Wales prop Tomas Francis has received an eight-week ban for making contact with the “eye or eye area” of England forward Dan Cole in last Saturday’s Six Nations game at Twickenham.

Cardiff Blues 20 Connacht 16: Connacht’s poor record at the Arms Park continued last evening when they lost their grip on the lead of the Guinness Pro12 to a dogged Cardiff Blues.

John Muldoon becomes the first player to make 200 appearances in the Guinness Pro12 when he leads Connacht against Cardiff at Arms Park this evening (7.05pm).

Pool D: Wales v Fiji

Three of Welsh rugby’s biggest names — James Hook, Mike Phillips and Richard Hibbard — face uncertain international futures after seeing their World Cup hopes extinguished.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has named nine uncapped players in a 47-man training squad for the Rugby World Cup.

Wales 23 Ireland 16: Ireland’s Grand Slam ambitions have been ended and their hopes of retaining the Six Nations title severely dented by a seven-point defeat to Wales at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

France 13 Wales 20

Warren Gatland has plunged his long-term future as Wales head coach into doubt after admitting Roger Lewis’s departure as Welsh Rugby Union chief later this year "probably does" have a bearing on his own long-term future.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre is relishing Saturday’s trial by fire at the Aviva as he aims to keep a special record intact.

Leigh Halfpenny says Wales will carry their Twickenham "hurt" of last season into tomorrow night’s RBS 6 Nations opener against England.

Wales boss Warren Gatland has sprung the first surprise of this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship – by naming his team to face England 48 hours early.

Warren Gatland revealed a glowing recommendation from one of world rugby’s outstanding coaches played its part in New Zealand-born Gareth Anscombe making an unlikely journey from Super Rugby to potential Wales Test star.

Cardiff Blues 13 Leinster 22: Reigning Pro12 champions Leinster believe they have turned a corner in the New Year after coming from behind to claim a bonus-point victory over Cardiff Blues on Saturday.

Cardiff Blues may be lying ninth in the Pro12 table, but with a pack boasting three British and Irish Lions, as well as a recalled Alex Cuthbert on the wing, Leinster know it won’t be easy at the Arms Park.

Newport Gwent Dragons 9 Cardiff Blues 11

England head coach Stuart Lancaster has backed Owen Farrell to make an impact from the bench against Australia at Twickenham tomorrow after dropping him from his starting XV for the first time since June 2012.

Connacht 24 Cardiff 24

Leinster 37 Cardiff Blues 23

Guinness Pro12:

Connacht 15 Cardiff 22

With European Cup qualification out of the equation, Connacht are still intent on a best-place finish to this season’s Pro12 when they entertain Cardiff Blues in their final home game of the season this evening (5pm).

Cardiff 28 Ulster 23

Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips has been relegated to the bench for Friday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against France in Cardiff.

Captain Sam Warburton will return to the Wales starting line-up for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Ireland in Dublin.

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Saracens 12 Toulon 24

Jonny Wilkinson hit the post with a penalty attempt with the final kick of the game as Top 14 leaders Toulon were held to a 26-26 draw at home by Munster’s Heineken Cup semi-final opponents, Clermont Auvergne.

Toulon 21 Leicester Tigers 15

Italy 9 Wales 26

Courtney Lawes is ready to strike fear into the French ‘bully boys’ when he is unleashed from the England back row for the first time.

Sam Warburton has been named on the Wales replacements’ bench for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Italy in Rome.

France 6 Wales 16

Munster and Leinster fans will have a keen eye on an all-French Heineken Cup tie today — and not just because it contains a potential quarter-final opponent.

South Africa-born forward Andries Pretorius has been named in the Wales squad for this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship.

Jamie Roberts believes it is “hugely important” that Wales make a statement when they tackle the world’s top team on Saturday.

Warren Gatland has made five changes to the Wales team for Saturday’s Millennium Stadium clash against world champions New Zealand.

Wales 12 Argentina 26

Gethin Jenkins claims Wales will be a better team for being knocked off “cloud nine” by Australia.

Wales will head into the first of their three Tests against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday with 11 of the starting XV that clinched Grand Slam glory against France in March.

Three Irish players are in contention for the ERC European Player of the Year Award.