At the last official count two years ago, England had 2,057,797 rugby players, almost 50 percent more than the rest of Europe combined.

Here’s the lowdown on four big games across Europe...

Skipper Greig Laidlaw rescued a win for scrappy Scotland as he slotted over a last-gasp penalty to seal a 19-16 win over Argentina.

Australia have beaten Scotland 23-22 in their international match at Murrayfield.

Connacht coach Pat Lam expects to face a much stronger Edinburgh team this Friday than the one Munster beat in Thomond Park last weekend.

Munster 28 Edinburgh 14: “The performance was really, really average”. 

Tommy O’Donnell has boiled tomorrow night’s Guinness Pro12 showdown with Edinburgh in Cork down to its essence: Take what the visitors have.

Edinburgh 14 Munster 16

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

South Africa 34 Scotland 16: Stand-off Duncan Weir hopes his stunning second-half burst against South Africa on Saturday will help seal his place in coach Vern Cotter’s plans as Scotland look to book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals.

England have selected Brad Barritt and Jonathan Joseph as their centre pairing for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up game against Ireland at Twickenham.

Edinburgh 23 Leinster 36

Edinburgh 13  Gloucester 19

Munster closed the gap on Guinness PRO12 leaders Glasgow with a 34-3 victory in a one-sided game against Edinburgh at Murrayfield, gaining a much-needed try bonus point in the process.

Scotland were left facing their fourth wooden spoon in 11 years after a late collapse handed Italy a RBS 6 Nations win at Murrayfield.

Ulster make ten personnel changes and two positional switches to the side beaten by Zebre last weekend as they prepare to welcome Edinburgh on Friday night.

Munster coach Anthony Foley has included three debutants as he named his starting side for their opening PRO12 fixture.

Munster have made 11 changes to the side that lost to Toulon in the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup for their penultimate league game against Edinburgh.

Scotland suffered last-gasp heartache as France snatched a 19-17 RBS 6 Nations win after Jean-Marc Doussain kicked the winning penalty at Murrayfield with just 90 seconds left.

Italy 20 Scotland 21

As if Munster needed reminding they have a game on their hands in their final Heineken Cup game on Sunday, Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons has stressed just how important an away victory at Thomond Park would be for the Scottish side.

Scotland 18 Wales 28

We have learned enough about Peter O’Mahony by now to know that he will not make a song and dance about the physical demands of playing top-flight Heineken Cup and Test rugby.

Scotland 34 Italy 10

No wins, no tries scored and 112 points shipped in four Heineken Cup games, yet Edinburgh’s Steve Lawrie insists there is “no lack of confidence in the squad” ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Munster.

Munster’s bid to close the gap on RaboDirect Pro12 leaders Ulster tomorrow at Thomond Park (5.30pm) may be enhanced by the return of an Ireland Test trio but Rob Penney is under no illusions about the size of the task.

Glasgow 23 Edinburgh 14

Scotland 22 New Zealand 51

Leinster 22 Edinburgh 16

Edinburgh 18 Munster 23

When Rob Penney was still coaching Canterbury to NPC success back in New Zealand, he received a delegation of coaches from Edinburgh, eager to pick the Kiwi’s brains and discover the secrets of his success.

Rob Penney has been able to name Ireland internationals Donncha O’Callaghan and Mike Sherry in his first competitive squad for Munster’s RaboDirect Pro12 opener at Edinburgh tomorrow night.

Donncha O'Callaghan and Mike Sherry have been named in Rob Penney’s first competitive 23 man squad for the visit to Murrayfield to take on Edinburgh in the RaboDirect PRO12 on Saturday (8pm).

Scotland captain Ross Ford had no hesitation in handing the ball to match-winner Greig Laidlaw before he kicked the last-gasp penalty to secure a memorable 9-6 win over Australia in Newcastle yesterday.

Scotland captain Ross Ford had no hesitation in handing the ball to match-winner Greig Laidlaw before he kicked the last-gasp penalty to secure a memorable 9-6 win over Australia in Newcastle today.

Holland-born Edinburgh wing Tim Visser is one of five uncapped players included in Scotland’s summer tour squad.

Ulster 22 Edinburgh 19

Ulster’s progress today to a Heineken Cup final depends on...