18 May, 15:44
It's down to the wire now for the five contenders who have been shortlisted for the ultimate individual accolade in northern hemisphere rugby, ERC European Player of the Year 2013.
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14 May, 15:49
With the build-up to the Dublin 2013 European club rugby finals intensifying by the day, the four elite clubs of ASM Clermont Auvergne, Toulon, Leinster Rugby and Stade Francais Paris, who are focused on their quest for Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup silverware respectively, won't be the only clubs with Europe on their mind over the weekend of 17 and 18 May.
2 May, 18:59
Benoit August of Biarritz Olympique and Perpignan's Daniel Leo have been suspended for four weeks and two weeks respectively following citing complaints arising from last weekend's Amlin Challenge Cup semi-finals.
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18 May, 21:07
No sooner had he lifted the Heineken Cup than Jonny Wilkinson switched his focus on to the next task - trying to keep Toulon on course for a European Cup and Top 14 double.
18 May, 20:59
Bernard Laporte celebrated Toulon's 21-year wait for another trophy - but admitted he had had his doubts they would go on and lift the Heineken Cup when ASM Clermont Auvergne went nine points clear with over half an hour to play.
18 May, 19:33
Delon Armitage scored Toulon's match-winning try - but never had a doubt that Jonny Wilkinson would kick the conversion that would give them the lead for the first time with just minutes to spare.
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Amlin Challenge Cup
Amlin Challenge Cup
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18 May, 10:54
This one is for Joe and Isa - that was the tribute Amlin Man of the Match Jonny Sexton paid to his coach and team-mate in the wake of their 34-13 Amlin Challenge Cup final triumph over Stade Francais Paris at the RDS.
17 May, 23:37
There was another dose of European disappointment for Sergio Parisse and his team but the Stade Francais Paris captain paid handsome tribute to Leinster following their 34-13 victory at the RDS.
17 May, 23:15
Now for the elusive double - that was the defiant message from Joe Schmidt after they had lifted the third European title of his reign.
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News
English quarter finalists welcome back star names
1 April 2011 15:57pm
By
Jordan Crane is one of a number of star names back in action this weekend
© Getty Images
Three of the four English sides still hunting for European glory welcome back big names this weekend, while the fourth have their entire England contingent ready to fire for a second week running.
Fans of Heineken Cup quarter-finalists Leicester Tigers and Amlin Cup challengers London Wasps say hello again to international No8s, while Harlequins hope a former All Black fly-half will help build on last week's stunning 50-point demolition of Gloucester.
Leicester, who ironically travel to Quins on Saturday night, name Jordan Crane in their first XV in place of Thomas Waldrom after the former Leeds back row was declared fit to start for the first time since late January.
The England cap has been resting a niggling knee injury since scoring a hat-trick of tries in the Heineken Cup win over Benetton Trevsio, with his only appearance since that time coming as a replacement in the 37-6 thrashing of Bath last weekend.
Crane will go head-to-head against current England No8 Nick Easter but it is another Nick who will follow Crane in returning to action after a lengthy injury lay off.
Quins crowd favourite Nick Evans will make his first appearance in seven weeks having been unavailable since the defeat to Exeter on February 12.
The New Zealand playmaker broke his hand playing touch rugby during a training session and has since had to watch from the sidelines while Rory Clegg has deputised.
But Saturday's clash with the reigning English Champions has prompted Quins' rugby director Conor O'Shea to bring Evans straight back into the starting line up despite Clegg's impressive display against Gloucester last time out.
A day after Quins and Leicester meet in Twickenham, Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finalists London Wasps travel to Reading to face London Irish.
Interim director of rugby Leon Holden makes six changes to the side comprehensively beaten by Northampton a week ago, with Wales and Lions No8 Andy Powell recalled to the starting line up.
A Challenge Cup winner with Cardiff Blues last year, Powell was rested for Wasps' loss at Franklin Gardens and will no doubt be fired up for the final match before their European encounter at Quins on April 8.
Joe Simpson switches from wing to his preferred position of scrum-half, while Dominic Waldouck, Christian Wade, Marty Veale and Will Matthews also start.
Having disposed of Wasps with relative ease a week ago, Northampton host Sale Sharks in what is their final chance of match action prior to the Heineken Cup showdown with Ulster at Stadium: mk a week on Sunday.
And having brought back his big guns in the win over Wasps, Saints boss Jim Mallinder again names England quartet Ben Foden, Chris Ashton, Dylan Hartley and Tom Wood in his starting XV, as well as star lock Courtney Lawes who missed the RBS 6 Nations through injury.
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