IT IS only a matter of time before one of our high profile younger players takes flight and the danger then is that it might encourage others to do likewise.

France rugby’s version of Manchester City have huge ambitions for the future, have dropped the good-time image and they also play in sky blue. Robert Kitson reports

ROB ANDREW reiterated that England will not be releasing James Haskell to play for Stade Francais this weekend.

STADE FRANCAIS are set to appeal the massive 70-week ban handed down to prop David Attoub after he was found guilty of gouging Ulster and Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris during a Heineken Cup match in December.

JULIEN DUPUY, pictured, is to appeal his six-month suspension for eye-gouging during Stade Francais’ Heineken Cup Round Three defeat to Ulster.

FRANCE’S first choice scrum-half Julien Dupuy has been ruled out of the RBS 6 Nations Championship after receiving a six-month ban for eye-gouging.

THIERRY DUSAUTOIR believes France team-mate Mathieu Bastareaud has been “sufficiently punished” for lying about being mugged during Les Bleus’ summer tour of the southern hemisphere.

MUNSTER’S Heineken Cup Pool One fourth-round clash with Perpignan will go ahead at the French club’s Stade Aimé Giral, and not in Barcelona.

FEARS for the welfare of France centre Mathieu Bastareaud are growing after it was revealed that the 20-year-old has been hospitalised suffering from serious psychological problems, according to his club, Stade Francais.

Stade Francais 10 Harlequins 15

THE Australian arrived at Leinster in the summer of 2005 armed with his three-year plan and intent on annexing world club rugby’s greatest prize.

THE GREATEST modern day out-half, All Black magician Dan Carter, is reportedly being bombarded with offers from loads-a-money clubs in England and France.

THE All Blacks are on the verge of losing star out-halves Dan Carter and Nick Evans to the northern hemisphere, with Evans in line for a move to Ulster.

ARGENTINA’S director of rugby Les Cusworth is convinced the best is yet to come from Juan Martin Hernandez, the Pumas fly-half dubbed rugby’s Maradona.

IF YOU’RE a Munster fan you shouldn’t be happy that Thomond Park is being renamed.

Northampton boss Paul Grayson is under no illusions about the task facing his Heineken Cup quarter-final hopefuls in tomorrow’s clash against Border Reivers.

FURTHER indications are emerging from France that Brian O’Driscoll is on his way to Biarritz.

FRANCE coach Bernard Laporte admitted yesterday that he was puzzled by the clearing of Italy prop Salvatore Perugini of a dangerous tackle on Christophe Dominici during last weekend’s Six Nations match.

Argentina prop Rodrigo Roncero has been held back from joining his countrymen for the Test match against South Africa in Buenos Aires at the weekend by his club Stade Francais, who need him for the Heineken Cup encounter with Ulster.