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NEWS: Fiji back row forward Peceli Yato has made such a big impact in just five matches at Clermont that he has been handed a new contract that will him keep him at the club until 2020.

PRESEASON REPORT: The Jaguares ended their second and final Super Rugby preseason warm-up match with a comprehensive 68-14 victory over an Argentina XV side in Buenos Aires on Friday.

Clarifications of rugby law, previously called rulings, are important as they have the force of law.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls coach Nollis Marais wasted no time in rushing some of his new recruits into battle against the Lions in their Super Rugby pre-season outing in Harare on Saturday.

NEWS: Australian wing Adam Ashley-Cooper is to leave French Top-14 outfit Bordeaux at the end of the season, the player revealed on Friday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: South African coach Neil Powell will be highlighting the importance of consistency in performance and some early rhythm for the BlitzBoks at the Wellington leg of the Sevens World Series.

NEWS: Leicester Tigers star Ed Slater will appear before a European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) disciplinary hearing for foul play.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Shimlas head coach Hendro Scholtz enters uncharted territory as he heads into the Varsity Cup season with a younger looking squad. Tauriq Ebrahim reports.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Wallaby playmaker Quade Cooper will once again spend a Super Rugby pre-season in the boxing ring, rather than training with the oval ball.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Nelson Mandela Bay University Madibaz face an uphill battle in this year's Varsity Cup as they will not have any home fixtures. Tauriq Ebrahim reports.

NEWS: Wallaby Pat McCabe has joined the Brumbies Board as Player's Representative Director. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: There are two new caps in the New Zealand team for Wellington leg of the Sevens World Series.

NEWS: Veteran Springboks wing Bryan Habana signed a new one-year deal at three-time European champions Toulon, keeping him at the French giants until 2018.

TOP 14 WEEK 17: Shock French title chasers La Rochelle can snatch top spot on Saturday when they attempt to add triple European champions Toulon to their impressive list of victims on the road.

A RUGBY365 EXCLUSIVE: In the second instalment of the Rugby With Reynecke series Ethienne Reynecke, Ernst Joubert and Brendan Venter talk about the necessity of a model in rugby where a player can gain experience and build character before being exposed to top flight rugby.

A RUGBY365 EXCLUSIVE: In the second instalment of the Rugby With Reynecke series Ethienne Reynecke, Ernst Joubert and Brendan Venter talk about the necessity of a model in rugby where a player can gain experience and build character before being exposed to top flight rugby.

WORLD SERIES ROUND THREE: The Wellington leg of the Sevens World Series kicks off on Saturday with poor crowds again dominating the build-up to the two-day event.

Without a doubt they are the star rugby school in modern times. They are a benchmark for all rugby schools in South Africa.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England may be the bookmakers' favourites, but renowned coach and analyst Nick Mallett would wager a few bob on Ireland in the Six Nations.

It is Kearsney College's 10 Eastern Rugby Festival.

Bishops have been playing something like rugby since 1861, and still 156 years later there is vast enthusiasm for the game in the school.

St Benedict’s started preseason training in October 2016.

NEWS: SA Rugby Acting High Performance Manager Louis Koen said the objectives were achieved at the two Junior Springbok assessment camps this week.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: New CUT-Ixias coach, former Springbok hooker Tiaan Liebenberg, is feeling the pressure of being a first-time coach in the Varsity Cup competition. Tauriq Ebrahim reports.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After a horrendous 2016 Varsity Cup season, new UCT-Ikeys head coach Christiaan Esterhuizen has decided to return to basics as they gear up for the 2017 edition. Leezil Hendricks reports.

NEWS: South African lock Gideon Koegelenberg has extended his stay with Italian side Zebre until 2019.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The University of Johannesburg find themselves in a "funny, yet fun" predicament ahead of the 2017 Varsity Cup competition. Tauriq Ebrahim reports.

PRE-SEASON BUILD-UP: There will be no room for laziness when the Stormers take on the Cheetahs in a pre-season match in Harare on Saturday.

The last match of the 2017 Wildeklawer Tournament in Kimberley this year is a big one - Grey Bloem against Paarl Gim.

A RUGBY365 FIRST: In the first instalment of the new Rugby With Reynecke series Ethienne Reynecke, Ernst Joubert and Brendan Venter discuss the Springbok coaching position.

NEWS: English Rugby Union bosses revealed the sport's most recent anti-doping statistics prove the game is clean after only four positive tests were found last season.

NEWS: Under-fire Springbok coach Allister Coetzee will know his fate next week, according to a statement from SA Rugby.

NEWS: The complaint against the Worcester Warriors fullback, Ben Howard has been dismissed.

Schools are organised places, at least when it comes to rugby. Already last year the 2017 fixtures were becoming known.

NEWS: Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has strengthened his side for next season and beyond with the signings of Toby Salmon and Tom O’Flaherty.

World Rugby's first series for 2017 kicks off at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington this weekend. The referees and TMO for the matches have been appointed.

NEWS: Shane Williams has been linked to Ospreys once again, almost four years after his final appearance in the famous shirt, this time accepting an ambassadors role.

NEWS: Scotland international Ryan Grant has signed a contract to join Premiership side Worcester Warriors with immediate effect.

NEWS: The Melbourne Rebels have signed Japanese international wing Kentaro Kodama for the 2017 Super Rugby season.

OPINION: Ronan Calvert gives rugby365's readers an Irish view on the final round of Europe's premier club competition - the Champions Cup.

INTERVIEW: Guy Noves believes France must become "killers" in the Six Nations if they are to turn narrow defeats into victories.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok Sevens speedster Seabelo Senatla knows he needs only seven tries to equal the BlotzBoks all-time try scoring record, currently held by former sevens great Fabian Juries.

REACTION: Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw believes his side's increasingly potent attack can hurt their rivals during the upcoming Six Nations.

REACTION: Italy coach Conor O'Shea has urged his side to end the debate over their Six Nations status during this season's tournament.

REACTION: Did England coach Eddie Jones slip or was he pushed?

NEWS: Highlanders flyhalf Hayden Parker has sustained a knee injury during pre-season training.

NEWS: Worcester Warriors have revealed that former Springbok assistant coach Gary Gold will join the club as Director of Rugby from next Monday, January 30. 

NEWS: The Southern Kings have moved to solve their scrumhalf headache by signing seasoned No.9 Louis Schreuder ahead of the start of the 2017 Super Rugby season.

A RUGBY365 FIRST: In the first instalment of the new Rugby With Reynecke series Ethienne Reynecke, Ernst Joubert and Brendan Venter discuss the Springbok coaching position.

NEWS: Wales new captain Alun Wyn Jones insists that the new leadership will be the evolution not the revolution of Wales.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Traditionally, the team promoted to the Cup division have been the whipping boys but Wits will look to change all that when they return to the Varsity Cup fold. Tauriq Ebrahim reports.

REACTION: After being named captain of England Dylan Hartley admits he has been struggling with his tackle technique.

PRE-SEASON BUILD-UP: The Bulls will hold back their big guns for the Chiefs, in their second Super Rugby pre-season outing.

INJURY UPDATE: Ireland coach Joe Schmidt is confident flyhalf Johnny Sexton will be fit in time to face Scotland in Six Nations opener.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With last year's disappointment serving as motivation, Maties will once again display their exciting brand of rugby as they pursue the ultimate prize. Tauriq Ebrahim reports.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Despite his recent lack of match action, Dylan Hartley had been confirmed as England captain for the upcoming Six Nations.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England head coach Eddie Jones pitch up with a nasty black eye and cut face at the Six Nations launch press conference.

NEWS: All Blacks wing Nehe Milner-Skudder signed a three-year contract extension Wednesday, committing himself to New Zealand's Rugby World Cup defence in 2019.

NEWS: Worcester Warriors fullback Ben Howard has been cited for foul play following his club's European Rugby Challenge Cup match against Ensei-STM at Sixways on Saturday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Samoa Sevens head coach Gordon Tietjens is ready to paint New Zealand blue as he returns to face his former side in the World Rugby Sevens Series in Wellington on January 28 and 29.

NEWS: The possibility of a long-term solution to Eastern Province Kings' financial woes took a giant leap forward this week.

NEWS: SA Schools captain Salmaan Moerat and SA Schools vice-captain Damian Willemse headline a strong Western Province Institute intake for 2017.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Eight Wallabies will spearhead the Brumbies squad selected to compete for the inaugural Brisbane Global Rugby Tens title.

NEWS: Scrumhalf Nick Phipps has signed a new deal with the Australian Rugby Union and the Waratahs, as he pushes for selection for the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

NEWS: SA Schools captain Salmaan Moerat and SA Schools vice-captain Damian Willemse headline the strong intake for the Western Province Rugby Institute for 2017.  

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: France coach Guy Noves insisted his team go into next month's Six Nations under little pressure, but hoping for a much-improved performance after last year's fifth-place finish.

NEWS: Scotland will welcome world champions New Zealand to Murrayfield as part of their home three-Test programme in November, the Scottish Rugby Union said.

NEWS: Munster announced that they had signed the Irish trio of JJ Hanrahan, Chris Farrell and James Hart for the start of next season.

NEWS: Cash-strapped London Welsh were kicked out of professional Rugby Union on Tuesday and removed immediately from England's second-tier Championship.

INJURY UPDATE: France faced more injury woes Tuesday ahead of their Six Nations clash with England after loose forward Raphael Lakafia and hooker Camille Chat pulled out through injury.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Captain Sergio Parisse said Italy won't be relying on the memories of their historic victory over South Africa when they host Wales then Ireland in tough openers to this year's Six Nations.

NEWS: Tighthead prop Henry Thomas has signed a new three-year contract with Bath Rugby.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has named a 28-man squad to take on the Bulls in a pre-season match in Zimbabwe.

NEWS: Despite losing a vast majority of experienced campaigners, NWU-Pukke head coach Jonathan Mokuena is keen to retain the Varsity Cup title.

INTERVIEW: England's players will have their access to mobile phones limited in the build-up to the 2019 World Cup after hiring a visual awareness coach.

VARSITY CUP: Varsity Cup has always been at the forefront of introducing and experimenting with new laws and the 10th edition of the tournament proves no different.

NEWS: Italy head coach Conor O'Shea could not contain his enthusiasm with the appointment of new defence coach Brendan Venter as the side prepare for the Six Nations.

NEWS: Leicester Tigers have suspended forward Ed Slater from playing for two weeks following an internal disciplinary hearing.

NEWS: Scarlets confirmed that 22-year-old flank Will Boyde has extended his time at the region having signed his first senior contract.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Stuart Hogg hopes Scotland can take a leaf out of Glasgow's book by beating the major powers in Europe when the Six Nations gets underway next month.

Time flies. January is already at an end with the Sevens in Wellington to brighten it and in the South Super Rugby stirs again

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: A shoulder injury to former Australia Sevens captain Ed Jenkins will see him miss the World Series event in Wellington on January 28-29.

NEWS: Sharks Head Coach Robert du Preez announced that flyhalf Patrick Lambie will captain the Durban-based side in Super Rugby. 

INJURY UPDATE: James Haskell could be facing an uphill battle to make the matchday squad for titleholders England's opening Six Nations match with France after he returned home instead of joining up with the squad in Portugal.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Former Leicester Tigers Director of Rugby Richard Cockerill says it is a privilege to be helping coach the 'rock stars' who play for Top 14 giants Toulon.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Canada head coach Mark Anscombe has named an experienced 29-man squad for the 2017 Americas Rugby Championship as they work towards 2019 Rugby World Cup qualification.

NEWS: Lions star Warwick Tecklenburg has decided to retire from all rugby with immediate effect.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Jaguares of Argentina, the Super Rugby side, have contracted a foreign player for the first time.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wales believe Taulupe Faletau is "progressing well" from his latest injury setback but have yet to decide if the No.8 will be fit for their Six Nations opener.

NEWS: Toulon centre Mathieu Bastareaud is back in the French squad after more than a year's absence for their Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham on February 4.

REPORT: The Jaguares paid a dear price for a comprehensive 61-7 win over Uruguay in their first Super Rugby pre-season match.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With Stephan de Wit out with a broken ankle, the Stormers will lean on some familiar faces once again to fill that openside flank role. Warren Fortune reports.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls will take a 39-man squad to Harare for their first Super Rugby pre-season outing.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Former Springbok coach Pieter De Villiers is adamant that South African Rugby Union's failure to identify the core problem will results in a horrendous year for the Boks.

NEWS: South African rugby has lost the services of yet another expert, with Brendan Venter having signed with Italy until the 2019 World Cup.

REACTION: Defending champions Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall admits his side face a huge test as they lock horns with Glasgow Warriors in the quarterfinal stages of the European Rugby Champions Cup.

NEWS: Italy hooker Carlo Festuccia has re-joined Wasps on a short-term contract from Zebre until the end of the 2016/17.

INJURY UPDATE: Kings wing Malcolm Jaer and lock Tyler Paul have been given the all clear to start training with the squad ahead of the Super Rugby Season.

VARSITY CUP: The pressure is squarely on UP-Tuks' shoulders to deliver a title in the 2017 Varsity Cup competition, having last hoisted the trophy in 2013. Tauriq Ebrahim reports.

INTERVIEW: Returning Reds No.8 Leroy Houston has set his expectations really low as he pushes for a regular spot in the starting XV ahead of the Super Rugby season.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Ireland coaching group have named a 40-man squad for the opening two rounds of the 2017 Six Nations Championship. 

PRE-SEASON BUILD-UP: The Lions will enter uncharted territory when they start their Super Rugby campaign next month. Jan de Koning reports.

INTERVIEW: Springbok Sevens wing Siviwe Soyizwapi will make his Wellington Sevens debut this weekend since making his BlitzBok debut last season and he is eager to make a valuable contribution.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Two new coaches will be dipping their toes into the expanded Varsity Cup competition this year and the signs of success seem to be in their favour. Tauriq Ebrahim reports.

REACTION: Toulouse captain Thierry Dusautoir will be on a personal as well as professional revenge mission when the French giants face Munster for a place in the European Champions Cup semifinals.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Chris Ashton has said the combination of his ongoing England exile and his treatment by rugby's disciplinary authorities prompted his decision to leave Saracens for Toulon.

SQUAD UPDATE: Racing 92 captain Henry Chavancy has been given his first France call-up in place of injured centre Wesley Fofana for the Six Nations opener against England on February 4.

EUROPEAN CUP MATCH REPORT: This was supposed to be another easy run around for high-flying Wasps, but it turned out to be anything other than that before they finally secured their trip to Dublin to face Leinster in the quarterfinals.

REPORT: Toulouse held off a spirited Connacht effort to book their place in the European Champions Cup quarterfinals, 19-10, and deny their Pool Two rivals.

NEWS: The European Champions Cup quarterfinalists have been confirmed following the conclusion of the Poll stage on Sunday.

NEWS: The Junior Springboks' preparations for the World Under-20 Championship in Georgia gets underway this week, with Curwin Bosch and Zain Davids among 11 returning players to the broader assessment squad.

REACTION: Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter believes his side will be better equipped for an assault on the European Champions Cup next season, after their humbling at Clermont.

REACTION: Glasgow Warriors lock Tim Swinson was overjoyed after creating history by advancing to the European Champions Cup quarterfinals.

EUROPEAN CUP MATCH REPORT: If Munster thought Racing 92 were going to come to Thomond Park and roll over, then they got it hopelessly wrong.

EUROPEAN CUP MATCH REPORT: Glasgow Warriors stormed into the European Champions Cup quarterfinals by inflicting a record defeat on Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.

INJURY UPDATE: French international centre Wesley Fofana will miss the Six Nations after rupturing his Achilles tendon in Clermont's thumping 48-26 European Champions Cup win over Exeter on Saturday.

ON THE SPOTLIGHT: It's a question many rugby fans inside and outside France have asked themselves in recent years - whatever happened to 'French flair'?

EUROPEAN CUP MATCH REPORT: Saracens overcame Toulon 10-3 in one of the closest fought matches Allianz Park has seen to book a home quarterfinal in the European Champions Cup.

EUROPEAN CUP MATCH REPORT: Sale Sharks earned their first victory of the seasoned ended a 10-match losing run with a 25-23 triumph over Scarlets.

EUROPEAN CUP MATCH REPORT: ASM Clermont Auvergne will be the top seeds in the European Champions Cup quarterfinals after romping to a 48-26 victory over Exeter Chiefs.

EUROPEAN CUP MATCH REPORT: Bordeaux Begles piled more misery on Ulster with a 22-26 victory in their European Champions Cup encounter at Kingspan Stadium.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England have long been a side the rest of the world want to beat, but they have no intention of adopting a "siege mentality" when they begin their Six Nations title defence next month.

REACTION: Springbok legend Joost van der Westhuizen is 'still going strong' and not permanently on ogygen as reports calimed.

REACTION: Reports that Johan Erasmus will soon meet with the South African Rugby Union over the Springbok coaching position has been dismissed as 'fabrication'.

EUROPEAN CUP REPORT: Northampton Saints went down to their fourth defeat in six Champions Cup pool matches as they were beaten by a Montpellier side inspired by giant Fiji wing Nemani Nadolo. 

EUROPEAN CUP REPORT: Leinster were held to a 24-24 draw by Castres on Friday leaving them facing an anxious weekend wait before they can be guaranteed of a home European Champions Cup quarterfinal tie.

NEWS: England coach Eddie Jones is determined to avoid the "attraction" of a British and Irish Lions tour place becoming a "distraction" to his side during the Six Nations as he focuses on facing a revitalised France.

NEWS: There is a silver lining around the dark cloud that enveloped the liquidated Eastern Province Kings. Jan de Koning reports.

REACTION: Tom Arscott expressed his disappointment at being sacked by English Premiership club Sale following a disciplinary hearing into an alleged leak of information to rivals Bristol where his brother Luke plays. 

NEWS: A pair of forgotten Force players have re-emerged in Japan's Super Rugby outfit, the Sunwolves, for the 2017 season.

REACTION: Eddie Jones included Dylan Hartley in his Six Nations squad Friday, but refused to guarantee his Grand Slam-winning captain a starting place.

NEWS: England coach Eddie Jones has appointed visual awareness coach Sherylle Calder to his backroom staff.

INJURY UPDATE: Scotland and Edinburgh Rugby prop Willem Nel has been ruled out of the forthcoming Six Nations with a neck injury.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Legendary Springbok scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen who has battled motor neurone disease since May 2011, has been placed on oxygen to survive.

SIX NATIONS SQUAD: Eddie Jones has named three uncapped players in his England squad ahead of the 2017 Six Nations.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Josh Isaacson chatted to South African Sevens coach Neill Powell ahead of their trip to New Zealand.

NEWS: Springbok lock Franco van der Merwe is set to leave Ulster after sealing a deal with Cardiff Blues ahead of the 2017/18 season.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Interim All Blacks Sevens head coach Scott Waldrom named four new caps in the 14-man squad for the Wellington Sevens tournament

NEWS: Stephen Larkham and Andrew Walker will step out of retirement to make a return to Brumbies Rugby colours in February as the former backs duo are set to figure in the Global Rugby Tens to be held in Brisbane.

NEWS: A short time after making his first team bow, Gloucester Rugby are delighted to confirm that Academy scrumhalf Ben Vellacott has signed his first senior contract with the club.

CRUNCH TIME: Defending champions Saracens will host three-time winners Toulon in a mouth-watering pool decider in European Champions Cup action on the weekend.

NEWS: French internationals Brice Dulin and Yannick Nyanga will face an anti-doping probe.

NEWS: Sale wing Tom Arscott has been sacked by the English Premiership club following a disciplinary investigation.

REACTION: The Southern Kings are looking for a 'senior' scrumhalf, after confirmation that James Hall is not returning to Port Elizabeth.

NEWS: The Stormers and Western Province are investing heavily in their youth, as they look to build for the future.

NEWS: Australian playmaker Matt Giteau is back in the nick of time to boost Toulon in their quest to make the European Champions Cup quarterfinals at Saracens on Saturday.

NEWS: The Rugby Football Union want to impose a five-year residency rule on England after Nathan Hughes' inclusion in the England squad this season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Cheetahs have learnt one very valuable lesson from the Lions, ahead of the 2017 Super Rugby season. Jan de Koning reports.

NEWS: Gloucester No.8 Gareth Evans has become the latest player to commit his future to the club.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: New Fiji Sevens coach Gareth Baber has made five changes to the side that will represent Fiji at the Wellington Sevens.

NEWS: Springbok veteran Bryan Habana is in talks to extend his contract with French Top 14 club Toulon, but nothing has been decided yet.

INJURY UPDATE: The Stormers suffered a blow ahead of Super Rugby with the news that new recruit Stephan de Wit broke his ankle in training.

NEWS: The Waratahs revealed the re-signing of New South Wales country-born lock Ned Hanigan for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Japan coach Jamie Joseph wants to forget the country's astonishing 2015 World Cup run as he looks to create his own blueprint for the future.

NEWS: Veteran South Africa fullback Gio Aplon committed his future to Grenoble with a new three-year deal, despite the Top 14 club flirting with relegation.

NEWS: The Western Force have added to their backline depth with the signing of Country Eagles outside back Alex Newsome to the team's wider training squad.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: USA Captain Madison Hughes has been included in the squad which will travel to Wellington Sevens following his early exit during the Cape Town leg of the Series.

NEWS: Springbok Francois Steyn has been suspended for four weeks after he was found guilty for a dangerous tackle during Montpellier 3-57 defeat to Leinster in the European Champions Cup.

UPDATE: An independent Disciplinary Committee found that Timisoara Saracens had breached the European Rugby Challenge Cup Rules following the cancellation of the Romanian club's Challenge Cup Round Five match against Stade Français Paris.

NEWS: Rob Baxter has confirmed Exeter Chiefs prop Alec Hepburn could be out for at least 10 months after injuring his knee.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: After winning the Cape Town Sevens, England Sevens head coach Simon Amor has selected the same squad for the upcoming Wellington Sevens. 

SEVENS TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Kenya has made five changes to their team for the third round of the Sevens World Series in Wellington.

NEWS: Super Rugby's governing body is conducting a "strategic review" of the competition's current format, amid complaints of punishing travel schedules that have affected team performances.

NEWS: The Welsh Rugby Union have appointed former Fiji Sevens coach Ben Ryan to boost its performance department and coach development provision.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Zain Davids, a Junior Springbok star in 2016, was one of two new players in the BlitzBok squad named by coach Neil Powell on Wednesday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: France coach Guy Noves on Wednesday named centre Yann David in a 32-man training squad for the Six Nations, more than seven years after his last call-up for Les Bleus.

INTERVIEW: Loose forward Jacques Vermeulen said stiff competition for places at the Stormers was one of the main reasons for his move to the Sharks.

INJURY UPDATE: It will be several months before the Lions' Springbok prop Julian Redelinghuys makes a call on his future. Jan de Koning reports.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Scotland head Coach Vern Cotter has named a 37-man squad for this year's Six Nations Championship.

NEWS: Stormers star Cheslin Kolbe will join Toulouse at the end of this year's Super Rugby tournament.

European Professional Club Rugby has lodged a misconduct complaint against Timisoara Saracens following the cancellation of the Romanian club's Challenge Cup Round Five match against Stade Français Paris.

NEWS: The Canadian Sevens team will be led by two different players when the side heads to Australia for the Wellington (January 28-29) and Sydney (February 4-5) legs of the World Sevens Series.

INJURY UPDATE: England forward George Kruis will be fit for the defending champions' Six Nations opener against France next month, the Saracens lock's club coach said.

NEWS: World Cup-winning New Zealand flyhalf Aaron Cruden said Wednesday he had signed a three-year contract with French club Montpellier, ending months of speculation about his future.

INTERVIEW: Southern Kings assistant coach Vuyo Zangqa is eager to absorb as much knowledge in his first season of coaching in the Super Rugby as much as he is eager to impart what he has learnt over the years in Sevens.

REACTION: Wales interim coach Rob Howley wants Sam Warburton to "get his mojo back" after stripping him of the captaincy for this season's Six Nations.

NEWS: Worcester Warriors announced the signing of Northampton Saints prop Ethan Waller.

NEWS: Zebre and their head coach Gianluca Guidi have decided to terminate their contract by mutual agreement.

NEWS: Montpellier's Francois Steyn has been cited for foul play during his team's 3-57 defeat to Leinster in a European Champions Cup tie last weekend. 

INJURY UPDATE: High-flying Clermont suffered a blow with news that All Black fullback Isaia Toeava will be out for up to four months with an injured left arm. 

NEWS: Sale wing Tom Arscott has been suspended by his club over an alleged leak of information to English Premiership rivals Bristol that is now being investigated by the Rugby Football Union.

INJURY UPDATE: James Haskell has been given the all clear to feature for Wasps this weekend, with club boss Dai Young backing the flank to star again for defending Grand Slam champions England in the upcoming Six Nations.

NEWS: Flank Calum Clark will leave Northampton Saints at the end of the season after signing a three-year contract with Premiership rivals the Saracens.

NEWS: Scotland international centre Nick De Luca has extended his contract with Wasps until the end of the season, before retiring from professional rugby.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Alun Wyn Jones has replaced Sam Warburton as Wales captain for the upcoming Six Nations Championship, the Welsh Rugby Union announced.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Frankie Horne has been praised for his services to the Springbok Sevens team, after the Blitzbok had decided to retire from rugby at the end of December 2016.

NEWS: England captain Dylan Hartley will undergo a 'trial match' on Wednesday in a bid to find out whether he can lead the reigning Grand Slam champions into next month's Six Nations.

The pool stage of the European competitions comes to an end this weekend with some interesting decisions to be made.

INTERVIEW: Reds star centre Samu Kerevi is itching to play with Quade Cooper at Super Rugby level again.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Fiji Sevens new coach Gareth Baber wants his contractual issues between the players and union cleared before the Wellington Sevens.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck believes his team is a little more experienced in handling the rigours of Super Rugby in 2017.

INTERVIEW: Brumbies prop Scott Sio believes that the Brumbies new dynamic could be fruitful ahead of the 2017 Super rugby season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Melbourne Rebels star Reece Hodge will be looking to build on his fine form in 2016 when this year's Super Rugby tournament gets underway in February.

NEWS: A looming fixture clash involving two sports clubs in the Welsh town of Newport could have a major impact on the last day of their domestic soccer and rugby seasons.

NEWS: France will play New Zealand, South Africa and Japan on consecutive weekends in November.

INJURY UPDATE: Leinster hooker Sean Cronin is set to miss Ireland's upcoming Six Nations campaign with a hamstring injury.

NEWS: Bath revealed that hooker Ross Batty and prop Max Lahiff have signed contract extensions that will see them both remain at the club for at least a further two seasons.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: There is a 'new' player in the Port Elizabeth rugby arena, but the venture may have the same predictable outcome.

NEWS: Ulster Rugby confirmed that scrumhalf John Cooney has signed a two-year contract at Kingspan Stadium and will move from inter-provincial rivals Connacht at the end of the season.

OPINION: Ronan Calvert gives us an Irish view on the penultimate of Europe's premier club competition - the Champions Cup.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sunwolves franchise have handed Australian Edward Quirk and Japanese international Harumichi Tatekawa the responsibility of leading the 2017 Super rugby side.

NEWS: Loose forward Arno Botha will leave the Bulls at the end of the 2017 Super Rugby season. 

INTERVIEW: The Bulls are not being given much of a chance of winning the 2017 Super Rugby competition - certainly not by bookmakers.

REACTION: Mathieu Bastareaud admits Toulon have to be more disciplined to stand any chance of beating Champions Cup holders Saracens at Allianz Park this weekend.

INTERVIEW: Tom Wood hopes he has given Eddie Jones something to think about ahead of England's defence of their Six Nations crown that begins next month.

NEWS: Toulon have called in the services of Samoan wing Alesana Tuilagi to bolster their squad.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: We have entered the final stretch to what is sure to be an exciting 2017 Super Rugby season and rugby365 brings you all the pre-season fixtures to follow your favourite team's build-up.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Melbourne Rebels rising star Rob Leota will travel to Fiji to join the Island Breeze Rugby Plus program to help conduct clinics at Levuka Town on the east coast of the Fijian island of Ovalau.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Skills coach Paul Feeney has been hard at work in the pre-season helping the Stormers make better decisions on attack.

EUROPEAN CUP REPORT: Exeter Chiefs moved up into second place in Pool Five as they gave their fans something to cheer with their first home win in the Champions Cup this season as they beat Ulster 31-19. 

EUROPEAN CUP REPORT: Two tries in the final four minutes against Sale Sharks earned RC Toulon a priceless bonus-point and kept them in the hunt for a Champions Cup quarterfinal place.

EUROPEAN CUP REPORT: Three penalties from the boot of Camille Lopez kicked Clemont into a 9-6 victory over Bordeaux-Bègles and into the Champions Cup quarterfinals.

EUROPEAN CUP REPORT: Chris Ashton's try at the death broke Scarlets hearts and salvaged a 22-22 draw for defending European champions Saracens.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Bristol backline coach Dwayne Peel believes Super Rugby winner Jason Woodward is a contender for England selection.

REACTION: All Blacks superstar Dan Carter said he was proud to see Racing 92 end their four-match losing streak in the European Champions Cup with a 34-3 mauling of Leicester on Saturday.

INTERVIEW: With Super Rugby just around the corner, Lwazi Mvovo is itching to help the Sharks become a force in the Southern Hemisphere.

CHALLENGE CUP WRAP: Richard Hibbard was the two-try hero as Gloucester survived a late change of venue, a delayed kick-off and then a spirited Treviso comeback in freezing conditions before they banked maximum points to go top of Pool One.

NEWS: Former international hooker Paul Labadie, who played in the French team which defeated the All Blacks for the first time in 1954, has died at the age of 88, his family announced.

EUROPEAN CUP REPORT: Racing 92 downed Leicester Tigers 34-3 to secure a bonus-point European Champions Cup success at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir.

EUROPEAN CUP REPORT: Francis Saili scored a crucial late try to give Munster a narrow 14-12 victory over Glasgow Warriors and send them through the quarterfinals of the European Champions Cup.

PRE-SEASON BUILD-UP: The Stormers have had a good look in the mirror and started addressing their shortcomings.

REPORT: Dan Robson's try in the dying minutes hands Wasps a 17-14 victory over Toulouse in a tense dramatic tussle at Ricoh Stadium.

REPORT: Northampton Saints resisted a second-half comeback from Castres - a result that almost certainly ended the French club's slim European Champions Cup play-off hopes.

REPORT: Connacht Rugby ran in 10 tries as their demolished a poor Zebre outfit 66-21 to keep their hopes of reaching the last eight of the European Rugby Champions Cup.

ROUND FIVE WRAP: The European Challenge Cup tie between French club Stade Francais and Romanian side Timisoara has been postponed because of the condition of the pitch.

REACTION: Ireland and Leinster flyhalf Johnny Sexton came out in defence of Springbok amd Montpellier rival Frans Steyn, following a sickening clash in their European Cup encounter in Dublin on Friday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Johan Erasmus is arguably the biggest loss to South African rugby in the last decade - if the Irish media, Munster players and officials are to be believed.

REPORT: Springbok Francois Steyn spent just 26 on the field before being shown a straight red card as his Montpellier teammates were handed a humiliating 3-57 defeat at the hands of Leinster on Friday.

NEWS: Premiership club Sale Sharks are being investigated over a possible breach of concussion management protocol involving Samoa's TJ Ioane.

NEWS: Sarel Marais, a 27-year-old journeyman fullback, headlines the new recruits for the Stormers.

NEWS: Newcastle rugby director Dean Richards quashed speculations that he might be willing to return to his former club Leicester.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: This year's Super Rugby tournament marks the start of a new chapter in Robert du Preez's coaching career.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: World Rugby's directive to 'clamp down' on dangerous and high tackles are going to result in some ridiculous calls - as we have already seen in the English Premiership.

NEWS: Cardiff Blues are targeting South African international Franco van der Merwe as they look to lure him to Wales to bolster their second row ahead of the season.

UPDATE: Two female parking wardens have accepted an apology from the Chiefs after a verbally abusive incident in Hamilton earlier this week.

NEWS: The ban handed down to Glasgow Warriors player Brian Alainu'uese was reduced by a week.

SIX NATIONS NEWS: Italy coach Conor O'Shea named a 32-man squad for a pre-Six Nations training camp to be held over four days in Rome later this month.

NEWS: Rising star Richie Mo'unga has committed to furthering his career in red and black, having re-signed with the Crusaders through to the end of the 2019 Super Rugby season.

BOILING POINT: The road to the Edinburgh Final and possible European glory in May will become clearer over the coming two weekends.

NEWS: Worcester Warriors flank Carl Kirwan has committed his future to the club by signing a new contract.

NEWS: England international Matt Kvesic has become the first recruit to join Exter Chiefs next season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Southern Kings are determined to 'stay the distance' in their third season of Super Rugby, as they look to learn from last year's excruciating lessons.

NEWS: Rory Teague has joined the England backroom staff as skills coach ahead of this year's Six Nations tournament.

NEWS: Powerful Fijian wing Semi Radradra will quit Australia's National Rugby League at the end of the season after signing a lucrative deal with French Rugby Union side Toulon, his Parramatta Eels club said Thursday.

NEWS: The Chiefs apologised Thursday after players were accused of hurling obscenities at female traffic wardens in the latest sexism episode to hit New Zealand rugby.

NEWS: Australian wing Peter Betham signed a new contract with English Premiership side Leicester Tigers.

NEWS: Brian Alainu'uese of Glasgow Warriors has appealed the three-week suspension that he received from a disciplinary committee on January 4.

INJURY UPDATE: Wasps' veteran England No.8 James Haskell will miss Saturday's crucial top-of-the-table European Champions match with French side Toulouse.

EUROPEAN CUP NEWS: Toulon talisman Matt Giteau is ready to give the three-time Champions Cup winners a huge boost, ahead of their make-or-break matches against Sale Sharks and Saracens in Pool Three.

INJURY UPDATE: Springboks Handré Pollard and Jesse Kriel will both make their comebacks from injury in the Bulls' opening match of 2017.

NEWS: Glasgow Warriors have received a boost ahead of their European Rugby Champions Cup match against Munster, with the news that Scotland internationals Tommy Seymour and Tim Swinson have signed new deals with the club.

NEWS: A win against Munster will put Glasgow Warriors closer their dream of reaching the Championship Cup quarter-finals for the first time in history. 

NEWS: Flyhalf Owen Williams is set to join Gloucester from Leicester Tigers at the end of the season.

INJURY UPDATE: England and Harlequins prop Joe Marler will miss the Six Nations title-holders' opening two matches after suffering a fracture to his lower left leg.

INJURY UPDATE: Regular Cheetahs captain Francois Venter is in a race against time to return before that start of the season.

NEWS: Munster coach Rassie Erasmus believes Ireland scrumhalf Conor Murray is approaching the peak of his powers in perfect time for the Six Nations.

NEWS: Sam Underhill is set to leave Ospreys at the end of this season after signing a contract with Premiership side Bath.

NEWS: George Kruis will be available for England's Six Nations Championship opener against France.

NEWS: Wallabies loose forward Lopeti Timani has given his chances of playing in the 2019 World Cup a massive boost by committing his future to Australia.

NEWS: Saracens prop Richard Barrington has been cleared of any wrongdoing following the red card he received during his side's Premiership encounter against Exeter Chiefs.

NEWS: Gloucester have have confirmed that Val Rapava Ruskin will move down the M5 from Worcester next season.

NEWS: Fijian sevens specialist Kitione Taliga, a member of his country's Olympic gold medal-winning squad at the Rio Games, has signed with Stade Francais.

NEWS: New Zealand great Dan Carter and two other players from French side Racing 92 have been summoned to appear before the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) over the use of corticosteroids.

INJURY UPDATE: France international wing Vincent Clerc's career could be in the balance after undergoing surgery on a ruptured left achilles tendon, his Top 14 club Toulon confirmed on Tuesday.

NEWS: Ulster back-row forward Chris Henry has signed a new two-year contract that will keep him at Kingspan Stadium until June 2019.

The European cup is back in action this week and in Spain there is a royal cup on the go.

NEWS: Steffan Evans has committed his future to Scarlets, the Welsh region confirmed.

NEWS: Gloucester recruitment for the 2017/18 season continues apace with the news that talented prop Fraser Balmain will move to Kingsholm from Leicester Tigers ahead of next season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Reds will have no shortage of leaders when this year's Super Rugby tournament starts in February.

INTERVIEW: Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham will use a number of "interim captains" during his team's pre-season trials before making a final decision on a leader for their first Super Rugby match against the Crusaders.

INTERVIEW: In-form Scotland centre Matt Scott admits he is absolutely desperate to return to action for his country in the upcoming Six Nations.

NEWS: Richard Barrington and Brad Barritt of Saracens will appear before a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel in London on Tuesday.

NEWS: Former international Patrick Salas, who helped France beat the All Blacks for the first time in New Zealand in 1979, died aged 62.

NEWS: World Rugby will not punish Northampton, despite finding that the club's medics wrongly allowed George North to play on after injuring his head.

NEWS: All Blacks scrumhalf Alby Mathewson joins Bristols rugby with immediate effect until end of the season.

INJURY UPDATE: England flank Chris Robshaw miss the upcoming Six Nations tournament after he was ruled out of action for three months with a shoulder injury.

OPINION: Jan de Koning takes a look at the post-isolation Springbok coaches to see where incumbent Allister Coetzee ranks.

INJURY UPDATE: Southern Kings' injured star flank Cyril-John Velleman is expected to return to the playing field in April.

NEWS: Connacht head coach Pat Lam believes his team still has a chance of reaching the last eight of the European Rugby Champions Cup despite an ever-growing injury crisis.

EXCLUSIVE: rugby365 law guru Paul Dobson looks at the immediate effects of the increased sanctions for playing an opponent's head.

NEWS: Scotland back row Hamish Watson has agreed a new two-year deal with Edinburgh Rugby, which will see him feature for the capital club until May 2019.

NEWS: Following months of speculation about Liam Williams' future in West Wales the Scarlets confirmed that he will leave the region at the end of the current season.

NEWS: Wales captain Sam Warburton may be set to stand aside as leader in the Six Nations and also to rule himself out of contention to captain the British and Irish Lions this year.

TOP 14 WRAP: Clermont made it eight wins in eight home games with a bonus-point 30-6 rout of three-time European champions Toulon on Sunday which preserved their Top 14 lead.

REACTION: Springbok flyhalf Morne Steyn has clarified a report that suggested he has retired from international rugby.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Sean Maitland insists Scotland will be ones to watch during this year's Six Nations following a promising end to 2016.

INJURY UPDATE: Wasps returned to the English Premiership summit by edging Leicester 22-16 on Sunday, but their victory was overshadowed by an injury to England flank James Haskell.

MATCH REPORT: Wasps were forced to withstand a ferocious Leicester Tigers comeback at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday.

SIX NATIONS IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Eddie Jones believes the key to an entertaining Six Nations will be fast starts across the board - admitting that England have struggled out of the gate in recent seasons.

REACTION: Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall paid tribute to his side as they coped with 14 men for 70 minutes to claim an unlikely draw against Exeter Chiefs.

TOP 14 WRAP: La Rochelle snatched pole position in the French Top 14 on Saturday.

NEWS: Ospreys forwards coach Chris Gibbes confirmed he will leave the Welsh franchise and return to New Zealand.

REPORT: Peter Murchie scored two second-half tries as Glasgow Warriors pulled clear of Cardiff Blues in the second period to claim a 29-15 win.

REACTION: Ireland loose forward CJ Stander paid respect to his former Munster coach, the late Anthony Foley, immediately after they claimed a 32-7 victory over Racing 92 in Paris.

REPORT: Munster paid a scintillating tribute to former coach Anthony Foley by routing Racing92 32-7 to edge closer to the European Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: A late Titi Lamositele try earned 14-man Saracens the most unlikely of draws as they secured a 13-13 result at home to Exeter Chiefs.

REPORT: A comfortable 29-7 bonus point victory over Connacht helped Ospreys climb to the summit of the Pro 12 table on Saturday.

NEWS: Springbok lock Flip van der Merwe will remain with French club Clermont for a further two years after putting pen to paper on a new deal.

REACTION: Finding themselves trailing Bath 10-22 at the half-time interval, Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards left it to his leadership group to dig themselves out of the hole.

FRENCH TOP 14: Jake White's Montpellier scored three tries to defeat faltering Bordeaux 31-26 on Friday and pull level on points with Clermont and La Rochelle at the top of the French Top 14 table.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Two late tries from Mark Wilson and Ben Harris gave Newcastle Falcons a dramatic late 24-22 Premiership victory against Bath at Kingston Park on Friday.

FRIDAY PRO12 WRAP: Johnny Sexton marked his long-awaited return to Pro12 action with a perfect record from the tee as Leinster sailed past Zebre on Friday.

NEWS: Springbok wing Cornal Hendricks' planned comeback has been put on hold.

INTERVIEW: Don Armand says it's imperative he and his Exeter Chiefs teammates 'stay in the fight' for the full 80 minutes when they tackle reigning English and European champions Saracens at a sold-out Allianz Park.

NEWS: Rhys Priestland, Max Clark and Tom Homer have all committed their future to Bath Rugby.

NEWS: French club Toulon have parted company with Australian back Matthew Carraro, the Top 14 side announced.

INJURY UPDATE: England flank Chris Robshaw will miss Harlequins' Premiership fixture against Sale Sharks due to shoulder injury.

NEWS: Looking for a second home victory in 2017 Scarlets loosehead prop Rob Evans believes his side have enough confidence to get the job done against Ulster at Parc y Scarlets on Friday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Munster captain Peter O'Mahony wants his men to channel their emotion into a winning performance in their rearranged European Rugby Champions Cup clash with Racing 92.

NEWS: The Melbourne Rebels have added international utility back Ben Volavola to its squad ahead of the 2017 Super Rugby season.

REACTION: This weekend will see the introduction of new law changes implemented by World Rugby that have redefined illegal (high) tackle categories and increased sanctions.

NEWS: Cardiff Blues have bolstered their pack with the short-term loan signing of BJ Edwards from Bristol.

NEWS: Northampton Saints announced the arrival of Western Province's England-qualified lock David Ribbans at Franklin's Gardens.

NEWS: Welsh star Leigh Halfpenny has been made the "best offer" the Welsh Rugby Union can afford in an attempt to get him home from Toulon in France, the WRU says.

The Pro 12 competition amongst five of the Six Nations clubs will take on the stricter law changes to the laws governing dangerous tackles.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Exeter Chiefs may have made history last weekend with victory over Bath, but Phil Dollman insists the quality within the Premiership means they can't afford to ease off for a second.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With the Championship now beyond the halfway point, teams in the Pro12 will begin to set the table ahead of what promises to be an exciting run-in towards the end of the season.

IN THE SPOTLGHT: Scarlets scrumhalf Gareth Davies says that they are facing one of the biggest games of their season ahead of the Pro12 clash against Ulster at Parc y Scarlets on Friday.

NEWS: A mere 1 300 tickets have been sold for the upcoming Wellington Sevens on January 28 and 29.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England will launch the defence of their Six Nations title without a number of big names but head coach Eddie Jones is confident his Grand Slam-winning squad can cope.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Jaguares will again rely mainly on regular players from Argentina's national team, as they enter their second season of Super Rugby.

NEWS: French international Lucas Pointud will leave Brive at the end of the season to join Top 14 side Toulouse.

OPINION: Jan de Koning looks beyond the media hype surrounding the kafkaesque Racing 92 versus Johan Goosen saga and asks some pointed questions about the way some French club owners operate.

INJURY UPDATE: Bordeaux-Begles' France international prop Jefferson Poirot has been ruled out for three months with a leg injury and will miss the Six Nations, his club manager Raphaël Ibanez said. 

INJURY UPDATE: Springbok and Ulster Ruan Pienaar sustained an injury which will see him absent from the upcoming Pro12 match against Scarlets on January 6.

INJURY UPDATE: Injury-prone England centre Manu Tuilagi will miss the rest of the season because of a knee ligament problem, his club Leicester Tigers announced.

NEWS: Bristol's Tusi Pisi will be free to play again on January 10 after being handed a two week suspension by an RFU Disciplinary panel.

Here is a golden oldie from respected rugby365 writer Paul Dobson which was first published on this website 16 years ago.

NEWS: Flyhalf Morne Steyn will no longer be appearing in a Springbok jersey.

INJURY UPDATE: Wales and Bath No.8 Taulupe Faletau could miss the start of the Six Nations after suffering a medial knee ligament injury.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: During Toulon's 17-11 Top 14 victory over Racing 92 on New Year's Day, Leigh Halfpenny was presented the opportunity to extend his side's lead with a conversion from the touchline.

NEWS: England head coach Eddie Jones has backed Dylan Hartley to continue as England captain for the upcoming Six Nations tournament.

The clubs keep on having their enthusiastic competitions with an important one for ambitious Munster.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Racing 92 are to launch legal proceedings against want-away Springbok utility back Johan Goosen over "blatant fraud".

INJURY UPDATE: All Black and Pau centre Conrad Smith has been ruled out for six weeks with an ankle tendon injury.

INJURY UPDATE: Ireland and Connacht lock Ultane Dillane could miss the upcoming Six Nations due to an ankle injury.

INJURY UPDATE: Clermont's Argentinian flyhalf Patricio Fernandez will be out of action for up to 10 weeks after picking up a thigh injury.

NEWS: Former France captain Elie Cester has died at the age of 74, relatives said Tuesday.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Jan de Koning takes a look at a proposed change to the South African landscape and what the 2017 Super Rugby season may produce.

NEWS: Glasgow lock Brian Alainuuese has been cited for foul play during his team's Pro12 match with Treviso.

REACTION: Luke Cowan-Dickie hailed Exeter Chiefs' fighting spirit after they emerged with a dramatic New Year's Eve victory at Bath.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: It may be five months before the trophies are handed out at the end of the season, but Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young has described his side's Round Five Champions Cup clash with Toulouse as "a Cup Final".

NEWS: All Black Ben Smith is set for a move to France, according to reports.

INJURY UPDATE: France international flank Charles Ollivon could miss the start of the Six Nations after picking up an injury with club side Toulon at the weekend.

INJURY UPDATE: England flank Chris Robshaw is set for a further examination on the shoulder injury he suffered in Harlequins' Premiership defeat against Worcester.

UPDATE: Jaco Taute's loan period with Munster has been extended, the Irish province confirmed on Monday.

INTERVIEW: Star fullback Stuart Hogg could feature more in the No.10 jersey for Scotland in the future.

INTERVIEW: France's Virimi Vakatawa is committed to giving his all for France in both Sevens and XVs over the next few years.

NEWS: Richard Cockerill's seven-year spell as Leicester's Director of Rugby came to an end on Monday when the English rugby giants sacked him.

REACTION: Bristol Rugby acting head coach Mark Tainton paid tribute to his side’s battling resilience as they started 2017 with a 24-23 victory over Sale Sharks.

REACTION: Gloucester scrumhalf Willi Heinz admitted that the home dressing room were gutted after their 12-13 defeat to Northampton Saints.

REACTION: Saracens forwards coach Alex Sanderson praised the adaptability his England players have acquired under Eddie Jones for helping to see his side to a 16-12 victory over Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.

NEWS: Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi has withdrawn from England's two-day training camp next week after injuring his knee, the Rugby Football Union has announced.

REPORT: La Rochelle hammered struggling Grenoble 40-3 on Sunday to join pace-setters Clermont at the summit of the French Top 14.

OPINION: rugby365 reporter Warren Fortune believes It will be a two-horse race between England and Ireland for the 2017 Six Nations title.

REPORT: Ospreys climbed to second in the Pro12 table as Justin Tipuric's first-half try was the difference in an attritional 10-0 victory over Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade.

REPORT: Steffan Evans' exemplary display ensured Scarlets took Pro12 bragging rights over Cardiff Blues in the Welsh derby at Parc y Scarlets.

REPORT: A penalty try with just five minutes remaining gave Northampton Saints a 13-12 victory over Gloucester and ended the home side's unbeaten run at Kingsholm.

REPORT: Owen Farrell scored 16 points for Saracens as they scrapped to a 16-12 win against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road to remain second in the Premiership.

REPORT: Worcester Warriors bounced back from their Premiership defeat to Bristol by turning in an impressive performance to see off in-form Harlequins 24-17 for their second league win of the season.

REPORT: Max Crumpton's try sealed the perfect comeback for Bristol as they overcame a 13-point deficit to run out 24-23 winners over Sale Sharks, to record their first Premiership away victory since March 2008.

TOP 14 WRAP: In-form Pau halted depleted Montpellier's title momentum and dragged themselves away from the soft underbelly of France's Top 14 on Saturday with a 32-27 win.

REPORT: Munster consolidated their position at the top of the Pro12 table with a hard-fought 16-9 victory over Connacht at the Galway Sportsground.

REPORT: James Short’s breathtaking second-half double completed a phenomenal Exeter Chiefs comeback win as they downed Bath 17-11 at The Rec to leapfrog them into third place in the Premiership.

REPORT: Wing Rory O’Loughlin scored two tries as Leinster moved ahead of Ospreys into second in the Pro12 after a comfortable 22-7 victory over Ulster at the RDS.

REPORT: Rory Clegg played the part of super sub as the Glasgow Warriosr secured a 35-28 win against a spirited Benetton Treviso.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: England head coach Eddie Jones has announced a 45-man elite player squad (EPS) and named the 33 players who will attend a two-day training camp in Brighton as England begin their preparation for the Six Nations.

REPORT: Duncan Weir's boot ensured Edinburgh  ended a three-game losing run in the Pro12 after a battling 24-19 victory on New Year’s Eve over Zebre at Stadio Lanfranchi.

REACTION: Wasps backs coach Lee Blackett hailed flyhalf duo Jimmy Gopperth and Danny Cipriani after the pair guided the league-leaders to a 34-30 victory over Newcastle Falcons in a thrilling back-and-forth Premiership Rugby encounter at Kingston Park.

TOP 14 REPORT: Lyon ended a four-match French Top 14 losing streak with a 19-16 win over Bordeaux on Friday.

REPORT: Jimmy Gopperth rose from the bench to secure a 34-30 bonus-point win for Wasps against Newcastle Falcons and ensure Dai Young's side will start 2017 leading the Premiership.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: History maker Dan Biggar has played his part in some memorable Ospreys moments down the years and he's targeting more after becoming the first man to score 2000 points in the regional rugby era.

NEWS: Rob Hawkins has extended his contract until the end of the 2016/17 campaign, Bristol confirmed on Friday.

NEWS: Wales wing George North is set to make his first appearance for Northampton since his latest head injury when the Premiership side face Gloucester on Sunday.

NEWS: Zebre centre Giulio Bisegni has been suspended for four weeks for foul play.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: We may only be half-way through the Premiership season but Bristol forward Dan Tuohy believes their match with Sale Sharks on New Year's Day is crucial to both sides' seasons.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ollie Devoto will be hoping his inside knowledge of Bath can help lift Exeter Chiefs to a first-ever win at The Rec when the two Premiership heavyweights clash on New Year's Eve.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Gloucester topsy-turvy defeat in Round 11 of the Premiership summed up the Cherry and Whites season so far, but Matt Scott insists there were still plenty of positives to take away from the clash as they bid to kick off 2017 in style.

NEWS: Tonga Sevens skipper Atelea Okati passed away after a car accident.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Munster head coach Rassie Erasmus has denied suggestions that Munster might be receiving preferential treatment in their efforts to hold onto South Africa centre Jaco Taute.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With a new coach at the realm and several senior players leaving at the end of the season, Sergio Parisse is adamant that there is no reason to panic.

NEWS: Canadian international Ciaran Hearn has sign a new extension deal with London Irish.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The race to reach the PRO12 Final at Aviva Stadium is now at the halfway mark and Munster Rugby are leading the charge after their bonus-point win against age-old rivals Leinster Rugby.

NEWS: New Zealand centre Benson Stanley has become the second All Blacks player that decided to quit Top 14 outfit Clermont at the end of the season.  

NEWS: Conor O'Shea insists Italian eyes are firmly on the future with their rugby development, but the head coach is calling for consistency from Azzurri during the upcoming Six Nations.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Newcastle Falcons prop Jon Welsh insists the team will be ready for Wasps’ electric backline when they play the second of a run of three straight fixtures against high-flying opposition.

INTERVIEW: Andy Farrell is hopeful that the new bonus points system of the Six Nation will benefit the British and Irish Lions when they head to New Zealand in June 2017.

INJURY UPDATE: Springbok and Leicester Tigers wing JP Pietersen will be out for more than six weeks due to a  pectoral injury.

REACTION: Danny Care is targeting a run of Premiership victories after his Harlequins side beat Gloucester 28-24 in a thrilling game at Twickenham.

NEWS: All Blacks and Blues prop Charlie Faumuina has confirmed he is moving to France at the end of next year's Super Rugby Season to play for Toulouse.

INJURY UPDATE: Connacht stars Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, John Muldoon and Danie Poolman all picked up injuries in their team's defeat to Ulster last weekend.

NEWS: Zebre centre Giulio Bisegni has been cited for foul play during his team's defeat to Treviso last Friday.

INJURY UPDATE: France loosehead prop Jefferson Poirot is close to returning from a shoulder injury ahead of the upcoming 2017 Six Nations tournament.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wales wing George North has revealed he wants to emulate international teammate Gethin Jenkins late into his career.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Malcolm Jaer made his mark with lion-hearted performances for the Southern Kings in the 2016 Super Rugby season in which he stood out as one of the side's consistent performers.

NEWS: Ireland flyhalf Jonathan Sexton is showing some positive signs and could return for Leinster in time for the Pro12 New Years Eve clash against Ulster.

Already 2016 is an end and on Sunday 2017 starts.

REPORT: Premiership Rugby’s Christmas showcase once again did not fail to deliver the goods, as Harlequins defeated Gloucester Rugby 28-24 in a sensational Big Game 9 at Twickenham.

REPORT: Ospreys grind past West Wales rivals Scarlets with a 19-9 win in a penalty-laden Pro12 match at the Liberty Stadium.

INJURY UPDATE: Montpellier flank Wiaan Liebenberg is set to be out for four months due to a sprained wrist.

NEWS: New Zealand wing Hosea Gear is leaving Clermont to join their Top 14 rivals Lyon on a short term deal.

EXCLUSIVE: rugby365 law guru Paul Dobson looks at a specific law surrounding the taking of a penalty kick.

NEWS: Irish side Munster are close to signing Springbok Jaco Taute for the rest of the 2016-2017 European season.

INTERVIEW: England head coach Eddie Jones believes the British and Irish Lions' tough build-up before the first Test against New Zealand in the 2017 series will favour the tourists.

REPORT: With a place atop the Pro12 standings up for grabs, it was Munster who claimed the spoils with a 29-17 derby triumph over Leinster.

REPORT: Glasgow Warriors claimed their first win in four Pro12 matches and the local bragging rights after downing Edinburgh in the first leg of the 1872 Cup on Boxing Day.

REPORT: Tom Varndell's fast finishing was to the fore as he ran in a hat-trick to hand Bristol their first Premiership win of the season, beating Worcester Warriors 28-20 with 14 men.

REPORT: Steven Shingler scored one try and made another as Cardiff Blues claimed the bragging rights with a 27-16 victory over Newport Gwent Dragons at the Cardiff Arms Park.

NEWS: Unión Argentina de Rugby (UAR) Board of Directors confirmed that for personal and family reasons, Greg Peters has decided that he will not continue as General Manager.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Southern Kings wing Yaw Penxe is hoping to use his involvement with the SA Under-20 side as a stepping stone to the dream of donning the green and gold of the Springboks one day.

INJURY UPDATE: England prop Mako Vunipola may join brother Billy on the sidelines for the Six Nations after Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall revealed his left knee injury could be serious.

The rugby365 team would like to wish all our readers and their families a very merry Christmas!

REPORT: Exeter Chiefs leapfrogged opponents Leicester Tigers into the Premiership Rugby top four as Thomas Waldrom’s early try double set them on their way to a 31-10 victory at Sandy Park.

REPORT: Christian Wade break his seven-game try drought in style, scoring a first-half double as Wasps cruise to a 40-26 victory over Bath Rugby.

REPORT: Saracens ended their stellar 2016 with a gritty 21-6 win over Newcastle Falcons as Chris Ashton marked his return to action with the game-clinching try at Allianz Park.

REACTION: Sale Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond admits his side are lacking confidence, ahead of next week’s crucial game with Bristol Rugby.

REACTION: World Rugby has intervened in the latest Geroge North concussion case, questioning as to why Northampton was not sanctioned.

TOP 14 WRAP: Shalva Mamukashvili scored two tries for Montpellier as they led from start to finish to edge a depleted Toulon 33-29 in the big game in France's Top 14 on Friday.

REPORT: First-half tries from Ben Foden and Tom Wood helped Northampton Saints battle past Sale Sharks to their fifth Premiership win of the season at Franklin's Gardens.

REPORT: Ulster closed in on the top four and bounced back from European defeat with a convincing 23-7 Pro12 victory over Connacht.

REPORT: Tommaso Allan enjoyed a night to remember as his 18 points guided Benetton Treviso to a 23-12 victory over Zebre at the Stadio Monigo in the Italian derby.

NEWS: Edinburgh today announced the re-signing of fullback Blair Kinghorn on a two-year deal, keeping him at the team until at least 2019.

INTERVIEW: The prospect of facing Premiership champions Saracens may appear a daunting one, but Newcastle Falcons' Ally Hogg insists his men can upset the league leaders on Christmas Eve.

NEWS: Newport Gwent Dragons' experienced prop Brok Harris has put pen to paper extending his contract with the Welsh Region.  

REACTION: Northampton Saints forwards coach Dorian West has paid tribute to Alex Waller, who becomes just the 56th player in the club's history to hit 200 first team appearances when he runs out Friday's Premiership clash with Sale.

Disciplinary Hearing: Worcester Warriors flank Sam Betty has been suspended for two weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing arising from his club's European Rugby Challenge Cup match against Newport Gwent Dragons.

INTERVIEW: Springbok and Blue Bulls star Jesse Kriel answered a few questions about his rugby career and his goals for the 2017 season.

NEWS: England coach Eddie Jones revealed that he will step down as head coach after the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

TOP 14 REPORT: Grenoble shock Toulouse with a 26-22 win as their climbed provisionally of the foot of the French Top 14 table.

INTERVIEW: Northampton Saints have a point to prove this weekend insists Ethan Waller, and with Sale Sharks in town on Friday the prop is looking to give Franklin's Gardens something to smile about.  

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Flyhalf Adrian Jarvis insists Bristol are fully aware of the importance of their Boxing Day clash with Worcester Warriors but won't let the occasion get to them.

NEWS: John Gwilliam who captained Wales to two Five Nations Grand Slams in 1950 and 1952 has died aged 93 it was announced on Thursday.

NEWS: Edinburgh confirmed the re-signing of loose forward Magnus Bradbury on a three-year deal, keeping him at the team until at least 2020.

NEWS: Harlequins confirmed that British and Irish Lion, and four time Six Nations winner Adam Jones has extended contract with the club.

UPDATE: The business of Western Province Rugby has successfully been sold to a company wholly owned by the Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU).

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Toulouse are wary of a backlash from a rested Grenoble as they look to maintain their free-scoring European form when returning to domestic Top 14 duty on Thursday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Derby games will make headlines as the next Pro12 Big Weekend takes place across Italy, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Exeter Chiefs try machine Thomas Waldrom admits a small piece of his heart will always be a Leicester Tiger, but that he has no issues facing his old side at Sandy Park, on Saturday.

NEWS: The Brumbies will start their build-up to the 2017 Super Rugby season when they take on the Australian Barbarians at Viking Park in Erindale on January 28.

NEWS: Veteran prop Owen Franks signed a deal to stay with the All Blacks for the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

NEWS: Montpellier Paul Willemse has been suspended for one week while Davit Kubriashvili received a three-week suspension.

NEWS:Timisoara Saracens flank Randall Morrison and Harlequins Mat Luamanu have been suspended for dangerous play during their European Rugby Challenge Cup match in Round four at the Twickenham Stoop.

REACTION: Liquidators are currently hard at work trying to rescue the embattled commercial arm of the Western Province Rugby Football Union.

NEWS: Northampton should not have allowed George North to continue playing after he sustained a head injury, but they will not be punished, a concussion review panel announced on Wednesday.

NEWS: Mourad Boudjellal has decided not to sell French Top 14 side Toulon.

NEWS: Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar bid farewell to Ulster after IRFU refused to grant him a contract extension.

NEWS: England coach Eddie Jones expressed his disappointment in the England captain Dylan Hartley after his sent off during a European Champions Cup clash.

NEWS: Melbourne Rebels assistant coach Craig McGrath has signed a two-year contract at the Super Rugby Franchise.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Chief Executive of Pro Rugby North America  Douglas Schoninger seems to be at the centre of the latest contract scandal.

It's Christmas, a time for all the world to rejoice, when we all want to be happy and all other people to be happy, including all rugby people.

Just back from refereeing in Hong Kong, Aimee Barrett-Theron got the news of her Six Nations' appointment in February.

NEWS: Montpellier lock Paul Willemse was cited for foul play during his team's 23-29 defeat to Castres in their European Rugby Champions Cup, Round Four match last Sunday.

NEWS: France will no longer select non-French players for its national team, French Federation President Bernard Laporte said on Tuesday.

NEWS: Colin Cooper will lead the Chiefs into a new era in 2018, the Chiefs and New Zealand Rugby announced today. 

UPDATE: Western Province Rugby (Pty) Limited was placed into final liquidation by the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday.

NEWS: Wallaby James Horwill extended his contract with English Premiership club Harlequins until 2020. 

NEWS: The All Blacks' 2011 world champion Piri Weepu was awarded 114 000 euros in damages by a court over his sacking by French rugby side Oyonnax.

NEWS: England Rugby Football Union Chief Executive Ian Ritchie stated that Eddie Jones would have been England coach despite seeing out a year on his contract with the Stormers.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After Johan Goosen's shock retirement the Springbok is reportedly linked to a move to Gloucester.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Bath Director of Rugby Todd Blackadder insists that he will not stand in the way if flyhalf George Ford would potentially leave the club.

NEWS: The Melbourne Rebels confirmed that the new recruit Marika Koroibete will be included in the 18-player squad for the two-day Brisbane Global Rugby Tens tournament in February.

INJURY UPDATE: Ulster rugby players Kyle McCall and Pete Brown will miss the Connacht encounter after both sustained injuries during the match against Clermont.

NEWS: Bath Rugby wing Aled Brew has signed a new contract extension that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2017/2018 season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Former Fiji Sevens coach Ben Ryan is adamant that Fiji Sevens should split from the Fiji  Rugby Union.

REACTION: Wasps formally expressed their disappointment on Monday over the refereeing blunder that saw them beaten 18-20 by Connacht in the European Champions Cup at the weekend.

NEWS: New Zealand-born hooker Tom McCartney has taken another step towards representing Ireland at Test level after Connacht announced he has signed a new three-year deal on Monday.

NEWS: English Premiership side Northampton Saints on Monday signed highly-regarded Canadian international prop Jake Ilnicki until the end of the season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: As the focus moves from Europe to the Pro12 after back-to-back bonus point wins over Grenoble, Sam Davies says that consistency will be the key to success for the Ospreys over the coming weeks.

REACTION: Wales head coach Warren Gatland has dismissed reports he could leave his post and return to his native New Zealand following next year's British and Irish Lions tour.

INJURY UPDATE: Hurricanes outside back Nehe Milner-Skudder plans to make his return to competitive rugby at the Brisbane Global Tens next February.

NEWS: The Melbourne Rebels, Western Force and Reds pre-season campaign include trail matches against each other and the inaugural Brisbane Global Rugby Tens tournament ahead of the 2017 Super rugby season.

REACTION: Schalk Burger has warned Saracens' rivals the Champions Cup holders won't be getting ahead of themselves despite equalling Munster's European record of 13 successive victories with their 24-10 triumph over Sale Sharks.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The All Blacks and a revitalised England dominated world rugby in 2016, boding well for what could be an epic British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand next year.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Jan de Koning attempts to separate fact from fiction in Eastern Province Kings' American connection.

REPORT: Saracens joined the great Munster side of 2005-2007 by equalling their tournament record of 13 successive wins with a 24-10 triumph at the AJ Bell Stadium that included 19 points from Owen Farrell.

REPORT: Clermont Auvergne resisted a second-half comeback from Ulster to claim a 38-19 European Rugby Champions Cup triumph. 

REPORT: Scarlets claimed a famous 22-21 win over Toulon in their European Rugby Champions Cup clash in Llanelli. 

REPORT: Castres revived their European Rugby Champions Cup campaign with a revenge 29-23 triumph over Montpellier. 

NEWS: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has named Samuel Whitelock as his 2017 captain, saying he was a natural choice to succeed Kieran Read in the role.

REACTION: Another enthralling chapter was written into the great rivalry between Leicester Tigers and Munster at Welford Road - with former double European champions Leicester taking the honours this time.