Italy coach Nick Mallett has put his faith in experience for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations opener with Ireland at Croke Park.

Mark Cueto scored twice as Sale Sharks continued their comfortable march in the European Challenge Cup with an emphatic 53-14 victory over Petrarca.

Fly-half Andrea Scanavacca was the most notable absentee from a 40-man squad named by Italy coach Pierre Berbizier today for the forthcoming Rugby World Cup.

FIRST things first. The decision by ERC to again schedule a Munster away game on a Sunday shows scant regard to the loyalty and commitment of their support base.

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.

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier has made three changes to his starting line-up for the Six Nations Championship clash against Wales in Cardiff.

Italy rugby chief Giancarlo Dondi has demanded the Azzurri “battle to the death” when they take on Wales in their next RBS 6 Nations Championship outing as they go in search of a first win in this year's competition.

London Irish 64 Overmach Parma 0

Coach Michael Bradley has chosen his first fifteen for the first game of the season at home to Overmach Parma at the Sportsground on Tuesday (6.30pm).

Newcastle today completed the signing of Italian international prop Tino Paoletti.

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.

Italy have named their team to play Scotland in RBS 6 Nations on Saturday at Murrayfield.

Sale will spearhead a strong English challenge in this season’s Parker Pen European Shield - with coveted automatic Heineken Cup qualification again at stake.