HE may have looked strangely subdued come the final whistle in Paris on Saturday, but Toulouse coach Guy Noves livened up somewhat when praising his team after they recorded a record fourth Heineken Cup triumph.

France number eight Imanol Hirinordoquy has recovered from a broken nose to take his place for Biarritz against Munster in the Heineken Cup semi-final in San Sebastian on Sunday.

SHANE HORGAN will start Ireland A’s clash with England Saxons at Welford Road next Friday.

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

ENGLAND coach Brian Ashton has ignored struggling Wales’ miserable RBS 6 Nations season and predicted possibly his team’s “toughest game of the tournament” on Saturday.

World Cup winner Josh Lewsey has been left out of the England team for Saturday’s Six Nations finalé against Wales in Cardiff.

England have suffered a triple injury blow for Sunday’s Six Nations showdown with title favourites France at Twickenham.

England boss Brian Ashton has sprung a major surprise ahead of Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against Italy by calling up uncapped Harlequins flanker Nick Easter.

ROB ANDREW has hailed England World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson as “an extraordinary individual” ahead of his logic-defying return to the Test match arena.

WORLD Cup winner Steve Thompson has been ruled out of England’s entire RBS Six Nations Championship campaign due to a neck injury.

New England boss Brian Ashton has named a new captain and summoned Jason Robinson from international retirement for this season’s Six Nations Championship.

England boss Andy Robinson has made just one change for Englands' clash against Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday.

PHILIPPE Saint-Andre has challenged English champions Sale Sharks to “kick-start” their Heineken Cup campaign tonight by collecting a maximum points haul against minnows Calvisano.

England head coach Andy Robinson has named seven uncapped players in a 30-man squad for the Twickenham clash against World Cup favourites New Zealand on November 5.

OSPREYS boss Lyn Jones has predicted “an encounter to remember” when his star-studded Welsh challengers tackle English champions Sale Sharks in a mouth-watering Heineken Cup clash this evening.

England have included World Cup winner Mike Catt in their squad for the two-Test tour to Australia.

SALE SHARKS have slammed England’s medical staff after their Lions prop Andrew Sheridan was diagnosed with a prolapsed disc in his neck.

Munster have named a full strength side with an all-international forward pack taking them into battle with Sale Sharks in the Heineken Cup on Saturday.

Lawrence Dallaglio has been named in England’s RBS 6 Nations training squad - almost 17 months after he quit international rugby.

NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have made nine changes from the team that defeated Connacht in last Friday night’s Celtic League clash for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup Pool One match against Sale Sharks.

Guinness Premiership leaders Sale Sharks will provide Munster with the stiffest of opposition at Edgeley Park tomorrow night.

AN accident of location has shaped the sporting life of Leinster’s rising young star Brendan Burke.

England will field a much-changed team for tomorrow night’s under-21 international against Italy at Newbury following their 35-9 defeat in Wales a fortnight ago.