WITH four Lions in his squad, Sale coach Kingsley Jones is confident the Sharks will end Connacht’s European Challenge Cup odyssey on Sunday - but not as confident as he would have been had Michael Bradley’s side not grabbed a lifeline with a late try in their semi-final first leg.

MUNSTER coach Alan Gaffney is in a race against time to find a quality replacement for Christian Cullen before the Heineken Cup replacement deadline on Thursday.

Leinster fly-half Christian Warner wants to go home to Australia.

THE Munster Branch of the IRFU were last night locked in contract discussions with coach Alan Gaffney.

Former New Zealand coach John Mitchell has been appointed head coach of the new Super 14 rugby franchise in Perth.