Rugby Digest

Today's other stories in brief

England's injury list grows

England are facing a back-row dilemma ahead of the Six Nations Championship after Nick Easter injured his troublesome knee in training and was ruled out of Harlequins' trip to Sale tonight.

England head coach Brian Ashton faces the possibility of being without his three most experienced loose-forwards for the opening game against Wales at Twickenham a week on Saturday.

Easter has not played for Quins this year and Joe Worsley is only in light training after suffering a neck injury, while Lewis Moody is battling a groin problem and has featured just once for Leicester in five weeks.

If all three were to be ruled out - and with Martin Corry and Lawrence Dallaglio both now retired from international rugby - then England's back row to face Wales could comprise of openside flanker Tom Rees, James Haskell at number eight and the uncapped Tom Croft.

Hill to call it a day

England World Cup winner Richard Hill has announced his retirement from professional rugby at the end of this season.

Hill (34) won 71 England caps and toured three times with the British and Irish Lions.

He has made almost 300 appearances for Saracens since making his first-team debut in 1993 and helped them book a European Cup quarter-final place for the first time just six days ago. Hill's final game before retirement is likely to be the English Premiership clash against Bristol at Vicarage Road on May 10th.

McKinley makes his mark

The sheer class of Ireland under-19 schools playmaker Ian McKinley shone through in St Columba's College surprisingly comfortable 18-3 defeat of CUS in the Leinster Schools (Section B) Vinnie Murray Cup second round at Ballinteer yesterday.

Even though full back Dean Rock, the son of former Dublin Gaelic footballer Barney, shot CUS to an early lead, they could not take advantage of the first-half wind in the face of a controlled performance from McKinley and the havoc caused by his flankers Conor Boyd and Sam Stephens at the breakdown McKinley's lovely loop created the space for wing Ed Wilson to go over.

Then, centre Chris Fenelon took his opportunity well and McKinley slotted the conversion and two penalties to qualify Columba's for the Vinnie Murray semi-final and a (Section C) Senior Cup first round crack at CBC Monkstown on Monday.

New Zealand wait

New Zealand will chase a third Grand Slam tour of Europe this November if an additional fixture against England receives approval from the International Rugby Board.

The All Blacks already have autumn Tests arranged against Scotland, Ireland and Wales and will be hoping they arrive at Twickenham on November 29th with the chance to make history. Only the 1978 and 2005 All Blacks have ever managed to beat all four home nations on one tour.

Jones signs new deal

Wales outhalf Stephen Jones has signed a new deal with Llanelli Scarlets, which keeps him at the club until 2011.

The news means Jones joins captain Simon Easterby, Wales wing Mark Jones and former All Black Regan King in pledging their futures to the club.