Venter still banned from final

SARACENS rugby director Brendan Venter remains banned from his team's Guinness Premiership final clash against Leicester at Twickenham on Saturday.

Venter saw a 14-week suspension reduced to ten on appeal by an independent Rugby Football Union panel last night.

The South African was punished last week for making provocative and inappropriate gestures and comments to Leicester supporters during a Premiership game at Welford Road on 8 May.

Meanwhile, Philippe Saint-Andre has asked Xavier Rush to captain the Barbarians against England – just three days after suffering at the hands of the inspirational New Zealander.

Rush, who played eight times for the All Blacks, played a key role in Cardiff Blues' comeback victory over Saint-Andre's Toulon in the Amlin Challenge Cup final last Sunday.

The Blues No 8 will be joined at Twickenham by Cardiff team-mates Casey Laulala and Martyn Williams plus five from European champions Toulouse.

Barbarians (team to play England at Twickenham, Sunday, 5pm): P Warwick (Munster); P Sackey (Wasps), C Laulala (Cardiff Blues), F Fritz (Toulouse), C Heymans (Toulouse); J-B Ellisalde (Toulouse), B Kelleher (Toulouse); R Roncero (Stade Francais), B August (Biarritz), J White (Leicester), R Skeate (Toulon), B Kay (Leicester), R So'oialo (Hurricanes), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), X Rush (Cardiff Blues, captain). Replacements: K Owens (Scarlets), C Johnston (Toulouse), J Thion (Biarritz), G Smith (ACT Brumbies), P Mignoni (Toulon), F Estebanez (Brive).