Royal Wedding: Brian O'Driscoll to miss Kate and William's big day for Leinster rugby match

Ireland rugby captain Brian O’Driscoll has snubbed an invite to Friday’s royal wedding as he is playing for Leinster in the Heineken Cup 24 hours later.

The 32-year-old admitted it was a 'big honour' to be invited but the game was more important than being a guest at Westminster Abbey.

Leinster play Toulouse in the semi-final at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium at  3.30pm on Saturday - the day after Prince William and Kate Middleton’s nuptials in London.

'I have a captain’s run on Friday and as big an honour as it was to be invited, I can’t ask for team runs to be at 6pm,' he told The Guardian. O’Driscoll’s wife, actress Amy Huberman, will attend the ceremony.

'It’s a small thing but waking up here, at home on Saturday morning, is really important' I’ll be up early enough for breakfast and lounging around, watching Soccer AM. I’ll make my usual lunch at 1230. My missus knows to leave me alone. She won’t be getting much chat out of me. And then it’s off to the game.'

Prince William, who is vice royal patron of the Welsh Rugby Union, is likely to share his big day with some of the sport’s leading figures.

England and Gloucester centre Mike Tindall is engaged to Prince William’s cousin Zara Phillips and will be attending, as will as fellow British and Irish Lions flanker Martyn Williams.

Williams has been granted time off by club side Cardiff Blues, even though his attendance at the wedding will mean missing a Magners League match against Newport Dragons on the same day.

Gareth Thomas, who now plays for rugby league side Crusaders, is also set to be amongst the congregation.

View the original article here

RFU to debate relegation for rugby clubs in administration

London Welsh will hope they have turned a corner after the club went into administration last summer.The proposal has been put forward by National One club Stourbridge RFC.

The move is a response to the financial problems suffered by London Welsh, Coventry and Birmingham and Solihull, who have all been docked points for going into administration this season but have kept their league status.

 Related ArticlesArmstrong to join NorthamptonMillionaire fan buys BathKiller Bs reunitedCipriani in line to face EnglandVickery eyes England returnSport on television

Coventry and Birmingham and Solihull were docked 15 points for going into administration but although the latter finished the regular campaign at the bottom of the table on -9 points, the Midlands club could yet avoid the drop because of the new four-way relegation play-off format.

Birmingham and Solihull are second in the table, two points ahead of Mosley and one ahead of Coventry, who finished second bottom in the regular league, 29 points adrift of 10th-placed Rotherham.

"It would be a travesty if one club who had been in administration avoided the drop at the expense of one club who played by the book," said one source.

"The proposal will be debated and then it could be put to a vote to go forward to the annual general meeting."

View the Original article