Former New Zealand captain Taine Randell will take up a third year option on his contract with Saracens.

A Wallaby, an All Black and a Springbok all failed to bring success to Vicarage Road, but unassuming Mancunian Steve Diamond is being hailed as the man to turn Saracens into a team capable of challenging for top honours.

FRONT row brothers, Simon and Rory Best have been called into the Ulster panel for Friday’s Celtic League match against Edinburgh at Ravenhill.

Saracens today confirmed the departure of head coach Rod Kafer and named Steve Diamond as his replacement.

London Irish coach Gary Gold believes his team have got “a tough hill to climb” in their quest for a European Challenge Cup quarter-final place.

London Irish will be without almost a quarter of their squad for tomorrow night’s tough European Challenge Cup second round tie against Pau in France.

LONG TIME no see lads ... so how was your summer? Mine was like a box of Pringles (paprika-flavoured). It opened as though it would last forever and suddenly vanished like a Greek sprinter when the testers are in town.

London Irish ended an 11-month wait for a Zurich Premiership win at their Madejski Stadium home against Saracens.

Irish international wing Darragh O’Mahony has left Saracens by mutual consent.

England flanker Richard Hill has given his backing to Saracens’ new recruits by insisting their international ambitions can only be beneficial to the club.

Saracens today announced a mass player clear-out with Scottish international hooker Robbie Russell among those leaving the Zurich Premiership strugglers.

Saracens today continued their extensive rebuilding program by adding Ireland’s defensive kingpin Mike Ford to the Vicarage Road coaching staff.

Simon Danielli is backing Bath to wipe out a five-point deficit and remain on course for a domestic and European double when they take on Beziers tomorrow.

Nathan Grey has elbowed his way back into the Australia team as an emergency fly-half for Saturday’s Cook Cup face-off with England in Melbourne, and recent history suggests the physical Sydneysider won’t be shy in making his presence felt.

LAST WEEKEND was another momentous one for Irish rugby. The achievement in getting two sides into the semi-final stages of the European Cup can only be appreciated in the light of the fact that English rugby failed to get any.

Dean Richards today underlined the huge task facing Leicester in their bid for an unprecedented hat-trick of Heineken Cup crowns.

JOHN KELLY had every reason to feel gutted when he lost his place on the Irish team to meet Wales in Cardiff recently.

England captain Martin Johnson, who refused to move during the red carpet showdown before the Grand Slam victory in Dublin, will take any backlash in his stride when Leicester Tigers entertain Munster in Europe’s Heineken Cup quarter-final on Sunday.

Wallaby and Reds midfielder Daniel Herbert has become the latest big-name player from the southern hemisphere linked with a possible move abroad, after the World Cup.

Leicester 53 Beziers 10

Defending Heineken Cup champions Leicester secured a valuable 24-12 away victory at Beziers.

Gloucester boss Nigel Melville today put a brave face on prop Patrice Collazo’s shock departure to Toulouse after his unbeaten league leaders went four points clear of the Zurich Premiership pack.

Munster 6 Leicester 5

Munster have been hit by injuries ahead of tomorrow’s Heineken Cup final against English champions Leicester at the Millennium Stadium.

Leicester captain Martin Johnson believes the smallest details will swing Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Llanelli.

Harlequins dumped Leicester out of English rugby's domestic cup competition for the second successive season after a thrilling 22-20 quarter-final clash at The Stoop.

Llanelli face a make-or-break Heineken Cup mission when they tackle Leicester.

Jonny Wilkinson once again sat out Lions training in Perth today - but Graham Henry’s injury problems are easing ahead of Friday’s tour opener against Western Australia.