Robinson set for Twickenham swansong

Jason Robinson is to delay his retirement to end his career at Twickenham, in the colours of the most famous of all club touring teams.

Instead of calling it a day at the end of England's World Cup in France at some stage during the next seven weeks, he will bow out on a suitably grand stage at Headquarters, for the Barbarians against South Africa on December 1. Robinson has accepted an invitation for what will be his initiation as a Baa-Baa after a 15-year professional career which has taken him to the heights of both league and union.

The 33-year-old will find himself in stellar company for a match which, in the absence of England's home autumn Tests, guarantees the Barbarians the re-enactment of one of their traditional fixtures. The team, to be announced soon, will be captained by Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll.

The hefty Southern Hemisphere contingent will include All Blacks Jerry Collins and Sitiveni Sivivatu, Australians Chris Latham and Matt Giteau, Argentinian superstar Juan Martin Hernandez plus the Welsh duo of Martyn Williams and Mike Phillips.

Ireland, heartened by O'Driscoll's return for non-contact training after fracturing his sinus against Bayonne less than a fortnight ago, were given a further boost yesterday by a visit from the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern prior to their departure next week to Bordeaux, where they play their opening World Cup tie against Namibia on Sunday week.

Scotland No 8 Dave Callam should learn today whether the facial injury he sustained against South Africa will rule him out of the World Cup.

The injury was yesterday described as 'unusual and complex' by team doctor James Robson and, with Scotland departing for France in eight days, it is clearly causing concern. Callam, 24, sustained his problem during the World Cup 27-3 warm-up loss to South Africa at Murrayfield on Saturday, forcing him to retire from the match.

He took a blow to the area immediately above his right eye - it was thought to have been an accidental clash of heads - and subsequently suffered blurring to his vision.