Big bad Brad steps onto Euro stage

As anticipation grows in advance of ERC's quarterfinals weekend, a World Cup winner and a two-time Heineken Cup winner are among a number of high-profile players who have been nominated for registration for the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Brad Thorn, who was a member of the victorious New Zealand squad at RWC 2011, has been nominated by reigning Heineken Cup champions Leinster.

David Wallace, a Heineken Cup winner with Munster in 2006 and 2008, returns from injury to bolster his club's quest for a third title in Europe's elite tournament.

Under ERC tournament rules, clubs which have qualified for the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup can nominate up to three players for registration to supplement their initial 38-player European squads.

The 110-time capped Australia back row, George Smith, will add even more quality to the Stade Francais Paris ranks as they aim to go one better than last season when they were defeated in the Amlin Challenge Cup final.

Another vastly experienced Australian, Matt Giteau, is also in line to feature for Toulon who take on Amlin Challenge Cup holders, Harlequins, in the last eight.

Heineken Cup quarterfinalists, Saracens, welcome back former England scrumhalf, Richard Wigglesworth, following injury, and Scarlets have added Wales international Tavis Knoyle to their squad as they prepare for an Amlin Challenge Cup quarterfinal trip to Brive.

The registrations of players who have been nominated by clubs Thursday, March 22, are subject to confirmation by the relevant Unions and by ERC.

The following have been nominated by their clubs as registered players for the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup:
Cardiff Blues: Macauley Cook, Kristian Dacey, James Down
Edinburgh: Douglas Fife, Leonardo Ulises Gamboa, Robert Mcalpine
Leinster: Mark Flanagan, Tom Sexton, Brad Thorn
Munster: Peter Borlase, Luke O'Dea, David Wallace
Saracens: Nicholas Auterac, Michael Tagicakibau, Richard Wigglesworth
Toulouse: Jaba Bregvadze
Ulster: Chris Cochrane, Iain Henderson

The following have been nominated by their clubs as registered players for the knockout stages of the Amlin Challenge Cup:
Biarritz Olympique: Magnus Lund, Eugene van Staden
Brive: Shane Geraghty, Nicolas Jeanjean, Guillaume Ribes]
Exeter Chiefs: Junior Poluleuligaga, Peter Short, Jonathan Vickers
Harlequins: Nicholas Mayhew
London Wasps: Paul Emerick, Vladislav Korshunov, Tom Prydie
Scarlets: Matthew Evans, Tavis Knoyle, Damian Welch
Stade Francais: Benjamin Chabert, George Smith, Anton Van Zyl
Toulon: Sebastien Bruno, Matt Giteau, Sebastien Tillous Borde