Promising Shropshire rugby ace Sam Egerton has secured his first professional contract with Championship club London Welsh.

Usually the life and soul of the party, Chris Ashton cut a chastened figure as he outlined his determination to win back the hearts of the English rugby public during England's RBS 6 Nations title defence.

Shropshire rugby ace Colin Dickson takes the next step on the international ladder this weekend as he joins up with the England under-18 squad.

Hat-trick hero Rob Massam has waved a fond farewell to Oswestry – to concentrate on a new rugby league career with North Wales Crusaders.

Shell-shocked Shrewsbury Rugby Club’s turbulent campaign has suffered a fresh blow – with their entire points tally wiped out.

Shropshire’s Sam Egerton has taken another step towards a professional rugby career – with a shock appearance for London Welsh in the British & Irish Cup.

Bridgnorth skipper Gareth Bladen insists they could be in trouble if they take struggling Shrewsbury for granted in tomorrow’s Shropshire derby.

Shropshire student Sam Egerton follows in the footsteps of some rugby legends tomorrow when he runs out at Twickenham to represent Oxford in the famous Varsity match with Cambridge.

“We are treating it as a cup final and believe we can win” – that’s the battlecry from Newport as they attempt to cause a stunning upset in National League Three Midlands tomorrow.

Former England rugby World Cup winner Neil Back comes to Shropshire tomorrow – and the man going head-to-head with him will relish the occasion.

Recovering Shrewsbury skipper Simon Evitts was an interested spectator on the sidelines as his side slipped to a fifth straight Midlands Two West (North) defeat.

Two injuries, a yellow card and a heavy defeat – it was a bleak day indeed for Newport as they went down 48-5 at South Leicester.