PLANET RUGBY:Tomás O'Leary was among the try scorers but he couldn't prevent London Irish from losing 41-30 at the Madejski stadium to Gloucester, the second successive defeat in as many matches in the Aviva Premiership. Former Leinster hooker Brian Blaney came on for the home side during the game.
Another Irish-born player, ex- Leinster Academy and underage international Shane Monahan was on the bench for Gloucester. Geordan Murphy, whose autobiography The Outsider – which was written in conjunction with Gavin Cummiskey – is in the shops was part of a Leicester Tigers team that enjoyed a bonus point victory over the Worcester Warriors.
Numbers up: New Zealand see rise in players after win
The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) has produced figures that participation and interest in the sport has increased since it hosted and won last year's World Cup.
Official figures released by the NZRU one year on show almost 150,000 players turned out for their club or school during 2012. That represents a rise of three per cent (on 2011). Over the last four years, total player numbers have increased seven per cent from 140,279 in 2008.
The World Cup also bolstered the New Zealand economy to the tune of €475,716,750, while 133,000 supporters visited the country from over 100 countries. The tournament was broadcast in 207 territories and had a global cumulative television audience of 3.9 billion. Apparently 73 per cent of the French population watched at least 15 minutes; although it doesn't specify whether that was of the final or the tournament in general.
Rocky road: Elsom clubless
Former Australian captain and Leinster legend Rocky Elsom's search for a club may continue after the medical team at Toulon knocked back any potential signing because of a shoulder issue, according to a local newspaper. A contract he had to play in Japan with Kobe Steelers was terminated after he failed to satisfy their requirements medically.
Jonny B Com: stars graduate
Leinster players Dominic Ryan and Jonathan Sexton both recently completed BCom degrees in UCD but while Ryan was able to make it to the graduation ceremony on crutches – the unfortunate flanker is out for about three months with ligament damage in his foot – his team-mate couldn't be there on the day.
