Back puts Leicester first despite offer of England job

Neil Back has pledged his immediate future to Leicester. The former England flanker is to turn down a position with the Rugby Football Union's national academy to maintain a relationship with the Midlands club which has lasted 15 years.

Neil Back has pledged his immediate future to Leicester. The former England flanker is to turn down a position with the Rugby Football Union's national academy to maintain a relationship with the Midlands club which has lasted 15 years.

The World Cup winner, who is currently defence coach as well as a key member of the Tigers' first-team squad, said: "I'll definitely be at the club next season, though in what capacity I do not know. The RFU job is something that interests me and I think there's a role and a job for me. But it's just a case of getting away from matches to work out what that role is."

Munster's hopes of Heineken Cup success have been boosted by the news that the Samoan centre Brian Lima will play for the Irish province for the rest of the season. The deal is subject to the 32-year-old passing a medical and securing a work permit, but Lima was registered with Munster before yesterday's player registration deadline for the tournament.

The man nicknamed "The Chiropractor" for his jarring tackles will join for the remainder of the season.

Samoa's all-time leading try-scorer, Lima has been capped 50 times in a career that has included Super 12 rugby with New Zealand's Blues and Highlanders and French experience with Stade Français. He has been without a club since leaving the Japanese side Secom last year, but his try-scoring performance in last Saturday's tsunami benefit match at Twickenham between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres put him back in the shop window.

The Welsh Rugby Union has secured £1.6m from the Welsh Assembly Government to help set up four regional training academies.