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
Latest ERC News
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.
Heineken Cup Teams
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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
Azzurri start Griffen for Ireland Clash
12 February 2009 14:37pm
By Angelina Lacroix
Calvisano scrum-half Paul Griffen has been named in Italy's starting line-up to play Ireland on Saturday in the RBS Six Nations, 18 months after his last international action.
Following Italy's comprehensive defeat to England last week at Twickenham and the experiment with Bergamasco at number 9, Head Coach Nick Mallett dramatically called Paul Griffen into the national squad on Monday when Andrea Marcato returned to Treviso.
The 37 test capped New Zealand native will partner Calvisano teammate Luke McLean at 10 and joins three other club mates when the Azzurri clash with Ireland in Rome.
Griffen, who has 38 Heineken Cup appearances under his belt, hasn't played on the international stage since the Rugby World Cup in 2007.
The 37 test capped New Zealand native will partner Calvisano teammate Luke McLean at 10 and joins three other club mates when the Azzurri clash with Ireland in Rome.
Griffen, who has 38 Heineken Cup appearances under his belt, hasn't played on the international stage since the Rugby World Cup in 2007.
Italy team:
15 Andrea MASI (Biarritz Olympique, 45 caps), 14 Kaine ROBERTSON (MPS Viadana, 36 caps), 13 Gonzalo CANALE (Clermont-Auvergne, 43 caps), 12 Mirco BERGAMASCO (Stade Francais, 57 caps), 11 Matteo PRATICHETTI (Cammi Calvisano, 13 caps),10 Luke MCLEAN (Cammi Calvisano, 4 caps), 9 Paul GRIFFEN (Cammi Calvisano, 38 caps), 8 Sergio PARISSE (Stade Francais, 58 caps) - captain, 7 Mauro BERGAMASCO (Stade Francais, 70 caps), 6 Alessandro ZANNI (Cammi Calvisano, 27 caps), 5 Tommaso REATO (Femi CZ Rovigo, 7 caps), 4 Santiago DELLAPE' (Toulon RC, 53 caps), 3 Martin CASTROGIOVANNI (Leicester Tigers, 55 caps), 2 Fabio ONGARO (Saracens, 60 caps),1 Salvatore PERUGINI (Stade Toulousain, 56 caps)
Replacements:
16 Carlo FESTUCCIA (Racing Metro Paris, 46 caps) ,17 Carlos NIETO (Gloucester RFC, 32 caps), 18 Carlo Antonio DEL FAVA (Ulster, 33 caps), 19 Josh SOLE (MPS Viadana, 34 caps), 20 Giulio TONIOLATTI (AlmavivA UR Capitolina, 2 caps)
21 Gonzalo GARCIA (Cammi Calvisano, 6 caps),22 Andrea BACCHETTI (Femi CZ Rovigo, esordiente)
Ireland Team
15 - Robert Kearney (UCD - Leinster), 14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), 13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD - Leinster) Captain, 12 - Paddy Wallace (Ballymena - Ulster), 11 - Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College - Leinster), 10 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution - Munster), 9 - Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin - Munster) , 1 - Marcus Horan (Shannon - Munster), 2 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon - Munster), 3 - John Hayes (Bruff- Munster), 4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution - Munster)
5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster - Munster), 6 - Stephen Ferris (Dungannon - Ulster), 7 - David Wallace (Garryowen - Munster) , 8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas - Leinster)
Replacements: 16 - Rory Best (Banbridge - Ulster), 17 - Tom Court (Malone - Ulster)*, 18 - Malcolm O'Kelly (St.Mary's College - Leinster), 19 - Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution - Munster), 20 - Peter Stringer (Shannon - Munster), 21 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne - Leinster) , 22 - Geordan Murphy (Leicester).
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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