Former England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has been named European Player of the Year.

Queenland Reds coach Ewen McKenzie has defended Quade Cooper after the fly-half was omitted by Australia for the Lions series.

Jonny Wilkinson has capped a triumphant Heineken Cup campaign with Toulon by being named European player of the year.

Les Kiss has confirmed that he will be a permanent member of Joe Schmidt's Ireland coaching team.

Ireland will take six uncapped players to North America next month.

Nick Kennedy described winning the Heineken Cup as the pinnacle of his career and a vindication of his decision to move to Toulon last summer.

Jonny Wilkinson described winning the Heineken Cup with Toulon as a bigger achievement than England's 2003 World Cup triumph.

Jonny Wilkinson kicked 11 points as he led Toulon to a nail-biting 16-15 victory over Clermont in the Heineken Cup final.

Rory Best will lead Ireland's 28-man squad for their tour to the United States and Canada after being overlooked by the British and Irish Lions.

Australia coach Robbie Deans has left the door open for the likes of Quade Cooper to make the final squad to face the British and Irish Lions after the in-form

Quade Cooper has been left out of Australia's preliminary squad for the three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions.

Cheetahs scrum half Piet van Zyl scored two tries in the opening 20 minutes to lay the platform for a 27-13 win over Queensland Reds.

Round-up: South Africa's Bulls remain on course for the Super Rugby semi-finals after a 35-18 victory over New Zealand's Highlanders.

Jonathan Sexton has been taken by surprise to hear that long-time rival Ronan O'Gara will be his coach at Racing Metro.

Tatafu Polota-Nau fractured his forearm and several other Wallabies were injured in New South Wales' win over ACT Brumbies.

Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau will miss the British and Irish Lions series but flanker George Smith should make it.

Canterbury Crusaders put the Auckland Blues firmly in their place with a convincing 23-3 victory over their fierce rivals.

Ireland's most capped player Ronan O'Gara has retired to take up a role coaching former rival Jonathan Sexton at Racing Metro.

Ireland's most capped player Ronan O'Gara has retired to take up a role coaching former rival Jonathan Sexton at Racing Metro.

Leinster comfortably beat Stade Francais 34-13 in Dublin to win the European Challenge Cup for the first time.

Jonny Wilkinson is desperate to win Toulon's Heineken Cup showdown with Clermont Auvergne in Dublin.

Leading English referee Wayne Barnes will take charge of the Aviva Premiership final between Leicester and Northampton at Twickenham on May 25.

The Natal Sharks snapped a five-game losing streak with a deserved 23-13 victory over the Western Force in Perth.

Lions winger George North thinks he can impart some valuable lessons to his team-mates after his Welsh team’s recent matches.

Sergio Parisse accepts that Stade Francais are underdogs for tonight's Amlin Challenge Cup final against Leinster in Dublin.

A late penalty try helped the Melbourne Rebels to record their first Super Rugby victory over a South African side.