Jonny Wilkinson’s injury nightmare tonight returned to haunt him and raise fresh doubts about his immediate international prospects for England and the Lions.

Andy Farrell, Wigan and Great Britain’s record-breaking rugby league captain, is poised to claim a place in history by becoming the first high-profile rugby league forward to make the switch to union.

Gloucester 0 Stade Francais 27

LEICESTER’S back-to-back victories over Heineken Cup champions Wasps has helped make them favourites to win this year’s title.

Stan Collymore has engaged a team of lawyers, including a barrister who specialises in racial abuse, and plans to pursue prosecution of a number of Bath rugby players he has accused of assault in Dublin.

Newcastle shrugged off the absence of England superstar Jonny Wilkinson to grind out a priceless Heineken Cup away win at rain-lashed Rodney Parade.

Harlequins’ home Heineken Cup pool game against Munster this season will be staged at Twickenham.

CLIVE WOODWARD will seek to raise the contentious issue of international training days with the home nations in a bid to ensure the Lions head on their journey to New Zealand as the best prepared squad ever to leave these shores.

Clive Woodward will seek to raise the contentious issue of international training days with the home nations in a bid to ensure the British and Irish Lions head on their journey to New Zealand as the best prepared squad ever to leave these shores.

Clive Woodward has apologised for his outspoken attack on Zurich Premiership club chiefs during Friday’s press conference when he explained his reasons for resigning as England coach.

England Rugby Ltd have reached an agreement for the implementation of the elite player squad programme, which comes into immediate effect.

Mike Catt will make his first England start since the World Cup semi-final victory over France in Saturday’s first Test against New Zealand.

Wales full-back Gareth Thomas will complete his move to two-time European champions Toulouse tomorrow morning.

London Irish have announced dates for their annual tour to Ireland in August.

Newcastle are confident that ACT Brumbies Super 12 star Radike Samo will be a Falcons player next season.

Gloucester today announced the signing of England Under-21 wing James Bailey.

Neath-Swansea Ospreys tonight promised to “move heaven and earth” in assisting the Celtic Warriors if they are disbanded by Welsh rugby chiefs.

English rugby, which today announced a profit of £18.4m (€26.2m) for the last financial year, has no immediate plans to reward the World Cup-winning players who have sparked an unprecedented boom in the game with a pay rise.

England’s rugby union stars will end a painful 37-year wait for global sporting glory if they beat holders Australia in the World Cup final at Telstra Stadium on Saturday.

Eighty thousand expectant Australians have been warned - Argentina are out to spoil your party.

Bath hooker Lee Mears has signed a new two-year contract with the Zurich Premiership club.

Paul Grayson could resurrect his England career against RBS 6 Nations Championship opponents Scotland next weekend.

REIGNING champions Leicester are poised to move their Heineken Cup quarter-final from Welford Road to Leicester City’s Walkers Stadium to accommodate demand for tickets from Munster.

London Irish have signed former Rugby and Saracens second rower Kieran Roche until the end of the season.

England booked their place in the knock-out stages of the IRB world series sevens tournament in Brisbane with an impressive 21-14 victory over Sevens specialists Fiji.

MOSSIE LAWLOR mightn’t want it heard, much less printed for posterity, but one of his youthful highlights involved sitting on Mick Galwey’s knee.

Northampton have signed All Blacks winger Bruce Reihana on a two-and-half-year contract.

Wasps have unveiled Rob Howley as their new signing.

Former South Africa captain Andre Vos has left South Africa in search of a new home in England after retiring from international rugby last week.

Zurich Premiership clubs have announced a joint venture with players in the top flight aimed at protecting players' interests.

Ireland face the acid test of their new-found optimism on Saturday with the visit of the French, who have not lost at Lansdowne Road for 18 years.