Jennings not risked against Clermont

New Ireland squad member Shane Jennings is out of the Leicester team for tonight's Heineken European Cup clash with Clermont Auvergne at Parc des Sport Marcel Michelin.

The 24-year-old former Leinster openside flanker went into last weekend's momentous tussle with Stade Francais at Welford Road - Leicester won 29-22 after being 10 points down at one stage in the second half - nursing a sore shoulder.

Despite a superb first-half display he was forced to come off at the interval as the shoulder problem got worse. Leicester coach Pat Howard has decided not to risk him ahead of tonight's game as the English club have already qualified for the quarter-finals, although they will be keen to grab a victory and with it a home match in the first knock-out phase.

Howard admitted: "Shane (Jennings), because of the nature of his injury and the short turnaround between matches, won't be risked. Obviously, it is a bit unfortunate, but we need to look after him. He doesn't need surgery, but it is a case of letting the nerves settle properly."

The Tigers' attitude will please Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan who included Jennings in his 35-man squad for the upcoming Six Nations Championships. The Tigers have named last weekend's man of the match Geordan Murphy on the left wing with Leo Cullen among the replacements.

The ERC Board of Directors has awarded Leeds a bonus point victory for last weekend's twice postponed match against Calvisano at San Michele.

The ERC Board found that as Leeds had remained available to fulfill the fixture and had missed the opportunity to win the match and secure a bonus point, Leeds should be awarded the fixture and five match points and four tries (20 points).

The ERC Board found that Calvisano were at fault for failing to fulfil the fixture when directed by the ERC and have asked the disciplinary officer to proceed with two misconduct complaints against Calvisano.

The decision by the Board to award Leeds five match points and four tries was done in order to ensure fairness ahead of the round six matches being played this coming weekend.

Bob Casey has ended a couple of weeks of speculation by signing a new two-year contract with London Irish that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2007-08 season. It had been mooted that he was considering a return to Leinster.

Casey has been an integral part of the London Irish set-up from the time he joined the club in July 2002, becoming one of the best second row forwards in the English Premiership. While things have been going very well at club level he has been frustrated by not being able to add to his tally of five Irish caps. He was once again overlooked for O'Sullivan's extended Ireland squad.

Casey said yesterday: "I am extremely happy to have re-signed for another two years with London Irish. We are building something special at this club and I very much want to be part of it."

Meanwhile, Munster coach Declan Kidney has announced a 28-man squad ahead of tomorrow's game against the Sale Sharks at Thomond Park. Jeremy Manning (broken arm) is the only absentee apart from the long term casualties.