Guinness Premiership Rugby, H0sted by
in England

Aviva Premiership

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Leicester Tigers
vs
Sale Sharks

Matches: Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks
Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership
Teams: Leicester Tigers | Sale Sharks
Grounds: Welford Road
27-12-2010 from 14:00 until 16:00GMT
Match Round 11

Tigers targeting Christmas

Leicester will be intent on securing a bonus-point victory when they entertain struggling Sale Sharks at Welford Road on Monday.

After a defeat and draw against Perpignan home and away in the Heineken Cup, the Tigers will be anxious to return to domestic action where they have won their last three matches.

Sale have lost their last four in all competitions and will be under new stewardship after head coach Mike Brewer was abruptly sacked prior to Christmas. Leicester should be confident securing a five-pointer at home to aid their pursuit of Northampton at the top of the Premiership table.

Sale are third from bottom in the standings and could sink into the bottom two if Newcastle beat Leeds at Kingston Park.

Leicester - Player to Watch: Manu Tuilagi has been drafted into midfield and the giant youngster will line up in opposition to brother Andy. There will likely be a few family scores to settle as another Tuilagi, Alesana, is on the Leicester wing.

Leicester - Team News: There is a new look to the home side due to a couple of injuries and enforced rest for England players. Toby Flood and Jordan Crane are carrying knocks, meaning that Jeremy Staunton returns at fly-half and Thomas Waldrom shifts back to No.8. Ben Youngs, Dan Cole and George Chuter are all rested as James Grindal, Rob Hawkins and Martin Castrogiovanni start as a result.

Sale - Player to Watch: Mark Cueto will make his 150th appearance for the Sharks and after another difficult week his experience will be vital.

Sale - Team News: Nick Macleod deputises for Charlie Hodgson at fly-half and is joined at halfback by the experienced Dwayne Peel. Andrew Sheridan misses out with a back problem, although Chris Jones is fit to start his first game of the season in the second-row.

Leicester Tigers

	Team
15	FB	Geordan Murphy
14	W	Scott Hamilton
13	C	Manu Tuilagi
12	C	Anthony Allen
11	W	Alesana Tuilagi
10	FH	Jeremy Staunton
9	SH	James Grindal
1	P	Marcos Ayerza
2	H	Rob Hawkins
3	P	Martin Castrogiovanni
4	L	Louis Deacon
5	L	Ed Slater
6	F	Steve Mafi
7	F	Craig Newby
8	N8	Thomas Waldrom

Sale Sharks

	Team
15	FB	Paul Williams
14	W	Ben Cohen
13	C	Mathew Tait
12	C	Anitele'a Tuilagi
11	W	Mark Cueto
10	FH	Nick Macleod
9	SH	Dwayne Peel
1	P	Lee Imiolek
2	H	Marc Jones
3	P	Karena Wihongi
4	L	Chris Jones
5	L	Kris Ormsby
6	F	Asaeli Boko
7	F	Carl Fearns
8	N8	Sisa Koyamaibole

Guinness Premiership Rugby, H0sted by
in England

Aviva Premiership

Watch

Newcastle Falcons
v
Leeds Carnegie

Match scheduled:
27-12-2010 from15:00GMT
Aviva Premiership

Falcons aiming to extend safety net

The bottom two clash at Kinston Park on Monday with Leeds desperate for a boost in their pursuit of the rest going into the New Year.

Originally fixed for Boxing Day, this clash will now go ahead on Monday, December 27 with Leeds seven points behind Newcastle at the foot of the table and needing to start picking up victories if they are to reel-in those ahead of them in the standings. And they may not get a better chance, with the Falcons having one just once in their last seven Aviva Premiership outings.

The Falcons' last home game was moved to Galashiels in Scotland, when they grabbed a last-gasp victory over Exeter in the Amlin Challenge Cup. And the continued freezing conditions at Kingston Park led to this match being delayed by 24 hours to Monday afternoon.

Newcastle - Player to Watch: Alan Tait will be hoping new signing Euan Murray can have an impact up front after joining from Northampton. At his best, the Scotland and Lions prop is a destructive scrummager and the struggling Falcons need tome impetus.

Newcastle - Team News: The Boxing Day postponement frees up Euan Murray to make his Falcons debut in the front row, while Micky Young returns to the side after a spell on the sideline and Jason Spice starts on the bench.

Leeds - Player to Watch: Hendrie Fourie's ball winning skills will be key for Neil Back's men if they are secure their first win of the season against their closest rivals at the foot of the table..

Leeds - Team News: Steve Thompson and Hendrie Fourie return to the Leeds fold, Gareth Hardy and Phil Swainston will start in the front row alongside England hooker Thompson whilst Lachlan MacKay starts at fly-half and Ceiron Thomas reverts to full back.

Key Battle: Relegation battles are rarely pretty and it will be the coolest scrum-half who can get their side moving. Warren Fury and Micky Young will do battle for control of the game, their packs will help but their backlines will thank them for clean ball.

Newcastle Falcons

TEAM

15	FB	Jeremy Manning
14	W	Luke Fielden
13	C	Tane Tu'ipulotu
12	C	Luke Eves
11	W	Gcobani Bobo
10	FH	Jimmy Gopperth
9	SH	Micky Young
1	P	Grant Shiells
2	H	Matt Thompson
3	P	Euan Murray
4	L	James Hudson
5	L	Tim Swinson
6	F	Will Welch
7	F	Redford Pennycook
8	N8	Ally Hogg

Leeds Carnegie

TEAM

15	FB	Ceiron Thomas
14	W	Lee Blackett
13	C	Henry Fa'afili
12	C	Scott Barrow
11	W	Michael Stephenson
10	FH	Lachie Mackay
9	SH	Warren Fury
1	P	Gareth Hardy
2	H	Steve Thompson
3	P	Phil Swainston
4	L	Tom Denton
5	L	Marco Wentzel
6	F	Rhys Oakley
7	F	Hendre Fourie
8	N8	Daniel Browne

Guinness Premiership Rugby, H0sted by
in England

Premiership Rugby

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(Harlequins
vs
London Irish)


Match scheduled:
27-12-2010 from 16:30 until 18:30GMT
Aviva Premiership
Match Round 11

Irish eye Twickenham turnaround

London Irish will hope to end their worst run since 2002 when they face Harlequins at Twickenham on Monday.

Irish have slumped to seven successive defeats in all competitions and their loss of form has hit their domestic hopes the most. Having led the standings earlier in the season they are now down to fourth and in danger of slipping out of the play-off places. But they will hope the eapansive turf of Twickenham will suit their express widemen.

Harlequins were boosted during the week with Tom Guest, Joe Marler and James Johnston all committing their futures to the club and recently claimed back-to-back wins over Connacht to keep their Amlin Challenge Cup bid alive. They will be optimistic of maintaining that promising form.

Harlequins - Player to Watch: Ugo Monye has not featured for Quins since September because of injury but he has been cleared to start at Twickenham and it will be fascinating to see how he fares on his return to the starting line-up with the Six Nations looming large on the horizon.

Harlequins - Team News: Monye's return on the left wing is a timely one as Gonzalo Camacho suffered an injury in last weekend's win over Connacht. Tom Guest also picked up a knock in Galway, to his ankle, and that results in a start for Will Skinner in the back-row. Elsewhere, George Robson is recalled to the second-row, while the aforementioned Marler will team up with Joe Gray and Johnston in the front row.

London Irish - Player to Watch: Faan Rautenbach has proven a fine servant for the Exiles since arriving at the Madejski Stadium five years ago and the South African will be hoping to mark his 100th appearance for the club with a stellar performance.

London Irish - Team News: Topsy Ojo returns to the Irish starting XV, taking the place of Jonathan Joseph on the left wing, while George Stowers gets the nod at No.8 ahead of Chris Hala'ufia.

Rugby Magners League, Hosted by United Kingdom

The Magners League

Ulster
v
Leinster


Match scheduled:
27-12-2010 from 16:00 until 18:00GMT
Week 12
Rugby Magners League 2010

Ulster

Team

15	FB	Adam D'Arcy
14	W	Craig Gilroy
13	C	Nevin Spence
12	C	Ian Whitten
11	W	Simon Danielli
10	FH	Niall O'Connor
9	SH	Ruan Pienaar
1	P	Paddy McAllister
2	H	Nigel Brady
3	P	BJ Botha
4	L	Johann Muller
5	L	Dan Tuohy
6	F	Pedrie Wannenburg
7	F	Chris Henry
8	N8	Robbie Diack

Leinster

Team

15	FB	Isa Nacewa
14	W	Shane Horgan
13	C	Brian O'Driscoll
12	C	Fergus McFadden
11	W	David Kearney
10	FH	Shaun Berne
9	SH	Isaac Boss
1	P	Heinke van der Merwe
2	H	Jason Harris-Wright
3	P	Mike Ross
4	L	Leo Cullen
5	L	Devin Toner
6	F	Rhys Ruddock
7	F	Dominic Ryan
8	N8	Sean O'Brien

Rugby Magners League, Hosted by United Kingdom

The Magners League

Glasgow Warriors
vs
Eddinburgh Rugby


Match scheduled:
27-12-2010 from 17:35 until 19:35GMT
Week 12
Rugby Magners League 2010

Glasgow

Team

15	FB	Bernardo Stortoni
14	W	Hefin O'Hare
13	C	Max Evans
12	C	Graeme Morrison
11	W	DTH van der Merwe
10	FH	Ruaridh Jackson
9	SH	Colin Gregor
1	P	Jon Welsh
2	H	Fergus Thomson
3	P	Moray Low
4	L	Richie Gray
5	L	Alastair Kellock
6	F	Rob Harley
7	F	John Barclay
8	N8	Richie Vernon

Edinburgh

Team

15	FB	Jim Thompson
14	W	Lee Jones
13	C	Ben Cairns
12	C	John Houston
11	W	Tim Visser
10	FH	David Blair
9	SH	Greig Laidlaw
1	P	Allan Jacobsen
2	H	Ross Ford
3	P	Geoff Cross
4	L	Scott Macleod
5	L	Fraser McKenzie
6	F	Scott Newlands
7	F	Ross Rennie
8	N8	Roddy Grant

Connacht Rugby
vs
Munster

Game moved from Sunday due to bad weather conditions, should be played Today (Monday)...
Rugby Magners League

United Kingdom

The Magners League

Connacht Rugby
vs
Munster


Match scheduled:
27-12-2010
18:10 until 20:15GMT
Week 12
Rugby Magners League 2010
Galway Ground

Connacht TEam