As 2017 draws to a close, players across Europe will have one final chance to show what they are capable of in this calendar year.
And with the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations now edging ever closer, time is running out to stake a claim for a place in the Championship squads.
With that in mind, we’ve picked out some of the key storylines this weekend: FRANCE The big news in European rugby this week came in France where Jacques Brunel was named as the new coach with his first game in charge set to be against Ireland in Paris for the Championship opener.
Taking over from Guy Novès, Brunel will take charge of Bordeaux-Bègles for the final time this weekend – also in the French capital against Stade Français.
Brunel has revealed that he will be announcing his first squad on January 17, with the rest of his coaching staff to be announced at the end of this week.
And with a first training camp on January 21, players will know that this week is a prime opportunity to catch Brunel’s eye.
Among the big games in the Top 14 will be the clash between Toulouse and Toulon, as well as Clermont playing host to Castres.
ENGLAND There were a couple of new faces included in England’s squad for an upcoming training squad in Brighton, with Beno Obano and Gary Graham rewarded for their recent performances for Bath and Newcastle respectively.
Both feature this weekend in the Premiership, with Obano’s Bath team hosting Wasps on Friday night, while Graham’s Falcons travel to London Irish on Saturday.
Other players included in the squad were James Haskell, who missed the November Tests, as did Billy Vunipola who continues his return to fitness.
Vunipola will not feature for Saracens against Worcester Warriors this weekend, but his inclusion indicates a return is on the cards sooner rather than later.
England are due to name their final squad on January 18.
SCOTLAND It’s the second round of the 1872 Cup in Glasgow this weekend as Glasgow Warriors seek revenge for their 18-17 loss at BT Murrayfield.
With the two Scottish sides facing off, there is more than domestic dominance at stake – there are plenty of positional rivalries to watch out for ahead of the NatWest 6 Nations.
Gregor Townsend will no doubt be a keen observer, with the scrum-half battle particularly intriguing as Ali Price and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne go head-to-head looking to prove a point as Greig Laidlaw nears a return to fitness.
In the centres, Phil Burleigh made his Scotland debut in November and will line up opposite Alex Dunbar one of the front runners for the No.12 jersey in the opening game of the Championship in Cardiff.
The second row battle could also take on extra importance with Richie Gray in line for a return to action over in France to increase the depth available to Townsend in that department.
WALES There’s another week of derbies in Wales as Scarlets play host to the Cardiff Blues after both escaped with narrow wins last weekend.
The Scarlets were grateful to Josh MacLeod’s last-gasp try for their success away to the Ospreys – despite losing Steff Evans to a red card.
Evans faces four weeks on the sidelines, but will be back available by the time the Championship rolls around.
The Blues had to withstand a late Dragons fightback for a win last weekend and will be after a second straight derby success with Josh Navidi making his 150th appearance for the side.
In the other game, Dan Biggar makes his return to the Ospreys starting line-up to face the Dragons at Rodney Parade, with the home side able to call on Elliot Dee whose citing complaint from last weekend’s clash with the Blues was not upheld. ITALY Conor O’Shea will have his eyes firmly on Parma and the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on Saturday as Benetton travel to Zebre.
It was the Treviso side who ran out relatively comfortable winners in the first meeting, but they will be without in-form winger Angelo Esposito this weekend.
The flyer, who scored two tries last weekend, has suffered a knee injury, with an update on his status expected in the coming days.
In his place comes Luca Sperandio, another Azzurri international looking to show what he can do for O’Shea.
Elsewhere, Italy skipper Sergio Parisse could make his long-awaited return from injury for Stade Français as they play Bordeaux in the Top 14. IRELAND For Ireland the weekend’s action takes place on New Year’s Day as Leinster host Connacht and Munster travel to Ulster.
The first of those encounters pits two in-form sides against one another, with Jordan Larmour and Matt Healy two of the star performers on St Stephen’s Day.
Meanwhile Munster and Ulster will both be looking to make up for disappointment, the former for defeat at home to Leinster, and the latter for their record loss at Connacht.
