England 32 Barbarians 38

Shaun Perry was a welder before he came late to professional rugby, but Brive decided he had the tools necessary to make an impact in the Top 14. Alan Good met him in central France to hear his unusual story.

Munster 28 London Irish 14

Louis Deacon has been recalled to the England squad for the RBS 6 Nations as a replacement for banned Gloucester lock Dave Attwood.

Toulon 38 London Irish 17

London Irish 13 Toulon 19

SAM TUITUPOU has pledged his future to Munster ahead of tonight’s Sony Ericcson challenge against Australia.

MUNSTER have lost another first choice player through suspension for Saturday’s Heineken Cup clash with Toulon at Thomond Park.

Munster centre Sam Tuitupou has today been banned for three weeks for ‘a dangerous tackle’ on London Irish scrum-half Paul Hodgson.

MUNSTER’S Sam Tuitupou could be ruled out of the next three rounds of the Heineken Cup if found guilty of misconduct.

Munster centre Sam Tuitupou has been cited for an alleged dangerous tackle made against London Irish.

TOO much rugby.

London Irish 23 Munster 17

KEITH EARLS’ return to Munster colours for the first time since May could give just the boost required by the Irish province to kick off the new Heineken Cup campaign with a victory at London Irish today (5.45pm).

Ireland’s Keith Earls will start for Munster against London Irish in the Heineken Cup at Wembley on Saturday evening (5.45pm).

London Irish 33 Saracens 16

Lewis Moody has been dropped for England’s Calcutta Cup game against Scotland on Saturday.

MARTIN JOHNSON is not the sort of man who indulges in mind-games, but yesterday he braced himself to face a wounded animal when Ireland head to Twickenham a week on Saturday.

Martin Johnson revealed England are preparing to take Italy on at their own game after he announced a forward-dominated bench for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown at the Stadio Flaminio.

England manager Martin Johnson has finalised a forwards-dominated bench for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Italy.

England scrum-half Paul Hodgson believes London Irish face “a truly monumental task” to keep alive their Heineken Cup dream at Twickenham tomorrow.

London Irish have recalled the twin threat of wings Topsy Ojo and Sailosi Tagicakibau Saturday's Heineken Cup final pool six match with Leinster at Twickenham.

THE Scarlets hoodoo has left London Irish needing to do a demolition job on defending champions Leinster at Twickenham on Saturday if they are to qualify for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals in April.

Scarlets 31 London Irish 22

MUNSTER and Leinster might have their own domestic duties to focus on today, but they will keeping one eye on the action across the water, as their respective Heineken Cup pool rivals meet in the Guinness Premiership.

London Irish 34 Brive 13

Nigel Owens has assured Wales full-back Gareth Thomas he will be “very pleasantly surprised” by the reaction of the rugby world to his coming out.

England 6 New Zealand 19

England 16 Argentina 9

England 9 Australia 18

London Irish coach Toby Booth has rotated his entire front row for three of the five changes he has made for tomorrow’s opening Heineken Cup fixture with Leinster in Dublin.

Captain Bob Casey will travel, but not play, with the London Irish squad to play Leinster at Donnybrook on Friday.

JEAN DE VILLIERS claims he is looking forward to making himself part of the Munster ‘family’, citing the province’s tradition as a powerful motivating factor in his decision to join.

Ryan Lamb has moved to Guinness Premiership finalists London Irish to breathe new life into his England ambitions.

TOBY Flood hopped back on England’s fly-half merry-go-round yesterday after replacing Andy Goode in the team to face Ireland at Croke Park on Saturday.

England will start with Toby Flood at fly-half in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown with Ireland at Croke Park.

DANNY CIPRIANI will continue his quest to regain the England out-half jersey with Wasps this weekend after being included among 17 players Martin Johnson has made available for club duty.

Danny Cipriani will continue his quest to regain the England fly-half jersey with Wasps this weekend after being included among 17 players Martin Johnson has made available for club duty.

Joe Worsley will make his first start for England since the group stages of the 2007 World Cup after being selected at open-side flanker for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations game against Wales.

England are expected to be able to call on the services of Mike Tindall and Ugo Monye for this weekend’s RBS Six Nations clash with Wales.

THOSE harbouring ambitions of playing a part in the RBS 6 Nations will be hoping to impress their respective national coaches in tonight’s intriguing Ireland A-England Saxons tie at Donnybrook (kick-off 7.35pm).

Harry Ellis will start at scrum-half for England against Italy on Saturday after Danny Care failed to recover from an ankle injury.

DANNY CIPRIANI is one of six capped players named in the England Saxons side to face Ireland A at Donnybrook. The Wasps fly-half was sent down to the Saxons by Martin Johnson earlier this week in the hope of him rediscovering some of his form, away from the pressures of the 6 Nations.

Danny Cipriani is one of six capped players named in the England Saxons side to face Ireland A at Donnybrook.