Bayonne 23 Auch 21

Sale Sharks will face Agen in the last eight of the European Challenge Cup after the French side squeezed past Viadana over the two legs.

Uche O’Douza grabbed a hat-trick as Worcester cruised to emphatic 67-14 victory over Italians Rovigo at Sixways.

London Irish coach Gary Gold believes his team have got “a tough hill to climb” in their quest for a European Challenge Cup quarter-final place.

London Irish will be without almost a quarter of their squad for tomorrow night’s tough European Challenge Cup second round tie against Pau in France.

PAUL BURKE spoke last night about “his hardest decision” as he prepares to leave Harlequins and join Alan Gaffney’s Munster.

MUNSTER have secured the services of the internationally- capped Paul Burke for the next two seasons.

Connacht have again left the fly-half position vacant in the hope that Eric Elwood will recover to play Llanelli at Stradey Park on Friday night in the quarter-finals of the Celtic Cup.

CHRIS WHITE will referee the Heineken Cup final between Perpignan and Toulouse at Lansdowne Road, Dublin, on May 24.

England stand-off Jonny Wilkinson is unlikely to play again this year after sustaining a shoulder injury in the international against South Africa.

Mont de Marsan 12 Connacht 26

Talisman Eric Elwood is considered doubtful with a rib injury ahead of Friday night's Celtic League crunch match with Cardiff at The Sportsground.

Man-of-the-match Pete Anglesea was delighted to lead Sale to victory in the Parker Pen Shield.

Harlequins welcomed former South African skipper Andre Vos to the Stoop today but waved farewell to England back-row Steve White-Cooper.

Self-taught goalkicker Barry Everitt intends putting the boot into Northampton’s Powergen Cup hopes at Twickenham tomorrow - and land a first major trophy for London Irish.

Matt Williams today set his sights on renewed success with Leinster - and left Zurich Premiership strugglers Saracens still searching for a new head coach.

England star Dan Luger was today brought back down to earth with a bump following his try-scoring exploits against Wales by being picked in Harlequins’ second team.

The draw for the Heineken Cup semi-finals took place this evening.

London Irish rugby director Conor O’Shea today saluted the Exiles’ ‘‘magnificent’’ Parker Pen European Shield quarter-final victory over French challengers Pau.

English clubs continued their all-out assault on this season’s Parker Pen European Shield as Saracens and Gloucester joined Sale in the last eight following victories on French soil.

Connacht succeeded in notching their biggest win in European competition with a 61 - 13 victory over Roma in the Galway Sportsground on Saturday.

Parker Pen European Shield

Parker Pen European Shield

Sale Sharks' young star Charlie Hodgson grabbed 14 points in his side's 44-6 Parker Pen European Shield drubbing of Connacht at Heywood Road.

There was a huge win for London Irish in today’s round of Parker Pen Shield matches.

Connacht 30

Unbeaten Connacht have mounting injury problems ahead of tomorrow's Parker Pen European Shield clash with Pool Four leaders Sale in Galway.

Connaught created a shock upset in Rome last night to continue their excellent start to the season and create a momentous record of their own.

In the European Shield in Rome Connacht have pulled off their second victory

Connacht's great start to the season continues to get better and better as they opened their European Shield campaign with a thoroughly deserved victory over a Narbonne side beaten by Harlequins in last season¹s final.

Connacht have seen off Narbonne in their European Shield match.

European Shield latest:

Rugby League legend Ellery Hanley has thrown down the gauntlet to Bath’s Premiership flops as they prepare for a daunting Heineken Cup opener against Biarritz tomorrow.

Harlequins fly-half Paul Burke has signed a new two-year contract with the Premiership club.

Jonny Wilkinson was just pleased to have come through a match after inspiring the Lions to a 42-8 win over Queensland Reds.

Newcastle have rested a number of key players for their Premiership trip to Wasps.

English referee Chris White will take charge of the Munster's Heineken Cup semi-final clash against Stade Francais in Lille on April 21.

Friday's A international between England and Scotland has been switched from Newcastle to Leeds.

Here are some facts for the Tetley's Bitter Cup.

THE Welsh, Scottish and Irish unions hope to clinch a TV deal and main sponsor after announcing a joint agreement to launch the much talked about Celtic League next August.

The European Shield semi-final between Newcastle Falcons and Harlequins will be played at Headingley Stadium on Sunday, April 22.

Gloucester’s rampant forwards have been backed to cause more Heineken Cup mayhem after they roughed up Cardiff and sent them tumbling out of Europe.

France captain Fabien Pelous is begging rugby union's authorities to improve their calendar.