TRANSFERS: The Ulster and Ireland centre Kevin Maggs yesterday signed a two-year contract with Bristol. He will join the Premiership leaders in the summer, along with the Waikato and New Zealand Maori hooker Scott Linklater.

Maggs, who has won 70 caps, has spent the last few seasons with Ulster, having initially left Bristol for Bath in 1998.

Bristol head coach Richard Hill said: "He is a Bristol lad through and through, and he probably wouldn't have left the club if it had not been for relegation and his need to further his international career."

EUROPEAN CUP:The six national unions behind the Heineken European Cup have agreed in principle to a new accord which will guarantee the tournament for the next five years. ERC's executive will draw up a draft agreement for a February 6th board meeting. The French clubs, who threatened to boycott next season's cup over fixture congestion, did not attend yesterday's meeting but their union said France would be taking part.

DISCIPLINE: Gloucester's number eight James Forrester will appear before an English RFU disciplinary committee next Tuesday after being cited for allegedly kneeing the Sale outhalf David Blair during Saturday's Premiership match, in an incident which left the Scotland under-21 international with damaged ribs and eight weeks on the sidelines.

SCOTLAND: Scotland have named a 33-man squad for the Six Nations, including four uncapped players in Robbie Kydd, Alasdair Dickinson, John Barclay and Calum McRae. The backs Simon Danielli, Rory Lamont and Nikki Walker were recalled after missing the autumn Tests, along with the forwards Scott MacLeod and Donnie Macfadyean.