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NEWS: Worcester Warriors have secured the permanent signing of Marco Mama from Bristol ahead of the 2016/17 season.

NEWS: The Bulls suffered a cruel pre-season injury, with confirmation that Springbok loose forward Deon Stegmann faces surgery.

NEWS: Springbok lock Franco van der Merwe has signed a one-year-contract extension with Irish province Ulster, keeping him at Kingspan Stadium until June 2017.

NEWS: Martin Roberts has completed a move to English Championship side Bristol and will link up with his new team for the first time today (Wednesday). 

FEATURE: The focus will be on Sonny Bill Williams and the Ioane brothers, Rieko and Akira. However, New Zealand may have another ace up their sleeve.

INTERVIEW: Blues captain Jerome Kaino is itching to play in this year's Super Rugby competition, which gets underway on February 26.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The ninth edition of the Varsity Cup competition is set to get underway at the beginning of February and Tauriq Ebrahim looks at what it takes away from the field to be able to get on it.

NEWS: Wales international prop Rhys Gill will re-join his old team, the Cardiff Blues, next season.

NEWS: Argentine back row Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe has signed a one-year contract extension with French Top 14 giants Toulon through to 2017, the club announced on Tuesday.

INTERVIEW: England coach Eddie Jones believes Chris Robshaw is about to enter the "best part of his career" after stripping him of the Red Rose captaincy.

NEWS: Two Stade Francais players have been cited for eye-gouging in their Champions Cup game against Leicester Tigers.

NEWS: Canada's interim head coach Francois Ratier has named a 28-man squad for the 2016 Americas Rugby Championship (ARC).

NEWS: England head coach Eddie Jones has chosen his 23 players for their opening Six Nations match against Scotland next weekend.

NEWS: Clermont second row Jamie Cudmore will face "appropriate punishment" after lashing out at the French Top 14 side's management following their Champions Cup exit, club president Eric De Cromieres said on Tuesday.

NEWS: Toulon centre Maxime Mermoz was on Tuesday called up to replace injured Alexandre Dumoulin in France's training squad for the Six Nations.

INTERVIEW: Southern Kings head coach Deon Davids says preparations for his team's return to Super Rugby have stepped up a gear as they prepare for their first contact session against the NMMU Madibaz on Friday.

EXCLUSIVE: Cheetahs coach Franco Smith explained to Jan de Koning why there is a need for a 54-man pre-season training squad.

EXCLUSIVE: Cheetahs coach Franco Smith explained to Jan de Koning why there is a need for a 54-man pre-season training squad.

NEWS: Geraint John has been appointed to the Executive Board of the Welsh Rugby Union as its new Head of Rugby Performance.

EXCLUSIVE: If the ball is dropped in the opponent's in-goal does that automatically rule out the possibility of a try? rugby365 law guru Paul Dobson reports.

NEWS: Three young Port Elizabeth rugby players will receive a golden opportunity to further their burgeoning careers when they sign up with the SARU Kings Rugby Academy on Tuesday, February 26.

NEWS: Toulon scrumhalf Sebastien Tillous-Borde has been ruled out for two months as he prepares to undergo knee surgery, the French Top 14 giants announced on Tuesday.

The Wellington Sevens, the third in the 2015-16 World Rugby Series, kicks off on Saturday, 30 January 2016.

NEWS: Liam Williams could play a role in Wales' Six Nations opener after Wales kicking coach Neil Jenkins revealed he is likely to test his fitness for Scarlets this weekend.

NEWS: England and Saracens wing Chris Ashton will be appealing his ten-week suspension for eye-gouging after receiving the full written decision of the independent Disciplinary Hearing Judicial Officer.

NEWS: World Cup-winning former Springbok wing Chester Williams has his eyes firmly set on getting UWC to become the third Cape side in the Cup competition. Tauriq Ebrahim reports.

Sevens are back and the clubs of England and France withdraw into their domestic competitions, tough as they are.

INTERVIEW: Sharks Loose forward Philip van der Walt believes the Durban-based franchise is on the right track to becoming a more exciting team this year.

INTERVIEW: England head coach Eddie Jones says the appointment of Dylan Hartley as captain of the national team is part of his plan to change English rugby.

NEWS: Ireland coach Joe Schmidt breathed a huge sigh of relief with the news that star flyhalf Johnny Sexton is on the mend.

NEWS: A French court has fined Fijian player Alowesi Nailiko over a tackle which left a rival player quadriplegic, the French rugby federation confirmed.

NEWS: Former South African Schools lock Philip du Preez is one of three new signings by the Southern Kings.

NEWS: Morgan Parra and Sebastien Vahaamahina were on Monday ruled out of France's training camp ahead of the Six Nations and have been replaced by Baptiste Serin and Bernard Le Roux.

NEWS: Japan will take on Wales in Cardiff in November, their first meeting since the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Wales head coach Warren Gatland confirmed on Monday.

NEWS: Rob Baxter admits the return of Lewis Stevenson to Sandy Park "ticks a lot of boxes" for him as Exeter Chiefs look to advance over the course of the season.

NEWS: Marty Moore will leave Leinster at the end of the current season to join Wasps in the English Premiership.

INTERVIEW: The BlitzBoks have put their past performances at the Wellington Sevens behind them as they go in search of their first Cup victory in New Zealand in 14 years.  

NEWS: Ireland ace Johnny Sexton faces another spell on the sidelines after another concussion put a question mark over his Six Nations participation.

NEWS: Dylan Hartley has been appointed England captain and will lead the team during their Six Nations campaign despite having one of the worst disciplinary records in English rugby.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: World Cup-winning former Springbok captain Francois Pienaar explained the new Varsity Cup innovations is an attempt at getting the coaches to change their mindset and take more risks.

NEWS: The Stormers are looking forward to testing themselves against Super Rugby newcomers the Jaguares, in their pre-season friendly at Newlands on February 13.

INTERVIEW: Springbok wing/centre JJ Engelbrecht will arrive in Ospreylia this week raring to making his Pro12 debut for the Ospreys.

NEWS: Glasgow Warriors prop Alex Allan and Edinburgh flank Hamish Watson have been added to the Scotland squad for the Six Nations camp in St Andrews.

NEWS: Varsity Rugby, consisting of the Varsity Cup and the Varsity Shield, will see a further three teams being added in 2017, growing the number of universities to 16.

NEWS: Scotland head coach Vern Cotter has appointed defensive contact specialist Richie Gray on a consultancy basis for the forthcoming Six Nations Championship.

NEWS: Sonny Bill Williams was named to make his New Zealand Sevens debut next weekend, as he works to add the Rio Olympics to his impressive list of sporting achievements.

CAST YOUR VOTE: Which tournament would you rather watch - Super Rugby or the European Champions Cup? Cast your vote below!

NEWS: Lock Rob Simmons has been named interim captain of the Reds until prop James Slipper returns from injury.

The big results this week are in Europe and Japan.

NEWS: Christian Lealiifano signed a new two-year deal with the Australian Rugby Union and the Brumbies - which allow him two play two stints in Japan.

NEWS: Bath wing Semesa Rokoduguni has joined Eddie Jones' England squad as cover for the suspended Chris Ashton.

CHAMPIONS CUP WRAP: It may be nine years since an English side lifted Europe's top club prize but the Premiership has never had a better chance than this year.

REPORT: Exeter Chiefs upset the odds to qualify for the European Cup knock-out stages on a stunning final day of pool action on Sunday when they defeated Ospreys 33-17.

REPORT: Clermont blew their chance of reaching the European Cup quarter-finals when they went down 28-37 to Bordeaux-Begles, in one of the most extraordinary games in the competition's history.

REACTION: Munster head coach Anthony Foley hailed his side's loyal support after they finished their Champions Cup campaign on a high.

REPORT: Stade Francais secured the bonus-point victory they needed over Leicester Tigers on Sunday to storm into the European Cup quarter-finals, thus eliminating Ulster.

REPORT: Munster ended their European Cup campaign with a flourish and claimed a bonus-point 28-5 triumph at Treviso in their Pool Four encounter.

REPORT: The winner of Japan's Top League was decided with the last act of the match - over two minutes into injury time.

NEWS: Montpellier wing Marvin O'Connor has earned a call-up into the France' 31-man Six Nations training squad following an injury to Benjamin Fall.

NEWS: Scotland international Duncan Weir will join Edinburgh from Glasogow Warriors on a two-year at the start of next season.

NEWS: All Black fullback Israel Dagg is sticking around New Zealand for the foreseeable future after removing the out-clause from his contract.

REACTION: Jim Mallinder can only sit back and watch as Northampton's fate is decided on the final day of the European Cup pool stage.

REACTION: Toulon star Steffon Armitage sent out a warning to future opponents after the reigning champions booked their place in the European Rugby Champions Cup quarterfinals in April.

REACTION: Saracens became the 12th club to go through their European Cup pool without defeat since home and away matches were installed in 1997/98 and will have home advantage in the quarterfinals in April.

REACTION: Eliot Daly hailed Dai Young's influence after Wasps stormed into the quarterfinals with a seven try hammering of struggling Leinster.

REPORT: A George North try helped Northampton Saints claim a crucial 22-10 bonus-point victory over Scarlets on Saturday to keep their Champions Cup quarterfinal hopes alive.

REPORT: Racing 92 suffered their first European Rugby Champions Cup defeat in two seasons after being beaten 5-22 by Glasgow Warriors in Kilmarnock.

REACTION: Nick Williams believes Ulster's emphatic 56-3 win over Oyonnax has piled the pressure on their rivals for a place in the quarterfinals of the European Rugby Champions Cup.

REPORT: Toulon kept their hopes of a fourth consecutive European Champions Cup title alive on Saturday, but saw Wasps pip them to top spot in Pool Five.

REPORT: Wasps hit Leinster with seven tries to win 51-10 and secure top spot in the so-called 'pool of death' and a vital home quarterfinal.

REPORT: Saracens kept up their 100 percent record in this season's European Rugby Champions Cup with a comfortable 28-17 victory over Toulouse.

REPORT: Ulster face an anxious wait to discover if they have reached the European Rugby Champions Cup quarterfinals after completing their Pool One campaign with a 56-3 hammering of Oyonnax.

PREVIEW: This year, in the 13th Final of Japan's Top League, Panasonic Wild Knights play Toshiba Brave Lupus at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Sunday.

EXCLUSIVE: Exceptions in the laws of rugby football seem to be the law-makers delight but exceptions to exceptions could well produce confusion. rugby365 law guru Paul Dobson reports.

CHALLENGE CUP FRIDAY WRAP: French international flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc made a triumphant return to the rugby field when he helped Montpellier's push for the bonus point try in their 42-9 win over Harlequins.

CHALLENGE CUP FRIDAY WRAP: French international flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc made a triumphant return to the rugby field when he helped Montpellier's push for the bonus point try in their 42-9 win over Harlequins.

NEWS: The Jaguares finished their third week of preparation for this year's Super Rugby tournament with an intense training session with a selected Uruguay side that lasted almost three hours in Buenos Aires. 

REACTION: Wallaby great David Campese believes England will achieve success under new Australian coach Eddie Jones but has criticised the Rugby Football Union for putting a foreigner in charge of the side for the first time.

REACTION: Toulon's aim of leaving France's Top 14 to join the English Premiership was labelled a "long shot" by Rugby Football Union Chief Executive Ian Ritchie on Friday.

INTERVIEW: South African giant Duane Vermeulen admits mega-rich Toulon will flourish in the business end of the season despite a spluttering campaign so far in France and Europe.

NEWS:Phil Berna and Luke McCloskey are due to make their Sevens Series debuts for Canada next weekend at the Wellington Sevens after head coach Liam Middleton announced his 13-man squad on Friday. 

NEWS: Ulster has confirmed the signing of Irish-qualified England Under-20 second row, Kieran Treadwell - he will move to Kingspan Stadium on a two-year deal ahead of the 2016/17 season.

NEWS: Toulon's France international flyhalf Frederic Michalak has been ruled out of Saturday's key European Cup clash at English side Bath because of injury.

NEWS: Rugby World Cup Sevens winner Tom Isaacs returns to the Wales Sevens squad for the Wellington and Sydney legs of the 2015/16 Sevens World Series.

NEWS: The Southern Kings have confirmed a number of new signings, following a week of intensive training with the South Africa Rugby Union Mobi Unit.

NEWS: In yet another problem of its kind, Parktown Boys' High of Johannesburg have decided to suspend all sporting contacts with near-neighbours King Edward VII School.

INTERVIEW: Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has admitted he is hoping to bolster his playing squad over the coming weeks as they brace themselves for a relentless run of fixtures in the Premiership.

REACTION: Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has taken a swipe at the SANZAAR brains trust over their proposed Super Rugby innovations.

EXCLUSIVE: New Maties head coach Hawies Fourie is determined to get the institution back to its glory days but knows it won't happen overnight. Tauriq Ebrahim reports.

NEWS: Andrew Conway and John Ryan have both agreed new deals with the Irish province Munster.

NEWS: Ethan Waddleton and Jack Wilson will make their England Sevens debuts in Wellington next weekend in the third leg of the 2015/16 World Rugby Sevens Series.

St Benedict's College of Bedfordview has the excitement of an overseas tour to look forward to in 2016.

NEWS: Argentina and Australia are considering moving their Rugby Championship clash to London. rugby365 reports.

CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: Sale Sharks secured a home tie in the quarterfinals of the European Challenge Cup with a comfortable 38-5 win over Newport Gwent Dragons.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: South Africa's top match officials met in Newlands for its annual course and were told of small changes to the laws. rugby365.com law guru Paul Dobson reports.

PREVIEW: Defending European Cup champions Toulon may be looking at quitting France for the English Premiership but their most pressing concern is avoiding an exit from Europe this weekend.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Southern Kings coach Deon Davids feels the SARU mobi unit is the missing ingredient in a recipe for success. Jan de Koning reports.

Paarl Gim is certainly one of the top rugby schools in South Africa, always in the Top 20, always willing to play top opponents.

NEWS: Bulls flyhalf Handré Pollard might miss the opening weeks of the 2016 Super Rugby competition due to a shoulder strain, which may require surgery.

NEWS: Australia flyhalf Quade Cooper has joined the Australian Sevens program and will be available for selection for the Rio 2016 Olympics. 

NEWS: Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal has made an official request for his European champions to leave the French Top 14 and play in England, an English Premiership spokesman confirmed on Thursday.

CAST YOUR VOTE: We would like to know who you think should captain the Stormers this year? Cast your vote below!

NEWS: SA Rugby announced a new structure to the 2016 Youth Weeks, with the junior tournaments being hosted concurrently in Paarl and the Under-18 tournaments in Durban. 

NEWS: Semesa Rokoduguni will be staying at Bath  for at least another two years, the club confirmed on Thursday.

NEWS: New England coach Eddie Jones has added another Australian to his coaching panel ahead of the Six Nations tournament.

NEWS: Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck says he is not concerned with the lack of experience amongst the players in his squad fighting it out for the all-important No.10 jersey. Warren Fortune reports.

NEWS: The SANZAAR board discussed numerous law innovations at a crucial meeting that they hope will keep Super Rugby at the forefront of the game.

INTERVIEW: The Western Force's trial match against the Hurricanes on February 3 will be the first real test for Perth team's much talked about new attacking game style.

NEWS: One of the worst-kept secrets is out. Super Rugby-winning coach Jamie Joseph will take over Japan's national team later this year.

INTERVIEW: Jean-Marc Doussain has vowed to seize his opportunity after being recalled to the France squad after a two-year absence by his former club coach Guy Noves.

NEWS: The Australian Men's Sevens team will hand debuts to young forward Simon Kennewell and speedster John Porch for the third leg of the 2015/16 Sevens World Series in Wellington next weekend.

INTERVIEW: Jan de Koning chatted to new Cheetahs captain Francois Venter about the challenges for his young team.

NEWS: Glasgow Warriors' Tim Swinson has been suspended for one week, while team mate Ryan Wilson's complaint was dismissed following  independent disciplinary hearings.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: South African born back row forwards Andries van Schalkwyk and Abraham Steyn are among 10 uncapped players called up by Italy coach Jacques Brunel for the Six Nations.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: South African-born CJ Stander is in contention for a back row spot after being included in Joe Schmidt's 35-man Six Nations squad.

NEWS: Saracens wing Chris Ashton's dream of a return to the England team has been shattered, after he was slapped with a 10-week ban for eye-gouging.

NEWS: Sandile Ngcobo is set to make his debut as one of two changes to the Blitzbok squad for the next two legs of the World Sevens Series, while captain Kyle Brown continues to nurse a shoulder injury.

NEWS: Harlequins revealed that their Director of Rugby, Conor O'Shea, has decided to leave the club when his current contract expires at the end of the season.

EXCLUSIVE: Newly appointed University of Free State Shimlas coach Hendro Scholtz is approaching this year's Varsity Cup with a clean slate after losing the majority of his players. Tauriq Ebrahim reports.

REACTION: Scotland may have finished bottom of last year's Six Nations but that has not stopped coach Vern Cotter from telling his players to believe they can win this season's title.

INTERVIEW: Wales coach Warren Gatland claims defending champions Ireland are favourites for the Six Nations, although he said the tournament would be "an unknown quantity".

NEWS: All Blacks centre Sonny Bill WIlliams has been included in New Zealand's Sevens squad for the third leg of the Sevens World Series in Wellington on January 30-31.

NEWS: Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson has named Michael Hooper as team captain for the 2016 Super Rugby season.

NEWS: The protocol for TMOs in SANZAAR and South Africa has gone back to 2013. rugby365 law guru Paul Dobson reports.

NEWS: Alun Wyn Jones has committed his long-term future to the Ospreys and Wales after re-signing his National Dual Contract (NDC).

NEWS: Bath confirmed the signing of second row Elliott Stooke from Premiership and West Country rivals Gloucester Rugby on Tuesday.

NEWS: The ASM Clermont Auvergne player Viktor Kolelishvili has been suspended for 14 weeks for pushing referee Wayne Barnes in a European Cup match against the Ospreys. 

NEWS: United States veteran Chris Wyles has retired from international duty to focus on the remaining years of his contract with Saracens  in England and to push for the Rio 2016 Olympic Summer Games.

INTERVIEW: The Stormers are set to breathe new life into South African rugby when they start their Super Rugby campaign under the tutelage of head coach Robbie Fleck. Warren Fortune reports.

NEWS: France's professional players demanded independent doctors be employed to "cut the cord" with their clubs amid fears their health and careers are being put at risk.

EXCLUSIVE: Having 21 World Cup stars in a team is no guarantee that the Super Rugby newcomers from Argentina, the Jaguares, will dominate. Jan de Koning reports.

EXCLUSIVE: Twenty-one World Cup stars is no guarantee that the Super Rugby newcomers from Argentina, the Jaguares, will dominate.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Scarlets scrumhalf Aled Davies was the only uncapped player included in a 37-man Wales squad for this season's Six Nations.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: New France coach Guy Noves rang the changes, calling up eight newcomers, including France Sevens star Virimi Vakatawa for the upcoming Six Nations tournament.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Uncapped props Zander Fagerson and Rory Sutherland were both included in Scotland's 35-man squad for the upcoming Six Nations.

NEWS: South Africa's top referees gathered in Newlands for their annual course in preparation for the coming season and concluded the course by voting Jaco Peyper as their referee of the year.

NEWS: The two-time Super Rugby champion Chiefs suffered a double blow just weeks out from the start of the Super Rugby season.

NEWS: Stade Francais captain Sergio Parisse was named French Top 14 player of the season for 2014/15, after a vote for by his peers.

NEWS: Clermont's English wing David Strettle has been ruled out for two weeks after picking up an injury during the European Champions Cup runners-up defeat at Welsh side Ospreys.

NEWS: Former England coach Stuart Lancaster was on a brief visit to the Stormers on Monday, part of a whirlwind world tour. Jan de Koning reports.

OPINION: The Varsity Cup competition has been pushing the boundaries of innovation. However, Tauriq Ebrahim feels that the latest law adjustments are taking the tournament closer to becoming more of a gimmick.

NEWS: All Blacks Nathan Mauger and Filo Tiatia are joining the coaching ranks of Japan's Sunwolves, less than six weeks before the fledgling side makes its Super Rugby debut.

The pools end in Europe's competitions this week and there are some big clashes especially amongst the strong four teams in Pool Five - Toulon v Bath and Wasps v a resurgent Leinster.

EURO NEWS: Round Five of the European Champions Cup produced an odd assortment of transgressions that resulted in citings - including abuse of a match official, eye-gouging, biting and testicle grabbing.

Francois louw tribute, a true breakdown master!

NEWS: Ireland international tighthead prop Rodney Ah You will join Ulster ahead of the 2016/17 season.

INTERVIEW: Baby-faced Springbok lock Lodewyk de Jager may give the appearance of a 'gentle giant', but he sees himself as a 'bad cop'.

You don't want to get on the wrong side of either of these two

INTERVIEW: New Zealand Sevens Gordon Tietjens attended his country's National Sevens tournament in Rotorua looking for four players to add to his squad ahead of the next two legs of the World Sevens Series.

EXCLUSIVE: Eastern Province Rugby (Pty) Ltd hope to reach an agreement 'in the very near future' in their long-standing dispute with players. Jan de Koning reports.

NEWS: England prop Joe Marler has committed his future at the Twickenham Stoop after re-signing with the London club Harlequins.

The weather in Europe made rugby tough going. In fact all premiership matches in Scotland were snowed out.

INTERVIEW: The Western Force will be aiming to play a similar game to what 2015 Super Rugby runners-up the Hurricanes dished up last year.

EXCLUSIVE: The role of head coach is nothing new for UCT-Ikeys' Hanyani Shimange as he has been at the helm of the club side but he remains focussed on his latest challenge, the 2016 Varsity Cup.

INTERVIEW: New Bulls coach Nollis Marais believes depth will be even more important now that Super Rugby have expanded to 18 teams. Jan de Koning reports.

REACTION: Gregor Townsend refused to blame Tim Swinson's moment of madness five minutes from time for Glasgow Warriors last gasp defeat at Franklin's Gardens.

EXCLUSIVE: The 2016 Super Rugby season is upon us and all the teams will be entering their final preparation phase with pre-season matches to finalise their playing squads for the year ahead.

REACTION: Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young said he felt 'heartbroken' for his Wasps players after they saw victory and history snatched from them by Drew Mitchell's 81st minute try in Toulon.

INTERVIEW: New France coach Guy Noves claims he is not looking forward to his debut on the international bench at home to Italy in the Six Nations.

REACTION: Drew Mitchell paid tribute to long-time adversary Ma'a Nonu after scoring the crucial match-winning try as Toulon defeated Wasps in the European Champions Cup on Sunday.

NEWS: Wales international Leigh Halfpenny will see out the final year of his contract with Toulon, ending months of transfer speculation, his manager Bernard Laporte said on Sunday.

CHALLENGE CUP WRAP: Harlequins resisted a red-hot Cardiff Blues comeback to secure a 34-26 triumph and home Challenge Cup quarterfinal.

REPORT: Harry Mallinder turned into a baby face assassin on his Champions Cup debut as he gave his Director of Rugby, and Dad, Jim plenty to smile about with a match-winning try in the last play of the game.

REPORT: Australia wing Drew Mitchell scored a match-winning try after the final buzzer to keep holders Toulon's European Champions Cup defence alive on Sunday.

REPORT: Racing 92 sealed a home quarterfinal tie in the European Champions Cup with a record 64-14 victory over Scarlets in Paris.

INTERVIEW:  Sharks Director of Rugby Gary Gold says the "youngsters" in his squad will have to show what they are worth this season after the departure of a number of stalwarts.

REACTION: Leicester Tigers lock Dom Barrow says they will go to Stade Francais full of confidence as they try to secure a top two seeding in the knock-out stages.

REACTION: Leinster put their faith in youth - and gave a glimpse of what might lie ahead for the former triple European champions with their 25-11 defeat of Bath at the RDS Arena.

REACTION: Bath head coach Mike Ford still believes his team is going in the right direction, despite bowing out of the Champions Cup with a 11-25 defeat at the hands of Leinster at the RDS Arena.

REACTION: Bordeaux-Begles' World Cup star Adam Ashley-Cooper says his side will hold nothing back as they bid for a Champions Cup quarterfinal spot against ASM Clermont Auvergne next week.

INTERVIEW: Eddie Jones has revealed how he offered former adversary Jonny Wilkinson a place on his England coaching staff after meeting with the legendary goal-kicker in a supermarket.

REPORT: Two-time Champions Cup winners Leicester Tigers booked their place in the quarterfinals with an emphatic victory over Treviso.

REACTION: Ulster Director of Rugby Les Kiss has urged his side to use the hurt of their Saracens defeat to secure qualification from Pool One.

REPORT: Leinster knocked Bath out of the European Champions Cup with their first win of the campaign.

REACTION: Owen Farrell confirmed the Saracens have their eyes firmly fixed on the main prize in European this season.

REPORT: Oyonnax claimed their first-ever victory in the European Champions Cup.

REACTION: Munster captain CJ Stander felt his side had restored pride.

REPORT: Saracens secured a home quarterfinal in the European Cup with an impressive 33-17 bonus-point victory over Ulster on Saturday.

REPORT: Marco Tauleigne crossed for a late try to give Bordeaux-Begles a crucial 34-27 bonus-point victory over Exeter Chiefs.

REPORT: Munster bounced back in fine style with a 26-13 bonus-point win over Stade Français.

REACTION: Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy hailed the spirit of his side as they took a huge stride towards a first European Champions Cup quarterfinal in six years.

CHALLENGE CUP WRAP: Last season's runners-up Edinburgh put down a marker as they moved to the top of Pool Five.

EXCLUSIVE: rugby365 law guru Paul Dobson looks an incident when an overeager player pushed the referee out of his way.

INTERVIEW: New England coach Eddie Jones speaks about his plans for the upcoming Six Nations tournament.

NEWS: Argentina coach Santiago Gomez Cora is confident his team cab iron out the kinks that cost them in the opening rounds of the Sevens World Series.

REPORT: Ospreys took a big stride towards their first European Cup quarter-final in six years after they edged Clermont Auvergne 21-13 to move top of Pool Two.

NEWS: Top 14 and European Cup strugglers Oyonnax have revealed that they have terminated the contract of former All Blacks scrumhalf Piri Weepu.

INTERVIEW: The Southern Kings will be looking to do some 'astute recruiting' ahead of their return to Super Rugby. Jan de Koning reports.

NEWS: The Springbok Sevens have recharged their batteries following their impressive success at the Cape Town Sevens and are looking forward to the next two World Rugby Sevens Series tournaments in Wellington and Sydney. 

NEWS: A handful of young rugby players from previously disadvantaged communities around South Africa have developed big dreams thanks to the SA Rugby Exchange Programme. 

NEWS: Bath centre Ollie Devoto will join fellow West Country outfit Exeter Chiefs next season, the Chiefs confirmed on Friday

NEWS: The Crusaders will have to start this year's Super Rugby tournament without the services of centres Ryan Crotty and Robbie Fruean.

INTERVIEW: Sharks captain Patrick Lambie says their warm-up matches against French giants Toulouse and Toulon will provide them with the perfect test ahead of this year's Super Rugby competition.

NEWS: Wales fullback Liam Williams looks set to be fit in time for the 2016 Six Nations Nations as he prepares to resume training next week.

NEWS: The Western Force have been hit by another injury setback, with prop Tetera Faulkner likely to miss the first six weeks of the season.

Ospreys will be playing for Welsh pride when they entertain last season's runners-up Clermont in the European Champions Cup on Friday.

NEWS: Prop James Cronin and Hooker Mike Sherry have both signed contract extensions with the Munster, the club announced on Thursday.

NEWS: Scott Baldwin will make his 100th Ospreys appearance in Friday's crunch Champions Cup clash with Clermont Auvergne at the Liberty Stadium. 

INTERVIEW: Stormers coach Robbie Fleck revealed that he is relying on the experience and expertise of Western Province coach John Dobson, as well as a broader coaching base, to "spread the workload."

EXCLUSIVE: Jan de Koning caught up with new Argentina boss Greg Peters ad asked him about the reasons for Super Rugby's expansion.

The England's first foreign coach said on Wednesday he had no problems with his players singing 'God Save the Queen', rather than a specifically English anthem.

INTERVIEW: Sharks Director of Rugby Gary Gold believes the new Super Rugby format does not provide a level playing field for all 18 teams.

EXCLUSIVE: Tauriq Ebrahim looks at the men behind the scenes of the 2016 Varsity Cup competition - all of whom have at least played in the Currie Cup.

NEWS: The Lions will be sweating over the fitness of a few key players ahead of this year's Super Rugby competition.

INTERVIEW: Powerhouse centre Manu Tuilagi could have the same impact as New Zealand great Ma'a Nonu, according to new England coach Eddie Jones.

NEWS: English Premiership side Saracens announced that star Fiji Sevens wing Savenaca Rawaca will join the club for the 2016/17 season.

NEWS: Springbok JJ Engelbrecht will not be playing for the Bulls in this year's Super Rugby competition after signing for Welsh side Ospreys.

REACTION: Chris Robshaw found himself in the unusual position of receiving praise from Eddie Jones as the Australian unveiled his first England squad.

NEWS: Australia international back Matt Giteau will go under the knife on Monday to fix a groin problem.

NEWS: Oyonnax player Stanley Wright has been suspended for three weeks.

NEWS: Stade Francais's Fijian wing Josaia Raisuqe has been suspended for 15 weeks.

NEWS: New Zealander Kieran Crowley, coach of Canada since 2008, has confirmed that he will take over at struggling Italian side Treviso from next season.

NEWS: Bordeaux-Begles lock Julien Ledevedec was handed a two-week ban for a headbutt in his team's 10-28-10 European Champions Cup loss to Clermont.

NEWS: New England coach Eddie Jones has named seven uncapped players in his first England squad ahead of the Six Nations.

INTERVIEW: New coach Tana Umaga is already leaving his mark on the Blues, with selection one of the key issues he is addressing.

NEWS: Saracens revealed that Wasps flyhalf Alex Lozowski will be joining the Allianz Park side next season on a multi-year deal.

NEWS: Harlequins player Dave Ward has been cleared on a charge of biting.

INTERVIEW: All Black superstar Sonny Bill Williams received a "wake-up call" during his first few training sessions with New Zealand's Sevens team.

NEWS: Wallaby Berrick Barnes is earmarked for a dramatic return to the Waratahs fold.

NEWS: Injury-plagued England prop Alex Corbisiero has left Northampton with immediate effect, the English Premiership club announced on Tuesday.

NEWS: Flying fullback Dan Fish has put pen to paper on a new long-term contract to remain at Cardiff Blues.

NEWS: Wales coach Warren Gatland is the "leading contender" to coach the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand next year, the team's Chief Executive John Feehan said.

INTERVIEW: Bulls coach Nollis Marais spoke to Jan de Koning about the 2016 Super Rugby season and what to expect.

INTERVIEW: Leo Cullen has challenged Leinster to put their European Rugby Champions Cup disappointment behind them and finish their Pool Five campaign on a high.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With Daniel Carter now plying his trade in France, rugby356 reporter Warren Fortune looks at the three main candidates for the All Blacks' No.10 jersey in 2016 and beyond.

NEWS: England centre Kyle Eastmond has renewed his contract with English Premiership outfit Bath.

NEWS: Hooker Rob Buchanan has committed his future to Harlequins, the club announced on Tuesday.

NEWS: England discard Andy Farrell will join Munster in an advisory role with immediate effect, the club announced on Tuesday.

REACTION: Toulon's maverick owner Mourad Boudjellal is renowned for his outlandish verbal broadsides, but his latest rant caused more than just a stir in Australasia.

This week we have the second last round of Europe's competitions.

INTERVIEW: Brumbies utility back James Dargaville still doesn't quite understand the new, "convoluted" Super Rugby format. But there is a simple solution to winning it.

NEWS: New Zealand legend Dan Carter has won another award.

NEWS: Wallaby wing Nick Cummins will pursue Olympic gold after signing with the Australian Sevens program.

NEWS: All Black centre Casey Laulala extended his contract with Racing 92 until 2019, the Parisian club announced on Monday.

NEWS: Three players will appear before a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel on Tuesday.

NEWS: Andy Goode joined a select list of players on Sunday after the Premiership legend became only the fourth player to score points for five different clubs, 18 years on from starting his career with Leicester Tigers.

NEWS: For the fourth time this season, flyhalf Steven Shingler kicked a penalty to secure a victory for Scarlets in the last minute of the game, this time against Connacht at Parc y Scarlets on Sunday afternoon.

REACTION: Ulster came from 23 points down at Oyonnax to keep their Champions Cup dreams alive, but Director of Rugby Les Kiss knows it is not going to get any easier.

NEWS: Hooker Siyabonga Ntubeni was in included in the Stormers 38-man training squad despite an injury cloud hanging over his availability.

NEWS: Leicester Tigers have snagged another big Springbok, with World Cup-winning wing JP Pietersen their latest capture.

NEWS: Centre Harry Sloan has re-signed for English Premiership side Harlequins, the club confirmed on Monday.

OPINION: rugby365.com reporter Warren Fortune says the new Springbok coach will face an uphill battle in trying to get the team ready to beat the world's best.

REACTION: Gregor Townsend has played down fears that Mark Bennett will miss the start of the Six Nations, after going off injured in club action for Glasgow Warriors.

NEWS: Wing Adam Thompstone and centre Matt Smith have both agreed to new contracts with Leceister Tigers, the club confirmed on Monday.

INTERVIEW: Eddie Jones wants England to become the most dominant team in the world and knows that must start with a win against Scotland in their Six Nations opener at Murrayfield on February 6.

REACTION: Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac is not taking anything for granted despite his side moving back to the top of the table after a 21-19 victory over Connacht at Parc y Scarlets.

The European matches have got up to date before the next two vital rounds.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Around the world and in South Africa there will be tests of possible law changes. In South Africa these will be done in the Varsity Cup.

NEWS: Western Force hooker Heath Tessmann has re-signed for the team ahead of this year's Super Rugby season and will look to back up another strong year of rugby after playing all 16 matches for the Force last season.

REACTION: Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young expressed concerns about Joe Launchbury after the England lock went off looking groggy during Sunday's 32-22 English Premiership win over Worcester.

NEWS: The Waratahs received a timely boost with Wycliff Palu and Matt Lucas returning to the fold as part of the team's 38-man extended squad announced for the upcoming 2016 Super Rugby season. 

NEWS: Cheetahs coach Franco Smith surprised by naming midfielder Francois Venter as captain for the 2016 Super Rugby season.

REACTION: New England coach Eddie Jones would not have enjoyed this weekend's Premiership action, as more of his frontline players suffered injury setbacks.

PRO12 REPORT: Steve Shingler snatched a 21-19 victory from the jaws of defeat, as Scarlets returned to the top of the Pro12 table thanks to his last-minute kick.

REPORT: Frederic Michalak scored a penalty four minutes from time to keep champions Toulon in the hunt for the European Champions Cup knock-out rounds on Sunday.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Shane Geraghty's second-half introduction injected life into London Irish, but the hosts were made to stave off a spirited Newcastle Falcons comeback before completing a crucial 20-15 victory.

REPORT: Ulster staged one of the great European comebacks, as they turned-over a 23-point half-time deficit in Oyonnax.

REACTION: Victor Matfield says that the East Midlands derby clash at Welford Road are why he still enjoys playing top flight rugby.

JAPAN WRAP: The Wild Knights will play the Steelers and the Brave Lupus will take on Jubilo for a spot in the LIXIL Cup Final, following the quarterfinals of the Japan Top League.

REPORT: Castres kept their slim hopes of a place in the European Challenge Cup quarterfinals alive as they beat Pau 30-21.

REACTION: Munster coach Anthony Foley has urged everyone at the province to dig deep and find the answers to rectify a disappointing defeat at Stade Francais.

REACTION: Racing Metro's star attraction Dan Carter is enjoying being a part of the Paris club's unbeaten start to the Champions Cup.

REPORT: Stade Francais, who played an entire half with just 14 men, put in a powerful performance to beat Munster 27-7 in their European Champions Cup tie on Saturday.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: The boot of Ben Botica finally condemned Saracens to their first defeat of the season as Harlequins ran out 29-23 winners after a sensational contest at the Stoop.

REACTION: Clermont Auvergne head coach Francke Azema has told his players that their hard-fought victory over Bordeaux will count for little or nothing if they don't back it up with a win over the Ospreys in Round Five.

REPORT: Racing 92 pummelled Glasgow in a bonus-point 34-10 victory on Saturday to put themselves firmly in the driving seat of Pool Three of the European Champions Cup.

REACTION: Edinburgh coach Alan Solomons admits his team needs to be more clinical after they beat Benetton Treviso 28-13 at Murrayfield.

INTERVIEW: The next three weeks could be season defining for Bath as they chase their European dreams with three massive matches in the Champions Cup.

NEWS: The Ospreys' medical department have confirmed that Wales scrumhalf Rhys Webb could return to action for the region in February – but have revealed that Tyler Ardron has been ruled out for up to eight weeks.

PRO12 WRAP: Jonathan Sexton pulled the strings for Leinster as the Irish province made it seven wins on the trot to go top of the Pro12.

REPORT: ASM Clermont Auvergne have taken charge of Pool Two in the Champions Cup after picking up a priceless away win at Stade Chaban-Delmas.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Star-studded yet stuttering Toulon just need time to gel, according to Australian playmaker Quade Cooper.

NEWS: One of Scarlets' promising young talents, Jack Condy, has been ruled out for up to 14 weeks having undergone reconstructive shoulder surgery on Friday.

NEWS: Jacques Engelbrecht has signed with the Southern Kings for the 2016 Super rugby season.

NEWS: Australian playmaker Matt Giteau has been ruled out for at least three weeks, Toulon coach Bernard Laporte said Friday ahead of his team's crucial string of European Cup pool matches.

NEWS: Experienced campaigners Sam Cane and Aaron Cruden will co-captain the Chiefs in 2016. 

INTERVIEW: Exeter Chiefs centre Ian Whitten says they can ill afford to take for granted their proud home record when they play host to rivals Gloucester in Saturday's Premiership clash.

NEWS: Struggling Oyonnax will have to do without explosive wing Fetu'u Vainikolo for the rest of the season after the Tongan underwent knee surgery.

NEWS: Scarlets hooker Emyr Phillips has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2015/16 season having undergone reconstructive knee surgery.

NEWS: Worcester Warriors have swooped in to sign New Zealand's Jackson Willison from French Top 14 side Grenoble ahead of the 2016/17 season.

EXCLUSIVE: Jan de Koning spoke to Golden Lions Rugby Union President Kevin de Klerk about the ongoing John Mitchell saga.

NEWS: The Melbourne Rebels pre-season schedule is set with the team announcing on Friday that they will face international heavyweights Manu Samoa in a trial match and a trip across the ditch to test their skills against the Blues.

Despite the appalling weather conditions in some regions, which saw the second leg of the 1872 Cup switched from a waterlogged Scotstoun to Murrayfield, the Pro12 still attracted sell-out crowds to the New Year's derby fixtures.

PREVIEW: Wasps will be looking to end a three-game losing streak when they meet Worcester Warriors in the final game of Round Nine of the Premiership.

Last season's beaten finalists Clermont can take control of their own destiny when they travel to Bordeaux-Begles on Friday in a European Champions Cup match rearranged due to November's Paris terror attacks.

NEWS: Edinburgh's commitment to bring through Scotland age grade talent continues in the backs with centre Chris Dean extending his contract with the capital club until May 2018. 

NEWS: England suffered a setback with the news that wing Jonny May will not play again this season, after undergoing knee surgery.

NEWS: Flank John Muldoon has signed a new contract with Connacht for the 2016/17 season, the province and the Irish Rugby Football Union announced on Thursday.

NEWS: Hooker Dave Ward has re-signed for the English Premiership outfit Harlequins, the club announced on Thursday.

Scarlets backs coach Stephen Jones says the narrow four-point void between first and sixth place in the Pro12 is making for an exiting season.

Flyhalf Matthew Morgan – regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in the Welsh game – will move to Cardiff Arms Park from Bristol from the 2016/17 season having put pen to paper on a two year contract.

INTERVIEW: Christiaan Johan Stander hasn't lost his South African accent entirely, but he is an Irishman at heart.

NEWS: The Western Force will partake in two pre-season fixtures against the Hurricanes and against the Asia Pacific Dragons ahead of this year's Super Rugby competition. 

INTERVIEW: Brumbies lock Blake Enever says the introduction to pre-season of experienced Wallabies player's drives him to improve his own game.

INTERVIEW: Jaguares and Argentina wing Manual Montero is itching to get involved in this year's Super Rugby competition.

INTERVIEW: Hard-hitting Ulster back row forward Nick Williams is hoping they can put right their disappointing defeat to Munster with a Champions Cup victory over Oyonnax.

INTERVIEW: Reds captain James Slipper believes his inexperienced team is on track to becoming a stronger and tougher side ahead of this season's Super Rugby competition.

NEWS: New Zealander Kieran Crowley dropped a massive bomb on Canada when he quit as coach, less than a month ahead of the new Americas Rugby Championship.

NEWS: Leinster wing Fergus McFadden has been slapped with a three-week ban for foul play.

NEWS: London Irish have signed Hurricanes flyhalf James Marshall for the 2016/17 season.

NEWS: England discard Andy Farrell has been appointed as Ireland defence coach.

NEWS: Dom Barrow of Leicester Tigers has received a one-week suspension, after he was charged with striking contrary to Law 10.4(a).

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: rugby365 law guru Paul Dobson looks at a couple of interesting incidents in a Premiership match at the weekend.

INTERVIEW: World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset is anticipating a game-changing 2016 for the game.

NEWS: The South African duo Abraham Steyn  and Andries van Schalkwyk are among 20 uncapped players named by Italy coach Jacques Brunel in his Six Nations training squad.

NEWS: Ireland wing Tommy Bowe has revealed that he will miss this year's Six Nations as he continues his recovery from a cruciate knee ligament injury.

NEWS: Harlequins revealed that second row forwards Charlie Matthews and Sam Twomey have re-signed with the club.

OPINION: With a new year and new season ahead, Tauriq Ebrahim dips his toes into the murky waters of the rugby world and asks whether or not anyone can catch or match the mighty All Blacks.

This is a great book about great people.

NEWS: Argentina prop Juan Pablo Orlandi has been drafted in by Pau as injury cover for the injured Sylvain Charlet.

NEWS: Bath lock Dave Attwood has been ruled out of England's Six Nations campaign after undergoing neck surgery, his club coach Mike Ford revealed on Tuesday.

NEWS: England back-row hopeful Nathan Hughes confirmed on Tuesday he has extended his contract with Premiership side Wasps.

NEWS: Marius Goosen will be Benetton Treviso's head coach again after the club parted ways with Umberto Casellato on Tuesday.

NEWS: Springbok flank Francois Louw has extended his contract with English Premiership club Bath.

NEWS: Wasps confirmed that Samoan prop James Johnston has left the club and will pursue alternative options.

Europe's Champions Cup and Challenge Cup are catching up matches postponed in the wake of the France murders in November.

England legend Austin Healey believes Saracens flank Maro Itoje will play an integral part for England this year.

NEWS: France head coach Guy Noves named hooker Guilhem Guirado as his captain ahead of this year's Six Nations tournament.

Despite festivities and  heavy rains, Europe's matches, by and large, were played.

NEW: Leinster coach Leo Cullen believes Ireland stalwart Sean O'Brien has the potential to be Ireland's next captain.

Bath head coach Mike Ford is hoping his players can lift themselves for one of Europe's toughest tests after a shock defeat at the Newcastle Falcons.

NEWS: The Australian Sevens program has named former Brumbies coach Andy Friend as their new national Men's Sevens head coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

NEWS: Former New Zealand coach John Mitchell will be the man to take the United States through to the next World Cup in Japan after he signed a four-year contract with USA Rugby.

NEWS: South African flank Schalk Burger signed a two-year contract with English Premiership champions Saracens on Monday.

NEWS: Sharks hooker Monde Hadebe headlines the latest list of recruits for the SARU-run Southern Kings.

NEWS: England international James Haskell has extended his stay in Coventry after signing a new contract with his club Wasps.

NEWS: Connacht Academy players Sean O'Brien and Peter Robb have both been rewarded with senior contracts for next season, their club and the Irish Rugby Football Union announced on Monday. 

NEWS: Following the disappointment of two narrow defeats in their derby double-header, Newport Gwent Dragons have been dealt a further blow with the news that Dorian Jones is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

OPINION: It can't get much more depressing than the current state of the nation in the Republic of South Africa. Jan de Koning asks if there's hope for 2016.

REACTION: Carl Rimmer insists Exeter Chiefs can ill afford to dwell on their loss at Northampton Saints as Premiership rivals Gloucester now loom large on the horizon.

Brumbies flank Scott Fardy says the team will stop at nothing in order to walk away with the Super Rugby title at the end of the season.

REACTION: Dean Ryan admitted his Worcester Warriors side left themselves too much to do after their comeback against Harlequins fell agonisingly short on Sunday at Sixways.

TOP 14 SUNDAY WRAP: Champions Stade Francais scored a dramatic late try in an 18-17 win over Toulouse in France's Top 14 on Sunday after Ma'a Nonu's Toulon had beaten Conrad Smith's Pau earlier in the day.

NEWS: Leinster wing Fergus McFadden has been cited after his team's 13-0 Pro12 win over Connacht at the RDS Arena last Friday.

REPORT: Luke Burgess scored his first Pro12 try as Zebre beat Benetton Treviso 18-8 to win three games in a row for the first time in their history.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Charlie Walker's double helped Harlequins climb to third in the Premiership table, but they had to hold off a stirring Worcester Warriors comeback at Sixways on Sunday.

REACTION: Munster head coach Anthony Foley believes Saturday's narrow win over Ulster could signal the start of better times at Thomond Park this season.

REACTION: Alan Solomons believes Edinburgh have confirmed they can match rivals Glasgow Warriors on the pitch following their 1872 Cup triumph.

REACTION: A quickfire try double knocked the stuffing out of London Irish but Gloucester Rugby boss David Humphreys reserved much of his praise for the place-kicking of flyhalf James Hook.

REACTION: Newcastle Falcons secured their first Premiership victory of the season after seeing off Bath on Saturday and Director of Rugby Dean Richards wants to build on that momentum.

REACTION: Leicester Tigers Director of Rugby Richard Cockerill admitted his side had to show character after conceding three penalty tries en route to a 26-6 defeat to Saracens at Allianz Park.

REACTION: Steve Diamond believes Danny Cipriani's chances of starring in Eddie Jones' England revolution are all the better for his stay at Sale Sharks.

REACTION: England star Ed Slater suffered a Six Nations injury scare while playing for Leicester Tigers in their 6-26 defeat at Saracens in the Premiership on Saturday.

TOP 14 SATURDAY WRAP: Dan Carter admitted to shelving thoughts of a hot New Zealand beach as he battled driving rain and wind to lead Racing Metro to the top of the Top 14 table in a hard-fought 23-18 victory over Bordeaux-Begles.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Saracens earned a hat-trick of penalty tries when they beat Leicester Tigers 26-6 to remain unbeaten in this season's English Premiership.

PRO12 SATURDAY WRAP: Phil Burleigh's late try helped Edinburgh complete the double over Glasgow Warriors and retain the 1872 Cup with a 14-11 Pro12 win at Murrayfield.

REACTION: Cardiff Blues head coach Danny Wilson believes his team can now set their sights on moving up the table as the Welsh region begin to come together under his management.

FEATURE: It's that time of year when most of the population are pledging to shelve alcohol, chocolate and all manner of vices for the greater good.

NEWS: Gloucester director of rugby David Humphreys is left in a pickle ahead of his side's Round Eight Premiership encounter against London Irish.

REACTION: Prop Alex Waller admitted he and his Northampton Saints teammates had a point to prove during the 8-3 victory over Exeter Chiefs following their defeat to London Irish last week.

NEWS: Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder is set to meet England boss Eddie Jones to discuss his controversial approach for Saints' assistant coach Alex King.

FRIDAY WRAP: Alex Cuthbert's late try and Rhys Patchell's conversion sealed a dramatic 29-27 victory for Cardiff Blues over Scarlets.

REPORT: Northampton Saints ended Exeter Chiefs' six-match winning run in the Premiership with an 8-3 victory in front of a modern day record crowd at Franklin's Gardens.

PREVIEW: Star-studded Toulon, keen to bounce back from a 8-31 thrashing at the hands of league leaders Toulouse, host Pau in the Top 14.

NEWS: England wing Jonny May looks likely to miss the his country's entire Six Nations campaign with a knee injury that will require surgery.

NEWS: Tim Visser is set to miss Scotland's first three Six Nations matches after suffering a hamstring injury while playing for Harlequins.

NEWS: Leinster prop Cian Healy has been suspended for two weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing in London.

Rugby365 wishes all our readers and their families a very Happy New Year!

The New Zealand honours list has just been made known and one of those honoured is Colin Hawke for his services to rugby.

The second round of festive derbies in the Pro12 takes place this weekend, to ring in the new year.

Wales lock Jake Ball has been ruled out of the Scarlets' final two Champions Cup pool matches after damaging his left knee.

Round Eight of the Premiership gets underway on New Year's Day when high-flying Exeter Chiefs face the embattled Northampton Saints.

Former England and Sale Sharks wing Mark Cueto has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire.

Bath coach Mike Ford says Sam Burgess went back to rugby league because he did not enjoy the same 'Pied Piper' status in rugby union.

Harlequins head into the New Year in the Premiership top four and Conor O'Shea believes temperament will decide whether or not they stay there.

NEWS: Celebrated retired All Blacks captain, Richie McCaw, has been awarded New Zealand's supreme honour - the Order of New Zealand.

Book Review: Rugby at Newlands A History of 50 Test Matches 1891-2015

NEWS: Scotland international Kieran Low has left Glasgow Warriors to join Saracens on loan until the end of the season.

NEWS: Matt Sherratt will join Cardiff Blues as their attacking and backline coach from the 2016/17 season.

NEWS: Rhys Webb has became the second player to re-sign a long term National Dual Contract following in the footsteps of team mate Dan Biggar.

NEWS: Robin Copeland and Dave O'Callaghan have both signed two-year contract extensions with Munster, while Greencore Academy player Rory Scannell has signed a senior contract.

NEWS: Rhys Priestland will make himself available for selection to Warren Gatland's Six Nations side after making a u-turn on his decision to take a break from international rugby.

NEWS: Exeter Chiefs have been hit by another injury blow that will see lock Damian Welch remain on the sidelines for an extended spell.

NEWS: Sam Harrison believes the arrival of Aaron Mauger has helped Leicester Tigers' players express themselves more.

OPINION: It's been a long, busy year for the rugby365 crew and now we present to you our famous Team of the Year selections.

NEWS: He's just a fresh haircut from being fully immersed in Melbourne's hipster lifestyle and new Rebels recruit James Hanson hopes his on-field transition will be just as smooth.

NEWS: England's Six Nations campaign received a timely boost with the news of Ian Peel joining Eddie Jones' staff as the scrum coach.

France coach Guy Noves on Tuesday called up five uncapped players for his first 30-strong squad. 

Flank Sean O'Brien is fighting fit and confident he is back to his best after overcoming vestibular impairment.

Japan No.8 Amanaki Mafi has signed with Bath and will join the Premiership club at the end of January.

Already it is the New Year in many parts of the world with much celebration, a lot of it raucous.

Ulster's South African-born skipper Rob Herring hailed his team's fighting spirit following their win against Connacht.

2015 was another good vintage in terms of promising talent emerging in South Africa, we look at five of the best.

Duane Vermeulen has confirmed that he has not hurt his neck and will be back in action in two weeks.

Victor Matfield says that the week after losing against Japan at the World Cup was the worst week of his life.

What happened between Gloucester and Harlequins at Twickenham on Saturday could happen only in this age of technical exactness.

Leicester Tigers finished the year on a winning note against Newcastle Falcons at Welford Road but Richard Cockerill admitted disappointment with the performance.

Ian Madigan will leave Leinster at the end of the current season to join Bordeaux Bègles in the French Top 14.

Only the desperately dedicated are left playing over the Christmas weekend, and so there are fewer matches and therefore fewer results than usual this week.

REACTION: Lyn Jones was left frustrated that Newport Dragons' good performance against Cardiff Blues was not matched by the result.

REACTION: Scarlets flyhalf Aled Thomas says the West Wales side will fight to keep their place in the top half of the table, despite the narrowest of defeats to Ospreys.

NEWS: Springbok loose forward Duane Vermeulen has suffered another injury blow after he left field in Toulon's 8-31 defeat to Toulouse on a stretcher.

NEWS: After initially being included in the Blues' 2016 Super Rugby squad, Dan Bowden has been granted an early release to join Premiership outfit Bath in 2016.

NEWS: Vastly experienced flyhalf Andy Goode and exciting young scrumhalf Jamie Booth have agreed terms to join Newcastle Falcons on three month contracts.

REACTION: Harlequins director of rugby Conor O'Shea insisted he was proud of his side's never-say-die attitude as they fought back late on to draw 39-39 with Gloucester.

REACTION: Owen Farrell has emerged all the better for his World Cup experience, after the flyhalf helped mastermind an impressive victory over Wasps.

WRAP: Toulouse bounced back from their shock European Cup exit with a 31-8 rout of Toulon on Sunday, which took them to the summit of the French Top 14 heading into 2016.

Leinster dealt Munster a fifth straight loss, as they leapfrogged them into the PRO12 play-off places with a 24-7 win at Thomond Park.

Saracens will start 2016 on top of the Premiership table after a second-half surge broke Wasps' resolve.

Director of rugby Jim Mallinder said that the Premiership loss at London Irish summed up the Northampton Saints’ season so far.

Exeter Chiefs lost just once at Sandy Park in 2015, but they will be taking nothing for granted in 2016.

Wales fullback Liam Williams faces a race against time to be fit for the Six Nations due to a foot injury.

Melbourne Rebels scrumhalf Nic Stirzaker is not entertaining any Wallabies fantasies just yet.

Leicester boss Richard Cockerill lashed out at the influence of the television match official system on Saturday.

Steve Shingler missed a last-gasp penalty as the table-topping Scarlets were beaten by PRO12 rivals Ospreys by a single point.

London Irish secured their first Premiership victory under Tom Coventry with a rollercoaster victory over Northampton Saints.

France have to be a more rounded team if they are to compete with the best once more, according to scrumhalf Morgan Parra.

Matthew Morgan is heading back to Wales in order to play a major role in Warren Gatland's future plans.

Chris Robshaw has thanked Harlequins head coach Conor O'Shea for helping him return to his best after England's World Cup trauma.

Edinburgh boss Alan Solomons believes his Galsgow Warriors counterpart Gregor Townsend will coach Scotland one day.

French heavyweights Toulouse and Toulon lock horns as the Top 14 returns on Sunday, while Clermont will bid to keep hold of top spot when they host Racing 92.

Who better to give a breakdown on the breakdown than All Blacks legend Richie McCaw?

NEWS: With player welfare at the heart of the process, a number of minor amendments will come into effect in 2016 while a package of closed law trials announced in September get underway.

NEWS: Brumbies captain Stephen Moore has broken his silence and is determined to clear the air about his shock decision to join the Queensland Reds until the 2019 World Cup.

Rugby365 would like to wish all our readers and their families a very Merry Christmas!

PREVIEW: Scarlets victory in Italy in Round Nine saw them return to the top of the table after Connacht's 16-20 defeat by Cardiff Blues, but both leading sides are pulling clear of the following pack.

PREVIEW: Exeter Chiefs lock Ollie Atkins admits his side will be desperate to bounce back from their European set-back when they take on Sale Sharks this weekend.

This book is yet another - the seventh - contribution by Hans Saestad of Johannesburg to the history of South African rugby.

The European Professional Rugby Clubs have made their referee appointments for the postponed matches and also for Rounds 5 & 6.

One of the principles of rugby football used to be when you could lay aggressiove hands on an opponent.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Warren Fortune was there when SARU President Oregan Hoskins spoke about the Eastern Cape's money troubles, transformation, how it will influence the next coach's selections and the mass exodus abroad.

Chris Robshaw admits he regrets his costly decision not to kick a penalty against Wales in the World Cup defeat that eventually sealed his team's humiliating pool stage exit.

Welsh Rugby Union chairman Gareth Davies has written to each of Union's 320 member clubs and districts with a personalised Christmas message.

NEWS: England captain Chris Robshaw has vowed to give his full support to his successor if new coach Eddie Jones decides to relieve him of the captaincy.

NEWS: Leinster's Cian Healy is free to play with immediate effect after an Appeal Committee decided to set his two-week suspension aside.

NEWS: The quartet of Ben Foden, Christian Day, Mikey Haywood and Jamie Elliott have all re-signed with Northampton Saints to remain at Franklin's Gardens.

NEWS: Wales' four-time Six Nations winner Adam Jones has committed himself to Harlequins after resigning with the club.

Adam Hughes has made his return to Newport Gwent Dragons a permanent deal after re-signing with his hometown club.

Glasgow Warriors and Scotland loose forward Rob Harley has been ruled out for three months with a thumb injury.

Powerful loose forward Nick Williams will leave Ulster at the end of the season to join the Cardiff Blues.

Former All Blacks centre Alama Ieremia has been appointed coach of Samoa, replacing Stephen Betham who resigned after the World Cup.

New Zealand international Nick Evans has signed a contract extension with Harlequins until the end of next season.

Ireland flank Sean O'Brien signed a new three-year contract with the IRFU that will keep him at Leinster until after the 2019 World Cup.

Jean de Villiers says that the passion of Leicester Tigers boss Richard Cockerill is similar to that of Heyneke Meyer.

Leicester Tigers boss Richard Cockerill said a gutsy defensive display was at the heart of their second win over Munster in as many weeks.

Ireland prop Cian Healy will discover on Wednesday whether his two-week ban for foul play will be upheld or not.

Worcester Warriors have further illustrated their ambition to become a competitive force in the Premiership by announcing the signing of Leinster centre Ben Te'o ahead of the 2016/17 season.

NEWS: Toulon's maverick owner Mourad Boudjellal has given Wales star Leigh Halfpenny an ultimatum over his future with the European giants.

On the back of his achievements with Japan at the 2015 World Cup, England's new head coach Eddie Jones talks about his life in rugby and the journey he took to get to the top.

NEWS: Taniela Tupou, affectionately known as 'Tongan Thor', has signed a contract extension that commits himself to the Reds until the end of 2018.

NEWS: Welsh international scrumhalf Gareth Davies has committed his future to the Scarlets for at least another two seasons.

NEWS: Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has spoken of his delight at landing the signature of Australian international Greg Holmes on a two-year deal.

OPINION: Mark Hammett was unveiled as the coach of the new Japanese Super Rugby side, the Sunwolves but is he the right man for the job?

The whole world knows it is Christmas - a time for loving and praying and giving and receiving and being jolly.

There were matches of great largesse and their were matches niggardly in their trylessness.  

The Northern Hemisphere rugby community has launched a European online donation site for the Jonah Lomu Legacy Trust.

Ulster captain Rory Best hailed the commitment of his charges after they secured a European Cup double over Toulouse.

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter still hasn't given up on pushing for a European Cup quarterfinal slot.

BOOK REVIEW: Jan de Koning looks at one of the many books on the game of rugby released in 2015.

Reds front row stalwart Greg Holmes will leave the side following the 2016 Super Rugby season to join Exeter Chiefs. 

Mark Hammett has been confirmed as the coach of new Japanese Super Rugby side the Sunwolves.

At present it seems that there are not really any changes to the laws though there are several envisaged.

Leicester Tigers strengthened their grip on pool four with a hard-fought 17-6 victory over Munster.

Exeter Chiefs' were made to pay for their win over French giants Clermont Auvergne as they were put to the sword at Stade Marcel-Michelin.

Ulster made it back-to-back European Cup wins over Toulouse with a 25-23 triumph at the Stade Ernest Wallon on Sunday.

All Blacks kicking coach Mick Byrne has decided to move on and will take up a new role across a variety of sports.

A home defeat against domestic rivals Wasps has left 1998 European Cup champions Bath with it all to do.

Juan Smith believes things can only get better for reigning European Cup holders Toulon after they fought back to beat Leinster.

The RFU and Bristol have reached an agreement to release Steve Borthwick from his coaching contract with the Championship club.

New Zealand gave inspirational captain Richie McCaw the perfect send-off by winning back-to-back World Cups.

REPORT: Glasgow Warriors marked their 100th game in the European Cup with a 9-6 victory over rivals Scarlets to stay in the hunt for a quarter-final place.

REPORT: Bordeaux Begles came out 33-27 victors of an incredible game against the Ospreys but the Welsh region's two bonus points keeps alive their hopes of qualification.

REPORT: Toulon turned on the pack power to come from 11 points adrift to secure a 20-16 victory and inflict an unheard of fifth straight defeat on Leinster.

REPORT: Wasps tightened their grip on Pool Five by inflicting Bath's heaviest European Cup defeat in almost five years with a comprehensive 36-10 victory.

REPORT: Stade Francais kept the pressure on Leicester in Pool Four as they completed back-to-back bonus-point wins over Treviso with a 40-14 triumph in Paris.

REPORT: Saracens continued their perfect start to the season with a dominant eight-try, 55-13 rout of French outfit Oyonnax in the European Champions Cup on Saturday.

NEWS: Cian Healy has been cleared to play for Leinster in their Pool Five Champions Cup game against Toulon after lodging an appeal against his suspension.

NEWS: Italian front row forward Leonardo Ghiraldini is heading to France as the Italy hooker prepares to swap Leicester Tigers for a three-year contract at Toulouse in the summer.

REACTION: Dan Carter ensured Racing 92 maintained their unbeaten Champions Cup record although his three penalties were only enough to secure a draw.

REACTION: Jim Mallinder gave his battling Northampton Saints side a seal of approval after they held unbeaten Racing 92 to a draw.

NEWS: Reports suggests New Zealand will experiment with two referees in their provincial championship as World Rugby looks at a dramatic shake-up of the game's laws.

NEWS: Just a week out from Christmas, the beleaguered Eastern Province Kings players have been handed the worst gift ever. Jan de Koning reports.

Northampton Saints proved they are not 30 points worse than Racing Metro as they held the unbeaten French side to a 9-9 draw at Franklin's Gardens.

England coach Eddie Jones is hoping that new defence coach Paul Gustard will bring an aggressive edge to the role.

Scotland have the chance to avenge their last-minute defeat to Australia in the World Cup quarterfinal, one year on at Murrayfield next November.

Springbok and Stormers centre Damian de Allende has reportedly suffered an ankle injury that will sideline him for four months.

NEWS: After "mutually agreeing" to having his contract terminated with Toulon, Wallabies prop Salesi Ma'afu has been revealed as the latest signing of Pro12 side Cardiff Blues.

The Western Force has added another new face to its backline stocks, signing Fijian outside back Semisi Mesirewa.

NEWS: Glasgow Warriors wing Sean Lamont has a plan to secure a second successive win over the Scarlets - give the ball to hat trick hero Taqele Naiyaravoro.

NEWS: The Australian Rugby Union has announced changes to the board, which sees Michael Hawker step down from his position as chairman - a position he has held since 2012.