While the meetings to try to save the Heineken Cup will continue in Dublin this afternoon, it will probably go unnoticed that 18 years ago, on January 7, 1996, the first final was staged at the National Ground, Cardiff Arms Park.

Pau scrum-half Philippe Carbonneau has been drafted into the French side for Saturday's Six Nations clash with Ireland.

France coach Bernard Laporte today named an unchanged squad of 22 for the Six Nations match against Ireland in Dublin on February 17.