Toulon

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.

Reigning champions Toulon emerged the victors of an entertaining Heineken Cup quarter-final with Leinster, winning by 29 points to 14.

Leinster captain Jamie Heaslip refused to be daunted by the challenge of taking on reigning champions Toulon in their Heineken Cup quarter-final tomorrow (6th April).

Leinester scrum-half Eoin Reddan believes his side need to be at their very best "to even compete" against a Toulon side he sees as a tougher than that which lifted the 2013 Heineken Cup trophy. Toulon edged out Clermont Auvernge in Dublin last May, but have since added to their star-studded cast as they look to reclaim the final edition of the Heineken Cup.

Jonny Wilkinson believes that his role as an unofficial coach at Toulon could help extend his career.

Wales and British Lions full-back Leigh Halfpenny as of today looks set to sign for Toulon in the French Top 14.