Scotland captain Jason White insists his troops are in an optimistic frame of mind ahead of Sunday's RBS 6 Nations clash with France.

Eoin Reddan has urged his Ireland team-mates to prove their tortuous World Cup was just an aberration by overwhelming Italy on Saturday.

An opportunistic last minute try from Blues replacement George Pisi secured a nail-biting 25-19 victory over the Reds at the Ballymore Stadium in a Super 14 pre-season match on Thursday."

Ireland scrum-half Eoin Reddan has urged his team-mates to prove their tortuous World Cup was just an aberration by overwhelming Italy."

Australian Rugby Union (ARU) boss John O'Neill has expressed his interest in allowing Pacific Islanders into Australia's Super 14 teams saying that the union needed to revitalise Australia's domestic itinerary."

London Irish star Declan Danaher has been found guilty of stamping on an opponent and suspended from all rugby for three weeks."

Joe Bearman has signed a new two-year contract extension with the Dragons, keeping him at Rodney Parade until 2010."

Former New Zealand rugby league international Lesley Vainikolo plans to burst into England folklore on Saturday.

The competition for places hailed by Scotland coach Frank Hadden this week has extended into the Scotland A team where coaches Andy Robinson and Sean Lineen have selected an impressive group of players for their first game in charge.

London Irish's Declan Danaher has been suspended for three weeks following a ERC independent disciplinary hearing.