IT isn’t just wishful thinking that leads me to believe that Alan Gaffney and Munster can fly out of England’s west country tonight with a major scalp in the cargo hold.

GLOUCESTER’S worst fears have been realised with the withdrawal yesterday of England World Cup-winning tight head prop Phil Vickery from their side to meet Munster in the Heineken European Cup at Kingsholm tomorrow.

JOHN HAYES trained with Munster at Thomond Park yesterday and is a certain starter against Gloucester in the Heineken European Cup at Kingsholm on Saturday.

Gloucester 49 Bourgoin 13

Wasps’ Warren Gatland has been named the Zurich Premiership’s top director of rugby for last season.

South African flanker Jake Boer has been appointed Gloucester captain for the new season.

Gloucester could find their Zurich Premiership title hopes destroyed tomorrow by a player nicknamed the "Silent Assassin".

England star Jonny Wilkinson has been named players’ player of the year at a glittering awards ceremony in London.

Gloucester's Jake Boer, formerly of London Irish, has been voted the Zurich Premiership Player of the Season by a mixture of broadcast and print journalists.

ENGLAND Grand Slam stars Richard Hill and Jonny Wilkinson are among five players nominated for one of British rugby’s most prestigious prizes.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney tonight paid tribute to Gloucester after seeing his twice Heineken Cup finalists dismantled 35-16 at Kingsholm.

Gloucester boss Nigel Melville today put a brave face on prop Patrice Collazo’s shock departure to Toulouse after his unbeaten league leaders went four points clear of the Zurich Premiership pack.