Round-up: Stern test for Wilkinson return

This afternoon's Zurich Premiership match at Sixways will be a landmark event for both Worcester, who have at last broken into the top flight of English club rugby, and Jonny Wilkinson, who makes his first appearance for visitors Newcastle since suffering career-threatening neck and shoulder injuries during England's World Cup triumph last winter.

This afternoon's Zurich Premiership match at Sixways will be a landmark event for both Worcester, who have at last broken into the top flight of English club rugby, and Jonny Wilkinson, who makes his first appearance for visitors Newcastle since suffering career-threatening neck and shoulder injuries during England's World Cup triumph last winter.

In front of an anticipated 8,000-plus crowd, including England's acting head coach, Andy Robinson, Wilkinson will find himself up against a revamped Worcester line-up which includes summer signings Thomas Lombard, Pat Sanderson, Ben Gollings and Thinus Delport.

Sale face Leicester at Edgeley Park with three new arrivals - the England prop Trevor Woodman and a French duo, hooker Sebastien Bruno and back-row forward Sebastien Chabal. Leicester have back-row injury concerns, with Neil Back, Martin Corry and Will Johnson among those on the casualty list.

Leeds take on Gloucester at Heading-ley without their two high-profile acquisitions, Iain Balshaw and Tim Stimpson, who are both injured. But the former England full-backs' fellow newcomers - Chris Bell, Pierre Uys and Richard Parks - all start. Olivier Azam, Gary Powell, Adam Balding and Terry Sigley will turn out for Gloucester, while the England scrum-half Andy Gomarsall is among their replacements.

Paddy Wallace landed two penalties and a late drop-goal to snatch a 17-16 Celtic League victory for Ulster over Edinburgh at Murrayfield. Chris Paterson, recovered from a smashed cheekbone, kicked three penalties for Edinburgh and a conversion to Todd Blackadder's try. Paul Steinmetz, with a drop goal, and Andy Maxwell, with a try, also scored for Ulster.

Fly-half Paul Warwick bagged a try, a penalty and three conversions in Connacht's 31-15 defeat of Glasgow in Galway. Connacht's other touchdowns came from Matt Lacey, John Muldoon and Matt Mostyn while Glasgow's try-scorers were Dan Parks, who also kicked a penalty and a conversion, and Kenny Logan.