Heineken Cup

Here it is again, an early Christmas present courtesy of Talking Rugby Union and Heineken - the second episode of the Heineken Rugby Show.

Nigel Davies admitted Gloucester's Heineken Cup quarter-final hopes had suffered "a huge setback" after Pool Four rivals Edinburgh stunned them 16-10 at wet and windy Kingsholm.

Conor O'Shea acclaimed Harlequins' team ethic after completing a Heineken Cup double over Racing Metro despite operating on a far smaller budget.

Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill thinks his side's late win over Montpellier could be a defining moment in their Heineken Cup campaign.

Leicester left it very late to beat Montpellier as they snatched a vital 15-14 Heineken Cup win at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir.

Gloucester's Heineken Cup quarter-final hopes were left hanging by a thread after underdogs Edinburgh stunned them at Kingsholm.

Harlequins continued to snap at the heels of Clermont Auvergne as they kept alive their hopes of reaching the Heineken Cup quarter-finals by grinding Racing Metro into submission.

Leinster surrendered their unbeaten record in this season's Heineken Cup as Northampton Saints won a low-scoring but absorbing contest at the Aviva Stadium.

Heineken Cup champions Toulon regained their place at the top of Pool Two as two tries from wing Dave Smith set them on their way to a bonus point win over Exeter Chiefs.

England fly-half Owen Farrell inspired Saracens to keep up the pressure at the top of Pool 3 in the Heineken Cup, inspiring his side to a 64-7 mauling of basement-boys Zebre.

Exeter travel to France and reigning Heineken Cup champions Toulon this Saturday, for a return fixture of last weekend’s game at Sandy Park, and head coach Rob Baxter has backed the talented winger Jack Nowell as the man to solve England’s Six Nations selection dilemma.

The Rugby Football Union believes the English game has yet to be affected by spot-fixing but is determined to remain vigilant to prevent it occurring. An RFU official attended a summit with ministers in Whitehall on Tuesday morning to discuss corruption, as one of five major sports represented at the meeting.

The Rugby Football Union is confident European competition can be salvaged for next season with chief executive Ian Ritchie warning the alternative would be vastly inferior.

Welsh and British Lions star centre Jamie Roberts, who is currently applying his trade in France, looks set to make his first appearance in over three months when Racing Metro play Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop on Sunday afternoon.

Munster took control of Pool 6 in the Heineken Cup on Sunday with a commanding 36-8 destruction of a disappointing Perpignan at Thomond Park.

Exeter youngsters Jack Nowell and Henry Slade, both with standout performances, could not help their side to victory against reigning Heineken Cup champions Toulon at Sandy Park on Saturday.

The second weekend in December saw a return to the Heineken Cup, now with the Autumn Internationals no more than a distant memory, Europe’s top domestic teams clashed in the competition’s third round of fixtures.

Here it is everyone, the third and final instalment of the first ever Heineken Rugby show.

Talking Rugby Union have been long-time supporters of Heineken rugby, having worked closely with the Heineken Kinsale Sevens tournament since 2011.

Northampton Saints cruised past the Ospreys on Sunday afternoon at Franklins Gardens, falling just short of a bonus point with a 27-16 victory.