Springbok Luke Watson has been immediately installed as Bath captain for their pre-season match against Heineken Cup group rivals Ulster at Ravenhill this evening (K.O. 7.30pm).

Wasps 25 Leeds Carnegie 17

Newcastle head coach John Fletcher believes yesterday’s thrilling 22-19 triumph at Saracens showed Jonny Wilkinson exactly why he should remain in the north-east.

Leeds Carnegie shrugged off their Premiership blues to take pole position in Pool Five of the European Challenge Cup at Headingley tonight with a 35-18 win over Castres Olympique, while Connacht lost away at Brive.

London Irish 28 Leeds 24

Leeds 48 Cardiff 3

Former England star Mike Catt took the spotlight away from big-name Premiership newcomer Justin Marshall by creating the first three tries as London Irish opened their season with victory over Leeds in the second match of today’s Twickenham double-header.