Leicester captain Ed Slater refuses to cast his Tigers as underdogs when they challenge Clermont’s supremacy at the Stade Marcel Michelin today.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall put English rugby’s European failure down to the gulf in the salary cap between the Aviva Premiership and the rest.

Saracens rugby director Mark McCall is hoping his side can push on from the quarter-finals and become one of Europe’s elite clubs.

ULSTER coach Brian McLaughlin admitted he was totally exhausted and mentally drained after his side came back from the dead to get their Heineken Cup challenge off to awinning start.

Georgia coach Richie Dixon anticipates a war of attrition against England on Sunday – and he has reinforced his pack ready for a battle royale under the Otago Stadium roof.

Clermont-Auvergne coach Vern Cotter has selected a formidable side to play Leinster in the Heineken Cup quarter-final at the RDS on Friday night.

Former Leinster openside Niall Ronan will make his Heineken Cup debut for Munster in the number seven jersey on the road at Clermont-Auvergne on Sunday.

FIVE tries, four of them deliciously created, produced the all-important bonus point for Munster in the somewhat surreal surroundings of Thomond Park yesterday.

FRANCE flanker Julien Bonnaire has admitted that his team will become temporary Irish fans tomorrow as World Cup Pool D reaches a nervous finale.

GEORGIA, one of Ireland’s Rugby World Cup Group D opponents, have named their squad.