Bordeaux

Ian Madigan will leave Leinster next summer to join French Top 14 club Bordeaux Begles.

Ospreys' second-half comeback proved in vain but they still collected two losing bonus points in a 33-27 defeat at Bordeaux-Begles to keep their hopes of qualifying for the European Champions Cup quarter-finals alive.

Dan Biggar scored all 19 points to keep Ospreys joint top of Pool Two in the European Champions Cup, but it was an unconvincing performance from the hosts.

The latest whisperings, murmurs and rumours from the world of rugby union, picking up bits and bobs from the written press, online and social media.

London Welsh were soundly beaten by in-form French side Bordeaux-Begles in Thursday's European Challenge Cup encounter at the Kassam Stadium.

Edinburgh claimed an impressive 15-13 away win over Bordeaux-Begles and Newcastle Falcons beat Bucharest Wolves 43-19 in the evening's European Rugby Challenge Cup matches.

Edinburgh are preparing to make their debut in the European Rugby Challenge Cup with a clash against in-form French side Bordeaux-Begles at the Stade Andre-Moga.

With the cold snap across France waning, the 18th round of the Top 14 sees a full complement of fixtures as the battle for the play-offs and relegation heats up.

Toulouse, Clermont Auvergne and Toulon edged closer towards confirming their play-off status with victories as the 17th round of the Top 14 was affected by the cold snap that saw the France versus Ireland match postponed this weekend.

Clermont Auvergne kept up the pressure on leaders Toulouse as both sides secured away victories in the sixteenth round of the French Top 14.

With Phillipe Saint-André having announced his Six Nations squad on Thursday, the 30 men selected will be out to prove themselves worthy of making France's starting XV against Italy in one month's time.

The curtain fell on 2011 with Toulouse extending their lead at the top of the Top 14 table, after Clermont Auvergne were held up at Lyon. Elsewhere there were surprise victories for Bordeaux-Bègles and Biarritz.