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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.

Wallabies captain Stephen Moore said going back to Brisbane was a major factor in his decision to sign with the Reds from 2017.

NEWS: Leinster prop Cian Healy received a two-week ban which rules the Ireland international out of Saturday's European Cup clash against Toulon.

NEWS: New Zealand's double world champion Conrad Smith says he's impatient to make his debut with French side Pau this weekend but concedes he's struggling to pick up the local language.

NEWS: England have confirmed Paul Gustard will leave his role as defence and forwards coach at Saracens to join Eddie Jones' coaching staff as the defence coach of the national team.

Northampton Saints are desperate to make amends for last week's thrashing by Racing Metro when the two sides meet at Franklin's Gardens.

Exeter Chiefs will have their eye on a remarkable double when they travel to Clermont-Ferrand this weekend.

Controversial hooker Dylan Hartley appears set to be named as England captain by new coach Eddie Jones.

The Cape Town leg of the World Sevens Series concluded in spectacular fashion and Sevens commentator Greg Clarke gives his opinion after the Blitzboks claimed a hat-trick of home titles.

The Highlanders have refused to comment on speculation that Jamie Joseph is set to coach Japan.

Former Northern Transvaal and Transvaal lock, André Skinner - who was diagnosed with cancer of the kidneys some 18 months ago - lost that battle on December 16.

Japanese star Ayumu Goromaru is set to strike fear into opponents after being made a certified "Master of Ninjas."

Wallabies captain Stephen Moore will leave the Brumbies after the 2016 Super Rugby season to rejoin the Reds.

NEWS: Ireland legend Paul O'Connell admitted he is nervous about lining up for Toulon as he met the press on Wednesday at his new home.

NEWS: French Top 14 champions Toulon reached a "mutual agreement" to terminate the contract of Wallaby prop Salesi Ma'afu on Wednesday, club president Mourad Boudjellal announced.

NEWS: In one of rugby's worst kept secrets, Argentina's Super Rugby franchise making its debut in 2016 will be called the Jaguares, the Argentine Rugby Union's (UAR) General Manager Greg Peters said on Wednesday.

NEWS: England flyhalf George Ford has extended his contract with the English Premiership side Bath, the club announced on Wednesday.

NEWS: Super Rugby winning flank Beau Robinson has joined English club Harlequins with immediate effect as injury dispensation cover for Netani Talei.

NEWS: English second-tier club Bristol challenged an attempt by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) on Tuesday to appoint their coach Steve Borthwick as England's new forwards coach.

Leinster and Ireland prop Cian Healy was cited on Tuesday for allegedly striking a Toulon player with his knee during Sunday's 9-24 defeat in the European Champions Cup.

NEWS: Highly-rated back row Ellis Jenkins has today pledged his future to Cardiff Blues by signing a new long-term deal with the region.

NEWS: Harlequins has revealed that England wing Marland Yarde has re-signed for the club.

NEWS: Former captain Steve Borthwick has been placed in charge of England's forwards by new head coach Eddie Jones.

NEWS: Japan's World Cup star Male Sa'u will join the Blues in Super Rugby next season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Amidst all the drama surrounding the Southern Kings, there is a small group of forgotten players. Jan de Koning takes a look behind the scenes.

INTERVIEW: New Zealand Sevens legend Karl Te Nana spoke to Warren Fortune about the evolution of the game of Sevens and the road to the Rio Olympics.

NEWS: The Executive Council of the South African Rugby Union has approved a new funding model for professional rugby players designed to encourage more players to see out their careers at home.

NEWS: All Black Jonah Lomu may have been one of the biggest names in Rugby Union, but he was nearly broke when he died.

We are rushing towards Christmas this week, catching us off guard again. Advent seems to get shorter each year!

Big things happened in Europe this weekend and at the end of Africa.

NEWS: New England coach Eddie Jones has started the process of culling the backroom staff.

NEWS: The club game's revival in South Africa will enter a new 'golden' era from 2016.

NEWS: New Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens said his team was in a 'war zone', after the squad was further decimated by injuries.

REACTION: Leinster head coach Leo Cullen was unhappy to see his side have three players sent to the sin-bin by World Cup final referee Nigel Owens.

REACTION: Bath coach Mike Ford admits he was relieved to see his side end their shaky run of form with a dramatic win over Wasps.

NEWS: The Southern Kings announced their first recruits for the 2016 Super Rugby season at the weekend and on Monday they also unveiled their new-look kit.

REACTION: Steffon Armitage gave new England coach Eddie Jones a reminder of his talents at the weekend.

REACTION: It seems moving the South African leg of the Sevens World Series from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town was a masterstroke. Warren Fortune reports.

NEWS: Sonny Bill Williams is earmarked to make his Sevens debut at the Wellington leg of the World Series early next year.

INTERVIEW: Springbok Sevens captain Kyle Brown admitted that his 50th World Series tournament for his country was an emotional one.

REPORT: George Ford kicked an 86th-minute conversion to earn Bath a dramatic 25-23 win at English rivals Wasps to maintain their unbeaten record in Pool Five of the Champions Cup.

REPORT: Reigning champions Toulon got back to winning ways in the Champions Cup.

REPORT: Saracens continued their perfect start to the season with a thumping 45-10 defeat of French minnows Oyonnax on Sunday.

NEWS: England and Northampton prop Alex Corbisiero will take a year-long sabbatical from the game at the end of the season.

NEWS: The Southern Kings on Sunday announced the signing of the first 20 players to their new Super Rugby squad.

REACTION: Glasgow Warriors coach Gregor Townsend was purring with delight after seeing his side re-establish their credentials in the Champions Cup with a six try slaying of the Scarlets.

REACTION: Richard Cockerill refused to get carried away despite Leicester Tigers' record win in Limerick.

SATURDAY WRAP: Newport Gwent Dragons halfbacks Sarel Pretorius and Dorian Jones came in for special praise after masterminding a 22-0 win over Pau.

REACTION: All Black legend Dan Carter admitted to nerves before his debut for Racing 92 in the European Champions Cup.

DAY TWO WRAP: South Africa moved to joint first place on the World Sevens World Series standings by beating Argentina in the Cup Final of the Cape Town Sevens tournament.

REPORT: Leicester Tigers stunned Thomond Park with a quick-fire pair of first-half tries to send them on their way to a 31-19 triumph over Munster to take control of the Champions Cup Pool Four.

REACTION: Dan Carter maintained his 100 percent record in Europe's top flight of club rugby and against English opposition.

Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell will be hoping that the momentum they picked up in their final pool game against England will bring them success in the Cup section at the Cape Town Sevens tournament.

REPORT: Exeter Chiefs produced one of the biggest results in their history as they secured maximum points at home to French giants Clermont Auvergne.

REPORT: The Ospreys were made to work for every inch as they edged to a 19-16 triumph against a 14-man Bordeaux-Begles.

REPORT: Stade Francais marked their arrival in this season's European Champions Cup in style with a 50-17 thumping of Benetton Treviso in Italy.

REPORT: Dan Carter helped Racing 92 to an impressive 33-3 bonus-point win over Northampton Saints at the Stade Yves-Du-Manoir.

REPORT: Taqele Naiyaravoro ensured reigning Pro12 champions Glasgow Warriors steamrollered their way past Scarlets in Round Three of the European Champions Cup.

DAY ONE WRAP: Hosts South Africa managed to sneak into the Cup play-offs at the Cape Town Sevens - the second round of the World Series.

REACTION: Ulster Director of Rugby Les Kiss admits their five-try demolition of four-time winners Toulouse was beyond his wildest dreams.

INTERVIEW: Jonathan Joseph says he played in England's World Cup games against Australia and Uruguay with only one third of his chest muscle attached to the bone.

CHALLENGE CUP WRAP: Cardiff Blues coach Danny Wilson believes denying Montpellier a second bonus point could prove crucial in Pool Three.

NEWS: Robbie Fleck has been appointed interim coach of the Stormers for the 2016 Super Rugby season.

REPORT: Ulster produced one of the most famous victories in their history with a five try demolition of four-time winners Toulouse at Ravenhill.

NEWS: Alex Davis and Warwick Lahmert have been called into the England Sevens squad for the second round of the World Rugby Sevens Series in Cape Town this weekend.

Joël Jutge, World Rugby's manager of referees has given notice that he is withdrawing from his office in April 2016, in which month he will turn 50.

NEWS: One of the Edinburgh's brightest young prospects, back row Jamie Ritchie, has committed his future the Scottish club.

NEWS: Scott Williams, one of Scarlets' international talents and the region's vice-captain, has signed a new deal that sees him extend his stay in West Wales.

NEWS: The Currie Cup - the world's oldest domestic championship - will have a new look in 2016.

THURSDAY WRAP: Grenoble went top of Pool Five in the European Challenge Cup as they overcame a brave Agen fightback to seal a 40-20 bonus-point win.

NEWS: Veteran All Black Ma'a Nonu was named as New Zealand's Player of the Year.

EXCLUSIVE: The Southern Kings player stand-off with the South African Rugby Union is over. Jan de Koning reports.

INTERVIEW: Former All Black wild man Zac Guildford says there will be no excuses this time as he tries to resurrect his career with the Waratahs.

EXCLUSIVE: RUGBY365 COLUMNIST MATT HAWKINS SPEAKS ABOUT THE BUZZ AND EXCITEMENT OF THE CAPE TOWN LEG OF THE SEVENS WORLD SERIES.

PREVIEW: The BlitzBoks will be looking to make good use of their home ground advantage when the inaugural Cape Town Sevens kicks off on Saturday.

NEWS: The South African Rugby Union's burning desire to secure the services of Allister Coetzee as Springbok coach may be on the wane. Jan de Koning reports.

Dan Carter is set to make his debut for Racing 92 on Saturday in the European Champions Cup clash with Northampton in Paris.

For a record sixth year in a row, Oxford University beat Cambridge University in the Varsity Match on 10 December 2015.

INTERVIEW: Springbok Sevens new boy Dylan Sage is looking forward to showcasing his talents to the world at the Cape Town Sevens tournament this weekend.

INTERVIEW: Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell will not be wrapping any of his key players in cotton wool in this weekend's Cape Town Sevens.

NEWS: Harlequins revealed that one of England's brightest up and coming back row talents, Jack Clifford, has committed his future to the club.

NEWS: Wales assistant coach (defence) Shaun Edwards has signed a new four-year contract with the Welsh Rugby Union.

NEWS: Springbok captain Kyle Brown will play in his 50th tournament on the Sevens World Series in Cape Town this coming weekend.

NEWS: Glasgow Warriors coach Gregor Townsend has signed a contract extension with Scottish Rugby, which will keep him at Scotstoun until June 2017.

Springboks Damian De Allende and Lood de Jager were rewarded for their good form at the World Cup when both earned two nominations in the annual South African Player of the Year Awards.

It is one of rugby's great traditions - the Varsity Match, at Twickenham but much older than Twickenham, older than all internationals except the Calcutta Cup match.

It is the 134th Varsity match on Thursday, 10 December 2015, when Oxford meet Cambridge at Twickenham, and Jamie Roberts will be playing.

NEWS: Bulls prop Morne Mellett has retired from rugby with immediate effect due to medical advice.

INTERVIEW: Springbok Sevens captain Kyle Brown knows that his team will have to show more discipline if they are to go all the way in this weekend's Cape Town Sevens.

NEWS: The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) said they were disappointed by Taulupe Faletau's decision to move to English club Bath.

NEWS: The South African Rugby Union's plans for the Southern Kings are going to be met with more resistance than they bargained for. Jan de Koning reports.

NEWS: The Melbourne Rebels believe they are the team to watch this 2016 Super Rugby season, after they revealed the complete playing squad.

NEWS: Glasgow Warriors coach Gregor Townsend admits it's win or bust for his side and their Champions Cup ambitions this weekend.

NEWS: The iconic Wembley Stadium in London will host the Springboks when they aim to break a 16-year winning drought against the famous Barbarians on November 5 next year.

There are four new referees in the New Zealand referees panels for 2016.

NEWS: Hooker Dimitri Szarzewski announced his international retirement after a career that saw him make 83 appearances for France.

NEWS: Wales No.8 Taulupe Faletau has joined Bath from Newport Gwent Dragons.

NEWS: All Blacks superstar Dan Carter's French club, Racing 92, will face the Super Rugby champion Highlanders in Hong Kong.

NEWS: Springbok flyhalf Patrick Lambie has been named captain of the Sharks for 2016.

NEWS: Brumbies and Wallaby back row forward David Pocock has crowned an outstanding 2015 season by taking out the Rugby Union Players' Association Medal for Excellence.

NEWS: The Melbourne Rebels secured utility back Paul Asquith for the 2016 Super Rugby season.

INTERVIEW: New Zealand Sevens captain DJ Forbes is expecting his team to have plenty of support in the stands at Cape Town Stadium for the second leg of the World Sevens Series. 

NEWS: Luke Watson may be earmarked to captain the South African Rugby Union-run Southern Kings. Jan de Koning reports on the latest developments in Port Elizabeth.

NEWS: Flank James Davies, 25, has signed a new deal with Scarlets, the Welsh club announced on Monday.

Italy captain Sergio Parisse could not hide his delight on Tuesday at the prospect of returning to his old club Treviso in the European Champions Cup on Saturday.  

Gloucester are announce on Tuesday, that Argentina international second row Mariano Galarza has signed a new contract, committing his future to the Cherry and Whites.

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter says its likely England star Henry Slade will be sidelined for four months after sustaining a broken leg and ankle damage in his side's 41-27 win over Wasps.

INTERVIEW: USA Sevens captain Madison Hughes is happy that his team is now considered by some as a "powerhouse" in Sevens.

INTERVIEW: Leinster Rugby star Jonny Sexton is confident his side can reignite their Champions Cup campaign with victory over title holders RC Toulon.

NEWS: New Zealand Sevens coach Coach Gordon Tietjens has called up three replacements for the Cape Town leg of the World Series.

NEWS: The ongoing Southern Kings saga produced a couple of intriguing twists. Jan de Koning reports on the latest developments.

Europe's big competitions break out on a weekend when there is just one Test match and that down South America way.

NEWS: World Cup-winning hooker Dane Coles has been named the Hurricanes' captain for the 2016 season.

NEWS: The Reds will play back-to-back games at Ballymore Stadium in the lead up to the 2016 Super Rugby season.

NEWS: Montpellier announced on Monday they have signed giant Georgia lock Konstantin Mikautadze on a two-year-deal from French Top 14 rivals Toulon.

NEWS: France will play Samoa, Australia and New Zealand on successive weekends in November 2016, the French Rugby Federation announced Monday.

Australian Men's Sevens interim head coach Scott Bowen has made three changes for the inaugural Cape Town Sevens, which kicks off this weekend.

INTERVIEW: The unpaid players in the Eastern Province and Southern Kings ranks have the 'backing' of Luke Watson. Jan de Koning reports.

NEWS: Rosko Specman and the uncapped Dylan Sage were on Monday added to the Springbok Sevens squad as injury cover for Werner Kok and Cecil Afrika.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Warren Fortune was there when South African Rugby Union President Oregan Hoskins spoke about former Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, how their transformation policy will influence the next coach and his future selections.

NEWS: Scotland will play two Tests against Japan on June 18 and 25, the Scottish Rugby Union announced Monday.

REACTION: Captain for the day, Justin Tipuric, led from the front in Parma on Sunday, scoring two tries in a man-of-the-match performance as the Ospreys secured a bonus-point win over Zebre in the Pro12.

INTERVIEW: Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell said they are putting the disappointment of Dubai firmly behind them ahead of the second leg of the World Sevens Series in Cape Town.

The big event of the weekend was the start of the Sevens circuit. The Dubai Sevens was magnificent and  Fiji seem tro be back to greatness.

REACTION: Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall was delighted by the intelligence and decision-making from his team as they collected maximum points away at Newcastle Falcons.

England centre Manu Tuilagi has ended speculation about his future by becoming the latest of their players to sign a new contract with Leicester, the club said on Monday.

NEWS: New Zealand's Super Rugby teams unveiled their new playing strips ahead of the new season.

UPDATE: Confusion reigned supreme at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Monday, as disgruntled players met the Eastern Province Rugby Union.

Alex Waller says he is not getting carried away with his time in the Saints first team, despite becoming the first player to pass 100 consecutive appearances in the English Premiership.

TOP 14 REPORT: Clermont leapfrogged three arch-rivals to go atop the Top 14 after a hard-fought 26-21 victory over Brive on Sunday, the latter club's first home loss since September 2014.

INTERVIEW: Francois Hougaard is confident his Sevens game will improve over the course of this season's Sevens World Series.

PRO12 SUNDAY WRAP: Munster suffered their second consecutive defeat when they went down 6-22 to Newport Gwent Dragons on Sunday.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Saracens reclaimed their place at the summit of the English Premiership table with a bonus-point 38-3 win over Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park.

NEWS: Exeter centre Henry Slade will likely miss England's Six Nations campaign after suffering a suspected broken leg while playing for his club against Wasps on Saturday. 

NEWS: The Springbok Sevens will play against England, Kenya and Zimbabwe on matchday one of the Cape Town Sevens next Saturday.

NEWS: All Blacks lock Samuel Whitelock was named Crusaders' Player of the Year at the team's annual awards ceremony.

NEWS: Easter Province Rugby Union President Cheeky Watson will find a bunch of angry players on his doorstep on Monday. Jan de Koning reports.

REACTION: Connacht head coach Pat Lam admitted his side are now well and truly in the depths of an injury crisis after defeat to Cardiff Blues knocked them off top spot in the Pro12.

REACTION: Northampton Saints Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder was quick to applaud his dominant forwards after their hard-fought 13-11 win over Bath on Saturday.

NEWS: Chris Robshaw was set to meet England's new head coach Eddie Jones to discuss his international future and his role as the team's captain.

SATURDAY WRAP: All Black centre Ma'a Nonu enjoyed a winning Top 14 debut for Toulon on Saturday.

PRO12 REPORT: Morgan Allen grabbed a try-double on his Scarlets debut, but the Welsh region were rescued by the boot of Steve Shingler.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Worcester Warriors were left to rue Donncha O'Callaghan's red card.

NEWS: Saturday's Pro12 game between Glasgow Warriors and Leinster has been postponed.

INTERVIEW: Zac Guildford, who is struggling to overcome some personal demons, is fighting his way back on to the Super Rugby stage with the Waratahs.

DAY TWO WRAP: Fiji claimed gold in the Final of the Dubai Sevens tournament, the opening leg of the World Series.

REPORT: All Blacks World Cup winner Colin Slade made his Pau debut as a second-half replacement, but was unable to inspire his struggling team to victory in a gruelling 15-all draw with Racing 92.

NEWS: The Western Force has unveiled their playing strip for the 2016 Super Rugby competition.

NEWS: France's most-capped player Thierry Dusautoir retired from international rugby, after a career which saw him play 80 times and skipper his country on 56 occasions.

PRO12 FRIDAY WRAP: Ulster ended a three-match losing streak against Edinburgh with a 14-7 win at the Kingspan Stadium.

REPORT: Sione Kalamafoni's second-half try double secured Gloucester their third Premiership victory of the season as Sale Sharks' travel woes continued at Kingsholm.

NEWS: Flank Tommy O'Donnell has signed a three-year deal that will see him remain with Munster until at least June 2019.

NEWS: Danny Care has committed his long term future with Harlequins after re-signing with the club.

Americas Rugby Championship announced Friday the schedule for the 2016 inaugural competition featuring six of North and South America's top-ranked international Rugby Union teams.   

NEWS: Ospreys and Wales flyhalf Dan Biggar has become the first player to re-sign a National Dual Contract (NDC) after committing his future to his region and in Wales.

INTERVIEW: South African Rugby Union President Oregan Hoskins said they were open to the idea of a foreign coach in charge of the national team.

NEWS: The embattled Southern Kings players were dealt another blow this week when they were told they have to take salary cuts.

INTERVIEW: It seems meeting their transformation 'targets' has become more important for the South African Rugby Union than actually winning on the field. Warren Fortune reports.

TOP 14 PREVIEW: Bernard Laporte warned Toulon were expecting an explosive debut from World Cup-winner Ma'a Nonu in his first match for the side against Agen on Saturday.

NEWS: Saracens have retained the services of England hooker Jamie George, who put pen to paper to sign a new long-term deal.

CAST YOUR VOTE: Rugby returns to the Olympics later this year, when Sevens will take centre stage. Which player from the 15-a-side game do you think will make the biggest splash in Rio?

NEWS: Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons has signed an extension to his contract, keeping him at the club until June 2017.

NEWS: Springbok prop Vincent Koch has claimed the biggest accolade at the Mpumalanga Rugby Union's 2015 awards.

DAY ONE WRAP: New Zealand were stunned by the United States on the first day of the Dubai Sevens, but they still managed to top their pool.

REACTION: The Cheetahs may now be the sole shareholder of the Super Rugby franchise, but that doesn't mean Griquas and Griffons are left in the dark.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Confirmation of Heyneke Meyer's departure from the Springboks, has put the coaching rumour mill into overdrive. Jan de Koning reports.

TOP 14: Racing 92 take on Pau in the Top 14 on Friday under the shadow of an impending All Blacks mini-invasion featuring Dan Carter, Conrad Smith and Colin Slade.

After a round that saw five home wins, Connacht retained their table topping position thanks to a result that bucked that trend, away to Munster at Thomond Park.

NEWS: Glasgow Warriors' South African-born flank Tyrone Holmes will be out of action for four months after having surgery on his injured foot.

NEWS: The Sharks have joined the kit unveiling frenzy sweeping through Super Rugby with a design of jerseys they claim is "culturally inspired".

NEWS: Scotland lock Grant Gilchrist has undergone surgery on his troublesome groin, his club Edinburgh said on Thursday.  

PREVIEW: Gloucester will be looking to get their season back on track when they face the Sale Sharks on Friday. 

REACTION: For the second time in recent months the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula, denied he put pressure on the South African Rugby Union.

It's back to Europe's top club matches again with Europe's top referees to see fair play.

Utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper heaped praise on the culture and facilities of his new club, and the lifestyle and beauty of the city of Bordeaux.

The Springbok Sevens will kick off the defense of their Dubai Sevens title with a testing encounter against a powerful Samoan outfit on Friday morning. 

INTERVIEW: The Stormers are looking to reinvent themselves in this current pre-season by adding a deadly attacking edge to their game ahead of next year's Super Rugby competition.

They are both key characters in great dramas - on different stages though.

EXCLUSIVE: RUGBY365 COLUMNIST MATT HAWKINS RETURNS TO LAUNCH THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 2015/16 WORLD SEVENS SERIES AND ITS POSSIBLE IMPACT ON TEAMS' OLYMPIC MEDAL PROSPECTS.

Fiji begin the defence of their Sevens World Series title in Dubai on Friday, with eyes on a repeat victory in 2016 as well as giving their country an historic first Olympic medal.

NEWS: Heyneke Meyer has advised the South African Rugby Union that he no longer wished to be considered as a candidate to coach the Springboks.

After nine years of sharing a Super Rugby franchise with neighbours Griquas and Griffons the Free State Cheetahs will in 2016 be the sole shareholder of the franchise. 

NEWS: The Stormers have launched their new home and away kit for the 2016 Super Rugby season, both of which retain the proud heritage of Western Province.

The Reds have unveiled a new jersey for the 2016 season, which pays homage to Queensland's proud 133-year history, while also incorporating state-of-the-art technology and cutting-edge design.

NEWS: Wales will face the full set of World Rugby's top ranked sides in 2016.

EXCLUSIVE: In the final part of our Sevens build-up, Tauriq Ebrahim picks the brains of the Springbok Sevens players about the sport's inclusion in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

EXCLUSIVE: Jan de Koning spoke to Southern Kings scrumhalf Kevin Luiters about his decision to speak out against the franchise's ongoing financial crisis.

Christmas is coming but rugby in the north rumbles on. in fact many ardent rugby players will be having temperate festivities again this year.

NEWS: South African Referees have drawn up new panels for 2016 and made them known.

NEWS: World Cup hosts England will get two chances to exact revenge on the teams that knocked them out of the global showpiece.

NEWS: Springbok Jesse Kriel scooped a number of top prizes at the Blue Bulls awards ceremony on Wednesday.

NEWS: Jonny Arr has signalled his intentions to play a key role in  Worcester Warriors' long-term progression by penning a new deal to extend his stay at the club.

NEWS: London Irish bolstered their second row options with the signing of Will Lloyd for the remainder of the season.

NEWS: The fall-out from the Southern Kings' financial crisis has taken an intriguing new twist. Jan de Koning reports.

NEWS: Gauteng neighbours, the Bulls and Lions, will meet in a much-anticipated pre-season Super Rugby match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

NEWS: Jaco Kriel walked away with a handful of prizes at the Golden Lions' year-end function on Tuesday.

NEWS: Wales captain Sam Warburton is facing at least four weeks on the sidelines with an ankle injury, his club Cardiff Blues announced on Tuesday.

NEWS: Wales scrumhalf Mike Phillips on Tuesday announced he has retired from international rugby.