Fly-half Jonny Sexton faces a race against time to be fit for Ireland’s autumn international Test series after breaking his jaw in action with his French club Racing Metro.
Saracens will open their European Rugby Champions Cup campaign by renewing hostilities with Clermont Auvergne, the French side they trounced to reach last term's Heineken Cup final.
World Cup Winner Bryan Habana has admitted that the change of nationality for Munster’s South African-born flanker CJ Stander is a real “loss” for the Boks, after the news broke that the forward has now qualified to play for Ireland through residency.
The two-year deadlock on the future of top-flight European rugby is over and Bill Beaumont has hailed Ian Ritchie as a vital peace broker between the parties involved.
Ireland and Lions second-row Paul O’Connell has signed a new two-year deal with the IRFU to stay in Munster until at least June 2016; rejecting the lure of a move to France.
Full-back Delon Armitage has signed a two-year contract extension with French side Toulon, which lessens the likelihood of him playing for England in the 2015 World Cup.
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.
England and France, neighbours, historical enemies and now united in the Rugby Champions Cup. The clubs on both sides of the channel are clear that they do not want to remain part of the Heineken Cup, at least in its current format.