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Chic_Raul_ista
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European Cup

Ospreys 28 - 21 Biarritz

Scarlets 31 - 23 Castres

London Irish 19 - 20 Edinburgh Rugby

Ulster 16 - 11 Clermont

European Challenge Cup

Newcastle Falcons 27 - 19 Lyon

I Cavalieri Prato 3 - 33 Newport Gwent Dragons

Perpignan 15 - 12 Exeter Chiefs

Rugby Rovigo 3 - 17 Bayonne

Heineken Cup - Tindall's Gloucester face Toulouse test

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Gloucester are braced for a Heineken Cup clash against "probably the best side in European history" on Sunday.

Axed England star Mike Tindall will be in action for his club barely 48 hours after being kicked out of England's elite squad by the RFU and fined £25,000. Tindall, though, has little time to reflect on the RFU's action, having been named to start at inside centre against Gloucester's opening Pool Six opponents and four-time Heineken Cup winners Toulouse in France.

"They (Toulouse) are probably the best side in European history," Gloucester head coach Bryan Redpath said.

"So, you have to go there and you have to make sure your mindset is right.

"The expectation on us is very low, but internally, we know that we have to be dogged and confident in ourselves and have a real go at them. There is no point going there and sitting back and waiting for them to have a go at you.

"We have to keep possession in the right areas, avoid loose kicks and soft turnovers and maintain the intensity we've shown in the past two weeks. It's an exciting place to go to, a great place to play rugby and our players should be thriving on it and not fearing it."

Gloucester's west country rivals Bath are also on the road on Sunday, beginning their Heineken programme away to Glasgow in Pool Three, a group that also features reigning European champions Leinster.

England international Matt Banahan returns for Bath, partnering Dan Hipkiss in midfield, while there are also opportunities for wing Olly Woodburn, fly-half Tom Heathcote and hooker Ross Batty.

And there is a place on the bench for New Zealander Stephen Donald, whose second-half penalty edged an 8-7 World Cup final victory for the All Blacks over France in Auckland three weeks ago.

Another World Cup winner, former South Africa skipper John Smit, is set to make his Saracens debut against Pool Five visitors Treviso on Sunday. The ex-Springboks hooker is among Saracens' replacements, while players returning to the starting line-up include Matt Stevens, Rhys Gill and Andy Saull.

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    European Cup

    Toulouse 21 - 17 Gloucester Rugby

    Saracens 42 - 17 Benetton Treviso

    European Challenge Cup

    Bucharest Wolves 34 - 7 Crociati Rugby

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    Reports: South Africa flanker shot dead

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    Ex-South Africa flanker Solly Tyibilika has been shot dead at a tavern in Cape Town, according to reports. He was 32.

    South African Police Services spokesperson Frederick van Wyk confirmed the incident had taken place, but declined to confirm the identity of the dead man. Several South African rugby broadcasters and writers, including journalist Craig Ray and Kuanda Ntunja have stated on Twitter that Tyibilika was the victim. "Two men walked into the tavern and began to shoot at patrons at random", van Wyk was quoted as saying by South Africa's The Times newspaper online.

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    Drunken incident for naked Guildford

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    All Blacks wing Zac Guildford has been accused of staggering naked, drunk and bleeding into a bar where he allegedly assaulted two people.

    The incident happened in the Cook Islands on Thursday, according to a report in the Herald on Sunday newspaper, which quoted witnesses. Guildford, who has a history of problems with alcohol and was publicly reprimanded by the All Blacks management during the recent Rugby World Cup, is in the Cook Islands to attend a friend's wedding.

    The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) said news of his latest outburst was disappointing and its focus was on helping the player rather than disciplining him. According to witnesses, he appeared at Trader Jacks Bar and Grill dripping wet, naked and with a gash on his forehead believed to have come from a motorcycle accident earlier in the day. He then allegedly punched one man who asked if he needed help and then hit another man across the back of the head.

    A staff member at the bar confirmed to AFP that reports of Guildford "walking into the bar naked, bleeding and assaulting at least one person", were true but she would not comment further. Guildford's mother told the Dominion Post she was aware of the incident but was also not commenting.

    The Herald on Sunday said patrons in the bar described Guildford's behaviour as appalling and a New Zealand woman, identified only as Fiona, said he was extremely drunk. "His eyes were gone, he was completely out of it," she said, adding that after the All Black hit her 60-year-old friend, he jumped on to a stage where "he seemed to realise he was naked" and tried to cover himself.

    Restaurant staff then rushed to wrap an apron round Guildford's waist as he bolted into the kitchen. During the World Cup, the 22-year-old Guildford admitted he had an alcohol problem and said he was taking steps to bring it under control. NZRU general manager Neil Sorensen told journalists Guildford had been called before the board three times in the past 18 months and they were now trying to establish what happened in the Cook Islands.

    "Our first move is to really say 'how can we help this guy', that's the first thing. But we've got to establish the facts and it sounds like he got up to something. We are not denying that," Sorensen said. Although Guildford was officially on leave, Sorensen said the NZRU still expected players to behave responsibly. "We go out of our way to help, but at some stage people need to stand up for themselves and make some tough calls."

    Planet Rugby

    ... hope he gets all the help he needs to beat his alcoholism.

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    Worsley hangs up his boots

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    London Wasps have announced that former England and B&I Lions flanker Joe Worsley is to retire immediately from the game due to a neck injury.

    Worsley, who joined the the club's academy in 1993 as a 16-year-old, has failed to recover from the injury which has prevented him from training in recent months, and he has made the tough decision to hang up his boots at Adams Park.

    "Last season I suffered an injury to my neck that has effectively ended my career," he revealed to the London Wasps website on Monday. "Since March I have been following medical and rehab advice but it didn't help, and 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."

    Worsley made over 300 appearances for Wasps in a career spanning almost two decades. He has won almost every accolade possible with the club, lifting the Heineken Cup twice and the Premiership four times as well as the Powergen Cup on three occasions. He has also represented the Barbarians, the British and Irish Lions and has earned 78 caps for England, including a World Cup win in 2003, for which he was awarded an MBE.

    "Joe is a real legend at this Club and we are all very sad to see his playing days come to an end. He has been a fantastic servant to Wasps and played a huge role in much of the Club's success," said London Wasps Owner Steve Hayes. "He also was a superb representative on the international stage, becoming a key figure for England and inspiring many budding young players with his tenacious back-row play. He will leave big boots to fill and we wish him all the very best as he moves on with the next stage of his life. I hope that we will still see him regularly around Adams Park and he knows he is welcome back here anytime."

    England Team Manager Martin Johnson paid tribute to Worsley. "It's sad for Joe that he has had to retire because of injury," said Johnson. "He was a great team-mate and always gave 100 per cent for England and Wasps in winning every trophy available. On behalf of the England squad we wish him well and hope that he is just as successful after rugby."

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