Today's other stories in brief
Ulster tie up Webb
Ulster Rugby yesterday confirmed their signing of 28-year-old Grant Webb from New Zealand as backrow cover until the end of the season.
With backrow regulars Stephen Ferris (ankle) and Roger Wilson (hand) both unavailable due to injury and likely to miss the next four to six weeks of rugby, Webb, who will arrive in the province early next week, will provide cover for the forthcoming matches.
Webb, who has played Super 14 and NPC rugby in New Zealand with Otago Highlanders and Hawks Bay, also spent time in Japan playing for Toyota. The former New Zealand under-21 international (2000) will arrive in Belfast on Tuesday and will be eligible to play in the Magners Celtic League game against Leinster on St Stephen's Day.
Vickery available
Phil Vickery will be available for Wasps' crucial Heineken European Cup clash against Clermont Auvergne on Saturday - despite being cited.
England's World Cup captain has been reported by Welsh citing commissioner Aurwell Morgan for allegedly trampling on Clermont lock Thibaut Privat during last weekend's Pool Five game between Clermont and Wasps in France.
Vickery, though, is able to continue playing ahead of his disciplinary hearing, which has been set for Wednesday in Glasgow.
The disciplinary committee will be chaired by Rod McKenzie, assisted by his Scottish colleague Richard McGhee and Ireland's Dr Barry O'Driscoll.
If found guilty, Vickery could receive a ban that would sideline him for Guinness Premiership games either side of Christmas.
Biarritz in Glasgow's way
Glasgow will move top of Pool Four in the European Cup if they beat French giants Biarritz tonight - but the odds are stacked against them.
The Scottish challengers toppled Biarritz 9-6 at home last weekend. Their European form way from home, though, is woeful.
Since beating Ulster in their first European Cup game 10 years ago, Glasgow have suffered 25 successive away losses - including seven in France.
But Biarritz, the 2006 tournament runners-up, are struggling this season - having lost in Glasgow, won narrowly away against Italian minnows Viadana and shaded Saracens by only a point on home soil.
Glasgow coach Sean Lineen said: "That was the biggest win in our history last Sunday, and we have presented ourselves with a great opportunity.
"Biarritz will be a totally different proposition on Friday night, and it is going to be tough. It will be all about the mental attitude and us getting the top three inches right. We must make sure we don't pass this opportunity by - we can definitely win out there."
Gatland wants Howley Robert Howley has been offered the role of Wales backs coach by new national coach Warren Gatland, according to the BBC.
The ex-Wales captain has been part of the Cardiff Blues coaching set-up for two years and is still under contract. Negotiations between the Blues and the Welsh Rugby Union are ongoing, Gatland having stated his desire to have his back-room staff in place by Christmas.
Howley (37) was one of Gatland's key players at Wasps.
The London side's head coach, Shaun Edwards, was Gatland's assistant at that time, and he could still come into the Wales set-up in a part-time role to look after defence.
The appointment of Bridgend-born former scrumhalf Howley, who won 59 Wales caps and two for the Lions, seems likely to spell the end of Nigel Davies's involvement with the national team. Davies was attack coach under former boss Gareth Jenkins and was caretaker coach for last month's Test against South Africa.
