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.

Warriors ready to march on

Worcester Warriors, who face potential Amlin Challenge Cup Pool 2 back-to-back deciders against Perpignan next month, have strengthened their back row group with youngster Richard de Carpentier signing a contract to remain at the club.

Former England Sevens international de Carpentier previously played at Leicester Tigers and had a spell on loan at Nottingham in the RFU Championship last season.

A former England Students captain, the 22-year-old forward is a product of the Fylde club in Lancashire.

De Carpentier trained with the club throughout October and impressed when he featured for Worcester Cavaliers in the Aviva A League defeat to Newcastle Falcons.

After securing the signature of the back row, Warriors Assistant Head Coach Nigel Redman said: "Richard has done incredibly well since joining us on trial in October.

"He played out here against Newcastle and did exceptionally well and he's made a massive impact in training. He offers a lot of quality and players get on with him.

"Richard will start his first game for us on Saturday against Scarlets so he's got an opportunity to impress. He gives us another option in the back row and his presence will no doubt drive our standards upwards."

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.

With eight leading clubs still in the race for coveted Dublin 2013 Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup final berths, this weekend's European semi-finals will be watched keenly by Bath Rugby, Connacht Rugby and London Wasps among others as their hopes of qualification for the 2013/14 Heineken Cup hang in the balance.

ASM Clermont Auvergne	Benetton Treviso	Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque	Cardiff Blues	Castres Olympique	Connacht Rugby
Edinburgh Rugby	Exeter Chiefs	Glasgow Warriors	Harlequins	Leicester Tigers	Leinster Rugby
Montpellier	Munster Rugby	Northampton Saints	Ospreys	Racing Métro 92	Sale Sharks
Saracens	Scarlets	Toulon	Toulouse	Ulster Rugby	Zebre

Agen	Bath Rugby	Bayonne	Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque	Bizkaia Gernika RT	Bordeaux-Begles
Bucharest Wolves	Cammi Rugby Calvisano	Femi-CZ VEA Rovigo	Gloucester Rugby	Grenoble	I Cavalieri Prato
Leinster Rugby	London Irish	London Wasps	London Welsh	Mont de Marsan	Newport Gwent Dragons
Perpignan	Rugby Mogliano	Stade Francais Paris	Toulouse	Worcester Warriors

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Warriors ready to march on

ERC Ezine