While most of the focus is currently on the Rugby World Cup in France, the 2023/24 BKT United Rugby Championship season gets under way this weekend.
Scarlets finished top in Pool B of the Heineken Challenge Cup with an impressive 20-7 victory over Bayonne.
Impressive Benetton beat the Dragons 34-14 to climb into fourth place in the United Rugby Championship.
Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan helped himself to four tries as Leinster had little trouble in beating Benetton 42-10 in the United Rugby Championship at the RDS.
Rhyno Smith scored 29 points including a hat-trick of tries as Benetton claimed a 39-17 victory over Italian rivals Zebre in the United Rugby Championship.
Hooker Dave Cherry and wing Duhan Van Der Merwe each scored a brace of tries.
Having endured four more Six Nations losses on the bounce, Italy have picked the team they hope can avoid a 2021 whitewash away to Scotland.
Gloucester scrum-half Stephen Varney will return to the Italy team for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash against Wales in Rome.
Glasgow climbed back to fourth in Conference A after battling to a 31-20 Guinness PRO14 victory at Zebre.
Nick Timoney's last-gasp try secured Ulster a crucial bonus-point victory over Glasgow Warriors on Saturday.
