Harinordoquy ruled out

RUGBY DIGEST: France have replaced injured number eight Imanol Harinordoquy with Julien Bonnaire for next week's Six Nations match with Italy.

Harinordoquy (right) will miss the rest of the tournament after being ruled out for three weeks with an ankle injury, so coach Marc Lièvremont has recalled 29-year-old Bonnaire to the backrow.

Harinordoquy picked up the injury while playing for Biarritz in their Top 14 clash with Bourgoin last weekend and his club had pulled him out of this weekend's game with Stade Français. A scan showed a muscle tear.

High winds cause postponement

Newcastle's English Premiership game with Wasps last night was postponed due to high winds.

The match was being billed as a showdown between England outhalf Jonny Wilkinson and his heir apparent, 20-year-old Wasps prospect Danny Cipriani.

But the clash must wait after inclement weather in the Kingston Park area.

Leicester scrumhalf Harry Ellis has vowed to return as "a better player and a better person" after putting months of injury misery behind him.

The Leicester scrumhalf, England's outstanding player in last season's Six Nations, is poised to make his comeback as a replacement against Leeds Carnegie at Welford Road today.

He has been sidelined since last May when he ruptured his left anterior cruciate knee ligament during the Tigers' play-off victory over Bristol.

Bergamasco apologises for gouge

Italy flanker Mauro Bergamasco has apologised for the eye-gouging incident in Saturday's 47-8 defeat by Wales that cost him a 13-week ban.

Bergamasco was found guilty by a Six Nations disciplinary commission on Wednesday of deliberately placing his finger in the eye of Wales fullback Lee Byrne and suspended until June 2nd. He will miss the rest of the tournament.

"I apologise to the person concerned, Lee Byrne, to my fans, my team-mates, my club Stade Français and the Italian Rugby Federation," the 28-year-old said on his website.

"I realise that what happened does not reflect the values and principles of rugby and of sport in general. I'd like to say that I did not want to cause any damage with the gesture I committed, even though it was serious."

Williams stays with Ospreys

Wales star Shane Williams has signed a new three-year contract with Heineken European Cup quarter-finalists the Ospreys.

Williams, who needs one try to equal Gareth Thomas' record of 40 touchdowns for Wales, has committed himself to the region until 2011.

His decision follows that of Wales and Ospreys colleague Lee Byrne, who agreed a new long-term deal earlier this week.

Wing Williams has scored 39 tries in 54 Tests for Wales and also toured New Zealand with the 2005 British and Irish Lions. His Ospreys record shows 35 tries from 78 games.

He said: "It is great that I've been able to re-sign with the Ospreys for the next three years. This is the only place I want to play rugby, so I am obviously delighted to tie everything up so quickly.

"I can't imagine playing anywhere else. I want to stay here for the rest of my playing career."

Care call

Uncapped Harlequins scrumhalf Danny Care has been called into England's training squad ahead of the Six Nations clash against Scotland at Murrayfield next Saturday.

Care is the solitary addition to a 30-man group that will assemble in Bath tomorrow evening.

The 21-year-old has been in outstanding form for his club, and is currently keeping England's World Cup scrumhalf Andy Gomarsall out of the Harlequins side.