Organisers of the home Rugby World Cup in 2015 believe they are close to reaching agreement with Manchester City to play at least one game at the Etihad Stadium.

O'Shea excited by club's talent and matches such as this weekend's Heineken Cup tie

Declan Kidney finished down on his luck in the 2013 Six Nations: three defeats and a draw followed the solitary opening-day victory over Wales in Cardiff. Now, he is finished as Ireland coach. The 53-year-old former maths teacher from County Cork was shown the door by his governing body – a development widely predicted by Emerald Isle rugby experts after last month's excruciating loss to Italy in Rome, in which the Munsterman got his sums badly wrong.

Leicester man looking forward to playing against his mate at last as Tigers travel to Toulon

Stephen Donald, the outside-half from New Zealand who kicked the All Blacks to a first world title in almost a quarter of a century before flying halfway round the planet for a lucrative stint in Premiership rugby with Bath, has had enough of life in these parts. He is about to leave the Recreation Ground with a season still left on his very expensive contract and take up employment in Japan, where the weekly demands on mind and body are somewhat less severe.

London Irish 33 Sale 33

Fresh from win over England in Cardiff, Wales and Scarlets No 13 is now ready to battle the great O'Driscoll for a spot on summer tour, he tells Chris Hewett

Northampton (4th) v Leicester (2nd)

A year ago, it would have been close to unthinkable for Harlequins to rest Chris Robshaw, the England captain and just about the most consistent performer in domestic rugby, for a key Premiership fixture in the wild West Country. Tomorrow night, the reigning champions will attempt to silence a full house at Gloucester without the services of their star turn. Startlingly, Robshaw is not even on the bench.

Steve Walsh, the controversial Australian official who frustrated England to within an inch of their lives during the Six Nations finale in Wales 11 days ago, is the heaviest faller in the latest round of refereeing appointments sanctioned by the International Rugby Board.