The IRFU is to provide clubs with up to €400 in grant aid to encourage them travel to the Aviva Stadium for the World Cup warm-ups with Scotland and Wales in August.

Edinburgh 13  Gloucester 19

A first home semi-final is the prize for Connacht if they overcome this evening’s Challenge Cup quarter-final opponents Gloucester at Kingsholm.

Saracens scrum-half Neil De Kock has called for his side to show better discipline as they prepare to host Munster in London on Saturday.

New Munster head coach Anthony Foley could be forgiven for enduring a few shivers of apprehension after seeing the Gloucester team chosen by his old mate Laurie Fisher for this afternoon’s pre-season friendly at Kingsholm.

HEINEKEN CUP POOL 6:

John Afoa has rejected more lucrative offers from France and a crack at the Rugby World Cup in 2015 to reunite his family in Gloucester, according to Nigel Davies.

MUNSTER Rugby chiefs are ‘extremely disappointed’ at the scheduling of their crucial Heineken Cup Pool One game against Northampton Saints at Thomond Park for Friday, January 22 (8pm).

Munster can push reigning French champions Perpignan to the brink of Heineken Cup elimination tomorrow – and underline their own credentials for a possible third European title.

YANN DAVID will earn just his second cap for France in Friday’s Test against world champions South Africa.

Ryan Lamb has moved to Guinness Premiership finalists London Irish to breathe new life into his England ambitions.

Iain Balshaw looks set to become the latest England international who will ply his trade in French club rugby next season.

CARDIFF BLUES won a seven-try Heineken Cup thriller at the Millennium Stadium to take charge of their qualifying group.

SALE SHARKS will enter a Heineken Cup cauldron today without two of their main ingredients — England World Cup stars Mathew Tait and Andrew Sheridan.

All Blacks' flanker Jerry Collins is the latest addition to the Barbarians squad for Tuesday's match against Ireland at Kingsholm, Gloucester.

IN the pantheon of wingers Munster have unveiled during the professional age, Ian Dowling slots easily into John Kelly and Anthony Horgan mould: an unsung hero, safe pair of hands when the big occasion demands; not flash, just solid and with an ability to do the basics right.

IN their record tenth successive Heineken Cup quarter-final appearance, Munster stormed the historical fortress of English rugby at Kingsholm to register a third victory away from home at this stage of the competition — another cup record.

Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan is determined not to abandon his attacking principles in the cauldron of a Heineken Cup quarter-final against European heavyweights Munster.

After a difficult season with Ireland, Peter Stringer is ‘chomping at the bit’ to get back on the pitch for Munster’s quarter-final with Gloucester tomorrow, he tells Edward Newman.

FOR years in Europe, Munster have thrived on the underdogtag which inspired famous victories against opposition deemed by neutrals to be far superior.

FANCY a ticket for Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final clash against Gloucester on Saturday? You’ll be lucky.

The Barbarians have confirmed they will play Ireland in May – at Gloucester in England.

IRISH U20 coach Eric Elwood isaiming for another Grand Slam success this season, but accepts that the fixture schedule is a tougher proposition this time around.

HOOKER Rory Best believes his Ulster colleague Tommy Bowe could play a major role in Ireland’s Six Nations Championship bid.

Gloucester 29 Ulster 21

Bourgoin 7 Gloucester 31

SCOTLAND hooker Dougie Hall has been ruled out of the World Cup after sustaining a serious knee injury in training.

Gloucester have confirmed the signing of Scotland star Chris Paterson on a three-year contract.

HARRY ELLIS — England’s most consistent performer during the RBS Six Nations Championship this season — could face Twickenham heartache as Leicester crank up their trophy treble bid.

GLOUCESTER boss Dean Ryan insists his players will be “fully motivated” for tonight’s Heineken Cup clash against Leinster — despite having already made their European exit.

DEAN RYAN believes the hype surrounding Gloucester’s exciting young England hopefuls is “distracting from reality” as his team look destined for an early Heineken Cup exit.

Andrew Baldock

Zurich Premiership Gloucester have completed the signing of French fly-half Ludovic Mercier on a three-year contract.

Gloucester and England centre Henry Paul will not play again this season because of a knee injury.

Duncan Bell yesterday appeared on the verge of an England call-up - just three months after being told he could not play for Wales.

Duncan Bell today appeared on the verge of an England call-up – just three months after being told he could not play for Wales.

Gloucester 0 Stade Francais 27

FRENCH GIANTS Stade Francais are determined to try to increase the pressure on Heineken Cup rivals Ulster and Gloucester tonight.

London Irish boss Gary Gold blamed his side’s careless errors after they threw away a 10-point lead and sacrificed a precious Zurich Premiership win over Gloucester at Kingsholm.

Nigel Melville claims that quarter-final permutations will not be on the agenda when his Gloucester team tackle Heineken Cup opponents Treviso tomorrow.

NIGEL MELVILLE has warned Gloucester they cannot rely purely on the “Fortress Kingsholm” factor in their quest for Heineken Cup glory.

GLOUCESTER tightened their circle of secrecy around the return to fitness of Phil Vickery in an attempt to throw Munster off his European Cup recovery trail.