Ex-England and British and Irish Lions prop Graham Rowntree will join Munster as forwards coach after this year's Rugby World Cup on a three-year deal.

Currently in the same role with Georgia, Rowntree, 48, will replace Jerry Flannery, who left the province at the end of the season.

He previously spent eight years as England's forwards and scrum coach.

He won 54 England caps and three for the Lions, and went on three tours as part of the Lions coaching set-up.

Last month Flannery and attack coach Felix Jones declined to sign new contracts with Munster.

For the second consecutive season Munster exited both the Pro14 and European Champions Cup in the semi-finals.

"I'm delighted to be joining such a prestigious club," Rowntree said on Tuesday.

"Although fully committed to Georgia until the end of the World Cup, I'm really looking forward to working with [head coach] Johann [Van Graan] and his team."

Georgia will begin their World Cup campaign against Six Nations Grand Slam winners Wales on 23 September.

INDIANAPOLIS — GESS Int’l and Capstone Turbine Corporation will serve as the primary sponsor of the Andretti Autosport No. 27 driven by Alexander Rossi in two NTT IndyCar Series events.

The No. 27 entry will carry sponsorship from both brands this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway and again in August at Pocono Raceway. The partnership builds off the associate sponsorship across all four Andretti Autosport entries.

The relationship between the championship-winning team and GESS Int’l began during the Month of May, where the GESS logo appeared on each of Andretti Autosport’s four Indy cars for the IndyCar Grand Prix and it’s five-car line up during the 103rd edition of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

“GESS Int’l is excited to expand its partnership with Capstone Turbine Corporation and Andretti Autosport with Alexander Rossi, the driver of the No. 27 Indy car,” said Shaun Lee, president of GESS Int’l. “As leaders in the renewable natural gas (RNG) industry, GESS looks to promote the use of RNG Biogas. GESS continues to raise awareness of carbon negative emissions and green energy.”

Capstone Turbine Corporation, a strategic partner of GESS Int’l, is committed to improving the efficiencies of energy needs around the world, while simultaneously reducing the global emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases. Capstone’s systems help end users improve their impact on the environment, while still meeting power and reliability needs. To date, Capstone has shipped over 9,000 units to 73 countries and last year alone saved customers an estimated $253 million in annual energy costs and 350,000 tons of carbon.

“We are very excited about this partnership opportunity with Andretti Autosport in support of Alexander Rossi as Capstone Turbine looks to further the brand awareness of its high-efficiency, low-emission energy solutions,” said Darren Jamison, President and Chief Executive Officer of Capstone. “Despite saving customers millions of dollars annually and helping save the planet by reducing tons of carbon, it’s still surprising how many people are still not aware of Capstone’s innovative, clean and green microturbine products. I’m confident that our sponsorship with the world-renowned Andretti Autosport will help us raise awareness of our new disruptive energy technology.”

“We are thrilled to grow our partnership with GESS Int’l and welcome Capstone to Andretti,” said Andretti Autosport CEO Michael Andretti. “Our partnership was first highlighted with Alexander Rossi when he drove to a second-place finish in Indy. We’re happy to welcome GESS back in a larger capacity and look forward to continue growing our on-track success.”

ST. LOUIS -- Jack Hughes picked up the stick and examined it outside the St. Louis Blues locker room. The 18-year-old phenom, expected to be the first overall pick in this month's NHL draft, had seen all manner and sort of hockey stick, including during the recent IIHF world championships.

But none like this.

"Ryan O'Reilly's stick is pretty cool. Straight curve, and then it has something pretty weird going on at the toe," said Hughes, who visited the Blues and Boston Bruins before Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, a game in which O'Reilly would score twice.

Upon first glance, O'Reilly's stick looks like a manufacturing error. The blade's curve is nearly flat, but the end of it features a harsh toe hook, looking very much like the wood was warped.

"It's a little weird," O'Reilly said. "I think everyone hates it. But it works for me."

Calling his stick "unique" would be underselling it. As far as O'Reilly can tell, he's the only one with a stick like this. Others have tried to use his style. Inevitably, they reject it for a more traditional curve.

O'Reilly created the toe hook by heating up a plastic template sent to him by Warrior, who manufactures his sticks, and sending it back. He said the basis for the curve was the stick used by former NHL great Jeremy Roenick, but he added the hook at the toe.

"I've been using it for, like, 10 years now. Just gives me a little more control. I use a pretty long blade, and I just had the idea of putting the toe in to make it easier to handle the puck in certain areas," he said.

It's one of the most unusual blades in the NHL, and Hughes wasn't the only prospect marveling at it on Monday.

Dylan Cozens, a center who expected to go in the top five, said the blade struck him as weird.

"With that little toe hook at the end. You don't see that with too many players. It's crazy," he said. "It must be pretty good for toe drags or something. But it works for him."

"It's something that I've never seen," said Kirby Dach, a center projected to be drafted in the top 10. "It's something that you do with a mini stick, where you heat it and curve it right at the toe. It was cool to pick his brain on that."

O'Reilly said the comments from the prospects reminded him of his experiences as a young player, when he first spied the stick of Alex Ovechkin.

"In juniors, when I saw Ovechkin's curve, I saw how much of a hook that was. It's just a big hook," he said. "I remember being obviously impressed with how he plays it."

When it comes to NHL stars and their sticks, there's no one size that fits all.

"He said it works for him," Dach said. "I mean, guy put up 80 points this year. It seemed to work."

Was there any doubt that this series was going to be a long one? After laying an egg in Game 3, the St. Louis Blues bounced back with a 4-2 win in Game 4 that left the home crowd singing along to "Gloria," and the Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins tied at two games apiece.

Here's everything you need to know about how Game 4 played out in this edition of ESPN Stanley Cup Playoffs Daily.

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

About last night ...

Game 4: St. Louis Blues 4, Boston Bruins 2 (series is tied 2-2)

Boston goalie Tuukka Rask called St. Louis the more desperate team on Monday, and he's probably right. The Blues benefited from some lineup maneuvering by coach Craig Berube -- Vince Dunn, making his Stanley Cup Final debut returning from injury, and Zach Sanford, a nice boost on the second line, both assisted on the first goal -- as St. Louis scored 43 seconds in (thanks, Ryan O'Reilly), then weathered some attacks from Boston, including a short-handed goal. (If you're looking to criticize something about the Blues' game, look to their power play, which was rough to watch.) In the end, it was O'Reilly who scored again for the game winner. The veteran center, who had just three playoff goals entering this game, buzzed all night.

The Blues, with renewed discipline, have now scored in the opening two minutes of a game six times in the playoffs, and at least once in all four rounds. They're 5-0 so far when doing so. Rask, by the way, looked vulnerable for the first time in a while. It was the first time he allowed three goals in regulation since the second round against Columbus. And once again, Jordan Binnington and the Blues prove they rule the ice when rebounding after a loss this postseason.

Three stars

1. Ryan O'Reilly, C, St. Louis Blues. O'Reilly did something only three players had done previously: score in the opening minute of a Stanley Cup Final game and later score the eventual winner in the same game. (The others: Fernando Pisani in 2006 for the Oilers, Bernie Geoffrion in 1958 for the Canadiens and Sid Smith in 1951 for the Maple Leafs.)

2. Alex Pietrangelo, D, St. Louis Blues. The captain had two assists, and was 23 seconds shy of playing a ridiculous 30 minutes while taking a whopping 34 shifts.

3. Zach Sanford, LW, St. Louis Blues. Stanford drew into the lineup in Game 3 thanks to Oskar Sundqvist's suspension. He played so well, Blues coach Craig Berube promoted Sanford to the second line in Game 4. He did not disappoint, adding a nice boost to the line.

Play of the night

Ryan O'Reilly with a stellar wraparound goal and the @StLouisBlues take an early lead in Game 4! ��#StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/KjSCxw1slc

- Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 4, 2019

The crowd went absolutely berserk after this goal, just 43 seconds into the game.

Dud of the night

The Bruins losing captain Zdeno Chara in the second period after a puck deflected to his face and he bled profusely. Chara could miss Game 5, which is especially troublesome considering the team is already without top-four defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (concussion protocol). Chara got some stitches and may need dental work later, according to coach Bruce Cassidy. If he cannot go for Game 5, the Bruins will turn to either Steven Kampfer (two games of playoff experience this spring), or a fellow left-handed shot like Urho Vaakanainen or Jeremy Lazon, who both have limited NHL experience.

Social post of the day

Sports: they bring people* together.

*Brett Hull's face and a chinchilla named Boris

(photo is a screengrab from a @YoungPageviews video) pic.twitter.com/BVeqXrKAU9

- Joan Niesen (@JoanNiesen) June 4, 2019

Once again, the crowd in St. Louis was ... a scene.

Quotable

"He's a guy who wants to be out there. He wants to battle and be with the guys. He wasn't gonna miss that opportunity. He doesn't get back on the ice, but he's a warrior. If there's any chance for him to be back, he'll be back. If not, it'll be next man up again. Whoever our next guy up is will have to fill that role admirably -- and they're big feet to fill." -- David Backes on Zdeno Chara returning to the bench to sit with teammates in the third period, even though he was not medically cleared to play.

Paris Saint-Germain's Thomas Meunier has said the Champions League round-of-16 exit to Manchester United earlier this year was the "biggest joke in the history of football."

PSG won 2-0 at Old Trafford in the first leg but fell to 3-1 home defeat in the return to crash out. The clinching goal was scored from a late penalty awarded by the video assistant referee for a handball by defender Presnel Kimpembe.

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And Meunier said this loss was worse than when they threw away a 4-0 first leg lead with a 6-1 defeat at Barcelona in 2017.

"It was the biggest joke in the history of football," the 27-year-old told Le Parisien. "I would have bet €1 million that we would not lose.

"They did not even have chances and they still scored three goals. It was even more shocking than Barcelona."

Meunier said PSG's open focus on European glory has started to create problems because of heightened expectations at the club.

"The Champions League is still the major problem," the Belgium international said. "Winning this competition and being part of the big ones like Real Madrid and Barca, which is what a lot of international communication has focused on, will take a long time. PSG is a club that is growing."

Sources have told ESPN FC that Arsenal and Manchester United are interested in signing Meunier this summer, with PSG open to a deal for around €30m.

Meunier is entering the final 12 months of his contract amid a strained relationship with the club's fans and a lack of playing time.

"I am neither hot nor cold about it [social media criticism from PSG fans]," he said. "Sometimes I have fun with it.

"I have values. When I talk about something, I try to do so as sincerely as possible. It is my world; I am my own person and I will stay this way. The majority of fans support me."

Meunier is with the Belgium national team for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Scotland.

Jurgen Klopp could take a year's sabbatical at the end of his Liverpool contract in 2022 and while the club's owners are hopeful he will commit to an extension, they are minded not to put pressure on him, sources have told ESPN FC.

The 51-year-old, who celebrated his first trophy as Liverpool manager with a 2-0 Champions League final victory over Tottenham last Saturday, has repeatedly stated his desire to take a break from the "very intense" demands of management when his contract expires.

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It is a matter he has considered with his family, and he has mentioned a 12-month rest period would be his preference in the past.

While owners Fenway Sports Group want Klopp to remain on Merseyside beyond the next three years of his contract, they would not want to put him in the position of turning down a new offer.

Improved terms would therefore only be drafted if the German requested it and he has not yet provided any indication as to whether he has changed his mind on having time out after 2022.

Given the strong relationship between Klopp and FSG president Mike Gordon, who stayed at the manager's house on Sunday evening after the team's victory parade, there would not be any formal discussions or a lengthy process if he did decide to extend his commitment.

This is evidenced by how Liverpool handled the six-year contract they gave the Reds boss in June 2016. During a conversation with Gordon, Klopp said he could imagine himself being at the club for the rest of his career. FSG's president then called principal owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner before a fresh deal was drawn up in a matter of hours. Klopp, who had been on holiday in Ibiza before ferrying to Formentera, signed it on June 16 -- his 49th birthday. The news was only officially announced by Liverpool at the start of preseason the following month.

Guiding the club to a sixth European Cup title in Madrid will not have acted as a spark for FSG to reward the German -- they would have offered Klopp a new contract after last year's Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in Kiev if he had wanted it. The owners believe that the scale of his influence at Liverpool cannot solely be measured by trophies.

They will have optimism that the former Mainz and Borussia Dortmund coach, who spent seven years at both clubs, indicates he wants to surpass that time at Anfield, where he has been since October 2015.

FSG will, however, respect Klopp's decision if he wants to stick to his plan of taking a break when his contract runs out.