International Rugby Players
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Top 14
Toulon 34 - 12 Agen
Heineken Cup - Care punished for 'drunk and disorderly' arrest
England scrum-half Danny Care has been fined an undisclosed amount by Harlequins following his arrest for being drunk and disorderly.
The 24-year-old was arrested at 3am on Saturday in Weybridge following Harlequins' 21-10 Heineken Cup defeat by Toulouse. The England scrum-half was released without charge and he paid a fixed penalty fine.
The Rugby Football Union have taken no disciplinary action but Care has accepted a fine from Harlequins for breaking the club's code of conduct. Care's fine will be donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust unit at University College Hospital in London.
Harlequins director of rugby Conor O'Shea said: "We have a crucial Heineken Cup match at the weekend in Toulouse, so it was important we acted quickly.
"We take it very seriously. However, from the club's point of view a line will be drawn under the incident and we will get on with our preparation for the match.
"Danny has apologised to his team and understands fully what is expected of him."
Care was reprimanded by England's interim head coach Stuart Lancaster, who he has known since his days in the Leeds academy, but no formal action was taken by the RFU.
"It was a silly thing to do - I accept that and apologise completely," Care said. "We had just played a tough game and I was out with some of the team and friends but should have remembered that, as a professional player, I am on duty throughout the season and need to set a better example to the fans. "I totally accept the police and club fines."
Eurosport
European Challenge Cup
London Wasps 25 - 11 Bayonne
Stade Français 45 - 3 Crociati Rugby
Brive 38 - 13 Rugby Club La Vila
Bordeaux-Bègles 15 - 10 Rugby Rovigo
Harlequins training, Guildford
Hansen to take over from Henry
Steve Hansen has been confirmed as the new head coach of the All Blacks after serving eight years as an assistant coach of the world's most successful rugby side.
Hansen was widely tipped to get the prestigious role when former head coach Graham Henry stepped down after steering the top-ranked All Blacks to victory in the World Cup on home soil two months ago. "From a coaching point of view in this sport it's the greatest honour you can receive. It comes with a huge amount of responsibility," Hansen said when his appointment was announced. With the All Blacks the newly crowned world champions, and no team having won successive World Cups, Hansen said he relished the challenge ahead and stepping out of Henry's shadow.
"You look at the Rugby World Cup history and teams have struggled slightly afterwards, but that makes the challenge even more exciting," he told a media conference. "As Ali said to George Foreman around round seven of rope-a-dope, 'It's not a good time to get tired George,' so we can't afford to either. "We've got to put a full stop on what we've achieved, and it's a magnificent thing what we have achieved, but this is a new team, a new group of people and we have to make our own history," he added.
Hansen, a 52-year-old former policeman has signed a two-year deal and his coaching staff will be named next week. He said he would have only one assistant coach and a panel of specialist coaches. The previous three-man coaching team was in place for eight years, but as well as Henry stepping down backs coach Wayne Smith has also moved on and taken up a role with the Chiefs.
New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) chairman Mike Eagle said Hansen was the best possible candidate for the job. "I want to congratulate him on his appointment. He is an outstanding coach and has been a key part of a hugely successful All Blacks team since becoming an assistant coach in 2004. "He has huge respect and backing from the team and his peers and is the right man to now lead the team," he said. Eagle said having a World Cup-winning coach involved in leading the team forward was a major advantage and allowed for a seamless transition.
Hansen said he was both excited and honoured to be chosen to succeed Henry. "I have huge pride in New Zealand rugby and I'm passionate about the All Blacks and New Zealand," he said. "I feel humbled and proud to be given the opportunity to lead the team into its next phase. My aim will be to leave the team in a better shape than how I found it and to enhance its legacy." The All Blacks are one of the most successful teams in world sport and have enjoyed an 85 per cent winning record since Hansen joined Henry and Smith in the coaching set-up in 2004.
PR
European Cup
Edinburgh Rugby 19 - 12 Cardiff Blues
Ospreys 13 - 16 Saracens
Biarritz 29 - 12 Benetton Treviso
LIVE H CUP: Aironi Rugby v Ulster (Italian)
http://lsh.lshunter.tv/index1.php?option=c...mp;layout=popup
European Cup
Leicester Tigers 23 - 19 Clermont
Aironi Rugby 20 - 46 Ulster
European Challenge Cup
I Cavalieri Prato 13 - 30 Perpignan
LIVE H CUP: Montpellier V Glasgow Warriors
http://www.justin.tv/euskal_herriko_tv#/w/2258991024/2
http://lsh.lshunter.tv/index1.php?option=c...mp;layout=popup
European Cup
Leinster 52 - 27 Bath Rugby
Gloucester Rugby 23 - 19 Connacht
Montpellier 13 - 13 Glasgow Warriors
London Irish 19 - 25 Racing Métro
European Challenge Cup
Toulon 36 - 10 Newcastle Falcons
Worcester Warriors 57 - 13 Bucharest Wolves
Petrarca Rugby 3 - 43 Lyon
European Cup
Munster 19 - 13 Scarlets
LIVE H CUP: Toulouse v Harlequins
European Cup
Toulouse 24 - 31 Harlequins
Northampton 45 - 0 Castres
European Challenge Cup
Sale Sharks 41 - 21 Agen
TOP 14 - Table after 12 Games
1. Toulouse - 43
2. Clermont Auvergne - 40
3. Toulon - 35
4. Castres - 33
5. Agen - 32
6. Stade Francais - 30
7. Racing Metro Paris - 30
8. Montpellier - 27
9. Brive - 22
10. Bordeaux-Begles - 21
11. Bayonne - 20
12. Perpignan - 20
13. Lyon - 17
14. Biarritz - 15
(Lyon and Bordeaux have a game in hand)
Upcoming fixtures: 23/12/2011
All games to be played @ 15:00GMT
Bayonne vs Castres
Toulon vs Lyon
Perpignan vs Bordeaux-Begles
Racing Metro Paris vs Agen
Stade Francais vs Biarritz
Brive vs Clermont Auvergne
Montpellier vs Toulouse