This morning we kick off a new feature, exclusive to full members from next week, where we identify key stories from around the world’s of sport and business that will help you to stay ahead of the game.
Pushing the edge of professional preparataion
Donegal teamColm Keys has a fine piece in today’s Irish Independent about how Donegal and Kerry are preparing for Sunday week’s All Ireland Football final.  He traces the history of how teams have gathered in camps back to Cavan and Meath in the 1950’s and highlights Armagh in 2002 as raising the bar higher with a trip to La Manga.
It gathers together strands of how the GAA has viewed the idea of collective training and looks at the ways in which the Donegal Diaspora has been asked to help fund this year’s five day stays away from the county for Jim McGuinness and his team.
Read the article here
Rugby’s Nearing Deadlines
Hugo MacNeillGerry Thornley writes in the Irish Times about the race for the European Champions’ Rugby Cup to complete a roster of TV stations.  This will in turn lead to the confirmation of additional sponsors and the fixture dates and times for rounds three and four of the new tournament in December.
Hugo MacNeill is touted as among the potential first independent Chairs of the new EPRC which is pushing things to the limit only five weeks out from the start of the tournament.  It should be noted that most of the functions of the new body are being carried out on a contract basis by exactly the same team that previously managed the Heineken Cup under the banner of European Rugby Cup Limited.
Read the article here
Dissent in the Ranks of Golf’s Star Players
Phil MickelsonThe English Daily Telegraph takes US Golfer Phil Mickelson to task for walking out on a tournament in the FedEx Challenge because he was not close enough to make the Final 30 and quit after two rounds.
It asks what the level of anger and taking of the moral high ground would be if it had been Tiger Woods rather than Mickelson that walked out and also makes a point about the respective form of the European and US Ryder Cup team mates that might cause concern for those expecting a European win in three weeks time.
Read the article here