Saturday sport: Scotland face France in Murrayfield, Arsenal into FA Cup quarter-finals
Kenneth Fox
Soccer
Republic of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson has been ruled out of the World Cup playoffs later this month.
Reports from Italy indicate that the Roma player is due to undergo surgery on a persistent ankle injury in Brighton next week.
That could mean Ferguson's season is over, leaving Heimir Hallgrimsson down an attacking option for the play-off semi-final away to Czechia on March 26th.
The Republic of Ireland will hope to bounce back from defeat to France in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Carla Ward's side are in Utrecht for another tricky assignment against 2019 finalists the Netherlands.
Captain Katie McCabe is fit to play, but a knee injury rules Denise O'Sullivan out of tonight's game.
It is a 7.45pm kick-off on Saturday evening.
In the FA Cup fifth round, Arsenal beat League One side Mansfield Town.
Eberechi Eze's second-half goal fired the Gunners into a 2-1 victory.
Later, Wrexham welcome Chelsea to north Wales and Manchester City go to Newcastle.
Last night, Liverpool booked their place in the quarter-final, with a 3-1 win away to Wolves.
Rugby
After Ireland's win over Wales last night, there's a huge game in the race for the Six Nations currently.
France can claim the Championship by beating Scotland at Murrayfield, but a win for the hosts will set up a potential decider in Dublin next weekend.
England are bidding to avoid a first-ever defeat at Italy, in the late game in Rome from 4:40pm.
The Ireland under-20s continue their Six Nations campaign by hosting their Welsh counterparts later.
Kick-off at Virgin Media Park in Cork is at 7:45pm.
There is just a point between Division 1A leaders St Mary's and holders Clontarf ahead of today's Energia All-Ireland League action.
Mary's hosts UCD at Templeville Road, while 'Tarf are at home to Old Belvedere.
Terenure College makes the trip to Nenagh Ormond,
Lansdowne welcome Young Munster to the Aviva Stadium back pitch,
And Ballynahinch take on Cork Con - all of those games get underway at 2:30pm.
GAA
Limerick welcome the defending champions Cork to the Gaelic Grounds in Division One A of the Hurling League this evening.
The winner of this evening's other game, between Galway and Kilkenny in Salthill, should preserve their top-flight status for next season.
Waterford have confirmed that the game at home to Tipperary tomorrow has been postponed, due to the passing of player Michael Kiely's father.
There are also three matches in Division One A of the National Camogie League.
Two games just underway - All-Ireland champions Galway are on the road to take on Tipperary.
Cork are seeking their first points of the campaign away to Kilkenny.
Right now, Waterford lead Antrim by 1-7 to 4 points.
Golf
Rory McIlroy is nine shots off the pace heading into Day Three at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
A second-round of 68 sees the Masters champion move into a tie for ninth on four-under-par.
Daniel Berger remains the man to catch on 13-under.
Shane Lowry narrowly missed the cut, finishing on three over.
Motosport
Alex Dunne earned a podium finish in the sprint race on the opening weekend of the new F2 season in Australia.
The Offaly driver crossed the line in fourth, but was promoted to third, when Martinius Stenshorne (pr: stenz-horn) was penalised.
He'll go from third in the grid in the feature race in Melbourne, underway just after midnight Irish time.
Britain's George Russell will go from pole position in F1's season-opening Grand Prix in Australia.
The Mercedes driver finished just ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli in qualifying, with new Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar going from third in Melbourne.
Max Verstappen crashed out and will start from the back, while defending champion Lando Norris will go from sixth.
