LOSING this afternoon’s final Heineken Cup game of the season at home to London Irish is not an option.

ENGLAND international Delon Armitage will miss virtually the entire RBS 6 Nations after receiving an eight-week ban for conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game.

London Irish 24 Ospreys 12

LONDON IRISH boss Toby Booth struggled to mask his frustration after Bath’s late show at the Madejski Stadium consigned the Exiles to a ninth successive defeat.

Ospreys 27 London Irish 16

OSPREYS star Shane Williams has described tomorrow night’s Heineken Cup showdown against in-form London Irish as “the ultimate test”.

TOO much rugby.

AFTER only a few minutes of Saturday’s Heineken Cup contest at the Madejski Stadium, it became abundantly clear just why we love this tournament so much.

London Irish 23 Munster 17

KEITH EARLS’ return to Munster colours for the first time since May could give just the boost required by the Irish province to kick off the new Heineken Cup campaign with a victory at London Irish today (5.45pm).

Ireland’s Keith Earls will start for Munster against London Irish in the Heineken Cup at Wembley on Saturday evening (5.45pm).

London Irish 33 Saracens 16

London Irish 11 Leinster 11

LONDON IRISH have it all to do when they face Heineken Cup champions Leinster in a decisive Pool Six showdown at Twickenham today.

England scrum-half Paul Hodgson believes London Irish face “a truly monumental task” to keep alive their Heineken Cup dream at Twickenham tomorrow.

London Irish have recalled the twin threat of wings Topsy Ojo and Sailosi Tagicakibau Saturday's Heineken Cup final pool six match with Leinster at Twickenham.

DANNY CIPRIANI is one of six capped players named in the England Saxons side to face Ireland A at Donnybrook. The Wasps fly-half was sent down to the Saxons by Martin Johnson earlier this week in the hope of him rediscovering some of his form, away from the pressures of the 6 Nations.

Danny Cipriani is one of six capped players named in the England Saxons side to face Ireland A at Donnybrook.

London Irish boosted their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup by posting a convincing 59-7 triumph over Dax in Pool One tonight.

London Irish have made one change from last weekend bringing in hooker James Buckland for a crucial European Challenge Cup round two fixture with Connacht Rugby at The Sportsground on Friday evening at 7pm.

SARACENS continued the English romp through the European Challenge Cup with a clinical 53-3 win over French side Mont de Marsan at Vicarage Road yesterday.

IN what is Munster’s first home game since winning the Heineken Cup in May, Tony McGahan has kept faith with 11 of the side that started in last weekend’s impressive 46-22 win over the USA Eagles for tonight’s sell-out friendly with London Irish at Musgrave Park (7.30pm).

Topsy Ojo and Mike Brown have been fined and reprimanded after being found guilty of misconduct following a report by Jeff Blackett, disciplinary officer of the Rugby Football Union, on the recent tour of New Zealand.

Martin Johnson has dropped Mike Tindall and Ben Kay on his first day in charge as England’s new team manager.

Rob Andrew has revealed injured fly-half Danny Cipriani is unlikely to be included in England’s elite player squad for next season.

England have made wholesale changes to their back division for Saturday’s second Test against New Zealand.

New Zealand 37 England 20

Harlequins forward Nick Easter will captain England in next Sunday’s clash against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

Steve Borthwick will captain England on their New Zealand tour next month.

LONDON IRISH coach Toby Booth felt his side squandered a golden opportunity to reach their first Heineken Cup final with Saturday’s 21-15 defeat by Toulouse.

London Irish 15 Toulouse 21

London Irish 10 Toulouse 15

Ireland international Bob Casey will lead London Irish into their first Heineken Cup semi-final against Toulouse at Twickenham on Saturday.

London Irish 20 Perpignan 9

Treviso 11 London Irish 24

London Irish 41 Dragons 24

Newport Gwent Dragons 17 London Irish 45

London Irish 42 Treviso 9

London Irish 16 Wasps 13

London Irish look poised to make a major swoop in the transfer market by signing England scrum-half Peter Richards.

Saracens blew a string of scoring chances but still had enough power to overwhelm London Irish today and take a step closer to the Guinness Premiership play-off places.

Llanelli Scarlets 20 London Irish 16

Llanelli 20 London Irish 16

London Irish 24 Toulouse 26