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The European Nations Cup - "Six Nations B" - is played over two years, and this is the second year. There is a lot at stake for the six sides.

Maties boss Chean Roux has - as promised - re-jigged his forwards pack ahead of his team's Varsity Cup meeting with FNB TUT in Stellenbosch on Monday evening (kick-off 7.30pm).

Andre Watson, South Africa's manager of referees and the leading referee in the world at one stage, has come to the defence of the application of the law which stresses the release of the tackled player by the tackler. He has done so in the face of media queries after the first round of the Varsity Cup.

The strict application of law in four key areas has seen a decline in the number of reset scrums and kicks in general play, as well as an increase in tries - according to Andre Watson, SA Rugby's Manager of Referees.

Experienced utility back Pete Haw has been named on the left-wing for the Ikey Tigers for Monday afternoon's Varsity Cup grudge match against FNB NWU-Pukke at the Green Mile in Cape Town.

FNB Shimlas head coach Jaco Swanepoel has named an unchanged matchday 23 for Monday's Varsity Cup game against NMMU in Bloemfontein.

FNB NMMU head coach Kolie Brandt has juggled his team's loose trio ahead of Monday's Varsity Cup clash against FNB Shimlas at Xerox Shimlas Park (kick-off 6.30pm).

With just over 100 days to go until the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2010 kicks off, the International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced the Pools and Match Schedule for the key age grade tournament at a launch in Moscow.

The FNB Maties will once again be without injured skipper Cameron Peverett when they host the TUT Vikings in a Round Two Varsity Cup fixture in Stellenbosch.

Whilst praising the Varsity Cup for helping Eastern Cape rugby, NMMU coach Kolie Brandt believes South African rugby has a responsibility to do more to promote rugby in the region.

Scrumhalf Lohan Jacobs and flank Lean Schwartz said on Wednesday that the players selected for the SA U20 squad will be aiming to impress the national selectors with outstanding performances during their two week tour to France.

Injuries will force Tuks head coach Freddie Grobler to include at least three new faces in his starting line-up for Monday's Varsity Cup match against UJ.

John Dobson was disappointed with UCT's 30-30 draw against the Shimlas in Varsity Cup action this past Monday, but the Ikeys coach is already hard at work in a bid to rectify his team's errors ahead of next week.

Ondanks 'n goeie 35-24-sege oor Tukkies in Maandagaand se Varsitybeker-wedstryd was die NWU-Pukke se breier nie heeltemal tevrede nie.

Jimmy Watt believes the TUT Vikings lost their 2010 Varsity Cup opener in the first 15 minutes - when half-hearted defence led directly to two soft tries for FNB UJ.

Injuries to flanker Warwick Tecklenberg and winger Aaron Denenga will force Tuks coach Freddie Grobler to change his starting line-up for next week's Varsity Cup meeting with UJ.

At the National Referees' course at Newlands and the provincial Referees' course at Hartebeesthoek in January, scrumming dominated discussion of law application. Scrumming is one of the Big Four along with Tackle, Offside and Maul.

UCT's Orientation Week kicked-off last week and with the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships - and the Varsity Cup - around the corner, the Nadoes saw this as a brilliant opportunity to raise awareness of these great tournaments.

The Australians are making a big fuss about the possible introduction of a two-referee system in Super Rugby, but it is a systems that has long been in use in South Africa.

Coach Hugo van As was satisfied with the result of UJ's opening Varsity Cup match against the FNB TUT Vikings, but not with the way in which his team executed their gameplan.

Pukke showed they mean business in the 2010 Varsity Cup, after claiming a 35-24 victory over Tukkies on Monday evening.

The Six Nations breaks out this weekend and there are more than just the senior men's teams involved. There is also the second year of the European Nations Cup. Top referees are busy.

An injury-time penalty by Ikeys replacement Doug Mallett earned his side a 30-30 draw against FNB Shimlas in the opening match of the 2010 Varsity Cup in Port Elizabeth on Monday.

UWC were once again too strong for Fort Hare in their annual Varsity Cup curtain-raiser, with the Cape side winning 33-6 at a windy Xerox NMMU Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Monday afternoon.

FNB UJ began their 2010 Varsity Cup campaign with a 28-14 bonus-point victory over TUT in Pretoria on Monday.

FNB Maties, the back-to-back Varsity Cup champions, started their 2010 campaign with a ruthless 68-20 victory over a spirited FNB NMMU team in Port Elizabeth on Monday.

Last year's finalists, Maties and Pukke, showed they mean business in the 2010 Varsity Cup; with both of them securing bonus point wins on Monday.

UWC and Fort Hare, who will be playing in a Varsity Cup curtain-raiser on Monday afternoon, have named their starting line-ups for what should be an entertaining match.

Maties prop Lourens Adriaanse will captain the defending champions in their Varsity Cup opener against NMMU on Monday - prompting the big man to suggest that the brains are, indeed, well and truly in the front row.

The Varsity Cup will break even more ground this year, with the 2010 tournament set to feature time-outs - an opportunity for the players to take in some liquid refreshments, but also to allow the coaches onto the field to chat to their players.

The ultra-competitive 2010 Varsity Cup officially gets underway on Monday, but there will also be plenty of competition off the field thanks to SuperBru's Varsity Cup competition.

There were cup finals in Ireland and Japan, serious competitions in five of the six nations and warm-ups south of the equator. Portugal, who resume their FIRA-AER competition with the hope of World Cup qualification had a warm-up match against England Students.

Every now and again, usually before some important, high-profile tournament, the is talk about changing laws or emphasising some application of laws. This year, just when the Super 14 gets under way it is the Big Four, especially the tackle, especially what the tackler gets up to.

To achieve a better (more entertaining) game SANZAR referees and assistant referees will be focussing on freeing up the ball and creating clarity around rulings at the tackle area and at scrum-time in this year's Super 14 competition.

The factor of the unknown, as it the case with most the opening matches of the Varsity Cup, can be good or bad, according to FNB UJ head coach Hugo van As.

The experience of loose forward Emile Verster made him a logical choice as the FNB TUT Vikings' new captain for the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup competition presented by Steinhoff International.

It will be a special day in the Marais household on Monday when Wesleigh and Donnovan become the first siblings to represent Tuks in the FNB Varsity Cup competition presented by Steinhoff International.

FNB Maties have named a host of WP squad members in their starting line-up for Monday's Varsity Cup opener against NMMU.

John Dobson has selected a very experienced starting line-up for UCT's Varsity Cup opener against Shimlas in Port Elizabeth this coming Monday.

The third installment of the Varsity Cup kicks-off at two venues this coming Monday (February 1); with double headers in Port Elizabeth and Pretoria set to get the South African rugby season off to a cracking start.

FNB Pukke, the losing finalists in last year's Varsity Cup, have picked a new-look side for Monday's tricky tournament opener against Tuks in Pretoria (kick-off 6.30pm).

Monday's Varsity Cup double header fixtures at FNB Tuks' LC de Villiers Stadium have been moved to the adjacent Tukkies Athletics Stadium because of problems with the playing surface.

FNB NMMU coach Kolie Brandt has selected his side for Monday's Varsity Cup opener against the defending champion Maties, with scrumhalf Lusu Booi leading his charges into battle.

Five former Blue Bulls U19 players have been included in the TUT squad for their 2010 Varsity Cup opener against UJ.

FNB UJ head coach Hugo van As has little doubt that he will field a 'stabilised team' against TUT when the teams clash in the opening round of the 2010 Varsity Cup.

Madibas skipper and scrumhalf Lusu Booi is relishing the responsibility of leading his NMMU side in this year's Varsity Cup.

Nick Fenton-Wells will lead the Ikey Tigers in the 2010 Varsity Cup - an opportunity which he describes as a 'huge honour'.

FNB Tuks head coach Freddie Grobler has chosen 12 new 'caps' for his team's 2010 Varsity Cup opener against Pukke this Monday.

Clinton de Klerk, UJ's new Varsity Cup captain, believes the highly-competitive nature of this tournament makes a game-by-game approach 'non-negotiable'.

Throughout the rugby world there are misgivings about citing and the consistency in citing. SANZAR is now taking steps to try to achieve greater consistency and to eliminate the ongoing suspicion that nationality leads to citing bias.

New TUT Vikings captain - and loose forward - Emile Verster's playmaking skills are not his only attribute.

Those who have been to Newlands for the two matches in the tri-series will have seen the referees, Jonathan Kaplan and Mark Lawrence, wearing bands around their heads, needing only a feather to look like Redskin braves.

The headline of this story could just be TUT's war-cry for the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

Met die uitsondering van vyf spelers, gaan die beste beskikbare Shimla-span Maandag die Universiteit van Kaapstad (UK) in die openingsronde van die 2010 FNB Varsitybeker aangebied deur Steinhoff International aandurf.

The special panel of referees for the Varsity Cup enjoyed a camp up at Hartebeesthoek recently to prepare them for the popular series. The referees for February have been appointed.

Vishuis will represent Shimlas at the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships - no doubt hoping to emulate Huis Armentum's dominance of this competition of last season.

SANZAR coaches and referees have accepted joint responsibility at the tackle and the scrums in order to produce a faster, more attractive game.

The referees for Round One of the 2010 Varsity Cup have been announced, with Ben Crouse set to officiate the first match of the third Varsity Cup tournament - between Shimlas and UCT in Port Elizabeth.

varsitycup.co.za caught up with new Varsity Cup Chairman Jurie Roux to find out more about him as a person... and also about his plans for the 2010 tournament and beyond.

Skroef Fourie is no doubt still the taste of Bastion - after his penalty goal in last year's Steinhoff Koshuis Final at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) helped his team into the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby championships.

Steinhoff Dagbreek will take over from Majuba as Stellenbosch's representatives in the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby championships.

UJ head coach Hugo van As refuses to make any predictions ahead of his team's 2010 Varsity Cup campaign.

During the SA Referees course at Newlands, attended by the top 11 referees in South Africa plus the people who assess them and the people who select them, applying laws to the Big Four were discussed - the Tackle, the Scrum, Offside and the Maul & Obstruction.

Coach John Dobson declared himself 'satisfied' with UCT's final hit-out against Boland on Monday evening - despite the double Varsity Cup semifinalists going down 12-14 at the Green Mile.

In just the second rugby Test between the two countries Russia smashed Namibia 30-15 in the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek, through there was only one try's difference between the two teams.

Maroela will return to the Steinhoff Koshuisrugby championships this year as Tukkies' representatives.

FNB TUT Vikings forwards coach Jimmy Watt is confident that his charges are better prepared for the 2010 Varsity Cup than they were for last year's tournament - where they had the dubious honour of collecting the Wooden Spoon.

Time flies. The first month of the new year is at an end after two hectic weekends of European action and the SANZAR teams are preparing for battle which commences next month. And referees on high alert.

We caught up with new Stormers coaches Matt Proudfoot and Robbie Fleck to find out how the Varsity Cup benefited - and fast-tracked - their respective coaching careers!

No, not the referee. For the second time this season in the UK, there has been a case of 16 men playing for the same team for a brief while during a match.

rugby365.com columnist Keith Moore pays his tribute to the voice of rugby, Bill McLaren.

After this crunch weekend, the European Rugby Cup is able to produce the quarterfinalists for both the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup.

With the 2010 Varsity Cup just over a week away now, we introduce the eight players that will be captaining their respective universities this coming season.

The Pumas scored a convincing 35-12 win over UJ in a lively Varsity Cup pre-season encounter in Witbank on Friday night.

FNB Tukkies lost 10-36 to Currie Cup side, the Eagles, in a Varsity Cup pre-season clash in George on Friday.

Last year's Varsity Cup finalists, FNB Pukke, claimed a 40-36 pre-season victory over the Griffons in Welkom on Saturday evening.

It was 'mission accomplished' for FNB Maties head coach Chean Roux - despite the students losing 26-59 to a WP Invitation XV at Newlands on Saturday.

With the 2010 Varsity Cup a little over a week away, the NWU-Pukke - the losing finalists in 2009 - will play their one and only practice match on Saturday.

With the Varsity Cup set to employ 23-man playing squads in the 2010 season, they will also be working hand-in-hand with South Africa's referees - off the field - in order to establish a strong working relationship.

FNB Maties coach Chean Roux will be using tomorrow's friendly against a WP XV as a 'final trial' for his squad ahead of the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

We have seen what the referees watch and who watches the referee. What happens after that?

The high-flying Nadoes have bolstered their squad for the upcoming 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships with a few mean and fit looking players, but none meaner than Brennan Kevin Wright.

As they prepare for the European Nations Cup and a possible place in the Rugby World Cup, Russia have been spending their time in Southern Africa, mostly in Pretoria but this weekend they go west to play Namibia in the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday afternoon.

South Africa's top eleven referees plus assessors, TMOs and selectors met at Newlands in Cape Town for two days at the end of last week.

The USA Rugby Referees National Panel Development Group announced today the introduction of an unique approach to evaluating and developing referees called The GAME System.

Test referees Jonathan Kaplan, Marius Jonker, Mark Lawrence and Craig Joubert, and the rest of the members of the SA referees? National Panel received their BokSmart certification after attending one of the National Rugby Safety Programmes? courses in Cape Town last week.

With the 2010 Varsity Cup less than two weeks away now, we caught up with the eight head coaches of South Africa's top rugby universities to find out more about their pre-season training, their ambitions and the law experiments this season...

Die Tuks-slot Erich 'Perd' van der Westhuizen sal ses maande nie kan rugby speeel nie, nadat hy sy heup in die opwarmwedstryd teen Rusland - verlede week - ontrwig het.

The Varsity Cup has never been scared of experimentation. From setting the trends off the field with a unique marketing strategy, to taking over Monday nights for two months of the year and, more crucially, allowing the use of the much talked about white card in the 2008 final.

The Varsity Cup will embark on a campaign this coming season to help players and supporters become even prouder of their country, in what is shaping up as a massive sporting year in South Africa.

Today's proposed pre-season friendly between UCT's Varsity Cup squad and WP's Vodacom Cup team has been called off.

The 2010 Steinhoff Koshuis Championships is just around the corner and UCT's Nadoes - a legendary team which was first started in the late 1990s - are hoping to make the Cape Town university's presence felt this coming season!

Former UCT fullback James Richards has been elected as the new captain of Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club.

Jaco Swanepoel, Shimlas-afrigter, hoop om na Dinsdag se oefeningswedstryd teen die Universiteit van Johannesburg (UJ) op Kroonstad meer antwoorde op 'n klompie vrae te kry.

Law changes have made clear how far the ball must travel at a quick throw-in from touch.

With the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International set to employ 23-man playing squads in the 2010 season, as part of an experimentation with SA Rugby, the country's top student rugby tournament will also be working hand-in-hand with South Africa's referees - off the field - in order to establish a strong working relationship.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes - Who will guard the guards. Ancient Roman Juvenal asked the question and he was not even thinking about rugby referees, but it is a question often asked in a rugby context - who is going to referee the referees?

After the departure of coach John Williams, Namibia has appointed a new coach in Johan Diergaardt and he has chosen his first team for a Test against Russia in the Hage Geingob stadium in Windhoek on 23 January.

Maties centre Juan de Jongh, the first Bok Varsity Cup product, has paid tribute to the tournament for his rapid rise to rugby prominence.

The European competitions are reaching a stage when decisions will be made and there were surprises this weekend, including the massive defeat the Saints inflicted on Perpignan, the reigning champions of France.

It is the crunch round of the European compositions this weekend and the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup reach the end of the pool stages and decide who is qualified for the knock-out stages.

Two double-headers - in Port Elizabeth and Pretoria - will help launch the 2010 Varsity Cup, as the third edition of this exciting student rugby tournament gets underway on Monday, February 1.

The third chapter of the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International will kick-off on Monday, February 1 and the organising committee and sponsors are urging the rugby public and various university supporters to 'Back your Boytjies' in 2010!

South African Referees is to experiment with the use of on-field referees as television match officials.

The Varsity Cup will be launching a big cancer awareness drive in 2010, with the introduction of the 'Pink Shorts' campaign in this year's tournament.

FNB Ikey Tigers head coach John Dobson was a happy man, despite his side's 3-21 loss to the Stormers in a lively pre-season encounter in Riebeek West on Saturday morning.

The International Rugby Board has announced the names of the 12 referees to officiate at the Junior World Rugby Trophy to be held in Moscow on 18-30 May 2010.

Verlede jaar moes Jaco Swanepoel, hoofafrigter van FNB Shimlas, toesien hoe 'n swak begin sy span se aanslag op die FNB Varsitybeker, aangebied deur Steinhoff International, in die wiele ry. Vanjaar is die breier van die Kovsies vasbeslote om nie daardie fout te herhaal nie.

South African referees expect to see fewer reset scrums as a result of more accurate applications of the scrummaging laws this season, said SA Referees manager Andre Watson on Friday.

FNB UCT head coach John Dobson has announced a strong team - including a host of new faces - for Saturday's pre-season friendly clash against the Stormers in Riebeek West.

FNB NMMU head coach Kolie Brandt is hoping that the notorious Port Elizabeth wind dies down before the opening day of Varsity Cup action in PE on Monday, February 1.

FNB Tuks' 2010 pre-season preparations are in full swing, with the double Varsity Cup semifinalists already playing two warm-up matches at the LC de Villiers Stadium on Wednesday night.

Back-to-back Varsity Cup champions, FNB Maties, will be playing just one warm-up match ahead of the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International - against Super 14 side, the Stormers.

The University of Cape Town will get their 2010 Varsity Cup preparations underway when they take on the Stormers in a warm-up match in Riebeek West this Saturday (kick-off 10am).

NWU-Pukke se hoofafrigter, Rudy Joubert, hoop dat sy nuwelinge sal opmaak vir die verliese wat die Potchefstroomse Varsitybekerspan in die afseisoen gely het.

Ed Morrison, the Head of Elite Referees' Development in England, spoke recently about English refereeing in to top divisions, following the accusations of incompetence levelled at them by Brendan Venter, the Saracens' coach.

Ikey Tigers head coach John Dobson has returned from his coaching sojourn in Italy wiser, but also hungrier for success ahead of the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

The International Rugby Board has produced a slightly changed protocol for the technical zone, the area where non-playing team officials must be if they are within the playing enclosure.

An even greater emphasis on pre-season training that saw teams train until December 18 and restart this year, will ensure the 2010 Varsity Cup will start off on February 1 at an even higher standard than last year.

A friend asked on Friday how many things a referee has to watch in a match, and it seemed a good idea to find out.

European matches break out again for the top sides - Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup with lots of referees hoping that the weather will improve.

The Tigers moved to the top of the 2009/10 Guinness Premiership table after yet another powerful scrummaging display from the defending champions helped them to a superb 34-8 bonus point win over Wasps at a cold Welford Road on Saturday. All your GP news...

Sin novedad. There is nothing much to report as the weather took over so much of the weekend's rugby as England completed with the North Pole for cold. Not even sunny Spain got off scot free. Japan got through it all.

The European Cup (ERC) has announced the referees for the final two rounds of pool matches in the 2009-10 Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Outstanding England and B&I Lions forward Tom Croft has been named on the Leicester Tigers bench for Saturday's Guinness Premiership tussle with old foes London Wasps at Welford Road. Irish v Warriors match called off | Snow rest for the wicked...

It's the new year in the frozen north and the sweltering south. There is much celebrating and in the north there is also some rugby, and so some incidents to discuss. The incidents are from two matches in England's Premiership - Sale Sharks against Harlequins in Manchester and London Wasps against Newcastle Falcons. But first there is a matter of balls.

As we enter the new year, rugby365.com decided it is worth having a look back at some of the game's more insane moments - those little flare-ups that entertained us.

Since the 2007 World Cup nine of the top 10 countries have changed coaches, with New Zealand's Graham Henry the only leading mentor to retain his job. rugby365.com has decided to take a look at how all these new coaches have progressed.

Already the new year is into its second week and as the season turns the bend matches became more important for both the ambitious and the desperate. Pressure on referees increases. After this there are two more rounds of European competition.

Wasn't the crowd at Twickenham wonderful on Sunday? Over 76 000 spectators a record for England's Premiership, getting close to what Stade Francais get at Stade de France. And it was a match that ended with great excitement, three tries in the last 12 minutes for a 21-20 result.

rugby365 has always been a fan of young talent and with the new year comes some new hopes - we pick out the five young stars from around the planet who we are expecting big things from in 2010. Tens join Cape Town Stadium Festival

The year has come and go. Fireworks are going off, people are singing and hugging, and 2010 is upon us. Soon, it too, will be gone with all its rush and with its thousands of rugby matches around the world, all refereed by somebody. We hope it is a happy New Year for all in rugby, including the match officials. Wouldn't it be wonderful if there were not one wrong decision, not one complaint!

Bath Rugby bounced back to form in the Guinness Premiership with a determined 24-8 West Country Derby victory over Gloucester at The Recreation Ground on Sunday afternoon. Four-try Leicester Tigers triumph | Mallinder praises Saints forwards | News!

Cardiff Blues smashed the Newport Gwent Dragons 42-13 in Magners League action at the Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday - despite the visitors holding a commanding 13-3 half-time lead.

England flanker Lewis Moody celebrated his first home outing as Leicester Tigers captain by scoring one of his team's four tries in their 32-6 Guinness Premiership win over Sale Sharks at Welford Road on Sunday.

London Wasps edged out Harlequins 21-20 in a thrilling Guinness Premiership encounter at Twickenham on Sunday.

Northampton Saints fullback Ben Foden produced two moments of individual brilliance to help his side record a welcome 26-6 Guinness Premiership win over Worcester Warriors at Sixways on Saturday. GP Preview: Round 11 | GP team news HERE! | Other news

Two tries from prop Paul James proved decisive as the Ospreys made it four wins in-a-row in all competitions with a 21-14 Magners League and Boxing Day Derby win over the Llanelli Scarlets on Saturday.

The Scarlets have named their 22-man squad to face the Ospreys in the two teams' Magners League fixture on Boxing Day - in front of a sell-out crowd at Parc y Scarlets.

A star-studded Leinster team - with No.15 Rob Kearney leading the way - overpowered Ulster 15-3 in their all-Ireland Magners League Derby at the RDS on Saturday evening... Report: Munster maul Connacht | Ospreys also win | ML Preview: Round Nine...

Gloucester Rugby have been handed a huge boost ahead of Sunday's West Country Derby clash against Bath Rugby, with All Blacks prop Greg Somerville named to start at No.3 in this crucial Guinness Premiership fixture at The Rec.

The Worcester Warriors' very own 'Pocket Rocket', inside centre Sam Tuitupou, has been named in the No.12 shirt for Saturday's Guinness Premiership match against the travelling Northampton Saints.

Fit-again England fullback Delon Armitage has been restored to the London Irish starting line-up for Sunday's mouth-watering Guinness Premiership clash against Saracens at the Madejski Stadium.

After two weeks of Heineken Cup action, the Celtic teams return to the Magners League as we move into Round Nine of what has been - up till now - a very intriguing season. We preview Round Nine's action! Magners League team news... | GP Preview...

Sale Sharks Director of Rugby Kingsley Jones has - surprisingly - opted to rest his two England backs backs, Mathew Tait and Mark Cueto, for Sunday's Guinness Premiership trip to Welford Road. Cipriani back at No.10 | Crane demands intensity | More GP news

Powerhouse Cardiff Blues winger Tom James has recovered from his groin injury and has been named in the No.11 shirt for Sunday's Magners League clash with the Newport Gwent Dragons.

England's top teams head back into Guinness Premiership mode, after a brief Heineken Cup hiatus, with a host of mouth-watering fixtures on the cards this Boxing Day weekend... All your GP team news... right here | Preview: Magners League, Round Nine

Leinster coach Michael Cheika has unveiled a star-studded Leinster outfit for Saturday's Magners League meeting with Ulster at Dublin's RDS.

Glasgow Warriors head coach Sean Lineen has called for a rousing team performance, whilst also issuing a rallying call to the Scottish public ahead of the first leg of the Greaves Sports 1872 Cup at Firhill on Sunday.

London Wasps went to play Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park in Stockport on November 27 in a Guinness Premiership match - refereed by the experienced David Rose. London Wasps said the pitch was dangerous and refused to play. There was an inquiry by the Premier Rugby Ltd (PRL) which found that it was the referee's fault. Now there has been a supplementary statement from the RFU.

Does the dangerous play occur only in open play? Is it dealt with only if the victim in injured? Surely neither of those can be correct, not if we believe that the Laws of the Game apply equally to all, but then watch three incidents in the match between Perpignan and Munster.

We managed to, again, intercept a few letters bound for Santa Claus!

Newcastle Falcons boss Steve Bates will welcome back a host of stars for Sunday's Guinness Premiership clash at Kingston Park, when the Falcons play host to northern rivals Leeds Carnegie.

It's a pity one cannot red-card the weather. It would have helped this past weekend when matches froze. Didn't you admire Edinburgh and Bath in the ran/sleet/snow at Murrayfield, just for the way they tried to play constructive rugby in the freezing muck.

Springbok prop CJ van der Linde will miss Leinster's all-Ireland Magners League clash against Ulster at the RDS this weekend because of a calf muscle injury.

Ten of the world's top women referees will officiate at the 2010 Women's World Cup in England in August-September. It is the sixth Women's World Cup and the Final will be played at Twickenham on 5 September.

It happens. Even in professional rugby it happens. Plymouth Albion, a club playing in The Championship, the second tier of professional rugby in England, has to face a disciplinary hearing on a charge of having 16 players on the field.

Maties utility forward Jonathan Adendorf will play for the South African Vipers Sevens team in a warm-up tournament in Mar del Plata, Argentina, early next year.

It's Christmas time with all its good cheer. It's cold in Europe but, despite the good cheer and the freezing weather, some rugby will try to be played, and so there will be referees out there in their thermals, careful of the danger of excesses.

There have been several citings after Round 3 of the Heineken Cup and European Rugby has announced the dates and venues for each of the hearings plus the judicial officer who will chair the hearing. Guillaume Ribes was sent off while playing for Brive and is not cited but will automatically attend a hearing.

The Six Nations Committee has made known the fixtures for the Under-20 Six Nations, which fall in the same country and over the same weekend as the senior Six Nations fixtures. It is a wonderful opportunity for the countries to prepare for the Junior World Championship.

European rugby cause to the reverse venues, brave fixturing as there is the danger of carrying on where the previous week's unpleasantries left off but if there is a carry on of so many of the pleasantries of constructive rugby from the week just past it will be a wonderful lead-up to Christmas, an early Christmas present.

There was a lot of excitement in Round Three of the Heineken Cup with some splendid rugby when, as the sun shone, there was greater emphasis on running with the ball than kicking it.

New Zealand carried on winning at the Sevens in George and Europe's matches were in full swing, not without suprises.

UCT old boy James Richards scored a crucial try to help Cambridge record a hard-fought 31-27 victory over Oxford in the 128th Varsity match at Twickenham on Thursday.

At the General Meeting of 30 November, the Blue Bulls Rugby Referees' Society elected Gerhard Roodt as its new chairman to replace Oscar Somers who was no longer available.

The SA Rugby Annual 2010 - the official and definitive record of one of the most successful seasons in the history of South African rugby - will go on sale before Christmas for the first time in its 39-year-history.

Former UCT star James Richards has been named at fullback for Cambridge ahead of the 128th Varsity match against Oxford this Thursday.

KwaZulu Natal referees' Society have just elected a new president - Andre Lourens who unseated Ian Wedderburn.

The IRB World Sevens Series for 2009-10 kicked off with great crowds and lots of fun in Dubai. New Zealand were full value for their win.

There is another burst of European activity, the next Sevens Series and Hong Kong are on tour as they preparer for the Asian World Cup qualifiers, and play Netherlands and Czech Republic as well as Germany,

The designated Members of the IRB's Rugby Committee have, in response to a request from Scotland, given a ruling on the possibility of obstruction when a team hopes to form a maul.

The International Rugby Board's primary function is the Laws of the Game. Laws are changed only occasionally, usually now just after World Cups but in the meantime clarification of laws is made by way of "rulings", one of which was changed recently.

There are some differences between the Laws for Sevens rugby and the ordinary 15-man game. We note some in brief.

Hoewel die 2009-rugbyjaar nie as een van FNB Shimlas se bestes die afgelope dekade beskou sal word nie, het hulle minstens nou twee bekers in die trofeekas.

SANZAR has announced the eight Super 14 referees for the 2010 Super 14. Half of them are South Africans.

A move by New Zealand to ease the game's eligibility regulations to allow mainly Pacific Islands players to switch national allegiance late in their careers has been rejected by the International Rugby Board.

Edinburgh head coach Rob Moffat has freshened up his starting line-up for the Magners League trip to Scarlets on Friday by making five changes including appointing Chris Paterson as captain.

What no Tests! It is strange after the hectic days of November. But there are the All Blacks and Barbarians at Twickenham. And in Dubai there are the first of the IRB's 2009-10 Sevens Series. And the Magners League actually squeezes a round in. Some of those who were refereeing Tests in front of massive crowds are now back at the clubs.

Balie Swart, the former Springboks forwards coach, is to join SA referees as a selector and adviser.

The International Rugby Board Council has announced details of the Law amendment process which will shape the evaluation of the Laws and whether there is a need for any change following Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand.

The Varsity Cup looks set to produce its first Rugby World Cup player, after JJ Gagiano and his USA Eagles team qualified for the 2011 World Cup which is to be held in New Zealand.

There was foul weather and there were two great matches - in Cardiff and, above all, in Marseille. We give some statistics from each of the matches.

Fiji went to Romania for the first time on Saturday and beat the Oaks 29-18 at Stadionul Arcul de Triumf.

Namibia beat Tunisia 22-10 at the Hein Geigob Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday to win the Africa Cup and to book their fourth trip to the final round of the Rugby World Cup, this time in New Zealand in 2011.

After two defeats in Japan's, Canada beat Russia in their historic encounter in the rain at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, British Columbia on Saturday.

The November Test window closes with an exciting win for Ireland at Croke Park and a magnificent win for New Zealand in Marseille. Australia got their dazzle back and Namibia got their tickets to New Zealand in 2011.

Tonga kept Portugal from scoring in the second half and won 24-19 at Estadio Universitario in Lisboa on Saturday, the Pacific Islanders' first win on their tour.

Tonga of the South Pacific play Portugal of the North Atlantic for the first time ever at Estadio Universitario in Lisbon on Saturday

For the first time ever Canada and Russia will meet in a rugby Test when the two sides play at Swangard Stadium, Burnaby in British Columbia on Saturday.

The Flying Fijians fly to Bucharest to play Romania on Saturday, hoping no doubt for a better result than the first two on their tour.

At the at Hein Geigob Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday Namibia play Tunisia in the second leg of the Africa Cup Final which has serious implications. The winner will go directly to New Zealand in 2011 for the final round of the World Cup.

TUT will have a new look in 2010 - just in time for the third edition of the Varsity Cup tournament.

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has expressed "satisfaction" after his meeting in Dublin on Wednesday with the International Rugby Board's Manager of Referees, Paddy O'Brien.

The British Columbia Bears beat Russia 38-16 British Columbia vs Russia at Bear Mountain Stadium, Langford, British Columbia, on Wednesday, not a great start for the Russians on their first-ever trip to Canada.

Before the November Tests started the top refereeing people gathered in London and had a lot to say about the scrums. After the first full week of November, there was much miserable controversy about scrums after New Zealand suffered in Milan. That produced greater refereeing awareness in the second week.

There was a lot of upset after the Italians shattered the All Black scrum in Milan and public suggestions from on high that the referee had got it wrong and needed to go on a scrumming course.

There were six matches this weekend with a surprising result in Edinburgh which was determined by the last kick of the match. The other results were pretty well expected on a weekend of difficult weather in Europe.

After losing to Canada in Dijon on Wednesday, France turned it about and beat Canada 22-0 in Stade de France on Saturday in a curtainraiser to the Test between France and Samoa. It was the first women's international ever at Stade de France.

The Argentina Jaguars beat Portugal 24-13 in Lisbon on Saturday.

International Rugby Board Referee Manager Paddy O'Brien has issued an apology to Stuart Dickinson and the Australian Rugby Union for public comments he made regarding Dickinson?s officiating of the Italy vs New Zealand match on 14 November.

The Test window in the north closes this weekend but before it does there are some exciting matches in prospect.

Japan won the second Test against Canada 27-6 (four tries to nil) in Tokyo on Saturday, a harder match than the first Saturday and demanding a great defensive effort of the Japanese.

rugby365.com columnist Jon Harris takes a closer look at the John Smit conundrum - prop or hooker. He believes Peter de Villiers will have to admit he was wrong.

The USA Eagles duly won the second leg of their Americas Rugby World Cup Qualifier, beating Uruguay 27-6 (four tries to none) at Broward County Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida on Saturday, thereby booking a direct passage to New Zealand.

Some big results, including the surprise at Murrayfield, the World Cup qualifier in Florida and the surprise in the second match at Twickenham.

Worcester Warriors and Bath played the a dull 12-all draw in their Guinness Premiership encounter at Sixways on Friday.

Italy A beat the much weakened Georgia team 8-7 at Stadio Bruseschi in Palmanova, near Udine, on Friday night.

Scotland A scored five tries to one in beating Tonga 38-7 at Netherdale in Galashiels on Friday night.

Gloucester moved up three places, to seventh, in the Guinness Premiership standings with a hard-earned 12-9 win over Leicester Tigers at Kingsholm on Friday.

Gareth Lloyd-Jones, a member of the Western Province Referees' Society, is taking legal action against SA Referees after his omission from South Africa's Provincial Panel of referees which was recently announced.

Georgia, fresh from their triumph over the Argentina Jaguars, now take on Italy A on Friday night at Palmanova in northeastern Italy.

This is a crunch match. The winner of this World Cup Qualifier will go to the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. The loser goes into repechage.

The International Rugby Board's refereeing boss, New Zealander Paddy O'Brien, has come under fire for his extraordinary attack on Australian referee Stuart Dickinson - a move which is now viewed with suspicion Down Under.

Namibian World Cup star and Blue Bulls flank Jacques Burger will join English Premiership club Saracens in December, saying he does so while he is in the "prime" of his career. Jan de Koning spoke exclusively to Burger. All your PREMIERSHIP and SA news here

The Saracens and the Springboks met at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday, a match the Saracens won 24-23. We give some statistics. If some of the Sarries' names look Saracens it is because 10 of their players were Saracens.

Canada beat France 14-5 in Dijon on Wednesday, a great win for the Canadians who had not beaten France for 11 years and France were placed third at the 2006 Women's Rugby World Cup when they beat Canada.

The USA's Chris Henshall has had his first IRB appointment to a Test match - Canada v Russia on November 28. This is the first official IRB Test appointment directly from the IRB for a USA Rugby Referee in four years.

Wolves against Jaguars in Lisbon - that is Saturday's match when Portugal play the Argentina Jaguars.

Tonga, who lost 48-19 to Ireland A at Ravenhill last Friday, this week play Scotland A at Netherdale in Galashiels on the Scottish Borders.

Recently the International Rugby Board ran a course at Lensbury in London for top referees and referee managers from top countries. They resolved to get scrumming right.

It's another top heavy weekend with most of the gripping action at internationa level. It's time for the north but lots of southern referees have flown aboiut to do the matches.

South Afriucan referees made known today its panels of referees for 2010 following its recent meetings in Johannesburg. Jonathan Kaplan remains the top-ranked referee in South Africa.

There were six matches this weekend from the intensity in Toulouse to the thrilling finish in Dublin. We give the statistics of the matches. One stat that is sad is what happened to the scrumming in Milan.

This was a really Testing weekend as Northern Hemisphere countries had lots of hectic action, two World Cup qualifiers were played and a special celebratory match in Brussels. The weekend started with a match of great intensity in Toulouse and ended with a thrilling finish in Dublin.

Japan beat Canada 46-8 in Sendai on Saturday, the first of the Tests in the two-Test series and Japan's biggest win over Canada ever in over 70 years of matches between the two countries.

The USA won the first leg of their qualifier with Uruguay when they beat their hosts 27-22 in Montevideo and this take a five-point lead into the second leg in Florida next week.

Namibia beat Tunisia 18-13 in Tunis on Saturday in the first leg of the Africa Cup Final which rewards the winner with a ticket to the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

On Friday three A teams were in action and all three won - Ireland A, Italy A and Georgia A. These three victories indicate the widening gulf there is between haves and havenots in rugby.

Georgia beat the Argentina Jaguars 24-22 in the rain at the National Stadium in Tblissi on Saturday afternoon, in many ways a surprise result as the Jaguars had been having a powerful season.

Canada play Japan in Sendai on Sunday, the 20th meeting between the two countries.

Not long ago Italy would be playing Romania but such is the change in Italy's rugby fortunes that now it is the A team which ill play Romania on Friday evening.

On Saturday Georgia celebrates its Golden Jubilee 50 years since the foundation of the Rugby Union. As part of that celebration the Lelos of Georgia will play the Jaguars of Argentina.

Two USA referees have been appointed to Test matches in November, a man and a woman.

On Wednesday the Namibian rugby team left the lovely beach town of Carcavelos between Lisbon and Cascais and headed for Tunis for what they hope will be a short stop on their journey to New Zealand, for it is there that they will play the first leg of the World Cup qualifier to decide who goes - themselves or their Tunisian opponents.

Following the IRB's meeting of top referees and referees' managers at Lensbury in London this week, the IRB has issued a statement on policing illegal tackles and managing scrums.

SA Sevens coach Paul Treu has boosted his playing resources by naming two more Varsity Cup players in a 26-man Sevens training squad.

The concept of employing eight-man benches in the 2010 Varsity Cup was officially ratified at an Extraordinary General Council Meeting of Saru on Monday.

1995 World Cup-winning Springbok skipper Francois Pienaar has stepped down from his role as Varsity Cup Chairman and he will be replaced by Stellenbosch's Jurie Roux.

The USA Eagles face the Teros of Uruguay in the first leg of their World Cup qualifier at Estadio Charrua in Montevideo on Saturday.

Canterbury yet won the Air New Zealand Cup Final. Wellington lost yet again. We give some statistics from the Final played in Christchurch.

At one stage in the appointment of referees in South Africa's, appointing unattached referees was seen as a virtue. That has changed a bit this year.

Francis Palmade, the famous French referee from Limoges, on Tuesday during the High Performance Referees Conference at Lensbury received the IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service 2009. He is the ninth recipient of the award. All nine have been Test referees who stayed involved in refereeing.

After their 12-9 victory over Portugal in Lisbon on Saturday Namibia will face Tunisia with greater confidence next Saturday.

Australia beat England at Twickenham and New Zealand beat Wales in Cardiff. We give some statistics from the matches.

Japan play Canada in the first of two Tests at Yurtec Stadium, Sendai on Sunday. The coaches, both All Blacks, Kieran Crowley of Canada and John Kirwan of New Zealand, have announced their squads for the two encounters, the second of which will be on 21 November at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.

Bodo Sieber tracked down two times Varsity Cup skipper JJ Gagiano to talk rugby in Rome, America and, of course, the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

Wow! This is a huge Test weekend for teams and their players and also for the referees as many are involved all over the globe.

The Varsity Cup will lend itself to experimentation once more, with eight players set to feature on the bench in the 2009 tournament in a bid to combat uncontested scrums.

Three Southern Hemisphere countries one in the north but South Africa, the Cocks of the South, were not one of them. In what was surely the worst Springbok performance of all times, they lost to a patchwork, pick-up club side.

Leicester Tigers with a pick-up side in the wake of many absent for higher duty and injury and even a borrowing from second-division neighbours won a famous victory over a South Africa XV at Welford Road, winning 22-17. We give some statistics in this match.

Namibia have named their starting team to play Portugal in a friendly in Lisbon on Saturday, and coach John Williams has named a new captain.

Robbie Fleck believes Juan de Jongh's elevation to the Bok squad is yet another feather in the cap of the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

Three Varsity Cup players and back-to-back champs, the Maties, walked off with some coveted gongs at the annual Western Province Rugby Awards held in Cape Town on Tuesday evening.

Vinny Munro of Canterbury will referee the Air New Zealand Cup Final between Canterbury and Wellington in Christchurch.

Namibia have chosen their team which will take them to Portugal and then, vitally, to Tunis.

Portugal play three matches this month - against Namibia, Argentina Jaguars and Tonga. Coach Tomaz Morais has chosen his squad.

FNB Shimlas flyhalf Lionel Cronje was on Monday evening named as South Africa's Under-20 Player of the Year.

Touring from South to North starts this month with a relatively gentle introduction in England, with referees darting all over the world. The big matches are at Millennium Stadium and Twickenham with Craig Joubert and Bryce Lawrence to referee them.

Maties centre Juan de Jongh is set to become the first Varsity Cup player turned Springbok when he takes to the field for South Africa against Leicester Tigers on Friday evening.

Reflecting on Peter de Villiers? South African squad for the upcoming end-of-year tour, rugby365 takes a look at some of the players who could possibly have felt a little bit unlucky not to hear their names read out on Saturday night.

The All Blacks whitewashed the Wallabies in Tokyo before just under 45 000 spectators, making it 4-0 in this year's Bledisloe Cup, and the Blue Bulls won the Currie Cup at a packed Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

What a great match before a packed Loftus Versfeld! It was full of life and adventure as the home side took a 24-0 lead and then the Free State founght back to 30-24 before losing 36-24. We give some statistics of the match.

Jonathan Kaplan will referee his fifth Currie Cup Final in Pretoria on Saturday, one of 23 referees to referee a Final since the first Final in 1939.

Italy beat Georgia 16-3 in Coimbra on Saturday to win the European Under-19 Championship.

UCT prop Dylan Rogers has been offered a contract by Currie Cup Premier Division outfit, Griquas, ahead of the 2010 Vodacom Cup season.

The Glasgow Warriors will field the same starting XV that defeated Connacht last weekend for their Magners League match against a makeshift Ospreys outfit at the Liberty Stadium on Friday.

Injury has forced Matt Goddard, international referee, to retire from refereeing before his time. He is only 34 years of age.

The new Lansdowne Road, renamed the Aviva Stadium, will host its first on August 7 next year, with a historical exhibition encounter between a combined Leinster/Ulster team and a Munster/Connacht XV.

The Scarlets welcome back Wales international Morgan Stoddart on the wing after a seven-month absence for the match against Connacht on Friday.

South African referees Mark Lawrence and Craig Joubert, two of the top men in the world, left Johannesburg on Monday on a refereeing Odyssey that will take them to three continents in three weeks.

October is already ending and All Saints are upon us with a new series of tough challenges for referees in the month of All Souls. October ends with two huger matches for South African referees - the Bledisloe Cup match in Tokyo and the Currie Cup Final in Pretoria. Loftus Versfeld will be the place to be on Saturday - three Finals, one the greatest of them all.

For the first time since the International Rugby Board world rankings began, the top 20 teams in the world will all be playing matches during the November Test window.

In New Zealand Southland have nicked the Ranfurly Shield and semifinalists are decided in the Air New Zealand Cup and Finalists in the Heartland Championship. In South Africa the grim promotion-relegation matches are producing high scores.

It's not a big matter in the context of the match but one which the commentators on the match between Sale Sharks and Cardiff Blues made a meal of.

The Jaque Fourie arbitration saga appears to have reached some sort of conclusion. But is it really the end of the problems for the Golden Lions? rugby365 editor Jan de Koning looked at structures and recruiting policies of the unions around the country and found that very few are truly professional.

The Under-19 European Championship kicks off in Coimbra, Portugal, this weekend. There are eight countries taking part.

Vishuis, the newly-crowned 2009 Shimlas (or Kovsies) Steinhoff Koshuis champions, took on a Steinhoff Barbarians team in a friendly clash this past week.

After all the excitement in Europe, the Americas and South Africa, things are relatively quiet this weekend though in New Zealand the climax is drawing nearer with the last round of Round Robin and semifinals in the Heartland. In South Africa the grim process of promotion-relegation starts.

The semifinals of the Currie Cup were played on Saturday. In both the away teams won, in both the margin was two points, in both the winning score was a kick and in both that score was in the last two minutes. Lots of drama and here are some cold statistics to bring the excitement down.

Despite a valiant comeback at the hands of United States captain Kevin Swiryn, the American Select XV side lost, 24-27, in the final moments as the Ontario Blues scored a match-winning penalty kick to clinch the bronze medal in the inaugural Americas Rugby Championship on Saturday.

Steve Walsh was honoured at the New South Wales Rugby Awards at the Citigate Central Sydney when he received the Dick Byres Medal as Referee of the Year.

Two hectic rounds in Europe, winners in the Americas Rugby Cup, and several decisive matches in South Africa, including deciding who would play in the Currie Cup Final.

Maties centre Paul Bosch will be looking to add a Currie Cup winners' medal to his Varsity Cup medal when he lines up at inside centre for Western Province in their Currie Cup semifinal clash against the Blue Bulls.

Two members of the Maties' 2008 Varsity Cup-winning squad, Juan de Jongh and Joe Pietersen, have been nominated for prestigious awards at the SA Rugby Player of the Year Banquet which will take place at Vodaworld, Midrand, on Monday, November 2.

In a Heineken Cup match at the weekend, between Leinster and London Irish there was an interesting decision at the dead-ball line, which is worth talking about. and while we are doing it we may as well mention a few other happenings.

rugby365 columnist Jon Harris takes a trip down memory lane, to when north-south derbies, Western Province versus the Blue Bulls, were as big - if not bigger - than Test matches. He says those days are back!

It happens every week that players are offside at kicks, and still they look bemused. One of those offsides cost the team the match. We look at two sorts of offside at kicks - and how you come onside.

Marius Joubert and Mark Lawrence do the big matches this week - the semifinals in the Currie Cup with Jonathan Kaplan waiting in the wings to do the Currie Cup Final, always such a great occasion.

Jonathan Kaplan, the world's most capped Test referee, has been appointed to referee the 2009 Currie Cup Final. Marius Jonker and Mark Lawrence have been appointed to the Currie Cup seminal and Craig Joubert the First Division Final - all four amongst the very top referees in the world.

The United States Select XV had a tough day at the snow-covered Infinity Park, at Glendale, Colorado, on Saturday, falling 10-57 to the Argentina Jaguars in the Americas Championship semifinals.

The two big European competitions - the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup - kicked off with surprises. In the Currie Cup the nature of the semifinals was determined in the lest minute of the last match. In the Americas Rugby Cup, the Jaguars of Argentina will play the Bears of British Colombia in the Final.

Paul Keeler, head coach of the United States Select XV that will take on Argentina Jaguars in the Americas Rugby Championship (ARC) semifinals on Saturday, said he was looking for a 'strong effort' from his charges.

Brive, the Top 14 French club, have had their ground suspended for one match but the suspension has been suspended for three years.

The Americas Rugby Cup reaches its semifinals this weekend.

After the final whistle in a match between Coventry and Moseley on 2 October at Coventry's ground, Butts Park Arena, a spectator tried to assault the referee in the tunnel.

FNB Maties coach Chean Roux believes Varsity Cup-winning loose forward Wesley Wilkins has the potential to play Super 14 rugby.

United States Rugby officially announced that their World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay will be played at Broward County Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida, on November 21.

Would a 'Best of' Varsity Cup XV have fared any worse than Boland or the Leopards in the 2009 Currie Cup?

The incident occurred in an Under-21 match at Newlands on Saturday. It is a delight to discuss it as it is rare and yet excellently handled by the match officials.

South Africa's Currie Cup is getting desperate while Ireland's AIB League gets going.

Europe's two competitions start this weekend - the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup and in South Africa it is the last round of the Currie Cup before the semifinals with five teams competing for four places and the top spot witch which a home Final goes.

Wesley Wilkins, the Maties' Varsity Cup-winning captain, has been drafted onto the Griquas replacements bench for this weekend's Currie Cup clash against the Blue Bulls.

A hat-trick of tries from Fijian flank Akapusi Qera helped Gloucester end their Heineken Cup campaign on a high in Wales - recording a 32-23 victory over the Dragons in their Pool Two clash on Sunday afternoon.

Centre Jamie Roberts scored two of the Cardiff Blues' seven tries on Sunday afternoon as they recorded an impressive 45-20 victory over Harlequins, booking themselves a place in the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Sale Sharks threatened to ruin the party for Toulouse but in the end, thanks to a 19-13 win away from home at Edgeley Park, the French giants secured themselves a home Heineken Cup quarterfinal draw.

They were made to work for it but eventually, with a strong second half performance, Biarritz stormed to a 41-20 win over Glasgow in their Heineken Cup, Pool Two, clash on Sunday - securing themselves a home quarterfinal spot.

A red card for Bath lock Danny Grewcock cost the English side dearly on Saturday night - with Steve Meehan's men struggling to stay with Ulster in their Heineken Cup encounter at the Recreation Ground, going down 28-10 in the end.

An unbelievably dramatic finish to Saturday's Round Six, Pool Six, clash between Leinster and London Irish saw the two teams draw, 11-all, and the Exiles knocked out of the 2009/10 Heineken Cup.

Edinburgh ended off their 2009/10 Heineken Cup campaign with a hard-fought 9-7 victory over Stade Francais at Murrayfield on Saturday afternoon.

Munster have qualified as top seeds for the 2009/10 Heineken Cup quarter-finals and will face Northampton Saints in a rematch of Round 6 battle

A simply brilliant Heineken Cup Pool Six match at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday afternoon saw the Ospreys record a dramatic 17-12 win over Leicester and secure themselves a spot in the quarterfinals of the European competition.

Clermont secured their spot at the top of Pool Three with a bonus point win over Viadana in Italy on Saturday afternoon, running in eight tries to record a 59-20 victory.

The Scarlets got the job done in Brive on Saturday night, recording a tight 20-17 victory over the Top 14 team in their Round Six, Pool Six, Heineken Cup clash.

Bath have named a strong lineup for Saturday's Heineken Cup Cup clash with Ulster - reaffirming their determination not to finish their European campaign without a win.

Two of the most exciting wings in England return to action for London Irish just in time for their must-win Heineken Cup, Pool Six clash with Leinster at Twickenham.

James Hook has a chance to stake a claim for a starting spot in Warren Gatland?s Six Nations side after being named at inside center for the Ospreys in their must win encounter with Leicester at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.

Clermont head to Italy needing, expecting and determined to get a five point haul against Viadana.

Perpignan have named a far more first-choice looking side for this weekend 'revenge-seeking' Heineken Cup clash with Treviso at the Stade Aime Giral.

Recalled French star Mathieu Bastareaud has been named on the benchs for Stade Francais big Heineken Cup clash with Edinburgh this Saturday.

British and Irish Lions duo Stephen Jones and Matthew Rees return to the Scarlets squad this weekend, as the region faces Brive this Saturday in the final round of its pool six games in the Heineken Cup.

'We're ready' - that's the mantra coming out of Northampton this week as they prepare to take on Munster in a must win Heineken Cup clash at Thomond Park on Friday night.

Leinster and Ireland star Brian O'Driscoll scored a try in the last minutes of the match to help the Irish Province earn a bonus-point from their 27-10 Heineken Cup victory over Brive on Saturday night.

Toulouse secured their qualification for the quarterfinals of the Heineken Cup this season with an impressive, bonus-point, 33-21 victory over Harlequins in France on Sunday evening.

A stunning second half display from the Northampton Saints saw them score four-tries and hammer an understrength Perpignan 34-0 at Franklin's Gardens to keep their Heineken Cup hopes very much alive.

Two tries each from flank Rob McCusker and centre Jonathan Davies helped the Scarlets to derail London Irish's Heineken Cup plans and record a 31-22 victory at the Parc y Scarlets on Sunday afternoon.

Bryan Redpath's Gloucester brought Biarritz's unbeaten Heineken Cup run to a crashing end on Saturday with the Cherry and Whites recording an impressive 23-8 win over the Pool Two high-flyers.

Star flyhalf Brock James scored 17 points for Clermont Auvergne on Saturday evening as they recorded a hard-fought, but impressive, 27-7 victory over the Ospreys in their crucial Heineken Cup, Pool Three, clash.

The Cardiff Blues produced a strong display on Saturday afternoon to record a good 36-19 win over the Sale Sharks in their Heineken Cup encounter at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Munster were full of running on Saturday night, outclassing Treviso 44-7 in their Heineken Cup Pool One clash in Italy and, as a result, have kept themselves in pole position for a spot in the Heineken Cup quarterfinals.

Leicester kept their hopes of a quarterfinal spot alive on Saturday with a comprehensive 47-8 win over Viadana at Welford Road.

Two tries from right wing Julien Arias helped Stade Francais to record a vital 15-13 victory over Bath in Paris on Saturday afternoon in their Heineken Cup Pool Four clash.

Shane Horgan will become the first Leinster player to reach the 75 Heineken Cup appearance landmark and the wing is named in a back-line which features six Ireland internationals for the visit of the French side.

Stade Francais have named Scotland fullback Hugo Southwell at scrumhalf, alongside flyhalf Ignacio Mieres, for this weekend's Heineken Cup clash with Bath in Paris.

Cardiff Blues take on Sale Sharks in the Heineken Cup with both teams needing a win to have a chance of progressing to the quarter-final stages.

Ospreys Head Coach Sean Holley knows very well how stiff a test a trip to Clermont is, labeling his sides opponents this weekend as 'one of the leading sides in Europe.'

Sam Vesty makes his first starting appearance of the season for Leicester Tigers in Saturday's Heineken Cup tie against Viadana at Welford Road.

Head Coach Bryan Redpath makes four changes to his Gloucester Rugby starting line up as his side return to Heineken Cup action with Biarritz the visitors to Kingsholm on Saturday.

England have announced their revised Under-20 Elite Player Squad for this season's major tournaments.

Bouncing back from their recent double defeat to Glasgow Warriors, two-try Edinburgh got the better of Cardiff Blues by 21-12 at Murrayfield on Saturday - in the only Magners League match to survive the severe cold snap this weekend.

Leinster and Glasgow have been given the all-clear for this weekend's clash in Dublin - a huge top-of-the-table Magners League fixture set to take place at the RDS.

The Cardiff Blues travel to Scotland on Saturday to take on Edinburgh in the Magners League knowing that they must get some points if they are to have a chance of finishing in a play-off spot this season.

London Irish head coach Toby Booth has made six changes - one of which is positional - to his side's starting line-up for Saturday's Guinness Premiership clash against the Worcester Warriors at Sixways (kick-off 2pm).

Munster head coach Tony McGahan has named a powerful starting line-up for Sunday evening's Magners League clash against the Llanelli Scarlets, with B&I Lions prop John Hayes the only regular missing from the Irish team's matchday squad.

The torrid weather in the United Kingdom has wreaked havoc with this weekend's Guinness Premiership fixture list with four of the six scheduled matches having been cancelled because of safety concerns.

With unsafe stadium conditions forcing all of Friday night's matches to be cancelled, we had just two Magners League encounters remaining on the schedule for us to look forward to this coming weekend - one on Saturday and one on Sunday. One of those matches, however, was also called off at the 11th hour.

Newcastle claimed their first ever win at Adams Park and got 2010 off to the best possible start with a scrappy, but well-earned, 12-6 win over London Wasps in their Guinness Premiership clash on Sunday evening.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Rugby Football Union voiced their great disappointment at the post-match comments made by Saracens head coach Brendan Venter about the referee in his sides Premiership defeat to Leicester.

Enjoying their first win on Edinburgh soil since 2000, 22-15, Glasgow Warriors scored the only two tries in Saturday's 1872 Cup decider as they maintained their grip on the Magners League's top spot.

A late try from English second row David Attwood helped Gloucester to salvage a 13-all draw from their Guinness Premiership clash with the Worcester Warriors at Kingsholm on Saturday afternoon.

Northampton left it late but, as the final whistle sounded, the Saints were on the right side of the scoreline - edging out Premiership rivals 24-22 at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday thanks to a last minute try from Chris Ashton.

Leicester handed Saracens their second defeat of the current Guinness Premiership season, and in as many weeks, with a hard fought 22-15 victory at Vicarage Road on Saturday afternoon.

Two first-half tries from Simon Danielli helped Ulster to record a much needed 15-10 win over Munster in their all-Irish clash at Ravenhill on Saturday evening.

Five penalties from flyhalf Nicky Little helped Bath edge out Leeds 20-15 in the Premiership?s basement-battle on Saturday afternoon at Headingley.

Gloucester Rugby Head Coach Bryan Redpath has responded to last Sunday's Guinness Premiership defeat at local rivals Bath Rugby by making five changes to his starting line up for the visit of the Worcester Warriors to Kingsholm on Saturday.

Soane Tonga'uiha will become the latest Saints centurion when he runs out with his Northampton teammates on Saturday afternoon for their very important Round 12 game against London Irish.

The Ospreys, temporarily at least, moved to the top of the Magners League table on Friday night thanks to an impressive 26-0 derby victory over the Cardiff Blues at the Liberty Stadium.

Leeds Carnegie have made two changes to the side that beat Newcastle Falcons for this Saturday's big Guinness Premiership clash with Bath at Headingley Carnegie.

After the glitz, glamour, record crowd and disappointment at the narrow defeat to Wasps at Twickenham last weekend, Quins head back up the M6 to face Sale for the third time in four weeks.

Louis Deacon returns to captain Leicester Tigers for the trip to face Guinness Premiership leaders Saracens at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

Munster coach Tony Mcgahan has made six changes, two of those positional, for the trip to Belfast on Saturday as the defending Magners League champions clash with Ulster at Ravenhill.

Ospreys boss Scott Johnson says his team is focused on moving 'up to the next level' this weekend when they face Cardiff at the Liberty Stadium.

Scotland flyhalf Dan Parks - who has been in the news this week, with talk of a possible transfer to Cardiff - kicked Glasgow to a 25-12 Magners League win over Edinburgh at the Firhill Arena on Sunday. Munster power ahead | Leinster edge Ulster | More ML!

Leeds Carnegie claimed a valuable 16-15 Guinness Premiership away win over Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park on Sunday - a victory that could, well, save their bacon come the end of the season.

There's been more than enough on-and-off the field issues that kept the rugby world buzzing and we took a closer look at some of these issues and what we'd like to see in 2010. Other features: rugby365s Annual Awards and Matches of the Year...

London Irish fought back from 10-16 down at half-time to became the first Guinness Premiership side to beat Saracens this season - winning 23-19 at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday. Bath win at last! | Four-try Leicester triumph | Mallinder praises forwards

Two-times European champions, Munster, smashed Connacht 35-3 in their all-Ireland Magners League clash at Thomond Park on Boxing Day.

We look back at some of the finest tries this past rugby year...

Veteran Ireland and B&I Lions flyhalf Ronan O'Gara will captain Munster in Saturday night's crucial Magners League match-up with fellow Irish team, Connacht, at Thomond Park.

Enigmatic London Wasps and England flyhalf Danny Cipriani has been handed the ideal Christmas present - he will start in the No.10 shirt for Wasps in their Guinness Premiership clash against Harlequins on Sunday.

Professional sport is often full of scandals and drama and, in 2009, rugby was certainly no exception. The rugby365 team was there covering them all and now picks out the five biggest scandals of the past 12 months. Rugby world accept 'Alfie's' story

There were, of course, great matches this year. If the side you were ardent about won, the match was all the greater.

The exhibition match at Twickenham a few weeks ago brought the curtain down on another blockbuster international season. Looking back on the year, rugby365 brings you a collection of some of the biggest winners and losers!

In rugby - as with all team sports - the nicknames come from teammates and the fans. rugby365 columnist Keith Moore takes a look at some peculiar nicknames in the game.

It has been a long season for the players in 2009 but there have been some pretty incredible moments in the Six Nations, the Lions series, the Tri-Nations and numerous domestic tournaments to keep us interested!

rugby365 has worked hard in 2009 to bring their readers the best in news, reports and interviews - looking back now at the year, we select seven of our favourite exclusive interviews which we feel really stood out.

Six Nations Grand Slam winners Ireland and Tri-Nations champions South Africa headline the prestigious rugby365.com Team of the Year selections.

SARU has confirmed that teams representing Argentina and Namibia will compete in the 2010 Vodacom Cup competition. while there's talks around the possibility of the Southern Kings appearing in the Celtic League. Mallett: 'Why South still rules the roost'

With the Invictus premier now just a couple of days away now, rugby365.com spoke to former Springbok captain and World Cup winner Francois Pienaar about the Clint Eastwood-directed Hollywood blockbuster.

The Newport-Gwent Dragons scored a comprehensive four-try 30-9 victory over in-form Irish Province Leinster at Rodney Parade on Sunday evening.

A first half brace from Welsh wing Tom James set up the Cardiff Blues to secure their 'must-win' victory over Magners League strugglers Connacht at the Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Tries from Paul Sackey and Steve Kefu, along with 14 points from the boot of flyhalf Dave Walder, helped London Wasps to an important 24-22 victory over the Leicester Tigers in their Guinness Premiership clash on Sunday afternoon.

Harlequins survived a brave second half fightback from bottom of the log Leeds Carnegie on Friday night - holding on to record a narrow 30-27 victory over Neil Back's determined outfit at Headingley.

Rob Moffat?s Edinburgh Gunners side scored two second half tries to edge themselves to a 17-16 victory over the Scarlets in their Friday night Magners League clash at the Parc y Scarlets.

Six penalties from flyhalf Dan Parks and a late Thom Evans try was enough to help potential title-challengers Glasgow Warriors to a 25-13 win over Ulster at Ravenhill on Friday night.

England star Mark Cueto has failed a late fitness test and will miss this weekend's big Guinness Premiership clash with Saracens at Vicarage Road.

Northampton's Director of Rugby, Jim Mallinder, has paid tribute to Jon Clarke, who, when he runs out with the Saints on Saturday tomorrow's Guinness Premiership Round 10 match against Bath, will reach one hundred appearances for the Northampton Saints first team.

Inspirational centre Seilala Mapusua returns from international duty to start for London Irish in their Guinness Premiership home match with Worcester Warriors at Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

Munster's James Coughlan who captained the side in their two British & Irish Cup victories will anchor the Munster pack in the Magners League game against Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.

Ulster Rugby Head Coach Brian McLaughlin has named Tom Court, Timoci Nagusa and Simon Danielli, who replaces Andrew Trimble on the wing, all in his starting XV for this weekend's clash with the Warriors.

Argentinean prop Juan Gomez is the only change to the Leeds Carnegie side for this Friday's clash with Harlequins at Headingley Carnegie.

The entertainment and rugby worlds are united this week - waiting with baited breathe to see exactly what Clint Eastwood, Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman have install for us with their new movie, Invictus.

The Magners League is back in full swing this weekend with an exciting round of fixtures snuck in before a couple week's of European action. rugby365 previews all the action from the Celtic competition...

With two European weekend's just ahead all the Guinness Premiership teams will be hoping to start building some good festive-time momentum with a win this weekend. rugby365 previews all the action...

Harlequins star Nick Evans scored 20 points as John Kingston's men recorded a 35-29 victory over Gloucester at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday.

London Irish recorded a fairly comfortable 16-0 over Bath at the Recreation Ground on Saturday with flyhalf Ryan Lamb scoring all of his sides points.

Potential England wing Chris Ashton scored three tries for Northampton on Friday night as they cruised to an impressive 28-8 victory over Newcastle at Kingston Park.

Saracens remained undefeated, but were held to a stalemate on Friday night at the Sixways Stadium - drawing 12-all with Worcester with both sides landing four penalties.

Neil Back has named his squad, including 19-year-old flyhalf Joe Ford, for his big return to Welford Road this weekend as his troops tackle the Tigers.

Danny Care and Ugo Monye have both return to the Harlequins lineup for this weekend's big clash with Gloucester at the Twickenham Stoop.

Veteran playmaker Mike Catt will make his first start of the new season this weekend as London Irish travel to the Rec to face Bath in the Guinness Premiership.

London Wasps have come under heavy criticism after opting out of Friday night's Guinness Premiership match with Sale just minutes before it was due to kick-off.

Newcastle Falcons have made just one change to their side for Friday night's Guinness Premiership visit of Northampton Saints to Kingston Park.

England pair Simon Shaw and Tim Payne have returned to bolster London Wasps' pack as they head to Edgeley Park for their Friday Guinness Premiership clash with Sale Sharks.

Hooker Chris Fortey is set to join the exclusive '200 Club' in the Guinness Premiership when Worcester Warriors entertain table topping Saracens at Sixways Stadium on Friday evening.

The autumn international season has just one more round of fixtures to run and our attention is once again being quickly drawn to the Guinness Premiership with Round Nine's fixtures serving up a couple exciting battles.

Springbok flyhalf Derick Hougaard kicked 17 points for Saracens on Sunday as they recorded an invaluable 22-6 victory over rivals London Wasps at Vicarage Road and ensured they remained unbeaten in the league.

Carl Fearns touched down with six minutes remaining to complete a remarkable second-half fightback from Sale and deny bottom club Leeds a first-ever win over their northern foes.

London Irish slipped to their first Guinness Premiership defeat since the opening day of the season against battling Newcastle at a blustery Madejski Stadium on Sunday.

Northampton maintained their unbeaten home record with a 26-17 win over Harlequins in an enterprising game which saw the return of Tom Williams for the first time since his 'Bloodgate' ban.

Club captain Bob Casey returns to lead London Irish in Sunday's home Guinness Premiership match with Newcastle Falcons.

Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder says that Northampton Saints face a tricky game ion Saturday when they welcome Harlequins to Franklin's Gardens in Round 8 of the 2009/10 Guinness Premiership.

Wasps stalwart Mark Van Gisbergen will make his 200th appearance in black and gold this weekend as Wasps travel to Vicarage Road to take on the Springbok-conqueroring Saracens.

The U.S. Men?s National Rugby Team has named the exact same starting lineup for its second Rugby World Cup Qualifier match against Uruguay this Saturday as it did for its first meeting last weekend in Montevideo.

Sale Sharks' captain Dean Schofield will be making his 150th Premiership appearance when he leads his team out at Headingley on Sunday afternoon to face Leeds Carnegie.

South African No.8 Luke Watson will make his first start for both this weekend as they turn their attentions back to the Guinness Premiership and get ready to take on Worcester at Sixways.

Gloucester Rugby hooker Darren Dawiduik and Leicester Tigers wing Lote Tuqiri will both make their first Guinness Premiership starts this weekend as the two teams go head-to-head at at Kingsholm on Friday evening.

The Guinness Premiership returns to action this weekend and, while many will still be focused on the international scene, the domestic competitions has plenty to offer.

The International Rugby Board has confirmed that Russia will host the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy in 2010. The tournament, which is a key element of the IRB?s Age Grade strategy for Under 20 players, will take place in the capital Moscow from May 18 to 30.

The U.S. Men?s National Rugby team has named its starting lineup for its Rugby World Cup Qualifier match against Uruguay Teros in Montevideo on Saturday.

rugby365 columnist Jon Harris takes a closer look at the Springbok 'Dirt Trackers' and what they have to offer against Saracens next week.

Martin Johnson's England side has slipped down another spot, into 8th position, on the IRB World Rankings following Saturday's 18-9 defeat at the hands of Australia.

Fifteen points from the book of Leeds Carnegie flyhalf Ceiron Thomas was enough to help them record their first Guinness Premiership win of the new season - a 15-9 victory over Wasps on Sunday afternoon.

An early try from hooker Rob Vickers set up the Falcons 14-3 Guinness Premiership victory over the Worcester Warriors on Sunday afternoon at Kingston Park.

A late Andrew Turnbull try for Edinburgh set up a dramatic final 13 minutes but, in the end, the Dragons held on to record a hugely important 9-8 victory over the Gunners on Sunday evening.

Gloucester's woes continued on Friday night as England centre Mike Tindall picked up an injury, Charlie Sharples was dismissed, and the Cherry and Whites went down 28-23 to the Sharks at Kingston Park.

Two tries in each half helped Munster to record a hugely important all-Irish Magners League victory over Ulster at Thomond Park on Saturday evening.

Ultimately beating their opposition into submission, Leicester's pack of forwards layed the foundation for Saturday's important 29-15 Guinness Premiership victory at Welford Road over the Northampton Saints.

A last minute Rory Clegg penalty, his third of the afternoon, helped Harlequins secure a hard-fought 9-all draw with the high-flying London Irish side on Saturday at the Stoop.

Leading from start to finish, Leinster secured a good 23-6 victory over Cardiff at the RDS on Saturday night.

Magners League strugglers Connacht scored a crucial win on Friday night in Galway, edging out the Scarlets 16-10.

Saracens held on to their unbeaten domestic record this season by their skin of the teeth on Saturday thanks to a late missed conversion by Bath flyhalf Ryan Davis - meaning the score finished 12-11 in favour of the visitors.

The Glasgow Warriors and the Ospreys played out to a disappointing 9-all draw at the Liberty Stadium on Friday night with neither side showing anything particularly fantastic in the way of form.

Back row ace Jake Abbott and prop Callum Black are awarded their first Guinness Premiership starts of the season as Worcester Warriors travel to face Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park on Sunday.

England and Lions stars Joe Worsley and Simon Shaw have returned to bolster London Wasps lineup for this weekend's Guinness Premiership clash with Leeds Carnegie.

London Irish have made two changes to the starting XV that defeated current champions' Leicester Tigers last Saturday for this weekend's local derby with Harlequins in the Guinness Premiership.

Munster make two changes from the side that started against Edinburgh, for Saturday's big clash with Ulster at the Thomond Park Stadium.

The Cardiff Blues are without 10 first-choice this players this weekend as they head to Dublin to take on the Heineken Cup champions Leinster.

Northampton Saints Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder says that he is looking forward to the first East Midlands derby at the redeveloped Welford Road.

Despite a disappointing start to the season, Bath head coach, Steve Meehan, is determined to remain optimistic and is confident that his team can overcome Saracens this weekend at the Rec.

England international Mike Tindall makes a timely return for Gloucester Rugby as they prepare to travel north for Friday night's Guinness Premiership fixture at Sale Sharks.

Canadian head coach Kieran Crowley has announced his squad ahead of their November internationals against Japan and Russia this November.

Brendan Venter's Saracens have a chance to make it seven wins from seven this weekend while, at Welford Road, Leicester and Northampton are poised for an epic and hugely important encounter.

Threre is an exciting fixture list for the last round of Magners League action before a month's break with all ten teams hoping to finish this part of the season on a high and record moral boosting victories this weekend.

Brendan Venter's Saracens made it six wins from six Guinness Premiership matches so far this season with a hard-fought 21-15 win over bottom-of-the-log Leeds Carnegie at Vicarage Road on Sunday afternoon.

A late try helped Newcastle secure their first win of the Guinness Premiership season with a 27-16 victory at The Recreation Ground on Saturday afternoon.

Wasps fullback Mark Van Gisbergen scored two tries as Wasps cruised to a convincing 35-6 Guinness Premiership victory over Gloucester at Kingsholm.

Six Ryan Lamb penalties was enough for London Irish to record a hugely important 18-12 victory over Guinness Premiership rivals Leicester Tigers at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Harlequins made it two wins from two in the Guinness Premiership on Saturday afternoon as they recorded a 26-22 victory over the Warriors at the Sixways Stadium.

A late Charlie Hodgson penalty salvaged a losing bonus point for the Sale Sharks as they went down 21-16 to Northampton at Franklin's Gardens in the Guinness Premiership on Saturday afternoon.

Sale Sharks boss Kingsley Jones says he was hugely impressed with the Northampton Saints' performance against Munster in the Heineken Cup two weeks ago and it looking forward to taking them on come Saturday afternoon.

Two tries from Scottish wing Thom Evans, the second just four minutes from full time, helped the Warriors get back to winning ways on Friday night with a 34-20 win over Connacht in the Magners League.

Six penalties from stand-in flyhalf Rhys Priestland was enough to help an in-form Scarlets side secure an important 18-3 victory over the Gwent-Newport Dragons on Friday night in Wales.

Back row ace Netani Talei is set to make his 50th appearance for Worcester Warriors as boss Mike Ruddock recalls his senior stars for the Guinness Premiership clash with Harlequins at Sixways Stadium on Saturday.

Gloucester Rugby Head Coach Bryan Redpath makes just three changes to his starting line up to take on Wasps on Saturday evening while Tony Hanks has recalled Samoan star David Lemi.

Saracens return to Guinness Premiership action on Sunday when Leeds Carnegie visit Vicarage Road with the home side going into the game looking to make it six wins from six in the competition.

Edinburgh recorded a vital 12-7 victory over Munster at Murrayfield thanks to four Chris Paterson penalties on Friday evening in their Magners League clash.

Saturday's Magners League clash between the Cardiff Blues and the Ospreys looks set to be a fantastic event with ticket sales for the all-Welsh fixture already approaching record numbers.

Brian O'Driscoll will captain Leinster this weekend as they make the trip to Ravenhill to take on the high-flying Ulster in Saturday's Interprovincial clash.

Having completed his England EPS rest requirement Steffon Armitage returns to London Irish's 23-man squad for Saturday's eagerly anticipated clash between the Exiles and the Leicester Tigers at the Madejski Stadium.

With Joe Maddock missing the match against Newcastle Falcons this week having sustained an ankle injury against Stade Francais, 22-year-old Jack Cuthbert is set to start for Bath this weekend.

Log leaders Leinster face a tricky trip to Ravenhill on Saturday but before that, on Friday evening, Munster have a crack at the Gunners at Murrayfield. rugby365 previews all the Magners League action...

After suffering their first taste of defeat this season against Toulon Saracens will be looking for an easy win over Leeds in the Guinness Premiership this weekend - rugby365 previews all the action ahead in England's top flight.

Scarlets head coach Nigel Davies has kept faith with the matchday squad which has brought Heineken Cup success as they prepare to face the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Following its semifinal match against the Argentina Jaguars last weekend in Colorado, the USA Select XV side is looking to redeem itself against the Ontario Blues in the Americas Rugby Championship (ARC) bronze medal match on Saturday.

Three Romanian rugby players were hospitalized after a fight broke out between players in a Central and Eastern European Rugby Cup match, an official said Monday.

Danny Cipriani and Dave Walder combined well on Sunday evening to help Tony Hank's London Wasps edge out a determined Northampton Saints, 20-15, at Adams Park on Sunday afternoon.

Bryan Redpath's Gloucester did just enough on Sunday afternoon against Leeds Carnegie, struggling their way to a 26-10 win at Headingley in their Guinness Premiership encounter.

Ryan Jones and his Ospreys team answered a number of their critics on Sunday evening with a four-try, 31-10, thumping of the high-flying Edinburgh in their Magners League matchup at the Liberty Stadium.

The Australian Rugby Union said Sunday it will make a cash donation and launch a series of fund-raising initiatives to assist tsunami victims in Samoa and Tonga.

Saracens continued their flawless start to the new season with a hard-fought 22-15 win over the Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park in their Guinness Premiership clash on Sunday afternoon.

Glasgow bounced back to winning ways on Saturday night with an impressive 21-5 victory over the Blues in their Magners League matchup at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Harlequins secured their first win of the new Guinness Premiership season in dramatic fashion on Saturday night - scoring with the last movement of the match to edge out Bath 13-11 at the Stoop.

Sailosi Tagicakibau claimed his sixth try of the season to help London Irish move to the top of the Guinness Premiership standings with a hard-fought 11-8 victory against Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park in Stockport on Friday.

Leinster produced a fantastic performance on Saturday night, crushing a 14-man Munster 30-0 in their Magners League matchup at the RDS Stadium and, in the process, moving themselves to the top of the competition standings.

A late try from Dragons No.8 Joe Bearman denied Connacht a bonus point from their Magners League clash on Saturday night - a match ultimately won 23-10 by the home side.

Flyhalf Jeremy Staunton was once again the match winner for Leicester on Saturday, kicking 14 of his teams points in their hard-fought 19-14 victory over Worcester at Welford Road.

Welsh international lock Luke Charteris returns to captain the Dragons in their home match against Connacht on Saturday evening at Rodney Parade.

Munster's matchday squad has a familiar look to it this weekend with nineteen of those who played in th Heineken Cup semifinal defeat to Leinster last May named in their squad for Saturday's Magners League clash at the RDS.

Two weeks of European action lie just ahead but before that we have the chance to enjoy one more round of Premiership action. An intriguing fixture list, keep your eyes on the Wasps Saints clash at Adams Park. rugby365 previews all the action...