European Challenge Cup

Cardiff Blues lock George Earle's appeal against an eight-week ban for an eye gouging incident has failed following an independent hearing.

Cardiff Blues lock George Earle has been handed an eight-week ban following his sent-off in the European Challenge Cup encounter against Bath Rugby at Recreation Ground last week.

Fly-half Joel Hodgson had a memorable outing scoring 21 points as Newcastle Falcons kept their hopes of making to the knock-out of the European Challenge Cup alive with a 48-29 victory over Lyon at Kingston Park on Sunday.

Three tries in each half allowed La Rochelle hand a heavy defeat of 42-13 to Gloucester Rugby in their European Challenge Cup tie at Stade Marcel Deflandre on Saturday.

Scott Baldwin, Dan Evans and Hanno Dirksen scored doubles while Dan Biggar contrbuted with 21 points as Ospreys trounced Grenoble by 71-3 in their European Challenge Cup game at Liberty Stadium on Saturday.

Benetton Treviso managed to overcome double yellow card scare in the second half to edge out Bayonne by 21-17 in the European Challenge Cup encounter at Stadio Comunale di Monigo on Saturday.

Tom Varndell scored hat-trick of tries as Bristol Rugby register their second win of the tournament, defeating Pau by 18-28 in the European Challenge Cup clash at Stade du Hameau on Friday.

Newport Gwent Dragons had to hold off a stiff fight from 14-men Worcester Warriors as they defeated them 22-7 to keep their chances alive in the European Rugby Challenge Cup at Rodney Parade on Friday.

Brive ran a six-try riot aided by sin-bins to three RC Enisei players as they won their European Rugby Challenge Cup encounter by 38-18 at Stade Amedee-Domenech on Friday.

Stade Francais survived a second half resurgence from Edinburgh as they secured a 26-20 victory in their European Rugby Challenge Cup encounter at Stade Jean Bouin on Thursday.

Ross Batty scored tries in each half as Bath Rugby ended Cardiff Blues' unbeaten streak in this season of European Rugby Challenge Cup with a 38-3 convincing victory at Recreation Ground on Thursday.

Edinburgh centre Phil Burleigh has been handed a one-week ban and will be missing his club's European Challenge Cup clash against Stade Francais at Stade Jean Bouin on Thursday.

Scarlets flanker James Davies has received a three-week suspension by a disciplinary panel after admitting foul language and making an obscene gesture in the 31-20 loss at Toulon.

Bristol Rugby thrashed Pau at the Ashton Gate Stadium on Sunday to secure 41-14 emphatic victory in Europe for the first time in almost eight years.

Edinburgh staged an incredible second-half comeback to recover 17 points first-half deficit despite getting reduced down to 14-men to upset Stade Francais 28-23 at Murrayfield Stadium on Saturday.

Worcester Warriors scored two tries and two penalty tries to bag 26 points in the second-half to overcome Dragons challenge with a 33-20 win at the Sixways Stadium on Saturday.

Centre Paul Bonnefond scored hat-trick of tries as Lyon secured a bonus point 42-12 victory over Newcastle Falcons in their European Challenge Cup clash at Matmut Stadium on Friday.

Ospreys came with a nine-try riot as they trounced Grenoble with a 7-59 victory in their European Challenge Cup clash on Friday.

Gloucester Rugby continued their unbeaten run in the European Challenge Cup tournament as they defeated La Rochelle by 35-14 at Kingsholm Stadium on Thursday.

England duo Tom Wood and Courtney Lawes have made a return to their Aviva Premiership club Northampton Saints ahead of their European Champions Cup clash against Leinster on Friday.