Crowning glory - Sky Sports - Stuart Barnes pays tribute to Sean O'Brien who was crowned the European Player of the Year for 2011.

Leinster's Lazarus impersonation - Scrum.com - "Leinster's performance against Northampton in the Heineken Cup Final was the most astounding turnaround since the World Cup semi-final in 1999." John Taylor writes

What types of behaviour should rugby union tolerate? - The Guardian - What binds rugby people together? A shared love of the game and the values of tolerance, fun and integrity

Tennessee Rugby on the Rise - TN Sports Magazine - Siegel High rugby coach Danny Demonbreun remembers the first time he saw a soccer player in uniform at high school back in the 1980s, wondering what that sport was. He now sees rugby’s growth in Middle Tennessee mimicking the same pattern of development that soccer has had

Past deeds no way to design future deal - New Zealand Herald - Read all about it - Richie McCaw will stay in New Zealand on a long-term deal. News is apparently due today about the All Black captain's new NZRU contract, and he'll get the royal treatment he deserves. But whether that should be a cast-iron four-year deal is another matter. I'd be very surprised if it is.

Leinster - The building of an empire - The Independent - It has taken only a decade but Leinster have constructed an empire. Two Heineken Cup wins in three years -- it could easily have been a hat-trick but for injury last season -- frank their status as the kings of Europe.

Heineken Cup winners Leinster can light the way for Irish World Cup success - The Telegraph - Will an English club ever win the Heineken Cup again? If second is nowhere, and the sense of desolation evident in Northampton eyes late on Saturday evening suggested that that is exactly where they were, then a runners-up slot does not represent much in the way of hope for the future

Quintessentially English - BBC - Matt Slater on Harlequins' home-grown success

Leinster v Northampton: five reasons the game was turned on its head - The Guardian - Tactical changes introduced at half-time laid the foundation for Leinster's victory but the Irish side's experience, personified by Brian O'Driscoll, was also critical

Parks at the peak - Sky Sports - Former Wales rugby international Richard Parks reached the summit of the world's highest mountain.

Too close to call - Scrum.com - "The advantage that Saracens have got is their winning habit. While Leicester have won big games recently, they have also seen some slip away." ESPN's Austin Healey writes

RUGBYMag.com All-Collegiate Teams - Rugby Magazine - RUGBYMag.com is proud to announce its full slate of Men’s Collegiate All American teams.