Clubs strengthen squads for knockout phase

Former Australia captain, Rocky Elsom, who starred for Leinster Rugby in their inaugural Heineken Cup triumph in 2009, has been included in the Toulon squad as the French club continues its build-up to the hugely-anticipated quarter-final clash with Leicester Tigers at Stade Félix Mayol on Sunday, 7 April, as has another new Toulon signing, Danie Rossouw, who played a key role in South Africa's 2007 World Cup success.

Meanwhile, veteran scrum-half Peter Stringer will bring his Heineken Cup-winning experience with Munster Rugby to bear on Bath Rugby's push for European silverware when the English club takes on Stade Francais Paris in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final at the Recreation Ground on Saturday, 6 April.

Test representatives from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Georgia, Namibia, Ireland and England are among the additional players nominated for the knockout stages and other notables who are hopeful of a return to competitive action following injury include Saracens' Jacques Burger and Rob Webber of Bath.

Under ERC tournament rules, clubs which have qualified for the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup can nominate up to three players for registration to supplement their initial 38-player European squads.

The registrations of players who have been nominated by clubs (Thursday, 21 March 2013) are subject to confirmation by the relevant Unions and by ERC.

HARLEQUINS

Jack CLIFFORD
DOB: 12/02/1993
Position: Back row
HT: 1.91m/6' 3"
WT: 109kg/17st 2lbs

Taylor HENRY
DOB: 11/04/1994
Position: Outside half / Scrum half
HT: 1.8m/5' 11"
WT: 88kg/13st 12lbs

Nicholas MAYHEW
DOB: 28/11/1988
Position: Prop
HT: 1.79m/5' 10"
WT: 114kg/17st 13lbs

LEICESTER TIGERS

Kieran BROOKES
DOB: 29/08/1990
Position: Prop
HT: 1.86m/6' 1"
WT: 122kg/19st 2lbs

Michael NOONE
DOB: 16/10/1989
Position: Back row
HT: 1.90m/6' 3"
WT: 108kg/17st 0lbs

Scott STEELE
DOB: 24/07/1993
Position: Scrum half
HT: 1.75m/5' 9"
WT: 85kg/13st 5lbs

MONTPELLIER

Hamish GARD
DOB: 21/06/1985
Position: Centre
HT: 1.85m/6' 1"
WT: 94kg/14st 11lbs

Charles GELI
DOB: 26/03/1987
Position: Hooker
HT: 1.83m/6' 0"
WT: 100kg/15st 10lbs

Nahuel LOBO
DOB: 27/08/1991
Position: Prop
HT: 1.80m/5' 11"
WT: 115kg/18st 3lbs
International Record: Argentina

MUNSTER RUGBY

James CRONIN
DOB: 23/11/1990
Position: Prop
HT: 1.82m/6' 0"
WT: 118kg/18st 8lbs

Ivan DINEEN
DOB: 05/07/1987
Position: Centre
HT: 1.87m/6' 2"
WT: 96kg/15st 1lb

Cathal SHERIDAN
DOB: 14/11/1988
Position: Scrum half
HT: 1.74m/5' 9"
WT: 83kg/13st 1lb

SARACENS

Nicholas AUTERAC
DOB: 12/11/1992
Position: Prop
HT: 1.82m/6' 0"
WT: 116kg/18st 3lbs

Jacques BURGER
DOB: 29/07/1983
Position: Back row
HT: 1.89m/6' 2"
WT: 105kg/16st 7lbs
International Record: Namibia

Ben RANSOM
DOB: 16/02/1992
Position: Full back
HT: 1.81m/5' 11"
WT: 88kg/13st 12lbs

TOULON

Rocky ELSOM
DOB: 14/02/1983
Position: Back row
HT: 1.97m/6' 6"
WT: 112kg/17st 8lbs
International Record: Australia

Danie ROSSOUW
DOB: 06/05/1978
Position: Back row
HT: 1.98m/6' 6"
WT: 126kg/19st 11lbs
International Record: South Africa

ULSTER RUGBY

Niall ANNETT
DOB: 07/05/1991
Position: Hooker
HT: 1.85m/6' 1"
WT: 105kg/16st 7lbs

Stuart OLDING
DOB: 11/03/1993
Position: Wing
HT: 1.86m/6' 1"
WT: 88kg/13st 12lbs

Andrew WARWICK
DOB: 12/03/1991
Position: Prop
HT: 1.77m/5' 10"
WT: 107kg/16st 11lbs

See Amlin Challenge Cup news for more additional players

Notes

• Each club involved in the knockout stages may nominate up to three players to supplement their initial 38-player European squads.
• Where clubs choose to nominate the maximum of three players, at least one of the players must be qualified to play in a front row position.
• The players must be fully and properly registered by Thursday, 21 March, 2013 with nominations subject to confirmation by the relevant Union and ERC.
• Clubs must ensure that these players have not been selected in a match squad in the tournament by another club during the current season.