Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney has been voted the 2010 Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers' Association.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has paid tribute to the people who had helped him become 2009 Footballer of the Year - and declared the best was still to come.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admits he was surprised to be voted Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has been voted the 2009 Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association.

Jonny Wilkinson’s return to action has been delayed until next week at the earliest.

Newcastle are hopeful Jonny Wilkinson will make a strong recovery after undergoing successful knee surgery.

JONNY WILKINSON is battling to play again before Christmas after being cut down by another cruel injury blow.

Newcastle Falcons have revealed fly-half Jonny Wilkinson sustained a "dislocation" of his left knee during last night’s Guinness Premiership match against Gloucester.

Jonny Wilkinson is set to make his return from shoulder surgery in Newcastle’s Guinness Premiership clash against Northampton on Sunday.

BRIAN ASHTON has insisted he is not worried for his job, despite reports that that the vultures are circling over Twickenham after another disappointing RBS 6 Nations campaign.

SHANE HORGAN will start Ireland A’s clash with England Saxons at Welford Road next Friday.

Jonny Wilkinson will play his first match since the World Cup final after being named at fly-half for Newcastle’s EDF Energy Cup clash with Wasps.

Gregor Townsend will captain Border Reivers against the Ospreys on Saturday for his – and Reivers’ – last game.

CONNACHT coach Michael Bradley has made three changes to the team which played Ospreys two weeks ago for tonight’s Magners League clash with Border Reivers at Galway Sportsground (6.30).

ALAN QUINLAN’s return will be a major boost for Munster when they take on Border Reivers at Netherdale tonight.

Munster star Ronan O’Gara believes the European champions need to slash their error-count in Saturday’s Heineken Cup showdown with Leicester at Thomond Park.

BRAVE Borders went within a whisker of creating the biggest ever Heineken Cup shock as they salvaged pride in France.

WITH new Australian signing Tim McGann making his debut, Declan Kidney is looking for a stronger effort from his Munster charges when they take on Border Reivers in the Magners Celtic League at Thomond Park tonight (7.30).

The schedule is unforgiving but Scotland A head to Ottawa today buoyed by their dramatic victory over the England Saxons and determined to book a place in the Barclays Churchill Cup final.

England Saxons head coach Jon Callard believes the International Rugby Board has a responsibility to take over the funding of A-team rugby because it holds such a vital role in the development of future Test stars.

Scotland head coach Frank Hadden has named 15 new caps in his joint training squad ahead of the summer tour of South Africa.

Border Reivers coach Steve Bates has admitted that they are considering whether or not to cite Leinster captain Brian O'Driscoll for an alleged stamp on Nikki Walker in the Celtic League last Friday night.

Border Reivers head coach Steve Bates has selected the same backline that played against Connacht a fortnight ago for this Friday’s Celtic League clash against Leinster.

Scotland head coach Frank Hadden will assess the national captaincy on Sunday when he prepares for his first squad training session after his permanent appointment.

Coach Steve Bates has wielded the axe in making changes to The Borders side that beat The Ospreys last week for the match-up with Connacht on Saturday.

SCOTTISH Rugby president Andy Irvine says it is a straight choice between Frank Hadden and Steve Bates for the national coach’s job.

Frank Hadden and Steve Bates are locked in battle for the lucrative Scotland coach’s job.

Munster 9 Border Reivers 7

MUNSTER coach Declan Kidney has named flanker David Wallace on the right wing for tonight's Celtic League opener against Border Reivers at Thomond Park (7.10pm).

The three head coaches of Scotland’s professional teams have confirmed their interest in replacing Matt Williams as national coach.

Borders 9 Connacht 18

The Borders face a tough next weekend in the return leg of the European Challenge Cup at Netherdale to qualify for the quarter-finals of the competition after losing 44-14 in France today.

MUNSTER coach Alan Gaffney has rung the changes for the game against The Borders this weekend.

The Borders are languishing at the bottom of the Celtic League and they will give Ally Warnock, Andy Turnbull and Johnny Weston their first Celtic League starts of the season at Donnybrook tonight.

Borders 15 Llanelli Scarlets 26

Borders 15 Llanelli Scarlets 26

Lions star Jonny Wilkinson will watch from the sidelines when Newcastle face Toulouse in a must-win Heineken Cup Pool Six clash tomorrow.