Harlequins will next week say which players they are releasing following their relegation but the vultures are already circling.

Bath have been linked to the wings Ugo Monye and George Harder, having already signed the club's reserve fly-half Andy Dunne.

The Quins' board met yesterday to discuss the implications of their demotion. Their annual turnover is set to drop from £7m to little more than £4m and the next couple of days will determine where the axe will fall.

Gloucester have re-signed the outside-half Ludovic Mercier from Pau and the Northampton prop Tom Smith yesterday announced his retirement from international rugby after winning 61 caps for Scotland.

Martin Johnson will end his playing career in a testimonial match against a Jonah Lomu XV at Twickenham on June 4. Six internationals yesterday agreed to play in Johnson's team, including the France flanker Olivier Magne.

Wales are hoping to resurrect plans for an Anglo-Welsh competition the season after next after talks on setting one up for next season broke down.