European Challenge Cup

Sale took a step closer to the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup with victory over Worcester but the game was marred by a serious-looking injury to Warriors' fly-half Paul Warwick.

Wasps can book their place in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a match to spare if they can beat Bayonne at Stade Jean-Dauger in their showdown on the second weekend of January.

Danny Cipriani stole the show as Sale Sharks scored seven tries to overrun Oyonnax 53-14 and regain control of Group One in the Amlin Cup

Worcester's Jeremy Su'a scored after 19 seconds and Biarritz had a prop sent off but that still was not enough for the Warriors to claim their first win in the Amlin Challenge Cup this season.

Worcester's hopes of progressing in the Amlin Challenge Cup are effectively over, prompting director of rugby Dean Ryan to use Thursday night's trip to Biarritz to experiment with selection.

The future of European rugby looks uncertain this off season as the Celtic unions prepare to block proposed changes by Premiership Rugby and the Ligue Nationale Rugby.

If you spend any time reading online rugby forums, there is a chance that at some point you will have seen a debate regarding whether the Northern Hemisphere season needs restructuring.