Horgan in squad as cover for Howe

Shane Horgan was drafted into the Irish squad yesterday as cover for Tyrone Howe after the 29-year-old Ulster winger contracted a fever overnight. Howe is under medication and a decision as to his fitness will be made "as soon as possible" according to the Ireland manager Brian O'Brien.

It is still anticipated Howe will be able to play against France on Saturday but as a further precautionary measure Horgan's position on the A team to play their French counterparts in Ravenhill tomorrow night has been filled by John Kelly, who started in the opening A championship win away to Italy.

Jonathan Bell, Kelly's midfield partner in the 61-10 win in Viterbo a fortnight ago, has thus been drafted back into the squad and will take Kelly's place on the replacement's bench.

Meanwhile, Wales full back Stephen Jones is battling to be fit for Saturday's clash against Scotland at Murrayfield. Jones missed training yesterday because of a muscle spasm in his lower back, putting Cardiff's Rhys Williams on stand-by.

Williams, who was dropped for the Millennium Stadium mauling by England 11 days ago, is due to play for Wales A against their Scottish counterparts tomorrow night. And while Wales coach Graham Henry believes Jones will be fit, a final decision is expected after the squad arrive in Edinburgh this afternoon.

The all-English European Cup semi-final between Leicester and Gloucester will be played at Vicarage Road on Saturday, April 21st.

The match will be shown live on BBC with a 4.0p.m. kick-off, following on from Munster's confrontation with Stade Francais in Lille which starts two hours earlier.

European Rugby Cup officials have encountered problems trying to secure a venue with their preferred soccer stadiums all being used and Gloucester apparently unhappy about playing at Vicarage Road.