David Strettle and Mike Tindall could both be ruled out of World Cup contention today when England boss Brian Ashton assesses his casualty list.

LEINSTER have reappointed Brian O’Driscoll as captain for the third consecutive year.

England’s World Cup preparations have suffered a setback after Leicester prop Julian White ruled himself out of the tournament.

Lawrence Dallaglio has been included in England’s 47-man World Cup training squad.

MATT Stevens has met Nelson Mandela and performed on tv’s X Factor since he last played rugby for England.

England’s battered and bruised squad limped out of Bloemfontein ready for possible further punishment from the Springboks, with pack leader Mark Regan admitting: “We’ve got another tidal wave coming at us”.

Jason Robinson will captain an England squad containing seven uncapped players on the two-Test tour of South Africa.

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

Biarritz 43 Saracens 13

Gavin Henson will go into today’s disciplinary hearing in Glasgow already feeling glum after the Ospreys were last night hammered 28-9 at home by Cardiff in the Celtic League.

THE Ospreys are ready to mount a vigorous defence of their Wales Grand Slam star Gavin Henson when he faces a potential season-defining disciplinary hearing today.

WALES star Gavin Henson could miss the entire RBS 6 Nations after being called before a disciplinary hearing for his clash with Alex Moreno during the Ospreys’ 17-15 Heineken Cup defeat by Leicester.

Ulster players Justin Harrison and Matt McCullough and Saracens' Kevin Yates have been cited.

ULSTER coach Mark McCall rejected claims the television match official had robbed his side of victory in Saturday’s Heineken Cup clash with Saracens.

Ulster coach Mark McCall rejected claims the television match official had robbed his side of victory in today’s Heineken Cup clash with Saracens.

Saracens kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals with victory over Ulster but the vast error count turned the clash into a huge disappointment

SARACENS face a crucial Heineken Cup clash against Ulster in Belfast tonight, with rugby director Steve Diamond admitting: “We don’t need to motivate the players for this game.”

Saracens face a crucial Heineken Cup clash against Ulster in Belfast tomorrow night, with rugby director Steve Diamond admitting: “We don’t need to motivate the players for this game.”

Saracens today announced a mass player clear-out with Scottish international hooker Robbie Russell among those leaving the Zurich Premiership strugglers.

Leeds go into a crucial Heineken Cup clash against unbeaten Edinburgh tomorrow, with Tykes boss Phil Davies declaring: “Our European adventure is still alive.”

The bans imposed last weekend on South Africans Robbie Kempson and Bakkies Botha for, respectively, a late cheap shot on Toutai Kefu and “deliberately attacking the face” of Aussie hooker Brendan Cannon, has highlighted once more the basic fact that rugby probably has more ‘bad boys’ than most sports. Declan Colley looks back at some of the sport’s anti-heroes.

Castres forward Ismaela Lassissi has been banned for 12 months by Heineken Cup disciplinary chiefs after being found guilty of biting an opponent.

Sale will spearhead a strong English challenge in this season’s Parker Pen European Shield - with coveted automatic Heineken Cup qualification again at stake.

Jonah Lomu insists his Barbarians team-mates will be doubly grateful for the expected good weather this weekend.