Harlequins Set Up Festive Fixture at Twickenham

Harlequins will cross the road to play their Guinness Premiership game against Leicester on December 27 at Twickenham. The London club hopes the decision to switch the game from The Stoop should guarantee a big holiday crowd, with capacity set at 50,000.

The switch in venue will happen in a month when Quins also play at the home of French international rugby, with their Heineken Cup game against Stade Français set for Stade de France in Paris three weeks earlier. Stade Français officials, having switched occasional domestic league games and Heineken Cup matches to Stade de France in the past, are confident of attracting an 80,000 crowd.

Quins' rugby director Dean Richards said: "I can think of no better preparation for some of our young players, who are beginning to press for international honours. For them to play in front of two such huge crowds within a couple of weeks is excellent preparation for the even bigger stage that many of them aspire to. I briefed the squad today on the arrangements for the Leicester game, and immediately there was a feeling of great anticipation."

It will be Quins' second Premiership encounter at English rugby headquarters this season. They meet Saracens on Saturday week as part of the traditional season-opening London double-header, when the champions London Wasps also face London Irish.

Saracens have recruited the American international Chris Wyles on secondment from the United States for the new season.Wyles, a full-back or wing who has won 10 caps, spent the 2006-2007 Premiership campaign with Northampton.

Saracens' new rugby director Eddie Jones said: "Chris joins us on secondment from USA Rugby, who are looking to develop their players. He will also add further depth and competition to the Saracens squad, so this will be a mutually beneficial agreement. Chris had a very good 2007 World Cup campaign in France. He is a player with a good kicking game and is strong in defence."

Rocky Elsom will miss Australia's Tri-Nations encounter against South Africa in Johannesburg after being banned for one game for dangerous play. Elsom was suspended for tackling Victor Matfield in the air during a line out in the second half of the Durban Test on Saturday. He will be replaced by Dean Mumm.

The Wallabies are unhappy with the decision and believe Elsom should not have been cited. There were far more dangerous incidents in the game, they feel, in particular when the Springboks reserve Francois Steyn tackled Drew Mitchell as the Wallabies' full-back was in the air; Butch James could have been cited for his rough-house tackles on Berrick Barnes.

The Wallabies had to wait three days to learn Elsom was to be ruled out. Almost 24 hours after attending a judiciary hearing, Australia still had no idea if their back-rower would be suspended or not. The Springboks prop CJ van der Linde was last night suspended for four weeks for dangerously entering a ruck, though SA Rugby is considering an appeal.