No. No, it is not.

In fact, for most countries it’s not even a new dawn.

There always seems to be lots of predictions about this new player getting brought in or building a new team for the next 4 year cycle and what I’ve realised as the build-up for this tournament continues is that it’s a load of bollocks. International coaches have spent ages with their squad, honing it obsessively, to get it ready for the World Cup – they’re not going to chuck that away now that it’s been done. No, they’ll be seeing the season out with their teams if possible. The summer tours will be different, particularly as many senior players will be very tired and deserving a break, but right now this is a continuation of business. Even in England and Italy, the two countries with the most changes in their squad, the majority of the squad have been here before – albeit briefly.

So no new dawn.

Is it at least going to be a good tournament?

I wouldn’t put any large amounts of money on this being a classic of good rugby. Robinson is still picking Parks and Morrison, Italy still look short of distributors in the backs, Saint-Andre tends to play a fairly boring style of rugby, while Kidney is so bloody conservative he probably regards fire as a dangerous new innovation. That leaves Lancaster’s England and Wales. Lancaster says he wants a team that spreads the ball, but as he is relying on the frequently stodgy Saracens model to get this, I am very sceptical. It’s a bit like asking a vegetarian to butcher an animal really; technically plausible, and you know it’s been done before, but push comes to shove you know its unnatural for them. Wales played some very good stuff at the World Cup, but seemingly every Welsh peak is followed by a Welsh trough very quickly, plus their injury list looks fairly heavy.

There will be good games. The intensity and passion of the Six Nations is its main selling point anyway, not its technical prowess, and I do not see any shortage of that. Nor do I believe every team will play poor rugby simply because it’s highly unlikely I’ll be right about all of them. The majority of it though will be, I believe, fairly poor.

Is the Six Nations suffering in comparison with the Heineken Cup?

I think so, at least on the forums I use. It’s an unfair comparison really as the Heineken has six times as many games and is therefore always going to throw up more classics and genuinely exciting games. The Six Nations is still throwing up its share of classics – Scotland’s last minute loss to Wales springs to mind – and even when the standard isn’t as high in terms of flinging the ball around, you can always rely on there being a good number of very absorbing games. For intensity and drama, the Six Nations still has no superior. I’d rather watch a random Six Nations game than a random Heineken Cup game.

One thing where the Heineken Cup does have the Six Nations at present though is quality of rugby. Obviously club teams and provinces spend longer together, which does help. But I think that conceals the main reason which is the presence of some very conservative and ordinary coaching tickets, perhaps combined with a few too many players who do alright in European rugby but don’t have what is required for internationals. Therefore I live in hope that in a few years we might see coaches sending out teams who can really run the ball. Just not this year.

So, can Lancaster really turn England around?

I’m not particularly hopeful but am not ruling it out. It depends slightly on how he does it. The tools are certainly there for England to kick their way to victory and for all the talk of going wide, I really won’t be surprised if that’s what happens. A genuine jackal and harder-nosed wingers would have been nice for that approach though. The other is that Lancaster really is looking to put some width on the ball. If he can get this happening, given everything he’s had to work with, and turn attacking intent into wins, then he probably deserves the England job.

In his way though are two rather hefty obstacles. The first is the perennial English failing of quick ball. Now this pack is about as good as we can field to accomplish the task and although I’m not optimistic, I believe it can happen. The second and more difficult problem is fixing and breaking the Scottish line. This England team seems rather short of scary ball carriers in the pack. The backline will possess quite a few players who don’t offer much of a running threat, which might be Youngs’ route into the team. My main worry about England trying to move the ball is that Scotland will just drift us from one touchline to another, and I’m interested to see how Lancaster will deal with it.

Does Andy Robinson know what he’s doing?

For the past couple of years, Scotland have been doughty underdogs undone by a very serious failing, namely an inability to score tries. The reason for this failing was very obvious and I don’t think anyone blamed him too much when the likes of Parks and Morrison were genuinely the best options available, more or less. However, Edinburgh and Glasgow have been showing off some cracking attacking talent this season. Yes, a lot of them are raw youngsters, but they can score tries. Scotland went out in the World Cup because they could not put teams away when they were on top; tries are a large part of that.

Robinson’s team has Parks starting and Morrison on the bench.  Lamont at 12 is not a great improvement over Morrison in that while he’s quicker, that’s about it. A weakened England team at Murrayfield is practically the stuff of Scottish dreams and a win there would be the ideal platform in which to actually do well for once. There’s no reason this Scotland team can’t win some games, even with Paterson’s guaranteed three pointers gone, and if it doesn’t, I imagine there’ll  be loud questions over Robinson’s fitness for the job. On the other hand, a few wins (particularly against England) and Robinson will get the time to bed in the new players and create a Scotland that can genuinely score. Whatever happens, this is a big test of his coaching talents.

Are there any excuses for Declan Kidney if Ireland don’t enjoy a good Six Nations?

Having constructed a loaded question, I’ll fire off the round – no, no there aren’t.

Ireland’s three major provinces are collectively as strong as they have ever been. Confidence will be running high and a number of fringe players have been making strong cases for inclusion. He has an experienced squad, built by himself, with only minimal injury problems. France and England away is not ideal, but as both sides are somewhat in a position of flux, both are targetable. I don’t think there’s an international coach in the Northern Hemisphere in a better position to succeed.

Yet there is considerable doubt as to whether Ireland will do well. Ireland’s record over the past year has been substandard. It was Kidney’s decisions that have taken them there however, and it is Kidney’s decision to name virtually the same side as undertook most of last year. Just as it was presumably Kidney’s decision to let go of backs coach Alan Gaffney (a good decision) and then not appoint a new one (a questionable decision). He’s had a long time to think about where things went wrong last time, where the Irish attack got blunted so successfully by Wales. Irish rugby is riding high. Kidney has staked everything on the same group he’s always worked with. If this doesn’t work out, it’s hard to see why Kidney should be given another chance to give them another chance.

Are Wales really as good as people say?

We British love a gallant loser. Wales were very gallant at the World Cup but unfortunately, also very much the loser. They might argue they didn’t get the rub of the green, they might dream about what had happened had Hook’s kicks gone over. Nevertheless, they lost the majority of their games against top opposition. However, Wales won’t have to beat Australia or South Africa to win the Six Nations. Surely if the improvement there is as good as people say, then Wales have to be favourites.

Now this is a question that mightn’t get fully answered. Wales have appalling depth and a number of key men struggling to regain fitness. No Priestland and Roberts would be the biggest blow to Wales I think; they should be back fairly soon even if they miss the first game, and I hope they go well as they have potential Lions 10-12 written all over them, but nothing is certain. Even if they are lining out, there is no way a Welsh pack minus Rees, Jenkins, Jones the lock and Charteris can be called full strength. In particular I think they’ll miss Jenkins and Charteris’ work in the loose. The Guardian has suggested that the intensity of Wales’ pre-season in Poland has left them incredibly unfit; if this is true, expect a lot more broken players by the end of the Six Nations. This will make it even more difficult to work out if they’re up to the hype. Injuries however are part and parcel of the modern game. The inability to ride a few is in itself a black mark against a team. If Wales truly are the coming force some of their fans state, it’s time for them to show it.

Will Italy start actually scaring people?

On previous evidence, Italy are as scary as finding out you accidentally put a bottle of foul tasting diet red bull into your supermarket trolley instead of non-diet; irritating and worth watching out for, but not worth worrying about at all in the grand scheme of things. This paragraph is in no way influenced by realising I made that very mistake and wondering why it tasted worse than usual until I read the label. France had a similarly bad experience last year, but I think they’ll be as bothered by me. Essentially Italy will not get anywhere until they start repeating that sort of feat year in year out. The rugby gods have been kind to Italy – a shaky England and Scotland at home. There’s two victories there if they can take them.

Can they though? The Italian pack is heralded, but it’s the same beast that never quite does enough year in year out. It won’t lose them any games but neither will it win anyway and in my opinion the locks need replacing, if it was possible. Some quality strike runners are coming through to supplement what was already there and I’m looking forwards to watching how Benevuti goes at 13. However, the big question lies over their distributors, the 9-10-12 link. If that functions, I think Italy are on a definite upswing. The big decider there is their new coach. I can’t say I know much about Brunel, except I’m sure he played bass in the Stranglers, but it will be up to him to coax out what skills are there. Sgarbi seems to be a step in the right direction but there is a fair possibility I’m talking out of my arse here. Whatever happens though, if Italy are to rise, they need to do so quickly. Most of the home nations have been rather in the doldrums lately but it must be too much to hope so from Italy’s point of view that they’ll stay that way for a prolonged period. Italy can’t afford to be left behind when the upswing comes. That might be another few seasons, but the best way to keep up is to improve now.

Does anyone have a clue how France are going to go?

No.

…

Ok, fine. France have a new coach and a deserved reputation for inconsistency. A number of their players have put in impressive domestic performances but have either not played at, or been inconsistent at, international level. They do have a lot of talent and three games, so it seems to be pointing their way, but no one can truthfully say. Insightful I know, but I’m not Nostradamus.

What are Social Pundit’s predictions?

Predictions are a loser’s game, particularly when no one knows what to expect. How, I’d be wussing out if I wasn’t to have a stab of sorts, so I’ll predict the first round and then see what happens before doing anymore.

France will beat Italy. That’s a given. I think France will beat Italy quite handily. It’ll take them a while to bring down the resistance, but I think the French will be up for it and pile them on once the breakthrough comes

I’m backing England to beat Scotland, possibly because I couldn’t bear to predict otherwise. I think there’ll be a desultory period in which both sides pretend they can play rugby but the game will become more and more kick based, at which point us having Farrell and them not having Paterson will prove crucial. At which point the media will fawn disgracefully over Farrell and ignore the fact that if he could run maybe we wouldn’t have needed his boot so much. I’d really love Farrell to remember his running game. That would be great.

If Roberts and Priestland were fit (I’m assuming they won’t be), I’d be very uncertain, but I reckon Irish home advantage will tell in the last match. Everyone seems to forget how much territory and possession Ireland had in that quarter-final. Kidney’s had a long time to brood on how to change things and usually gets a result when under pressure. So Ireland to win. If Wales get to repeat smashing Roberts off good ball into D’Arcy, with a good kicker in the team, I will recant that though.

Whatever happens, I can’t wait  - flawed or not.

Eifion has one Welsh cap, gained against Canada in 2008, and has played for RC Toulon since 2010.

"Fridge is a great signing for us. He’s a very popular lad here; he knows the club very well and I know that he will be a big crowd favourite once more," said Sharks Chief Executive Steve Diamond.

"He’s had a great experience out in France with Toulon and he’ll come back all the better for playing over there. Eifion can play both sides of the scrum and he’s very durable and very hard working, which is what you need in those positions.

"He will give us that experience, which was what we need in the pack, and we just can’t wait to have him back here again."

Eifion added, "I’m grateful that Sale Sharks have given me the opportunity to return. There have been a lot of changes – all good, including the way the team’s playing. They want to win things, and I’m massively keen to do everything I can to help the club.

"I’ve enjoyed my time in France – it’s a tough League, with a different type of game, more focused on the set piece.

"This is a decision for my family: my wife Nia is expecting our second child in June. It’s the right time to come back."

Eifion Lewis Roberts Factfile:

Born St.Asaph, 13th February 1981

Previous clubs Ruthin, Sale Sharks, RC Toulon

Height 1.86m, 6ft 1in.

Weight 128 kg, 20st.2 lbs.

Saracens Brad Barritt and Owen Farrell will form a new centre pairing at international level, while Northampton Saints’ Phil Dowson makes his debut at No 8.

The match 22 sees five more uncapped players on the replacements’ bench  – Rob Webber (London Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), Ben Morgan (Scarlets), Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints) and Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins).

Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “We have been impressed with how the whole group has come together in the last 10 days and we have done a lot of work on and off the field. 

“Now is the time to turn all that into a performance against Scotland that we can all be proud of. It is a massive challenge – Murrayfield, the first game of the Six Nations – but one we are relishing.”

England

15 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
14 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
13 Brad Barritt (Saracens)*
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens)*
11 David Strettle (Saracens)
10 Charlie Hodgson  (Saracens)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
1 Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
4 Mouritz Botha  (Saracens)
5 Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
6 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
7 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt)
8 Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)*
Replacements
16 Rob Webber (London Wasps)*
17 Matt Stevens (Saracens)
18 Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)*
19 Ben Morgan (Scarlets)*
20 Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)*
21 Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)*
22 Mike Brown (Harlequins)

*Uncapped

Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby) and Joe Marler (Harlequins) will travel as reserves

Joseph, 20, had been due to make his first appearance at this level but the London Irish centre makes way because of a groin injury.

“He was experiencing a little soreness when he joined us and aggravated things when he slipped in training,” said Saxons coach Jon Callard.

“He might have played through it but it’s in everyone’s best interests to err on the side of caution given that he has just returned from a long lay-off.

"JJ has got a bright future but as he’s just come back from a different injury we wouldn’t want to compound his problems.”

London Wasps centre Waldouck, 24, toured New Zealand (2008) and Australia (2010) with the senior England side. He made his debut for the Saxons in 2009 against Portugal and this will be his seventh appearance for the side.

England Saxons: 15 Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby); 14 Ugo Monye (Harlequins), 13 Dominic Waldouck (London Wasps), 12 Billy Twelvetrees (Leicester Tigers), 11 Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby); 10 Ryan Lamb (Northampton Saints), 9 Ben Spencer (Saracens); 1 Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby), 2 Chris Brooker (Harlequins), 3 Paul Doran-Jones (Northampton Saints), 4 Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers), 5 George Robson (Harlequins), 6 James Gaskell (Sale Sharks, captain), 7 Andy Saull (Saracens), 8 Tom Johnson (Exeter).

Replacements: 16 Joe Gray (Harlequins), 17 Rupert Harden (Gloucester Rugby), 18 Kearnan Myall (Sale Sharks), 19 David Seymour (Sale Sharks), 20 Paul Hodgson (London Irish), 21 Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby), 22 Miles Benjamin (Worcester Warriors).

England take on Scotland at Lasswade RFC on Sunday, 5pm kick off, and as defending Grand Slam champions gunning for a record breaking seventh consecutive crown, England are going into the tournament as favourites.

But McLean, who will start at fly-half on Sunday, is expecting this tournament to be tougher than ever with all their Six Nations rivals determined to knock England off their perch, especially after her side’s recent victory over world champions New Zealand.

“I am often asked how do we motivate ourselves for this tournament given we have won the Six Nations for the last six years, but I genuinely believe this is going to be our toughest Six Nations in a long time and that we are going to have to be at our best to retain our title, so to be honest it’s not difficult.

“We have got some big games coming up and France, only in November, defeated us twice in an uncapped and a full on international test match. There is no way they are going to want to hand us back a win, especially on their turf. We will also play Wales at Twickenham Stadium and matches between us are always fiercely competitive so I am sure they’ll be determined to put one over us on our stage.”

England Head Coach Gary Street has named a young looking side for Sunday’s game with eight players in the 22 set to taste Six Nations rugby for the first time. Uncapped lock Emily Braund is on the bench, while Lichfield’s Harriet Millar-Mills, Saracens’ Hannah Gallagher, Bristol’s Isabelle Noel-Smith and Worcester’s Ceri Large will be looking to build on their handful of international caps.

McLean added: “We have got some young players making their first ever Six Nations start and, I remember as a player, that that is a massive thing. As captain I hope I can give them the support they need but I also know that these players, although they may not have many caps, completely deserve their place in the 22 as they are definitely some of England’s best players of the moment.

“We also have experience too and I know as a squad we are in a good position. We have been lucky that we have played a lot of good competitive rugby coming into this campaign where as some of our opponents have not. Certainly beating the world champions has given this team a real boost and we hope to continue to raise the bar going into this championship.

“Scotland is unquestionably going to be a tough game. Last year we put a lot of points on them, but this one is on their turf, it’s late on a Sunday evening and I doubt the conditions are going to be particularly kind to us.  We will have to go to Edinburgh and give it everything we’ve got. I can’t wait to get started again and I know my fellow team mates feel exactly the same.”

England

15        Kay     Wilson            (Bristol)

14        Katherine      Merchant       (Worcester)

13        Emily  Scarratt          (Lichfield)

12        Rachael         Burford           (Richmond)

11        Michaela        Staniford        (Wasps)

10        Katy    McLean          (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) (C)

9          Natasha         Hunt   (Lichfield)

1          Claire             Purdy(Wasps)

2          Victoria           Fleetwood     (Lichfield)

3          Sophie           Hemming       (Bristol)

4          Rowena         Burnfield       (Richmond)

5          Harriet            Millar-Mills     (Lichfield)

6          Hannah         Gallagher      (Saracens)

7          Marlie Packer            (Bristol)

8          SarahHunter            (Lichfield) (VC)

Replacements:                

16        Amy    Turner (Richmond)

17        Laura  Keates            (Worcester)

18        Emily  Braund           (Lichfield)

19        Isabelle          Noel-Smith    (Bristol)

20        Georgina       Rozario          (Lichfield)

21        Ceri     Large  (Worcester)

22        Georgina       Roberts          (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

There are three changes to the side that lined out against the same opposition in Ireland’s last game in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Keith Earls will start at centre alongside Gordon D’Arcy with Andrew Trimble coming into the team on the left wing. In the half-backs Jonathan Sexton will win his 25th cap and he is partnered by Conor Murray.

The pack is unchanged from the last game with Paul O’Connell wearing the captain’s armband. The uncapped Peter O’Mahony is named in the replacements.

IRELAND Team & Replacements (v Wales, RBS 6 Nations Championship 2012, Aviva Stadium, Sunday, February 5th, kick-off 3pm):
15 – Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 – Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 – Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
12 – Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 – Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
10 – Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 
9 – Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
1 – Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 – Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3 – Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4 – Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 – Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster) Captain
6 – Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
7 – Sean O’Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
8 – Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:
16 – Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
17 – Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
18 – Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
19 – Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)*
20 – Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21 – Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
22 – Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

*Denotes uncapped player

Forwards  (13)
Mouritz Botha (Saracens)
Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Ben Morgan (Scarlets)
Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Matt Stevens (Saracens)
Rob Webber (London Wasps)

Backs (11)
Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
Charlie Hodgson (Saracens)
Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby)
David Strettle (Saracens)
Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

The following players will return to their Aviva Premiership clubs this evening and be available for the weekend’s LV= Cup Round 4 matches.

Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby)
Calum Clark (Northampton Saints)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Lee Mears (Bath Rugby)
Joe Simpson (London Wasps)
Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)

The game was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday evening but as the temperatures are due to fall as the week goes on, the kick off time has been changed.

Sale Sharks Head of Media Dave Swanton explained, “ Nigel Felton is bringing his hot air system to the ground today and the pitch will be covered until just before kick off time. Nigel advised that a late kick off may cause problems in that the pitch could become unplayable as the temperatures fall. With the safety of the players in mind we highlighted this to the RFU who contacted the broadcasters and the kick off time change was agreed. The game will now be screened on delayed transmission.”

Swanton added, “ We would like to thank the RFU, Premiership Rugby, Scarlets and S4C for the help in changing the kick off time.”

The Saxons go into the game at Netherdale on the back of a 23-17 win over the O2 Ireland Wolfhounds at Exeter secured by tries from Leicester Tigers No.8 Thomas Waldrom and Saracens scrum half Ben Spencer, and 13 points from Gloucester Rugby fly half Freddie Burns.

Flanker Seymour, 27, and centre Joseph, 20, take over from Waldrom and Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby), who have been added to the senior squad training for the opening match of the RBS 6 Nations at Murrayfield.

Benjamin, 23, replaces Delon Armitage (London Irish) following the latter’s suspension from the Saxons Elite Player Squad. The Worcester wing scored five tries in two Churchill Cup appearances against the USA and Canada last summer.

Saxons coach Jon Callard said: “Dave Seymour’s been playing very well for Sale and captaining the side too while Miles played a big role last summer. I’m sure he was disappointed not to be part of the Saxons EPS and this is a great opportunity for him to show what he can do.

“Everyone’s delighted that JJ (Joseph) is playing again. It was always our intention to involve him at the right time, when he was fit and with his club’s blessing. He’s a really exciting talent.”

Callard added: “The energy and attitude of the group over the last week has been outstanding and now it’s important that we keep on working hard and improve our execution going into tough away game.”

The Saxons are training at the National Sports Centre at Bisham Abbey and travel to Scotland on Wednesday.

England Saxons

Backs

Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby)
Miles Benjamin (Worcester)
Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
Paul Hodgson (London Irish)
Matt Hopper (Harlequins)
Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
Ryan Lamb (Northampton saints)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
Billy Twelvetrees (Leicester Tigers)
Ben Spencer (Saracens)

Forwards

Chris Brooker (Harlequins)
Paul Doran-Jones (Northampton Saints)
Matt Garvey (London Irish)
James Gaskell (Sale Sharks)
Joe Gray (Harlequins)
Rupert Harden (Gloucester Rugby)
Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors)
Kearnan Myall (Sale Sharks)
George Robson (Harlequins)
Andy Saull (Saracens)
David Seymour (Sale Sharks)
Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers)
Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby)

The London Irish full back was released from the England Saxons camp following the international match against the O2 Ireland Wolfhounds on January 28.

He was later arrested in Torquay on suspicion of assault following an altercation in a nightclub, interviewed and then released on police bail while inquiries continue.

England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “We take issues surrounding the behaviour of England players very seriously and as such have decided to suspend Delon from the Saxons EPS pending the result of the police inquiry. We will then consider if further action is appropriate under the EPS Code of Conduct.

“High standards of behaviour are required from England players on and off the field, and they also need to understand that they should not put themselves in a potentially vulnerable position or environment.”

London Irish said in a statement: “London Irish is extremely disappointed to hear about the incident involving Delon whilst on an England Saxons release period and takes these matters extremely seriously. We fully understand the RFU stance on this matter and will convene our own internal investigation to procure a full understanding of the matter in question, the outcome of which will determine any further action. Player conduct is a direct representation of the club and, therefore, inappropriate conduct will be strongly acted upon.”