REPUBLIC FACING PLAY-0FF CLASH WITH RUGBY AT AVIVA

THE Republic of Ireland will wait for Tuesday’s draw in Zurich for next month’s World Cup qualifying play-offs before deciding how to avoid a fixture clash with the Irish rugby team. The play-offs are on November 9-11 and 12-14, and Ireland’s rugby team face South Africa at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, November 11. If drawn at home first the Republic could play on Thursday, November 9. A second-leg home tie could be after the weekend.