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.
ERC
ERC
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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.
Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
Latest Heineken Cup News
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
Latest Amlin Challenge Cup News
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.
Amlin Challenge Cup Teams
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News
Euro great Worsley forced to hang up his boots
14 November 2011 11:39am
By Westgate
That winning feeling for Joe and Wasps in the 2007 Heineken Cup final
© Getty Images
Joe Worsley, a double Heineken Cup winner with London Wasps, has been forced to retire from the game with a neck injury.
The 34-year-old back row legend was at the heart of the team that won the Amlin Challenge Cup in 2003, beat Toulouse in the 2004 Heineken Cup final at Twickenham and then returned in 2007 to the home of English rugby to help steer Wasps to a second victory over Leicester Tigers.
His European career kicked-off against Cardiff Blues in 1996 in the Heineken Cup and, in all, he made 65 European appearances for Wasps - 57 in the Heineken Cup and eight in the Amlin Challenge Cup.
He made his debut in the 1999 World Cup against Tonga at Twickenham and went on to win 78 caps for England and played in three World Cup tournaments. He won an MBE as part of the English squad that won the Webb Ellis Trophy in 2003 and came on as a replacement in the 2007 final in Paris.
He also toured South Africa with the British & Irish Lions in 2009, playing in the third Test victory over the Springboks in Johannesburg. His last Test outing was as a replacement for England in their RBS 6 Nations victory over Wales in Cardiff in February this year.
Worsley joined the Wasps academy in 1993 as a 16-year-old and went on to make more than 300 appearances for the club. As well as picking up three European medals, he also won four Premiership titles and three Powergen Cup winners medals.
"Last season I suffered an injury to my neck that has effectively ended my career. Since March I've been following medical and rehab advice, but it didn't help," explained Worsley.
"Restarting contact work during the England World Cup camp made it obvious that I could not continue. My life as a rugby player started at Welwyn under 9s and finished in an England training session.
"I want to say thanks to everyone who helped me on that path. I'm proud of what I achieved and how I played the game."
Latest ERC TV
Latest ERC TV
18 May 13
Get the final words pf both coaches and captains ahead of the biggest club game of their careers. Press Confernce with Toulon and ASM
16 May 13
Finals Edition: Listen to the best guide to the European Rugby Cup Finals weekend in Dublin, which sees Leinster Rugby take on Stade Francais Paris at the RDS on Friday night in the Amlin Challenge Cup Final and then ASM Clermont Auvergne tackle Toulon in an all-French affair at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
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