Connacht supporters won’t get to see Bordeaux-Begles’s world stars Semi Radradra, Brock James, Seta Tamanivalu, or Jean-Baptiste Serin today, as once again the Challenge Cup has failed to ignite French passions.

Ronan O'Gara has won the Super Rugby title with Crusaders in his first season as a coach with the New Zealanders.

New Zealand Rugby is set to consider selecting overseas-based players for the All Blacks, tax breaks, and privately-funded contracts among other ideas in attempts to find a solution to plugging its player drain.