Richard Hill cycles for charity

Ex-Lions, England and Saracens star Richard Hill is beginning to rediscover the passion which made him such a menace on the rugby field with the help of a custom made bike.

It is a slow road to fitness after major knee surgery as he trains for The Lexus Great British Bike Ride, but Hill’s desire for competition soon reared its head again when he came up against some fellow cyclists: “Cycling was all new to me, and I was overtaken by an elderly couple when out on the road.

“But it was when I got over taken by some more, that the competitive edge came back and I followed their route to see if I could keep up with them.

Dallaglio on St George's Day prospects

When Wasps host Bath at Twickenham next weekend it will not only be a great celebration of Englishness, but an opportunity for some to seize a summer tour boarding pass.

As two of the Guinness Premiership’s most decorated sides fight in a must-win match for the last playoff position, England head coach Martin Johnson will be keeping a close eye on a number of the players on show.

Lawrence Dallaglio who captained his country thinks there are still a number of opportunities in the inaugural St George’s Day game. He said: “We are now in the business end of the season and you can prove yourself in these types of games – and it’s not just for the younger players.

Stade rise to beat Clermont and dent their title ambitions

Next season’s Stade Français coach Michael Cheika was in the stands to watch his future side claim a moral boosting victory against Clermont Auvergne today in the Top 14.

Coach Jacques Delmas described Stade’s season as a “black year” but this result showed signs the side is capable of pulling off good results and should ease Cheika’s mind somewhat about the task he faces beginning in the summer.

An exciting first half, which initially looked like Stade were in for a long afternoon, was not matched in the second, as the razzmatazz of cheerleaders and a Jean of Arc imitation riding on horseback across the Stade de France prior to kick-off fizzled out over the 80 minutes.