Israeli aircraft have struck 30 houses in the Gaza Strip, killing a leader of the militant Islamic Jihad group and two of his sons.

The chief executive of the Irish rugby players’ body, Omar Hassanein, has given his backing to the IRB’s concussion protocols in a week when the controversial issue has once again been thrust into the limelight by the injury to Peter O’Mahony.

The chief executive of the IRFU, Philip Browne, has blasted the sabre-rattling of English and French club rugby chiefs while the future of the Heineken Cup continues to be discussed, describing their contradictory actions as “deplorable”.

The IRFU may have lost Jonathan Sexton to France but the union could avoid similar losses in the months and years to come by adopting a more proactive approach to contract negotiations, according to Omar Hassanein.

Convention tells us that, for 80 minutes at Lansdowne Road this evening, men who are good friends and teammates on international weeks will put aside their friendships and substitute them with animosities born of blood.

IRISH Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) boss Omar Hassanein believes the latest findings in the English game that professional players do not run a greater risk of injury now than previously will be echoed in this country.

Wasps 15 Toulouse 15

Stade Francais 12 Toulouse 18 (aet)

Leicester 19 Toulouse 27

Toulouse 37 Northampton 9

Stade Francais 35 Cardiff 16

Cardiff Blues 15 Stade Francais 38

Heineken Cup Pool 3