It was the French who caught the eye in round one with six of their eight teams winning, including Stade Rochelais and Toulon away from home.
In just a few days another season of the Top 14 kicks off with the likes of Owen Farrell, Siya Kolisi, Josua Tuisova, and Davit Niniashvili making the numbers of the overseas players ready to make the headlines and wrestle for the title.
Schalk Burger and the Boks Office team reflect on the yellow cards Paul Willemse received against Ireland, which led to a suspension
France lock Paul Willemse will miss his side’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday after being handed a suspension
Grand Slam-chasing Ireland visit title rivals Scotland in round four of the Six Nations.
The All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens teams for the Dubai Sevens have been named.
Evan O’Connell, the 18-year-old nephew of legendary Ireland and Lions skipper Paul, is set to become the youngest player to play for Munster in the professional era after he was named on their bench for Saturday’s URC game versus Ulster.
Top 14 leaders Montpellier have been dealt a massive blow ahead of their Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final at La Rochelle as Paul Willemse, the recent Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam winner with France, has been ruled out.
Believing the six-week suspension handed down to lock Paul Gabrillagues to be too severe, France are to appeal the ban in the hope of freeing him to play at the start of the World Cup.
Paul Gabrillagues' World Cup hopes have been plunged into disarray after a World Rugby disciplinary hearing banned him from playing again for France until early October following an incident versus Scotland.
