This season's Six Nations got under way last Saturday with reigning champions Ireland hosting Italy.

After all the ups and downs of the Lions tour and the so called "Bloodgate" scandal the Guinness Premiership starts on Friday with defending champions Leicester kicking off their defence at Sale.

After all the discussions about selection the tour finally got under way on Saturday when the tourists played their first match against the grandly named Royal XV.

The Autumn internationals got under way this weekend with 5 Northern Hemisphere teams playing 5 from the Southern, and Ireland taking on a redeveloping Canada.

This rather unwelcome addition to the calender returns for the second group stage this weekend.

Today sees the start of the 2008/09 Premiership season with the now traditional Twickenham double header.

Leicester's new head coach Heyneke Meyer has named his team for the first match of this season's Guinness Premiership which pits the Tigers against the team they beat in last season's play off semi fi

And so we come to the final weekend of Northern Hemisphere v. Southern Hemisphere matches.

The draw for next season's Heineken Cup has been made in Dublin.

Pool One

England have reacted to their thumping by the All Blacks by making six changes, five in the backs, for Saturday's second Test in Christchurch.

The team is: