England have received an encouraging fitness bulletin on flanker James Haskell ahead of next weekend’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Wales at Twickenham.

MUNSTER coach Declan Kidney gets a chance to utilise some of his lesser known squad members when the A team take on Ulster A in Temple Hill today, seeking a second victory over their Northern rivals (2pm).

INTERIM USA head coach Peter Thorburn has named a 28-man squad to face Ireland A in California in the opening game of the 2006 Churchill Cup this weekend.

IRISH coach Eddie O’Sullivan has insisted that a “horses for courses” approach is behind the decision to recall Justin Bishop from the international wilderness, to the exclusion of John Kelly, for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Wales at the Millennium Stadium.