Matt Stevens’ return from the ignominy of a drugs ban continued today when he was confirmed in England’s 45-man Rugby World Cup training squad.

Hendre Fourie has replaced Joe Worsley in the England squad to play Italy in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations match at Twickenham after proving he has recovered from a calf strain.

Louis Deacon has been recalled to the England squad for the RBS 6 Nations as a replacement for banned Gloucester lock Dave Attwood.

Perpignan 24 Leicester 19

Leicester Tigers 37 Leinster 14, Welford Road

Ireland international Geordan Murphy will captain Leicester Tigers from full-back against Leinster in a pre-season friendly at Welford Road in Friday night.

IT WAS a relaxed and smiling Brian O’Driscoll who turned up at the Aviva Stadium for press duties yesterday and no wonder. Most men must make do with just the one honeymoon period; the Leinster and Irish centre is currently in the midst of two.

Bath centre Shontayne Hape will make his England Test debut in Saturday’s Cook Cup clash with Australia at the Subiaco Oval in Perth.

England today suffered the first withdrawal from their summer tour to Australia and New Zealand when Dylan Hartley pulled out with a knee injury.

Leicester 16 Leinster 19

Leicester Tigers coach Richard Cockerill recalls Alesana Tuilagi and Martin Castrogiovanni to the team for Saturday's Heineken Cup Final against Leinster at Murrayfield.

England manager Martin Johnson appeared to provide an early glimpse into his thinking ahead of a demanding autumn Test campaign by making eight players available for EDF Energy Cup action this weekend.

Wing Tom Varndell has signed a new contract with Guinness Premiership champions Leicester.

Former England captain Martin Corry has signed a one-year extension with Leicester Tigers which will take him through to the end of the 2008/09 season.

Scotland repeated their victory over England in 2006 with another courageous defensive performance to regain the Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield.

DANNY CIPRIANI has made no secret of his desire to become “the best in the world” when he lines up for England on Saturday against Scotland.

Danny Cipriani will make his first Test start when England tackle RBS 6 Nations Championship opponents Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Gloucester number eight Luke Narraway will make his Test debut in a surprise selection for England's RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday.

Edinburgh 17 Leicester 12

Fabien Pelous hopes Leicester will feel the heat when they take on Toulouse in a crucial Heineken Cup clash tomorrow.

THE FIRST game of any Heineken Cup campaign is always one to whet the appetite, but Shane Jennings has added reason to count down the days to Saturday’s game ever since Leinster were paired with the Leicester Tigers last June.

ANDY FARRELL will epitomise the “direct approach” England intend adopting to muscle Australia out of Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final at Stade Velodrome.

Andy Farrell has been recalled to the England side for Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against Australia at Stade Velodrome in Marseille.

MARTIN CORRY has declared England’s record World Cup defeat against South Africa must not be a “a terminal hammer blow” for the struggling Webb Ellis Trophy holders.

England have received a timely double boost ahead of their crucial World Cup clash against Samoa in Nantes next Saturday with Jonny Wilkinson and Olly Barkley both returning to the starting line-up.

England believe former Test skipper Martin Corry will be fit and available for their opening World Cup game against the United States in Lens next week.

ENGLAND captain Phil Vickery has labelled tonight’s final World Cup warm-up match against France as “the ultimate test” for his players.

BRIAN ASHTON claims it would be “wrong to interpret” that Nick Easter has moved ahead of Lawrence Dallaglio in the battle for England’s World Cup number eight shirt.

Argentina captain Agustin Pichot could join current Pumas coach Marcelo Loffreda at Leicester next season after claiming he has been approached by the English giants.

Gloucester and Sale Sharks are expected to provide a large chunk of England boss Brian Ashton’s South Africa tour squad when it is announced at Twickenham later today.

ENGLAND World Cup prospect Dylan Hartley’s career is in ruins after he received a 26-week suspension for gouging.

LLANELLI SCARLETS have marched imperiously on Europe this season – but captain Simon Easterby believes they will need to “raise the bar” in today’s semi-final showdown against Leicester at the Walkers Stadium.

IF THERE was a Lions tour this summer, Eddie O’Sullivan would be nailed on as head coach after standing head and shoulders over his opposite numbers over the past few months.

BRIAN ASHTON believes England have been relegated to the “second division of world rugby” as they prepare for a Twickenham showdown with RBS Six6 Nations title favourites France.

A THIRD Triple Crown in four years followed by the World Cup? The first proposition is more or less in the bag, the second no longer a pipe-dream after this amazing 43-13 walloping of the “auld enemy” at Croke Park on Saturday.

IF ever a team captured the spirit of a nation, it was Ireland’s 22 proud heroes in Croke Park on Saturday.

England will head to Dublin with an injury doubt hanging over World Cup winner Jason Robinson for the RBS 6 Nations Championship showdown against Ireland at Croke Park.

Uncapped Harlequins wing David Strettle has been summoned to join preparations for England’s RBS 6 Nations showdown with Ireland after Jason Robinson suffered a neck injury in training.

England have suffered an injury scare ahead ahead of Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown with Ireland after wing Jason Robinson was hurt during training.

WITH each passing day as the clock ticks towards kick-off against England on Saturday, issues of history rather than rugby dominate.

Newcastle Falcons boss John Fletcher claims he would have been “a stark raving lunatic” to leave out a fully-fit Jonny Wilkinson for Sunday’s Guinness Premiership clash against title contenders Bristol.

NEWCASTLE boss John Fletcher has angrily rejected any suggestion Jonny Wilkinson is being “rested” from Guinness Premiership action this weekend on England’s request.

ENGLAND head coach Brian Ashton will learn over the next two days how many of his team to face Ireland at Croke Park will feature in Guinness Premiership action this weekend.

Leicester coach Richard Cockerill revealed none of the Tigers players named in England’s team to start against Ireland will play a full Guinness Premiership game this weekend.