With the winter break just a couple of weeks away, new research from chartered physiotherapist Huw Rees says this is a key phase for Irish hockey clubs to manage after a spate of injuries last spring.

So that’s nearly Thursday wrapped up. Here’s some of the stories we published on irishexaminer.com today which we hope will help you make sense of it all this evening.

As Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg struggles to garner enough support to oust UK prime minister Theresa May, one of his investment firm’s wagers is also looking questionable. Somerset Capital Management, which the MP founded, massively increased its long position in Alpha Bank this year.

No wonder Johann van Graan looked downbeat.

A driver named Dave who vanished after ploughing into a group of worshippers in Finsbury Park was like the magician Dynamo, the man accused of the attack in England has claimed.

A man accused of carrying out a terror attack at Finsbury Park in London, England, had hoped to kill Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, he told a court.

The man accused of carrying out the Finsbury Park terror attack was a "ticking time-bomb" who became obsessed with Muslims after watching a drama based on the Rochdale grooming scandal, a court heard.

One of Rolf Harris's alleged victims said she is speaking out for "vindication and justice" as the entertainer sat in court for the first day since his trial began.

What possessed seemingly cultured men to implement a policy of barbarism against the Jews of Europe? Laurence Rees seeks the answer in what JP O’Malley considers to be a magisterial undertaking of research.

Guinness PRO12

A sex fiend drugged and murdered four young men he met on gay networking sites such as Grindr, a court in England has heard.

This week, the final major of the year, the PGA Championship returns to one of America’s most famous venues, the Lower Course at Baltusrol.

A new blood test to detect Mycobacteria in blood has been developed by a team at the University of Nottingham led by Dr Cath Rees, an expert in microbiology in the School of Biosciences, and Dr Ben Swift from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science.

Munster’s charge towards the top four of the Pro12 hit a speed bump as they slipped to a 37-28 defeat at Cardiff Blues.

Worcester Warriors 20 Leicester Tigers 29: There was a nice moment about an hour before kick-off at Sixways Stadium on Saturday when Donncha O’Callaghan and Geordan Murphy found themselves in the same part of the pitch as the sides limbered up for this Premiership clash.

Munster 35 Cardiff Blues 27: Five tries, five match points and their place at the top of the Guinness Pro12 table was the prize for Munster at Musgrave Park on Saturday, but the most avid home fan would admit that Cardiff were unlucky not to even take home a losing bonus point.

Worcester 13 Northampton 12: It wasn’t just a new dawn for English rugby that kicked off at Sixways last night, just six days removed from the World Cup hosts’ disastrous exit. 

Newport Gwent Dragons 25 Connacht 30: Connacht maintain sixth place in the Pro12 after seeing off 14-man Dragons at Rodney Parade yesterday.

As expected, Munster proved too strong for Cardiff Blues as they sealed another Guinness Pro 12 victory at Musgrave Park tonight and maintained their third place in the table.

Guinness Pro12

The Government is “very seriously” considering demands to reopen a landmark case against Britain over the alleged use of torture in the North during the Troubles.

Cardiff Blues 24 Munster 28

Connacht 24 Cardiff 24

Cardiff Blues 9 Ulster 26

German exports and imports dropped much more than expected in May, coming on the heels of other soft indicators that have signalled Europe’s largest economy is losing momentum.

South Africa 38 Wales 16

Connacht 15 Cardiff 22

Dragons 8 Connacht 24

Scientists have uncovered a protein which could trigger the body’s immune system in fighting prostate cancer tumours — raising hopes of a new vaccine to help combat the deadly disease.

Newport Gwent Dragons 19 Leinster 23

Ospreys 9 Leinster 19

RABODIRECT PRO12: Scarlets 29 Glasgow 6

THIS week in Paris models are pounding the catwalks in next season’s clothes.

Munster 30 Edinburgh 3

Rory Best today exonerated Matthew Rees of blame for Wales’ ’ballgate’ victory against Ireland in the 2011 RBS 6 Nations by claiming the rules are only a “loose guide” to be followed.

Matthew Rees admits Wales will accept another ball boy scandal to beat Ireland.

Former Wales captain Matthew Rees has played in some big Test matches against Ireland — and this season’s RBS 6 Nations opener is high on the scale.

Former Wales captain Matthew Rees has played in some big Test matches against Ireland – and this season’s RBS 6 Nations opener is high on the scale.

Edinburgh 3 Racing Metro 15

Connacht 23 Edinburgh 24

Warren Gatland has made five changes to the Wales team for Saturday’s Millennium Stadium clash against world champions New Zealand.

Ospreys 19 Leinster 10

Ospreys 26 Connacht 9

Edinburgh 0 Saracens 45

Leinster 22 Edinburgh 16

Connacht 11 Scarlets 24