prevented by Fifa from registering new signing Hatem Ben Arfa. The playmaker, a free agent after his release from Newcastle, joined Le Gym last Monday but was not available for Saturday's win over Lorient as he awaited international clearance. The problem was due to the clause in Fifa's transfer regulations which states a player cannot play for more than two clubs in the same season. Ben Arfa made eight appearances on loan at Hull - and an appearance for Newcastle's U21 side earlier in the season has been ruled by Fifa to be an 'official' match.