In 2009 Welsh Rugby star Gareth Thomas became the first rugby player to come out as gay to the media and the world. He is now in talks to have his life made into a movie with Mickey Rourke hopeful of landing the role.

Hey! Let’s host the biggest soccer events in the world in a country that hates gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trangender people! Great idea FIFA. How can people believe that they are making any attempt to end LGBT-phobia in their midst when they throw this at us?

Having read, and indeed, written, a fair few articles/blogs on homophobia in football, it’s great to pick up a paper and read someone standing up and saying what needs to be said.

Homophobia in football is something that a great deal of people are working to fight. However, every so often, someone comes along and sets us all back a few decades. Enter Vlatko Markovic

There are many different ways to see Dublin but my new favourite is rowing down the centre of the city in a quad getting waved at by some startled people on the boardwalk. Outrowers is a group of recreational rowers who meet up every Sunday at Islandbridge, it’s great fun and open to total beginners.

For those of us who give out about the lack of coverage of women’s sports on TV, and we here at gaelick HQ do quite a bit, its refreshing then to see TG4 not only televise the ladies Senior final from Croke Park but also the Junior and Intermediate matches as well.

Katie Taylor fights China’s Cheng Dong in the final of The Women’s World Boxing Championships tonight. She should win. Having said that, Dong is a tall south-paw with a long reach so it won’t be easy. Dong will also be aware of how close Underwood came in the semi-final and what tactics she used. All in all, tonight’s should be a fascinating final. And you can see it live!

This week sees Barbados host the World Women’s Boxing Championships. Ireland are well represented by four boxers, including the inspirational Katie Taylor who will be going for her third world title in a row.
However, having searched, I can’t find a TV station airing any of the fights.

I am on a rant. Feel free to click away, but my ardour is up and my goat has well and truly been gotten. I’m so angry that I just allowed a very badly-constructed sentence to pass my editor radar. Why? Where the HELL are the Irish women in sport? Not on the effing telly anyway!

So now that we’re well acquainted with the Ireland Rugby World Cup team – and the first two rounds of matches are complete – let’s see how things stand.

The Rugby World Cup starts on Friday, 20th August, with Ireland’s first game being played that day against England. We introduced some of the Ireland squad at the week; now meet the remaining team members

So now that you know the Rugby World Cup gets going on 20th August – with Ireland’s first game on Friday against England – let’s meet the team (we’ll start with team members from A through H)

It’s Rugby World Cup time! What’s that you say? Something about the rugby World Cup taking place in 2011? No, no: you’re thinking of men’s rugby. The real thing kicks off this month in England, from 20th August 2010, and Ireland will be valiantly battling for the title.

The new season is almost upon us and I can’t wait. Who will win, who will qualify for Europe and who will be relegated? So much to play for over the next 10 months.

Today sees the closing ceremony of the 8th Gay Games in Cologne, which kicked off on 31st July – and a well-deserved rest for the 100-odd members of Team Ireland. And bloody hell, didn’t Team Ireland do well?

If you’re not attending today’s Dublin Pride celebrations, why not tune in to the final of the UEFA Championship, where Ireland’s under-17 women’s squad takes on Spain? Kick-Off: 12:30pm Irish time.

We hear a lot about the boys in green but what about the girls? Well tonight sees the Irish U17 girls team take on the so-far unbeaten German side for a place in the UEFA Championship final, it doesn’t get much better than this.