If Declan Kidney was hoping his Irish Wolfhounds would upset the established order ahead of his RBS 6 Nations squad announcement today, he will have left Exeter on Saturday night slightly disappointed.

Leicester's disappointing European campaign came to an end with a comfortable but far from convincing 33-6 win over a battling Aironi at Welford Road.

GLASGOW WARRIORS maintained their pursuit of Leinster in Heineken Cup Pool Three with a 20-15 victory over Montpellier at Firhill.

England lock Courtney Lawes insisted he will not change his approach to the game, despite serving a two-match World Cup ban for striking Argentina hooker Mario Ledesma with his knee.

Thomas Waldrom has joined England’s Rugby World Cup squad as the official replacement for injured prop Andrew Sheridan, manager Martin Johnson has announced.

Joe Worsley is set to miss out on playing in his fourth Rugby World Cup after being cut from England's training squad.

Matt Stevens’ return from the ignominy of a drugs ban continued today when he was confirmed in England’s 45-man Rugby World Cup training squad.

Leicester’s New Zealand-born number eight Thomas Waldrom is targeting a place in England’s Rugby World Cup squad after discovering his grandmother was born in this country.

Leicester 62 Treviso 15

LEICESTER director of rugby Richard Cockerill praised the intensity of his side’s performance after they hammered the Scarlets at Welford Road to take control of Heineken Cup Pool 5.

Leicester 46 Scarlets 10

LEINSTER shipped five tries in a friendly defeat by English champions Leicester at Welford Road last night. There was little in it at half-time after Ian McKinley’s try had helped keep the visitors within six points at 20-14.

Leicester Tigers 37 Leinster 14, Welford Road

New Zealand Maori 27 Ireland A 6