Rugby Union

London Irish have resolved their contract dispute with the five players who chose to play in the European Conference for their Irish provinces rather than the club. David Humphrys, Malcolm O'Kelly, Gabriel Fulcher, Jeremy Davidson and Victor Costello all return to the side for the first time since the start of the European fixtures to play in the Courage League match at Leicester tonight.

Newport have strengthened their squad by signing a third overseas forward. Australian lock Paul Gannon joins Canadian prop Rod Snow and Czech Republic No 8 Jan Machacek at Rodney Parade.

Hennie Le Roux, the Transvaal stand-off, has been passed fit to tour Argentina, France and Wales with the Springboks in November and December.

The Natal player Steve Atherton has been approached to play for Richmond. Atherton, a lock who last played for South Africa in their Tri-Nations defeat by New Zealand in Cape Town in August, confirmed he had been approached by both Richmond and last season's champions Bath. Another Natal player, Cabous van der Westhuizen, the province's leading try-scorer of all time with 81, is believed to have attracted the interest of Richmond and Harlequins.