Almost half a century has come and gone since Europe last belonged to Glasgow, when Jock Stein’s famously home-spun Celtic Bhoys beat Inter Milan in the 1967 final.

Simon Mason turned up at Lansdowne Road bright and early for the game of his life, a net of balls slung over his shoulder.

Leinster 17 Leicester 10

SHANE BYRNE will lead an Ireland Legends rugby team against the England Legends at The Stoop in Twickenham on the eve of Ireland-England Six Nations game.

A HOST of big names will take part in the first ever Stuart Mangan Memorial match between England and Ireland Legends at the Twickenham Stoop on Friday, February 26 – the night before the countries meet in the Six Nations at Twickenham.

Leicester 39 Edinburgh 0

LLANELLI SCARLETS have marched imperiously on Europe this season – but captain Simon Easterby believes they will need to “raise the bar” in today’s semi-final showdown against Leicester at the Walkers Stadium.

Llanelli Scarlets 24 Munster 15

DIFFERENT teams, different times but there’s no escaping the feeling that Munster’s victory over Leicester in 2003 will be seen as a psychological tool to be used by the holders as they begin their defence of the Heineken Cup at Welford Road on Sunday.

Champions Wasps powered home three second-half tries to sink London Irish today in the Zurich Premiership.

Former England full back Tim Stimpson has become Leeds Tykes' ninth signing of the close season.

Leicester Tigers brushed aside the loss of seven players to England’s World Cup squad and the now-injured Geordan Murphy with a comprehensive opening Zurich Premiership win at Welford Road.

DIRECTOR of rugby Dean Richards insisted his players are out to “set the record straight” after Leicester earned the chance to end a disappointing season at Welford Road with Heineken Cup qualification.

Harlequins 26 Leicester 23

LONDON IRISH boss Conor O’Shea fired a clear message to the Exiles’ Zurich Premiership relegation rivals by declaring: “It’s in our hands now.”

Leicester 19 London Irish 20

Leicester’s Premiership play-off hopes remained on track at The Stoop after the Tigers headed into the break with a narrow lead over Harlequins.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney today rejected any suggestion that deposed European champions Leicester might have hit a downward spiral following their Heineken Cup quarter-final exit.

Leicester 7 Munster 20

Gloucester were the better side in the first-half of their Powergen Cup semi-final against Leicester, but the Tigers are 6-3 up at half-time.

England boss Clive Woodward will keep his fingers crossed this week that a punishing programme of domestic league and cup action does not hamper his RBS 6 Nations title hopes.

JUST like buses, Geordan Murphy has been waiting for an opportunity to stake his claim in the Ireland team and then two come along at once.

ENGLAND boss Clive Woodward last night revealed a fascinating glimpse into his World Cup thinking by selecting flyhalf rivals Jonny Wilkinson and Charlie Hodgson in the same team for next Saturday’s showdown with France.

Wasps 26 Leicester 13

Clive Woodward is not afraid to tinker with an England line-up who have defeated both New Zealand and world champions Australia in the past fortnight ahead of Saturday’s clash with South Africa.

AXED England star Lawrence Dallaglio responded to his omission from Saturday’s Twickenham rugby showdown with world champions Australia by declaring: ‘‘I have never ever taken anything for granted.’’

England have left Lawrence Dallaglio out of their starting line-up for Saturday’s Twickenham clash against world champions Australia.

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.

NEW MUNSTER coach Alan Gaffney has no major injury worries other than long term injuries ahead of his side’s Celtic League opener against Llanelli on Saturday.

Neil Boobyer believes helping to guide Llanelli to Heineken Cup glory would be the achievement of his illustrious career so far, particularly after the semi-final heartbreak of last year.

England boss Clive Woodward today named 14 uncapped players in his 30-man party for next month’s two-match tour of Argentina.

Neil Back today defended his illegal hand-in-the-scrum manoeuvre that ensured European kings Leicester made Heineken Cup history, and claimed: ‘‘I did what I felt was necessary.’’

Leicester coach Dean Richards strongly defended Neil Back after the England flanker robbed Munster of their last-gasp Heineken Cup victory chance at the Millennium Stadium this afternoon.

Munster suffered European Cup final agony again as Leicester were crowned kings of Europe for a second successive season at an emotion-charged Millennium Stadium.

Munster 9 Leicester 15

Munster 9 Leicester 10

Munster 6 Leicester 5

Leicester meet Munster in the Heineken Cup final in Cardiff next month after a dramatic win over Llanelli in Nottingham.

Leicester’s grip on the Heineken Cup was loosened by a fired-up Llanelli side, who secured a deserved half-time lead in the clubs’ semi-final.

England boss Clive Woodward has claimed that ‘‘no-one should read anything’’ into Martin Johnson’s surprise appearance on the bench for Sunday’s Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship appointment with Italy.

England 50, Wales 10

Jason Robinson has been ruled out of England’s Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship clash against Wales at Twickenham.

Harlequins 21 Leicester 38