Wing Jonny May’s late try gave Gloucester a dramatic Heineken Cup victory as Perpignan had their former Munster centre Lifeimi Mafi sent off.

A late Felipe Contepomi penalty handed defeat to an Ireland XV at Kingsholm on the eve of their three-Test tour to New Zealand.

Barbarians 29 Ireland 28

Soon to retire, Munster and Ireland stalwart Mick O’Driscoll captains the Barbarians against his countrymen tonight in Gloucester (7.45pm) but all eyes will be on those in the Ireland XV looking to take their last chance to earn a ticket to New Zealand.

GLOUCESTER floored Heineken Cup heavyweights Toulouse at Kingsholm after a brilliant performance inspired by their try-hungry backs.

ALL BLACKS full-back Israel Dagg has expressed his sympathy for disgraced England centre Mike Tindall and believes he could have been the one taking all the flak had New Zealand not won the World Cup.

MIKE TINDALL has blasted the RFU and accused them of making him a “scapegoat” in a statement released through the Rugby Players Association yesterday.

Mike Tindall today accused the Rugby Football Union of making him a “scapegoat” in a statement released through the Rugby Players Association

MIKE TINDALL was last night reinstated in England’s elite player squad and had a £25,000 fine reduced to £15,000 after an appeal against the punishment meted out for his off-field World Cup behaviour.

Mike Tindall has been reinstated in England’s elite player squad and had a £25,000 (€29,124) fine reduced to £15,000 (€17,475) after an appeal against the punishment meted out for his off-field World Cup behaviour.

Martin Johnson today described the damning fall-out from England’s World Cup campaign as “one of the worst things I have experienced in the game”.

ROB ANDREW admitted the Rugby Football Union had hit “rock bottom” following the publication of damning reports into England’s failed World Cup campaign.

IN THE END, perhaps the only way to rid the English rugby team of the arrogance and self-righteousness that has pervaded their squad since 2003 was with a stick of dynamite planted firmly in the centre of the Twickenham pitch.

MARTIN JOHNSON made a noble exit from Twickenham yesterday after taking the decision to stand down as England team manager on his own terms.

ENGLAND’S drunken night out in Queenstown, which may have cost Mike Tindall his international career, was part-funded by the Rugby Football Union.

GLOUCESTER head coach Bryan Redpath was delighted with the performance of under-fire centre Mike Tindall as he ended a difficult week with a resolute performance in a tense 21-17 defeat at Toulouse .

Toulouse 21 Gloucester 17

MIKE TINDALL’S Test career appears to be over after his off-field behaviour during the World Cup resulted in him being kicked out of England’s elite squad and fined £25,000 (€29,000) by the England RFU.

Mike Tindall has been removed from England’s elite player squad and fined £25,000 (€29,000) following events in New Zealand during the recent World Cup campaign.

England international Manu Tuilagi was last night fined €3,400 by the Rugby Football Union after he was warned by Auckland police for jumping from a ferry into the harbour.

A bouncer accused of illegally accessing CCTV footage of England rugby star Mike Tindall in a bar has pleaded not guilty.

Mark Cueto today launched a vehement defence of England’s off-field conduct and insisted there are no more skeletons in the closet.

Delon Armitage has been banned from England’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France.

THE owner of a second New Zealand bar revealed he had footage of England star Mike Tindall canoodling with a mystery blonde.

Mike Tindall insisted England’s World Cup party days are over as they gear up for the business end of the tournament – starting with next Saturday’s showdown with Scotland.

England 67 Romania 3

MARTIN JOHNSON insists England’s preparations for tomorrow’s clash with Romania will not be thrown off course by the arrival in Dunedin of Zara Phillips.

BEN FODEN has backed Mike Tindall to “show the critics he is here to win a World Cup” when England tackle Romania in Saturday’s Pool B clash at the Otago Stadium.

Mike Tindall is poised to return to the England team for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup Pool B clash with Romania.

A MAN appeared in court in connection with CCTV footage showing England rugby star Mike Tindall and a blonde woman in a bar in New Zealand.

A MAN will appear in court today in connection with CCTV footage showing Mike Tindall and a blonde woman in a bar in New Zealand.

The bouncer who allegedly posted the CCTV footage of English rugby star Mike Tindall with a blonde woman in a New Zealand night-club will appear in court today.

IRELAND’S show jumpers failed in their goal of Olympic qualification at the European Championships in Madrid, Spain, yesterday, while Billy Twomey also saw his aspirations for an individual medal come crashing down.

Video footage of Mike Tindall kissing and hugging a mystery woman during a night out just show the England rugby captain with an “old friend”, according to a source.

BRITISH royal Zara Phillips has described as “quite sad” coverage of alleged groping of a woman by her husband, England rugby captain Mike Tindall, at a team outing during the World Cup in New Zealand.

The England management have defended Mike Tindall and several of his team-mates following reports of a night out in Queenstown.

Will Greenwood has backed England’s under-pressure centres to answer their critics at the Rugby World Cup.

IT might be a little too soon to be circling the wagons but Andrew Trimble says Ireland’s World Cup squad are determined to stay positive.

Ireland 9 England 20

Martin Johnson has named a new-look midfield of Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Tindall and Manu Tuilagi for England’s final World Cup warm-up international against Ireland on Saturday.

Wales 19 England 9

LEWIS MOODY will be on trial at Twickenham today (2.30pm) after England manager Martin Johnson insisted the Rugby World Cup captaincy is still up for grabs.

Rory Lawson is far from complacent about taking his place in Andy Robinson’s 30-man Scotland squad for the Rugby World Cup despite being named as captain for Saturday’s EMC Test with Ireland.

ZARA PHILLIPS and Mike Tindall were all smiles yesterday as they left the palace where their lavish wedding reception was held.