Toulon

After much contention, Ireland flanker Sean O’Brien has agreed to stay on with three-times Heineken Cup winners Leinster.

Toulon produced a stunning second-half display to beat Cardiff Blues 43-20 and book their place in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.

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.

Heineken Cup champions Toulon regained their place at the top of Pool Two as two tries from wing Dave Smith set them on their way to a bonus point win over Exeter Chiefs.

Exeter travel to France and reigning Heineken Cup champions Toulon this Saturday, for a return fixture of last weekend’s game at Sandy Park, and head coach Rob Baxter has backed the talented winger Jack Nowell as the man to solve England’s Six Nations selection dilemma.

Exeter youngsters Jack Nowell and Henry Slade, both with standout performances, could not help their side to victory against reigning Heineken Cup champions Toulon at Sandy Park on Saturday.

Reigning Heineken Cup champions Toulon suffered a surprise 19-15 defeat to Cardiff Blues on Saturday at Arms Park.

Bookmakers William Hill make Toulon and Jonny Wikinson the favourites to win the Heineken Cup this season and finish as top points-scorer respectively.

Toulon, the top 14 club and current Heineken Cup holders, sign veteran South Africa star Juan Smith.

With the cold snap across France waning, the 18th round of the Top 14 sees a full complement of fixtures as the battle for the play-offs and relegation heats up.

Toulouse, Clermont Auvergne and Toulon edged closer towards confirming their play-off status with victories as the 17th round of the Top 14 was affected by the cold snap that saw the France versus Ireland match postponed this weekend.

Clermont Auvergne kept up the pressure on leaders Toulouse as both sides secured away victories in the sixteenth round of the French Top 14.

With Phillipe Saint-André having announced his Six Nations squad on Thursday, the 30 men selected will be out to prove themselves worthy of making France's starting XV against Italy in one month's time.

The curtain fell on 2011 with Toulouse extending their lead at the top of the Top 14 table, after Clermont Auvergne were held up at Lyon. Elsewhere there were surprise victories for Bordeaux-Bègles and Biarritz.

Talking Rugby Union caught up with Toulon player Joe El-Abd

Toulon's playoff hopes were dented after they were comfortably beaten 19-12 by Clermont on Friday