Premiership Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty will meet with the English clubs today and propose a new approach to the discussions over the future of the Heineken Cup.

The power struggle which is threatening the future of the Heineken Cup will be top of the agenda when Rugby Football Union officials meet with Aviva Premiership club representatives today.

The future of the Heineken Cup remains in doubt after a five-hour meeting in Dublin broke up today without a resolution.

Stuart Lancaster was appointed England head coach after the crowd rose to acclaim him and his team for their Six Nations win over Ireland, RFU Chief Executive Ian Ritchie has confirmed.

THERE was relief for Leinster yesterday as Brian O’Driscoll came through his fitness test, dispelling doubts about the severity of the injury to his right knee.

COLOURFUL Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal has accused European Rugby Cup Ltd (ERC) of fixing Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-finals for the benefit of Pool 2 winners Leinster.

SARACENS boss Brendan Venter has pleaded with rugby’s global authorities to seize the new international directives on refereeing and let the game flourish.

Saracens boss Brendan Venter has pleaded with rugby’s global authorities to seize the new international directives on refereeing and let the game flourish.

The Ospreys have been cleared of fielding an ineligible player in the Heineken Cup.

LEICESTER insist they are simply upholding a “duty” to protect the integrity of the Heineken Cup by complaining so vociferously over the Ospreys’ 16th-man affair.

Matt Stevens’ rugby career lies in tatters tonight after he received a two-year ban for failing a drugs test.

THE Irish Rugby Football Union is likely to submit a written request to the GAA in a bid to have Croke Park made available for a possible Heineken Cup semi-final clash between Munster and Leinster in April.

England's leading rugby players could go on strike if the row between the top clubs and the game's governing body is not resolved.

The European Rugby Cup Ltd directors and shareholders begin a series of meetings in Dublin today which could prove vital to the immediate future of the Heineken Cup.

International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman Dr Syd Millar has urged Guinness Premiership clubs to back out of their European boycott and return to the negotiating table.

TREVOR Brennan yesterday secured an interim injunction in the High Court restraining the management of the European Rugby Cup from conducting a disciplinary inquiry today into alleged misconduct at a Heineken Cup match earlier this month.

SUSPENDED Munster flanker Alan Quinlan will know his fate on Wednesday after the appeal against his six-week ban imposed by the European Rugby Cup Ltd is heard in Dublin.

HEINEKEN Cup chiefs insist that the competition will continue to prosper and have dismissed claims that French clubs threatened to pull out of next year’s competition.

MUNSTER have been handed a Heineken Cup advantage by Bourgoin, following the decision to move January’s clash between the sides to Geneva.

JOHN ARNOLD’S ire regarding the forthcoming events of April 23rd cannot be attributed to a lack of sporting ecumenism on this island — European Rugby Cup Ltd, as opposed to the IRFU, set the meeting of Munster and Leinster for the same date as the National Football League finals.

MUNSTER must at least win their next three pool matches, starting with Newport Gwent Dragons at Thomond Park tomorrow, and they will attempt to do so with the backing of their amazing fans.

GARY LONGWELL, who reached the landmark 50th Heineken Cup cap earlier this season, will win his 150th Ulster cap in Friday night’s Celtic League clash with Cardiff.

Leicester’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Toulouse will be held at the Walkers Stadium on Sunday April 24.

LEINSTER are considering taking legal action against the ERC (European Rugby Cup Ltd).

THE IRFU and Frankie Sheahan’s club Cork Constitution have both welcomed the decision to reduce the Munster hooker’s ban.

Frankie Sheahan has appealed against his two-year ban for doping offences.

Ireland international Frankie Sheahan will today consider whether to appeal the two-year worldwide ban which threatens to wreck his World Cup dream.

THE future rugby career of Ireland and Munster hooker Frankie Sheahan was in jeopardy last night after he was given a two-year ban from the game for doping offences.

Ireland international Frankie Sheahan will miss this autumn’s World Cup after being given a two-year ban from rugby for doping offences.

IRISH international Frank Sheahan, dragged back from Ireland’s trip to Australia after testing positive in a drugs test following Munster’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Toulouse, is unlikely to have his case settled in time to re-join his Irish colleagues before the end of the tour.

There are no plans to switch the Heineken Cup final from Dublin’s Lansdowne Road – even though it involves two French teams.

LEICESTER TIGERS look certain to come up with the tickets needed to retain their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Munster at Welford Road.

A CYNICAL ploy by Leicester Tigers has threatened to cause a major row ahead of the Heineken European Cup quarter-final against Munster on April 13.

Leicester Tigers have decided against switching their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Munster from Welford Road to Leicester City's Walkers Stadium.

MUNSTER manager Jerry Holland has accused the fourth official of “manhandling” Mick Galwey as he attempted to enter Saturday’s Heineken Cup game in Perpignan as a replacement.

MUNSTER manager Jerry Holland has accused the fourth official of “manhandling” Mick Galwey as he attempted to enter Saturday’s Heineken Cup game in Perpignan.

THE Irish Rugby Football Union has turned the heat back on the Government after Lansdowne Road was yesterday named as host to the 2003 Heineken European Cup final.

European Rugby Cup Ltd, organisers of the Heineken Cup, have confirmed the semi-finals will go ahead as scheduled.

Bath could be fined over the postponement of Saturday's Heineken Cup decider against Newport.

The pool matches in next season's European competitions will not be played in the six-week block many British clubs had hoped for.

Legal proceedings initiated by Castres Olympique against European Rugby Cup Ltd have been adjourned today for a full hearing in the High Court in Dublin next week.