Toulon

Toulon's Delon Armitage has appealed against the 12-week suspension he was recently handed for directing abusive language at Leicester Tigers fans.

Toulon full-back Delon Armitage has been suspended for 12 weeks following a misconduct complaint lodged against him after his club's match against Leicester, European Professional Club Rugby has announced.

Martin Castrogiovanni's expletive-ridden tirade after Toulon's defeat by Leicester on Sunday night is to be investigated, Champions Cup organisers have announced.

Leicester boss Richard Cockerill refused to be drawn into a war of words on Sunday night following an astonishing verbal outburst by ex-Tigers prop Martin Castrogiovanni after the Italian's Toulon side suffered a 25-21 European Champions Cup defeat at Welford Road.

Steffon Armitage still has a burning ambition to play for England again and believes he is "100 per cent a better player" than when he last represented the Red Rose.

There were away wins for Toulon and Toulouse over Ulster and Bath respectively in the day's early European Champions Cup clashes.

Steffon Armitage's proposed move to Bath from Toulon looks to be off after he was named in the French side's squad for their opening European Champions Cup match.

Bath head coach Mike Ford says Steffon Armitage is unlikely to join the club as negotiations between the two parties have stalled.

Toulon forward and former England international Andrew Sheridan has today announced that he will be retiring from rugby with immediate effect.

Australian Matt Giteau has ended speculation over his future by agreeing a new two-year deal with Toulon.

As the dust finally settles at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium and the French cheers draw to a close, after European rugby’s showpiece event, attention is still on Toulon, their prolific back rower Steffan and whether he should be picked in the England rugby team.

Mako Vunipola faces a nervous 24-hour wait to discover whether he can play any part in England's three-Test New Zealand tour.

England World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson signed off in style from the United Kingdom in his penultimate game before retirement as Toulon comfortably retained their European title.

Pace, power and a path of destruction around the field are just a few of the distinct qualities about Billy Vunipola’s game, and all on the shoulders of a young 21-year-old.

“…There’s 35 seconds to go, this is the one… it’s coming back for Jonny Wilkinson; he drops for World Cup glory… “It’s up, it’s over, he’s done it! Jonny Wilkinson is England’s hero, yet again… England have just won the World Cup.”

All five of the European Player of the Year nominees come from finalists Toulon and Saracens, with last year’s winner Wilkinson in contention.

Defending champions Toulon stand just 80 minutes away from retaining their Heineken Cup crown after they edged past Munster 24-16 in Marseille

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.

Leinster's Gordon D'Arcy insists he'll pursue the Rabo Pro12 with the same hunger he would the Heineken Cup after their quarter-final, 29-14, loss to Toulon. After years of trophy-less seasons, D'Arcy is now focused on securing a second Pro12 title in consecutive seasons.

Toulon face a nervous wait to see whether fly-half Jonny Wilkinson will be fit for their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Munster.