TRI-NATIONS CHALLENGE:The International Rugby Board will discuss plans to stage a one-off match between the Six Nations and Tri-Nations champions when the governing body meets with rugby union's leading nations in Hong Kong on Sunday.
The idea will be the main focus of talks between IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset, deputy Bill Beaumont and the four home unions, France, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand at the Tier One CEOs meeting, but the possibility of a global tournament to run in between World Cups is also expected to be explored.
Hong Kong, who are set to host a Test match between Australia and New Zealand in the autumn, have already indicated they would be interested in staging the game.
"It would be a tremendous honour if we were asked to host this match," said Allan Payne, Hong Kong Rugby Football Union executive director.
FRANCE: France coach Marc Lièvremont has made eight changes to his 22-man squad to take on Italy in their penultimate Six Nations meeting on March 9th.
Centre Yannick Jauzion has been recalled after recovering from recent injury problems. Julien Malzieu is also back to full fitness, while Imanol Harinordoquy has earned a recall.
Lièvremont has also called up five uncapped players - Fabien Barcella, Guilhem Guirado, Ibrahim Diarra, Julien Tomas and Yann David - as France bid to get their championship bid back on track after last week's loss to England.
Backs: D Yachvili (Biarritz), J Tomas (Montpellier), F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Y Jauzion (Toulouse), D Traille (Biarritz), Y David (Bourgoin), J Malzieu (Clermont-Auvergne), A Floch (Clermont-Auvergne), A Rougerie (Clermont-Auvergne), V Clerc (Toulouse). Forwards: F Barcella (Auch), J-B Poux (Toulouse), N Mas (Perpignan), G Guirado (Perpignan), D Szarzewski (Stade Français), L Nallet (Castres), J Thion (Biarritz), P Pape (Stade Français), I Diarra (Montauban), L Picamoles (Montpellier), F Ouedraogo (Montpellier), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz).
ITALY:Loose forward Mauro Bergamasco will miss the rest of the Six Nations Championship after he was handed a 13-week ban for poking the Wales fullback Lee Byrne in the eye.
The incident happened towards the end of Wales's 47-8 win over the Azzurri in Cardiff on Saturday.
Bergamasco's case was heard by a three-man disciplinary committee and the decision took into account his guilty plea and other mitigating factors.
The ban will start on March 3rd, the date the 28-year-old is expected to recover from a shoulder injury. He will not therefore be able to play until June 2nd.
Bergamasco will miss Italy's remaining Six Nations matches, in France on March 9th and Wales on March 15th.
Meanwhile, Byrne has signed a new new four-year contract with the Ospreys. The 27-year-old has committed himself to the region until the end of the 2011-12 season.
