Rugby

Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll, seen here in 2009, has been named as the player of the last decade by Rugby World magazine. © AFP/File Carl de Souza

LONDON (AFP) - Leinster and Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll has been named as the player of the last decade by Rugby World magazine.

O'Driscoll, who last year skippered Ireland to their first Six Nations Grand ...

Castres' winger Marc Andreu kicks the ball during the French Top 14 rugby union match at the Pierre Antoine stadium in Castres, southern France. Castres won 44-10. © AFP Remy Gabalda

PARIS (AFP) - Castres consolidated their lead of the French Top 14 with a six-try drubbing of Albi on Sunday as Stade Francais stuttered to a drab 6-6 draw with Montauban.

Clermont moved into second place with an ...

Castres' Marc Andreu kicks the ball during a French Top 14 rugby union match against Albi at the Pierre Antoine stadium in Castres, southern France. Castres consolidated their lead of the French Top 14 with a six-try drubbing of Albi as Stade Francais stuttered to a drab 6-all draw with Montauban. © AFP Remy Gabalda

PARIS (AFP) - Castres consolidated their lead of the French Top 14 with a six-try drubbing of Albi on Sunday as Stade Francais stuttered to a drab 6-all draw with Montauban.

Racing-Metro, who last lost in ...

Castres's winger Chris Masoe (2nd left) tries to break away with teammates during their French Top14 rugby union match vs Montauban at Pierre Antoine stadium in Castres, southern France, on December 30. Castres could consolidate their position atop the table when they host bottom club Albi on Sunday. © AFP/File Remy Gabalda

PARIS (AFP) - Struggling Stade Francais face a tricky away game against Montauban on Sunday with the players under pressure to step up a gear after slipping to midtable in the Top 14.

Stade last week suffered a ...

Veteran Scottish backrow forward Jason White, pictured in 2007, is out of this year's Six Nations after suffering a double fracture of his left leg. © AFP/File

CLERMONT-FERRAND, France (AFP) - Veteran Scottish backrow forward Jason White is out of this year's Six Nations after suffering a double fracture of his left leg.

The 31-year-old 77-times capped former Scotland ...

Sale scrum-half Dwayne Peel is pictured in action in October 2009. Sale claimed their third victory over Harlequins in 20 days to pull clear of the Premiership relegation zone with a dramatic 21-16 win at Edgeley Park on Friday. © AFP/File

LONDON (AFP) - Sale claimed their third victory over Harlequins in 20 days to pull clear of the Premiership relegation zone with a dramatic 21-16 win at Edgeley Park on Friday.

The home side, boosted by the return ...

Castres' Marc Andreu (R) breaks away from Montauban's Julien Audy during their Top14 rugby match at the Pierre Antoine stadium in Castres, southern France. Surprise Top 14 leaders Castres suffered no hangover after the holiday break as they retained their position at the top on Wednesday beating Montauban 30-7. © AFP Remy Gabalda

PARIS (AFP) - Surprise Top 14 leaders Castres suffered no hangover after the holiday break as they retained their position at the top on Wednesday beating Montauban 30-7.

Castres joint coach Laurent Travers was ...

Bordeaux' Yoan Gouffran (L) challenges Rennes' Kader Mangane during the French L1 football match Bordeaux vs Rennes at Chaban-Delmas stadium in Bordeaux, southwestern France. Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc called for a new stadium to be built for the French champions with a view to France hosting the 2016 European football championships. © AFP/File Jean-Pierre Muller

BORDEAUX, France (AFP) - Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc on Monday called for a new stadium to be built for the French champions with a view to France hosting the 2016 European football championships.

"If we don't ...

Paris' hooker Dimitri Szarzewski (C) tries to evade Ulster's scrum-half Isaac Boss (R) and Andrew Trimble during their European Cup rugby union match at the Jean Bouin Stadium in Paris. Angry French giants Stade Francais took out their European Cup frustrations with a revenge 29-16 victory over Ulster. © AFP Francois Guillot

PARIS (AFP) - Angry French giants Stade Francais took out their European Cup frustrations with a revenge 29-16 victory over Ulster on Sunday.

Stade were furious at the six-month ban handed out to scrum-half Julien ...