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Ulster's Player of the Year Stuart McCloskey and team-mate Will Addison have not been named in Ireland's 44-man training squad for the Rugby World Cup.

Connacht lock Quinn Roux also misses out, although head coach Joe Schmidt has not ruled out further additions to the squad.

There are call-ups for uncapped Munster pair Jean Kleyn and Mike Haley while Leinster's Dave Kearney returns.

Flankers Sean O'Brien and Dan Leavy have been ruled out through injury.

Ireland will play four warm-up matches between 10 August and 7 September before travelling to Japan, where they will face Scotland in their Pool A opener on 22 September.

Utility back Addison, who joined Ulster from Sale last summer, has not featured since January after undergoing a back operation.

The 26-year-old made an impressive start to his Ulster career before making his Ireland debut against Italy in November.

"Some players have missed out through injury and there are one or two guys that may be added into the squad at a later stage," said Schmidt on Tuesday.

"There were some very close calls in selection and it's always a challenging process because the coaching group are very conscious of how hard the players work."

Addison's Ulster teammate McCloskey misses out despite enjoying an impressive campaign which earned him a place in the Pro14 dream team.

The centre, 26, has found his international opportunities limited since debuting against England in 2016 largely due to the ferocious competition for places in Ireland's midfield.

South Africa-born lock Kleyn is eligible for selection through the three-year residency rule having joined Munster in 2016.

His provincial teammate Haley has impressed since arriving at Thomond Park from Sale last summer and will hope to make his Irish debut in the team's summer fixtures, which begin at home to Italy.

Ireland training squad

Forwards: Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Rory Best (Ulster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Sean Cronin (Leinster), Ultan Dillane (Connacht), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Rob Herring (Ulster), Dave Kilcoyne (Munster), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Jordi Murphy (Ulster), Tommy O'Donnell (Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), Rhys Ruddock (Leinster), James Ryan (Leinster), John Ryan (Munster), Niall Scannell (Munster), CJ Stander (Munster), Devin Toner (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster).

Backs: Bundee Aki (Connacht), Ross Byrne (Leinster), Joey Carbery (Munster), Jack Carty (Connacht), Andrew Conway (Munster), John Cooney (Ulster), Keith Earls (Munster), Chris Farrell (Munster), Mike Haley (Munster), Henshaw (Leinster), Dave Kearney (Leinster), Rob Kearney (Leinster), Jordan Larmour (Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Connacht), Luke McGrath (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Rory Scannell (Munster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster).

Uncapped Glasgow Warriors duo Scott Cummings and Kyle Steyn have been added to Scotland's World Cup training squad by head coach Gregor Townsend.

Townsend initially named 42 players and said Toulouse lock Richie Gray could still claim one of two vacant spots.

But Cummings has been preferred after a strong finish to the term, culminating in a Pro14 final appearance.

Steyn has shone for Glasgow at centre, but Townsend said he is being primarily considered as a winger.

"Kyle has made an excellent impact since his debut for Glasgow earlier this season and has displayed strong defensive capabilities as well as a providing go-forward when carrying ball," Townsend said.

"We have others in our squad that we view more as centre/wings but I'm sure over the course of the summer Kyle will get the opportunity to show what he can do in both positions.

"Scott's selection is a testament to how well he has performed throughout the season and in particular over the past few weeks."

Scotland will play home and away summer Tests against Georgia and France before the autumn World Cup in Japan.

There the Scots will face the hosts as well as Ireland, Russia and Samoa.

Scotland training squad

Forwards

John Barclay (Edinburgh), Simon Berghan (Edinburgh), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) Allan Dell (Edinburgh), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Gary Graham (Newcastle Falcons), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Stuart McInally (Edinburgh), Willem Nel (Edinburgh), Gordon Reid (London Irish), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs), Grant Stewart (Glasgow Warriors), Josh Strauss (Sale Sharks), Blade Thomson (Scarlets), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh), George Turner (Glasgow Warriors), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors).

Backs

Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Nick Grigg (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Harris (Newcastle Falcons), Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Sam Johnson (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh), Greig Laidlaw (Clermont Auvergne), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Byron McGuigan (Sale Sharks), Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors), Henry Pyrgos (Edinburgh), Finn Russell (Racing 92), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens).

Ireland and Leinster full-back Rob Kearney has signed an extension to his IRFU contract until the end of the 2019-20 season.

The 33-year-old is Irish rugby's most decorated player with his honours including two Grand Slam triumphs.

Kearney has won four four Heineken Cups, a Challenge Cup and five league titles with Leinster.

"There are goals I still want to achieve with both Leinster and Ireland next season," he said.

Kearney, who has won 90 caps, represented Ireland at two Rugby World Cups and is a two-time British and Irish Lions tourist (2009 and 2013), playing in all three Tests on the South Africa tour.

His latest success with Leinster came with victory over Glasgow Warriors in the Pro14 final.

He added: "I am feeling pretty good about where I am physically and mentally after a long season which has contained a few lows but also some massive highs.

"I will enjoy a couple of weeks off now before getting stuck into what will be a hugely exciting season for Irish rugby."

Larson Tops Bell At Lawrenceburg

Published in Racing
Tuesday, 28 May 2019 03:59

LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. — Kyle Larson versus Christopher Bell. It’s a tale that’s been told many times and in many ways.

But Larson’s World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory Monday night at Lawrenceburg Speedway may be the most enticing tale, yet. And controversial.

Or as Larson put it, “It was a heck of a race.”

Bell dominated the dash. He was three-tenths of a second quicker than Larson and ended the eight-lap race more than two seconds in front of him. Larson’s runner-up finish placed the two NASCAR stars on the front row for the 35-lap feature.

This chapter of the tail usually ends in Bell’s favor, though. During the Turkey Night Classic midget race last year, Bell beat Larson for the second consecutive year. And earlier this year, Bell denied Larson his first Chili Bowl Nationals win by passing him late in the race to claim his third Chili Bowl win in-a-row.

Larson also had to cope with defeat during the first night of the World of Outlaws Patriot Nationals race at The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Friday. After dominating the majority of the feature, a late race mistake allowed Giovanni Scelzi to pass Larson.

Bell and Larson were hungry for another win.

However, Shane Stewart looked to spoil the NASCAR party in the early stage of the race by charging to second on the first lap and keeping pace with Bell – making it an Oklahoma-native shootout at the front.

No one could touch Bell, though. Once the No. 39 Swindell SpeedLab car clicked off laps on the high side of the 12-degree banked track, he outpaced Stewart every lap. Larson was mired in third-place watching another potential victory drive away.

However, cautions came to Larson’s rescue. With 19 laps to go, Sheldon Haudenschild spun directly in front of Bell, bringing out the second caution of the night – the first being early in the race for Spencer Bayston breaking a rear end.

On the restart, Larson rode the cushion through turns one and two and carried enough momentum to throw a slide job underneath Stewart the next corner. Coming off turn four, the two made contact. Both kept control of their car, but it was to the benefit of Larson. He secured second-place, while Stewart eventually faded to fourth-place after an intense battle with Schatz for third.

From there, Larson seemed destined for another runner-up finish. There was no catching Bell.

Then came lap 27. Bell slid up into the cushion in turn two, throwing his 27 laps of domination out the window. In the second it took Bell to correct his car, the white No. 57 was there.

Larson torpedoed his car underneath Bell in turn three and cleared him through the center of the turn.

Bell charged back, getting a run to the outside of Larson down the frontstretch. This was it. This was the battle fans waited at the edge of their seat for.

Side by side going into turn one, both were committed to their line. Bell pressed to the cushion. Larson a lane below. The two were close enough to grab each other’s steering wheel. Then, those fans at the edge of their seat left them.

The hard racing between Larson and Bell resulted in the black No. 39 jumping the cushion and spinning through the air before tumbling to the center of the turn. Bell’s night was over.

“I’m not sure what happened into (turn) one there,” Larson said. “He probably didn’t know exactly where I was going. He thought I might slide myself or what, and I think I just entered in a spot that put him in a bad spot and he probably got tight on the cushion.”

From Bell’s point of view, “I didn’t run him over, but I didn’t have an option.

“My car was really fast,” a dejected Bell said. “The thing was the best I’ve ever been here, for sure. Thank you to Kevin and Jordan (Swindell) for allowing me to drive their car. So, bummer we didn’t win.”

Larson said he didn’t feel any contact between the two of them.

“It was unfortunate on his part to wreck,” Larson said. “It would have been a good battle for the fans, but at the same time it’s always nice when you don’t have to battle Chris for a win because he’s so good.”

There were still seven laps to go, and Larson now had Donny Schatz and Scelzi lurking behind him. But once the race went back green, Larson put a period on the night charging to his seventh career Series win at the Memorial Day Spectacular presented by KOI Auto Parts.

Schatz finished second with Scelzi third.

To see full results, turn to the next page.

Wynn’s & Keating Motorsports Unveil Livery

Published in Racing
Tuesday, 28 May 2019 06:00

LAKELAND, Fla. — Wynn’s, the automotive products technology company that has embraced the 24 Hours of Le Mans as the international highlight of its 80th anniversary celebration this year, unveiled the livery of the No. 85 Wynn’s/Keating Motorsports Ford GT that team drivers Ben Keating, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Felipe Fraga will race in the GTE-Am class during the June 15-16 event.

“Wynn’s has a storied racing past and a history of winning at the highest levels of motorsports,” said Manuel Barba, Business Unit Manager, ITW Professional Automotive Products. “We are pleased to be celebrating our 80th Anniversary with our racing debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and feel that this is the best possible place to start writing the next chapter in Wynn’s automotive products and motorsports history. We wish our race team of Ben Keating, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Felipe Fraga the very best of luck as they pursue victory in the world’s oldest active sports car endurance race.”

The striking livery for the No. 85 carries the familiar purple and orange colors and trademark Wynn’s oval logo in a design that follows the look of the four Ford Chip Ganassi Racing GTE-Pro class Ford GT Le Mans entries.

Keating and his team will be the first privateer entrants competing in a Ford GT, which won with the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team in the GTE-Pro class in the return of the legendary sports car to Le Mans in 2016.

The Keating Motorsports partnership at Le Mans also complements Wynn’s support of the IMSA 50th anniversary campaign Keating and his teammates are running this year in North America in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

“I am so excited to be working with Wynn’s in both the USA and in Europe on these racing programs,” Keating said. “They are great partners and this is also their 80th Anniversary year. It seems to be the perfect storm of great people creating great results.”

Ferrucci Tabbed Indy Rookie Of The Year

Published in Racing
Tuesday, 28 May 2019 06:39

INDIANAPOLIS — Twenty-year-old Santino Ferrucci was named Rookie of the Year for the Indianapolis 500 after finishing seventh in Sunday’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The announcement was made during Monday’s Victory Celebration at the J.W. Marriott.

Driving for Dale Coyne Racing, Ferrucci started 23rdand moved forward to finish seventh, which was the best of the six rookies in the field of 33.

Ferrucci, who celebrates his 21st birthday on May 31, led his first NTT IndyCar Series lap and made the largest number of passes of any driver on track with 30 while on his way to registering his best NTT IndyCar Series career finish.

Ferrucci earned $50,000 for being named rookie of the year.

“To be honest, it’s finally sinking in,” expressed Ferrucci. “You can only win Indy 500 Rookie of the Year once. That hadn’t occurred to me until now. It’s quite an honor. I can’t thank the team enough for giving me such a fantastic car the whole month. I was comfortable in the car all month and I think as a rookie that’s really important. Thank you to Honda, Firestone, and Cly-Del Manufacturing who has been behind me through everything that’s happened in the last few years.”

PHOTOS: ARCA Midwest Salute The Troops 100

Published in Racing
Tuesday, 28 May 2019 07:00

Club Exploria Backs Front Row & Ragan

Published in Racing
Tuesday, 28 May 2019 07:27

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Front Row Motorsports and Club Exploria, LLC. — developer of the vacation ownership Exploria Resorts brand, announced an agreement that will make Exploria Resorts the official hospitality sponsor of the racing team.

As a part of this new partnership, Exploria Resorts will be the primary sponsor of David Ragan and the No. 38 ExploriaResorts.com Ford Mustang this weekend at Pennsylvania’s Pocono Raceway. Exploria Resorts will also be present all weekend at the track in the Fan Fair area giving fans a chance to win prizes and sign-up to win an Exploria Resorts vacation.

Ragan will make several appearances at the Exploria Resorts booth to sign autographs and meet fans.

Exploria Resorts will soon announce details for fans to win two VIP race experiences to the 2020 Daytona 500. The VIP race experience will include airfare, tickets and the opportunity to spend time with Ragan and the No. 38 team in the garage and pit leading up the race.

“NASCAR fans are very passionate about their sport and enjoy traveling and spending vacation time with their family” said Thomas J. Morris, president and CEO of Club Exploria. “These interests align perfectly with our mission which is to provide a lifetime of vacation experiences for our members. We are excited about the partnership with Front Row Motorsports and David Ragan at the Poconos 400 while providing fans the opportunity to learn more about Exploria and to give them a chance to win great vacation packages.”

Exploria Resorts currently boasts seven destination vacation resorts and the portfolio continues to grow, most recently adding Pocono Mountain Villas.

“I think this is a great opportunity for fans to learn more about Exploria Resorts and become a member,” said Ragan. “When travelling, we’re looking to great, safe places for our family to stay and have fun. Exploria Resorts provides that at their beautiful Poconos, Daytona Beach, Gatlinburg and Orlando Properties. I’m excited about the great things they are doing, getting involved and allowing fans the opportunity to win a VIP experience to the 2020 Daytona 500.”

Kuznetsov denies drug use after video surfaces

Published in Hockey
Monday, 27 May 2019 16:37

Washington Capitals star Evgeny Kuznetsov has denied ever using drugs after a video surfaced of him sitting next to a table on which there are two lines of white powder in what appears to be a hotel room.

Kuznetsov told the Russian media site Sport-Express that the video was taken last summer after the Capitals won the Stanley Cup and that he left the room as soon as possible after seeing unfamiliar women there and strange substances on the table.

Kuznetsov said he has never used drugs and was ready to undergo a medical examination to prove it.

The Capitals issued a statement that reads: "We are aware of the video that surfaced on social media of Evgeny Kuznetsov. We are currently in the process of gathering facts and will have no further comment at this time."

"I hesitate to use the term investigation because it's a fairly ambiguous word. Obviously, we have to understand the facts and circumstances. I wouldn't call it a formal investigation," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Monday. "There are a lot of questions I would have about the situation. Obviously, he's acknowledged being in the room with whatever it is. But I don't know whatever it is 'is,' and he claims not to have used whatever it is. So on that basis, I'm not going to convict him of anything."

Kuznetsov, 28, just finished playing for Russia in the World Hockey Championships in Slovakia. He had two goals and four assists in 10 games as the Russians won the bronze medal.

He led all players with 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists) in last year's Stanley Cup playoffs, which culminated with the Capitals beating the Vegas Golden Knights in five games to win their first Cup.

Kuznetsov had 21 goals and 51 assists this season for the Capitals, who lost their first-round playoff series to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games.

As the Boston Bruins look to tack on another championship for the city's ridiculous winning tear, the St. Louis Blues hope to win their first Stanley Cup in improbable fashion. After all, this was a team in last place in January. After one game, the B's have the edge in the Stanley Cup Final, following their 4-2 victory.

Here's everything you need to know about how Game 1 played out in this edition of ESPN Stanley Cup Playoffs Daily, and click here to stream our Stanley Cup Daily podcast!

Jump ahead: Last night's game | Three stars
Play of the night | Social post of the day


About last night ...

Game 1: Boston Bruins 4, St. Louis Blues 2 (Bruins lead the series 1-0)

One of the stories heading into Game 1 was that the Bruins had a 10-day layoff between games while the Blues were coming in fresh. And St. Louis couldn't have asked for a better start. The Blues played the aggressive brand of hockey that led them to the Final and jumped out to a 2-0 lead.

Then things unraveled, about 22 minutes in. A normally disciplined team couldn't stay out of the penalty box. "Five penalties takes a lot of guys out of the game and uses up a lot of energy of other guys," Blues coach Craig Berube said. The second period was the dreary turning point, as St. Louis couldn't sustain any offensive zone time, let alone pressure. The Blues would be outshot 30-12 over the final two periods. Boston mustered enough offense, thanks to goals by rookie defenseman Connor Clifton, second-year defenseman Charlie McAvoy and fourth-liner Sean Kuraly, plus an empty-netter from Brad Marchand.

Three stars

1. Sean Kuraly, C, Boston Bruins

The fourth-liner is building quite the résumé. Besides his game-winning goal (and assist) in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, Kuraly scored the game winner at the Winter Classic, as well as game winners in Game 7 versus the Leafs in the first round and in Game 4 versus the Blue Jackets in the second round, the team for which he grew up cheering.

play
0:20

Kuraly's goal lifts Bruins to Game 1 win

Sean Kuraly scores the go-ahead goal off a beautiful pass from Noah Acciari in the third period for the Bruins.

2. Connor Clifton, D, Boston Bruins

Just when the energy was sucked out of TD Garden, the rookie defenseman brought the crowd back to life by getting the Bruins on the board. Hey, it doesn't matter how it goes in, right? Just that it went in.

3. Charlie McAvoy, D, Boston Bruins

We've heard about how scary-good the Bruins' power play can be (it's the best in a postseason run since the 1981 Islanders, after all). After failing to convert on five power-play chances, McAvoy was able to get a man-advantage goal, unassisted.

Play of the night

Bruins defenseman Torey Krug lost his helmet while tangling with Blues winger David Perron by the Bruins' net. Then Krug proceeded to skate the length of the ice with hair flowing to deliver this huge -- and legal -- hit.

Dud of the night

After building a 2-0 lead, the Blues were a dud for pretty much the entire second period. According to Natural Stat Trick, they had zero high-danger shot attempts (Boston had six). They had seven total shot attempts (Boston had 29). They also had only three shots on goal, including none in the final 8:16 before the second intermission.

Social post of the day

play
0:47

Krug on big hit: 'Momentum swings' on plays like that

Torey Krug reflects on his huge hit against Robert Thomas in the third period of Game 1, saying he was trying to change the momentum on the play.

Krug wasn't the only one with thoughts on his big hit. Everyone was talking about that Krug play on social media Monday night, but we particularly liked this take from Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba:

Quotable

"Well, he got a haircut a couple days ago, so he was looking pretty good." -- David Pastrnak on Krug

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