A famous scene adorns the walls of the ACT Brumbies headquarters in Canberra, depicting the dressing room scenes after their first ever victory over the New South Wales Waratahs in Super Rugby. At that stage the Brumbies team were full to the brim with players rejected by their big Sydney neighbours and the win not only sparked emotional scenes but also marked a changing of the guard.

Back rowers Paddy Butler and Sean Dougall are leaving Munster at the end of the season, but versatile back Denis Hurley has signed on for another season.

Nick Phipps has hailed new Australia coach Michael Cheika for instilling “so much passion and pride” into the Wallabies set-up.

Rob Howley expects Wales to face Australia’s tried and tested quality when the 2015 Rugby World Cup pool rivals clash in Cardiff next week.

Michael Cheika has been appointed as the new Australia head coach.

Ewen McKenzie has resigned as Australia head coach.

Coach Ewen McKenzie knows Australia must take risks if they are to end New Zealand’s 17-game winning streak on Saturday, and hopes the surprise selection of Kurtley Beale at fly-half will provide the spark in their Rugby Championship clash in Sydney.

Thomond Park plays host to rugby of a slightly different variety this weekend when 12 teams battle for the inaugural Limerick World Sevens.

The great Noel Kelly retired from rugby league in 1970 after what Americans would call a Hall of Fame career and, 43 years later, the suburb of Goodna in the Queensland city of Ipswich honoured their famous son by naming a street after him.

Scrum-half Will Genia will return to the starting line-up for Australia’s final Rugby Championship fixture against Argentina in Rosario tomorrow.

Not for the squeamish: What being 'out injured' really means.

The British and Irish Lions have named Tommy Bowe, Dan Lydiate and Ben Youngs in their starting XV for Saturday's second Test against Australia at the Etihad Stadium.

Sam Warburton is ready to lead the Lions into battle in Brisbane tomorrow after overcoming a month of intense competition in the backrow, not to mention a difficult season in the red of Wales.

He’s been Australia’s “Mr Fix It” for many seasons, but now Wallabies back Adam Ashley-Cooper is ready to face the might of the Lions from his preferred position.

Munster wing Simon Zebo will step out for the first time as a British & Irish Lion today having adopted Warren Gatland’s advice to play with a nothing-to-lose attitude with a week to go before the first Test against Australia.

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS TOUR:

Finally the ARU have shown a bit of leadership and common sense.

Sam Warburton has been given a ringing endorsement as he prepares to lead the British and Irish Lions against New South Wales Waratahs tomorrow.

Warren Gatland today put an emphasis on rest and recovery for players like Brian O’Driscoll and George North ahead of next week’s first Test against Australia.

The British & Irish Lions have arrived in Sydney expecting an increase in intensity from their upcoming opponents ahead of the first Test with Australia in nine days.

Sean O’Brien anticipates his former Leinster boss Michael Cheika sending out a fired-up New South Wales Waratahs team against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday.

Despite the emphatic win over the Combined Country, Sean O’Brien believes there is no fear of the British & Irish Lions being unprepared for the intensity of a Test series against Australia.

Rob Kearney is on course to make his first British & Irish Lions start of the 2013 tour when the tourists face the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday.

Warren Gatland knows there will be tougher days than the one his British & Irish Lions faced in Western Australia yesterday, starting this Saturday in Brisbane, yet you could not blame the head coach for feeling a little pleased with the ruthless way his team dispatched their opponents.

Cameron Shepherd is taking legal action against Northampton after the club terminated his contract for medical reasons.

Holland-born Edinburgh wing Tim Visser is one of five uncapped players included in Scotland’s summer tour squad.

Les Kiss insisted yesterday he hasn’t even considered the possibility of replacing fellow Australian Tony McGahan as Munster coach.

ENGLAND flanker James Haskell is among a raft of players departing from Stade Français, following a huge shake-up of the Parisian outfit’s playing staff.

Danny Cipriani is to miss the Melbourne Rebels’ two Super 15 games in South Africa, his club announced in a statement.

FORMER England fly-half Danny Cipriani has accepted a one-match ban for breaking a team curfew agreed with his Melbourne Rebels team-mates.

THE SENSE of expectation and confidence in the Connacht camp was palpable last night as coach Eric Elwood and his new backroom team were unveiled at a press conference at the Galway Sportsground.

New Zealand have lost another midfield prospect for their upcoming Test matches against Ireland and Wales with Richard Kahui ruled out for three weeks with a rib cartilage injury.

LEAGUE points may be Michael Cheika’s first priority when Leinster take on the Ospreys at the RDS tomorrow but, for almost everyone else, Shaun Berne’s performance will be the ultimate arbiter as to the evening’s success.

Former Leinster lock Cameron Jowitt will move from New Zealand province Northland on contract to the New South Wales Waratahs for the 2010 Super-14 season.

ROCKY ELSOM has confirmed that there will only be one winner if it comes to a straight choice between Leinster or Australia next season – and it won’t be the Irish province.

NEW Ireland manager Paul McNaughton believes the Croke Park crowd can play a major part when it comes to beating New Zealand for the first time in 22 meetings of the countries.

The IRFU announces the appointment of Les Kiss, formerly of the New South Wales Waratahs, as the new Ireland defence coach.

THE All Blacks are on the verge of losing star out-halves Dan Carter and Nick Evans to the northern hemisphere, with Evans in line for a move to Ulster.

LEINSTER have reappointed Brian O’Driscoll as captain for the third consecutive year.

A BATTLE is looming in Australian rugby with the governing body being accused of favouring the New South Wales Waratahs over the other Australian Super 14 teams — the Reds, Brumbies and Western Force.

The two leading New Zealand franchises have adopted different approaches to reintroducing their returning All Blacks to Super 14 action.

ENGLAND captain Martin Corry believes New Zealand have set a benchmark of consistency the world champions must try to emulate.

Rob Kearney, Cameron Jowitt and Brian Blaney have all been included in Leinster's squad to play Munster in the Magner's League at Lalsndowne Road on Friday night.

SOUTH African-born lock Greg Rawlinson has been called into the New Zealand squad ahead of their Tests against Ireland and Argentina.