Celtic League: The Irish, Scottish and Welsh unions have unveiled their Celtic Accord for the new-look Celtic League.
The accord ratifies the decision of the three unions to start the Celtic League this year.
The agreement, which was finally reached yesterday, confirms that four Irish provinces, two Scottish professional teams and nine Welsh clubs have committed to the competition, which kicks off on the weekend of Saturday, August 18th with the final on Saturday, December 15th.
The competition will be played in two conferences before the knockout stages.
The new-look Celtic League will run for an initial period of three years.
Teams involved in the first year are Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster from Ireland, Edinburgh Reivers and Glasgow Caledonians from Scotland and Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Ebbw Vale, Llanelli, Neath, Newport, Pontypridd and Swansea from Wales.
Western Australia Team: Powerhouse prop Patricio Noriega and former Saracens outhalf Duncan McRae have been drafted into the Western Australia side for Friday week's Lions tour opener in Perth.
Even though both players would normally play their rugby elsewhere, Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen is keen to run the rule over fringe Test squad candidates, hence their selection.
England Team: England manager Clive Woodward has named Newcastle's Michael Stephenson, Jamie Noon, and Dave Walder in the England team to face Canada in Toronto on Saturday.
The trio are part of the five new caps for England, who are missing 18 players because of Lions call-ups.
Stephenson, who has been likened to Bath's Lion Iain Balshaw, has been named on the wing and not in his preferred position of full back.
Noon's promotion, and that of Walder, follow impressive displays for Newcastle.
The other new caps in the side are the Leicester players Ben Kay, and Lewis Moody at lock and flanker respectively.
England Team: J Lewsey (London Wasps); P Sampson (Wasps), L Lloyd (Leicester Tigers), J Noon (Newcastle Falcons), M Stephenson (Newcastle); D Walder (Newcastle), K Bracken (Saracens, captain); G Rowntree (Leicester), D West (Leicester), J White (Saracens), S Borthwick (Bath), B Kay (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps), L Moody (Leicester). Replacements: A Long (Bath), D Flatman (Saracens), S Shaw (Wasps), P Sanderson (Harlequins), M Wood (Wasps), A King (Wasps), T Stimpson (Leicester).
