Such a pity that the English clubs are boycotting European competition for the next few years.

Why did they sign a contract with BT that stopped them competing in the HEC ?

Utter madness and greed from the English club owners.

Not quite how it was... there are a number of factors, a quick google will give you a more informed thought and make you realise it's not about greed.

They have been offered a ton of money to ditch the HEC and set up a new Euro competition owned by BT.
Of course it is about greed. Naive to pretend otherwise.

you really think that?

It's more to do with them (and the French) bringing in over 75% of the money for the HC but getting nowhere near that in % back... added to the French and English teams being the only ones whose teams actually have to qualify with the threat of relegation whilst the Welsh, Scots and Irish can happily put their kids out for their league and finish bottom knowing that they will still get the HC money the following year.

The Premiership are most definitely looking out for themselves and that I agree with, the only thing that will really be hurt by this is England who's players will lose the intensity of the HC matches as I think the step from the league to Test matches is too great... this will probably mean our players are undercooked for the world cup... it could also mean that there is less chance of injuries as they'll player less matches at lower intensity (worked for half the NZ squat 4 years ago).

Overall, it's annoying; the Welsh are embarrassing themselves with their Region/WRU issues, the French are flip flopping all over the place and the Irish and the Scots are happy as is.

Pienaar showing why he's one of the best, incredible performance

Great performance from Ulster - doing Irish rugby proud!, was roaring them on... Munster on the grasp of a home QF too at the moment

Home quarter final secured for Munster - a 26000 sellout trip to Limerick will not be a nice prospect for any side.

Yea it's great to see us all doing well this season. Even Connacht picked up a few wins .

We've got Saracens again which should be interesting. Toulouse, Leinster, Clermont or Leicester for you at home depending on the Clermont result.

Quarter-finals (4/5/6 April)
Ulster v Saracens
Clermont v Leicester
Toulon v Leinster
Munster v Toulouse.

Semi-finals (25/26/27 April)
Ulster or Saracens v Clermont or Leicester
Toulon or Leinster v Munster or Toulouse.

Munster v Leinster SF and a Munster v Ulster final my man? ... Would love it for it to happen and it would be great for Irish rugby to go along with a 2014 Irish grand slam

No coincidence that the 2 best runners-up to go through to the quarter-final stages were in groups containing the weaker Italian sides.

What's your suggestion throw them out altogether and stunt the growth of rugby in Italy?

Who rattled your cage? I was just making an observation ffs.

My bad, I appologise.... I wrongly thought you might have been part of the growing opinion in England where they seem to want the HC to revolve around the English teams at the expense of Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Italian rugby.

While I don't want a HC without the English sides I think it has come to the point where they are probably best outside it in the short term - they have brought European club Rugby into disrepute in an attempt to stop the competitive nature of the competition and force through their own agenda.

I think if the English sides persist in threatening the HC the vast majority of fans outside England would now like to see them have a season or two outside the European rugby fold to force them to actually begin constructive dialogue on the future of European Rugby as a whole, not just lining the pockets of the English club sides at the expense of the rest.

This is hardly an English only gripe Just because the French have gone back in for next season, doesn't mean they too aren't happy with the current structure.
---
in other news, prize for the stupidest injury of the year goes to Euan Murray

Murray injures thumb chopping wood

Hardly ideal for Worcester that their marquee player is out for the rest of the season.

Yeah your right, they are not happy but they have realised that leaving the competition is a completely stupid idea... For European Rugby as a whole to prosper into the future the HC involving sides from all rugby nations is needed. Sit down and change the HC in agreement with everyone rather then throwing the toys out of the pram - thankfully the other nations stuck together and let the English sides make a joke of themselves.

Can anyone help with what time the Las Vegas 7s games are scheduled UK time? Nevada is gmt -8 so 8am there is 4pm in the UK. But I'm not making sense of the start times I'm looking at via the web.
Here's the official irb site times (but which timezone?):
http://www.irbsevens.com/destination...esresults.html

Below, these two links seem to be giving start times at 1am-3am GMT (!) but Sky's coverage runs from afternoon through to night.
http://www.livescores.cc/rugby-union...2014/fixtures/
http://www.supersport.com/rugby/sevens/fixtures

Sky's coverage Saturday is live 2pm Sat red button through to 3am but that would be a 6am start local time in Las Vegas?! I might be being just a bit dull on this but is there a definitive UK/GMT fixture list available somewhere online?

Ashton dropped, no surprise there. Less sure about Youngs though.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25933506
Who will play outside centre?

6 Nations first weekend predictions lads and ladies?

Wales v Italy - Wales
France v England - France
Ireland v Scotland - Ireland

Overall Winner - France

Wales v Italy - Wales
France v England - England
Ireland v Scotland - Scotland

I think a few "against the odds" results this weekend

England beating France in Paris would be a massive result and could spur them on to win the championship but I don't see it happening... I am concerned about the unpredictable nature of Scotland coming to Lansdowne Road but hopefully from our point of view the momentum of the provinces continue.

weekend team news

Wales v Italy
France v England
Ireland v Scotland

more team news

Burrell and Nowell start for England

And May...

I like Maku coming off the bench. Is Parling injured or has Attwood just stepped above him in the pecking order.

not sure about Goode on the bench, he's good but doesn't add anything creative coming on. Although I imagine we'll be likely hanging on if we do get ahead.

Really happy to see Burrell given a chance but not so sure on 36 still... just seems an average player, but I guess he provides cover for 10 with no Ford on the bench.