Mike Tindall has announced his retirement from professional rugby.

Connacht have raided English clubs Cornish Pirates and Otley for Brian Tuohy and Mike McComish, respectively, as part of the ongoing work to improve on their last place finish in the Magner's League last season.

Ireland international scrum-half Guy Easterby has signed a short-term contract with Leinster until the end of the pool stage in the Heineken Cup.

LEINSTER have won two from three in their Heineken Cup campaign — but still find themselves down in third place in a pool that could end up needing the calculators to determine quarter-final qualification.