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DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Highlanders back Sio Tomkinson is facing suspension for a high tackle in his team's Super Rugby opener.

SUPER RUGBY ROUND TWO: The action continues and the predictions are in. These picks went down like a sack of potatoes last weekend, what awaits now?

LISTEN as the @rugby365com team chats to @SouthernKingsSA CEO Charl Crous about his new job in the @PRO14Official and what the future holds for South African teams in Europe.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The scrutiny of the mental state of France's reeling rugby team continued as lock Felix Lambey talked of "rage" and "anger" in the squad as they prepare to face Scotland.

THE RETURN OF BIG BAD BRAD: Bradley Carnegie Thorn will return to Dunedin on Friday with a mission on his mind.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: After coming off the bench in the season opener, the Blues welcome three All Blacks into its starting line-up to take on the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: England head coach Eddie Jones has named his team to play in their third Six Nations match against Wales on Saturday in Cardiff.

TRANSFER SPOTLIGHT: A Canadian club are willing 'to do whatever it takes' in their bid to seal the signature of All Blacks Sonny Bill Williams.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Swys de Bruin has named his team to face the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Working in the capacity of England’s defensive mastermind, John Mitchell will be looking to deny his long-standing friend Warren Gatland during Saturday’s Six Nations title clash at the Principality Stadium.

OPINION: The @rugby365com team sat down and after much deliberation produced what we believe to be the 15 best players from the opening round.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls coach Pote Human has named his team to face the Jaguares in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks coach Robert du Preez has retained his 'winning formula' for his team's first home match of the Super Rugby season.

CONTRACT NEWS: Argentina continues to sign long-term contracts, keeping their stalwarts locked in well past the World Cup.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Rene Ranger will be returning to New Zealand to undergo a rehabilitation programme.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Scotland have made four changes to the starting side to face France in this Saturday’s third round Six Nations Test in Paris.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wallabies and Waratahs star Kurtley Beale will return to the starting XV when they take on the Sunwolves on Saturday in Tokyo.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Head coach Colin Cooper has named a strong starting XV to face the Brumbies which will be led by Chiefs co-captain Brodie Retallick in his 100th Super Rugby match for the Waikato side

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Cheetahs centre Nico Lee's Pro14 campaign has come to an abrupt end due to a 13-week suspension.

TRANSFER FOCUS: Leicester Tigers’ star Manu Tuilagi is set to leave Welford Road at the end of the season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Hurricanes captain Dane Coles will return to the starting XV for the first time since 2017 when the squad travel south to meet the Crusaders in Saturday's Super Rugby match.

Former All Black hooker Sean Fitzpatrick has given his verdict on New Zealand's biggest threats for World Cup glory.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers are ready to put their disastrous performance in Pretoria firmly behind them as they prepare for another tough South African derby against the Lions at Newlands.

NEWS: Two players have been banned, following New Zealand Rugby judicial committee hearings into anti-doping charges brought by Drug-Free Sport New Zealand.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: There is something about New Zealand teams that just brings out the best in the Sharks.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has made just one change to the starting side to face the Hurricanes in Addington.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Star flank David Pocock has failed to recover from a head knock and was Thursday ruled out of the Brumbies Super Rugby clash with the Chiefs.

NEWS: Toulon's boss Mourad Boudjellal’s savaging of star import Julian Savea could cost him the acquisition of future marquee players - including All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok scrumhalf Ross Cronje has complete trust in Lions’ scrumhalf stocks as he eases back into action.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wasps signed Tonga back-row forward Sione Vailanu from English Premiership champions Saracens.

INJURY UPDATE: Former All Blacks flank Jerome Kaino will be out "two to three weeks", Toulouse assistant coach Regis Sonnes revealed.

Jan de Koning takes a look at a dramatic change in tactics by the Lions, which brought them a historic result!

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: France's rugby squad - who have lost 10 of their last 13 games - are not a happy bunch of players and coaches to be around at the moment.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Michael O’Connor, the new Wallaby selector, has made it clear Quade Cooper has to take fewer risks to earn a test recall following his move to the Melbourne Rebels.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Blues sent a clear warning to future opponents in this year's Super Rugby tournament, despite going down to the Crusaders in their opening match.

TRANSFER NEWS: Munster Rugby and the IRFU confirmed that Tyler Bleyendaal, Ciaran Parker and Alby Mathewson have all signed contract extensions at the province.

TRANSFER NEWS: Northampton Saints confirmed that back-row Tom Wood has signed a new deal with the Club.

OPINION: Round 13 of the Premiership season certainly proved unlucky for league leaders Exeter Chiefs, who started the weekend’s action by slipping up to a 17-24 defeat to Gloucester at Kingsholm.

Hailed as one of the country’s favourite schoolboy rugby festivals, the 12th annual Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival was launched on Tuesday 19 February 2019.

There will be massive interest in what happens in Cardiff this weekend when Wales host England. Both teams are unbeaten and this match surely will decide the championship. The man to see fair play is Jaco Peyper of South Africa.

SQUAD UPDATE: England head coach Eddie Jones has retained 25 players to continue their preparation ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations match against Wales in Cardiff.

TRANSFER NEWS: Former Stormers flyhalf Brandon Thomson has signed a new two-year contract with Glasgow Warriors.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Queensland Reds head coach Brad Thorn has named his first team for the 2019 Super Rugby season ahead of Friday’s match against the Highlanders in Dunedin.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger has named his team to face the Reds in a Super Rugby Round Two match in Dunedin on Friday.

INJURY UPDATE: The Brumbies will ease superstar David Pocock back into Super Rugby slowly, after the Wallaby took a heavy knock in their loss against the Melbourne Rebels last week.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Wales could have a key player back for their Six Nations clash against England.

INJURY UPDATE: Scotland received more bad news ahead of their Six Nations clash against France.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Highlanders midfielder Sio Tomkinson has had the red card he received against the Chiefs last week dismissed by a SANZAAR judicial panel.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Bulls are determined to produce yet another stellar performance in their mission to silence the passionate Buenos Aires crowd.

NEWS: The Rugby Football Union has been searching for a new Chief Executive Officer since they parted ways with Steve Brown in November.

NEWS: Wallabies star Dane Haylett-Petty has re-signed with Rugby Australia and Melbourne Rebels until the end of 2021 on a new two-year deal.

REACTION: The much-anticipated battle between All Black flyhalves Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga has been put on hold until later in the season.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Cheetahs centre Nico Lee will appear before a Disciplinary Committee for an incident in his team's match against Connacht in Galway.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: France coach Jacques Brunel dropped experienced halfbacks Morgan Parra and Camille Lopez on Tuesday for this weekend's Six Nations match against Scotland in Paris.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wallaby Kurtly Beale seems to be extremely excited about the potential midfield partnership with Karmichael Hunt at the Waratahs.

INJURY UPDATE: Italy suffered a huge injury blow ahead of their Six Nations match against Ireland.

UPDATE: Ireland and Ulster star Iain Henderson faced a Disciplinary Hearing on Tuesday.

NEWS: Northampton Saints confirmed that Luther Burrell will be leaving the club at the end of the 2018/19 season.

INJURY UPDATE: One of England's injured stars is "definitely" in contention to line up against Wales in this week’s Six Nations clash according to England defence coach John Mitchell.

TRANSFER NEWS: Lions have bolstered their midfield stocks with some help from the Bulls.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Rugby365's very own law guru Paul Dobson shed light on the Penalty try and yellow card incident during Crusaders' win over the Blues.

NEWS: The IRFU confirmed that Robbie Henshaw has extended his IRFU contract.

NEWS: Australia’s search for a third Wallabies selector ahead of the World Cup appears to be over.

INJURY UPDATE: The Stormers will look to bounce back from their disastrous start to the Super Rugby season, but will have to do so without two key Springboks.

INJURY UPDATE: Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell remains in contention to play in Saturday's match away to France, despite suffering a head injury.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Worcester Warriors have made another statement of intent by making Blues and Auckland wing/fullback Melani Nanai their fourth new signing for next season.

TRANSFER NEWS: Italy back Matteo Minozzi will join Wasps next season, the English Premiership side announced on Monday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: French chiefs need to swallow their pride and appoint a foreign coach if they are to become a rugby superpower again, former New Zealand hooker Sean Fitzpatrick has told AFP.

REACTION: Mourad Boudjellal's outburst raised eyebrows in New Zealand.

INJURY UPDATE: Wales are increasingly confident about the fitness of flyhalf Dan Biggar, heading into a potential Six Nations title-decider against England in Cardiff on Saturday.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Cobus Reinach’s early double set Northampton Saints on their way to their biggest Premiership in for five years as they turned on the style against Sale Sharks winning 67-17.

NEWS: The All Blacks coaching options are shrinking each day.

INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls have delayed a decision on the availability of veteran Springbok hooker Schalk Brits.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Eddie Jones is going to be forced into making changes once again to his back three for his team's crucial match against Wales in Cardiff.

NEWS: Former All Blacks flyhalf and double World Cup winner Dan Carter will rejoin Racing 92 in March to "win the European Champions Cup", the only competition he's yet to win, club owner Jacky Lorenzetti said on Sunday.

In an excerpt from this week's popular @rugby365com podcast, @king365ed looks at the role that Western Province Rugby Group CEO Paul Zacks and WPRFU Director of Rugby Gert Smal played in the Paul Treu saga.

INJURY UPDATE: Crusaders will have to readjust their pack following their 24-22 win over the Blues at Eden Park on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Round One has come and gone. It is time to see how the much-talked-about RugbyPass prediction Index has performed.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Might have been the delay or the absence of the Marvel-inspired Super Hero strip, one thing is certain there are some huge problems in the Stormers camp.

REACTION: Bulls head coach Pote Human praised new signing Rosko Specman for his impressive performance during the Bulls’ 40-3 Super Rugby victory over the Stormers on Saturday.

SQUAD UPDATE: Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend added six players to the Scotland squad ahead of this Saturday’s Round Three Six Nations Test against France in Paris on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: Northampton coach Chris Boyd is optimistic Wales' Dan Biggar will be fit to face England in the Six Nations next weekend.

We won't forget Bulls' Rosko Shane Specman's first try in Super Rugby, as he made a mess of the Stormers defenders in the opening minutes of his debut.

REACTION: Lions captain Warren Whiteley was full of praise for his team in wake of their historic 25-16 win over the Jaguares in Buenos Aires.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: A hat-trick of tries from Marnus Schoeman helped the Lions record their first win in Buenos Aires when they beat the Jaguares 25-16 in Round One of Super Rugby 2019.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Julian Savea has been told he is ‘no longer welcome’ at Toulon according to shock reports emerging from France.

TRANSFER NEWS: Another All Black will leave New Zealand at the end of the 2019 season.

PRO14 REPORT: Connacht captain Jarrad Butler secured a 25-17 victory over Cheetahs with a late try at the Sportsground, set up by the imperious Jack Carty.

INJURY UPDATE: Wales coach Warren Gatland's hopes of seeing Leigh Halfpenny in action has been halted.

WATCH as seasoned prop Trevor Nyakane talks about going head-to-head with Springbok teammate Wilco Louw - when the Bulls host the Stormers in a Super Rugby season-opener.

SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 - TEAM BY TEAM: In the 15th and final instalment of our build-up to the season we look at the Reds.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: England wing Chris Ashton will miss the potentially title-deciding Six Nations clash away to Wales because of a calf injury, the Rugby Football Union announced Sunday.

PRO14 REPORT: Benetton reasserted their Pro14 Final Series credentials with a hard-fought 25-19 victory against Scarlets as they stole a march on their Conference B rivals.

SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 - TEAM BY TEAM: In the 14th instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season we look at the Waratahs.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Franco Smith has been chatting to Rassie Erasmus about the future of South African teams.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Bulls thrashed the Stormers 40-3 in their Super Rugby Round One encounter at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Gloucester strengthened their hold on a play-off spot with a hard-earned 24-17 win over the table-topping Exeter Chiefs team at Kingsholm on Friday.

PRO14 REPORT: Glasgow Warriors held off a dramatic late fightback from Conference A rivals Cardiff Blues to prevail 38-34 after a rollercoaster encounter at Arms Park saw the sides share ten tries.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: In his fourth year at the helm, Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck is not shy to say in 2019 his side could be crowned Super Rugby champions.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Sharks got their season off to a solid start as they secured a comfortable 45-10 win over the Sunwolves in Singapore.

PRO14 REPORT: The Southern Kings - who collected three yellow cards in an indisciplined display - were whitewashed yet again.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Wasps held off a valiant second-half fightback from Bristol Bears to claim a 29-22 bonus-point victory at Ashton Gate on their return to Premiership action.

MATCH REPORT: Crusaders open their Super Rugby campaign with a hard-fourth 24-22 win over the over the Blues at Eden Park on Saturday.

PRO14 REPORT: Quickfire second-half scores from Magnus Bradbury and Duhan van der Merwe were enough to see Edinburgh home as they toppled the Dragons 34-17 at Murrayfield on Friday.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Hurricanes managed to grind out a narrow 20-19 win over the Waratahs on Saturday.

While the Six Nations have half-time, Super Rugby kicks off. Glen Jackson will get it going when he blows the whistle at Waikato Stadium to start the 2019 tournament.

PRO14 REPORT: Stuart McCloskey's score early in the second period and a late John Cooney penalty were enough for Ulster to seal an 8-0 victory at Ospreys.

PRO14 REPORT: Conor O’Brien crossed five minutes from time as Leinster finally killed off a ferocious comeback from Zebre to claim a 40-24 victory in Viadana.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Super Rugby returns on Friday with 21 straight weeks of competition until the July 6 final.

SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 - TEAM BY TEAM: In the 13th instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season we look at the Brumbies.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Brumbies' season has already taken a nasty blow following their defeat to the Rebels on Friday.

NEWS: The post-World Cup All Black exodus continues to gather momentum.

TOP 14 SPOTLIGHT: Stand-out Fijian centre Semi Radradra is part of a potentially thrilling midfield combination with ex-All Black Seta Tamanivalu on which Bordeaux-Begles are banking to guide them into a Top 14 play-off spot.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Pro14 returns after a short break with a full programme during the first rest week of the Six Nations.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Melbourne Rebels started their 2019 Super Rugby campaign in superb fashion with a 34-27 win over the Brumbies in Canberra on Friday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Premiership Rugby is back this weekend, kicking off a crucial four-match block that could go a long way to deciding the make-up of the League in one of the tightest races in the history of the competition.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Highlanders edged the Chiefs 30-27 in Hamilton despite being down to fourteen men for the final 13 minutes in the opening match of Super Rugby 2019.

WORLD CUP SUB-PLOT: The season gets underway against the backdrop of a much bigger event looming large later in the year.

It's the second round of Rugby Europe's Championship, sometimes referred to the Six Nations B, as like the "other" one there are six countries taking part.

It’s always incredible to witness a career of youngster blossoming, however, to see a legend manage to revitalize a career is something that can surely be appreciated.

SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 – TEAM BY TEAM: In the 12th instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season we look at the Hurricanes.

Super Rugby returns this weekend. As does the chance to grab the bragging rights for getting the predictions right. Let's help you make those picks.

European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) have made known the referees who have been appointed to the Heineken Champions Cup quarterfinals at the end of March.

NEWS: Springbok Pat Lambie's retirement has open the door for another legend to return to Racing 92.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN: The wait is over. The 2019 season gets underway on Friday - a competition that will have supernumerary attention focussed on it, because it is a World Cup year.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Cheetahs head coach Franco Smith has named his team for their Pro14 clash against Connacht in Ireland.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks coach Robert du Preez will unleash all his big guns on the Sunwolves, when the two teams meet in Singapore on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks believe they have the dept to go all the way this year.

The @rugby365com team chats to new @WP_RUGBY President @ZeltMarais to get to the truth behind the @paultreu ‏saga that is blighting the @THESTORMERS build-up to the @SuperRugby season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Centre Ruhan Nel and prop Corne Fourie are both set to make their Stormers debut in the Super Rugby clash against the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: The Stormers will be without one of their key Bok forwards for a lengthy period.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson named a powerful team for their opening Super Rugby match against the Blues at Eden Park on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Blues coach Leon MacDonald has shown his hand ahead of his team's opening Super Rugby encounter against the Crusaders at Eden Park.

PODCAST: The Short Ball returns as Scotty Stevenson & Mils Muliaina chat to Blues coach Leon MacDonald, Crusaders coach Scott Robertson & coach Tabai Matson for the Chiefs.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The 2019 Super Rugby season kicks off on Friday when the Chiefs face the Highlanders and the Brumbies host the Melbourne Rebels.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: TJ Perenara will lead the Hurricanes in their Super Rugby opening match against the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: It appears that Scotland's casualty list is more serious than expected.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sunwolves will be sans the bulk of their internationals and head coach when they take on the Sharks in Singapore on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Exciting Southern Kings flyhalf, Bader Pretorius, will get his first starting berth when the side takes on Munster Rugby in a PRO14 Round 15 match at the Irish Independent Park in Cork on Friday.

REACTION: Lions coach Swys de Bruin was 'disappointed' with the late departure gift he was given.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls head coach Pote Human has unveiled his team to face the Stormers in Round One of Super Rugby at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 - TEAM BY TEAM: In the 11th instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season we look at the Rebels.

OPINION: It is not a surprise that England again dominates @rugby365com's famous weekly selection.

For a team-by-team wrap of the Super Rugby starting XV and their replacement ahead of the opening weekend in 2019, we've got you covered.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: France coach Jacques Brunel has stayed loyal to the same squad of players for the Six Nations clash with Scotland on February 23 - despite two defeats in a row in the tournament.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: England coach Eddie Jones produced a couple of surprises when he named 25 players for a three-day training camp in central London - beginning Wednesday.

LISTEN as Sevens star Ruhan Nel speaks about facing off against a Springbok regular in his Super Rugby debut.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Waratahs head coach Daryl Gibson has loaded his team with Wallabies for their Super Rugby opener against the Hurricanes in Sydney,

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Melbourne Rebels have named an experienced side to face the Brumbies in their Super Rugby opener in Canberra on Friday.

INJURY UPDATE: Scotland coach Gregor Townsend was taken aback by suggestions that star player Stuart Hogg has been ruled out for the rest of the Six Nation.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Colin Cooper named his team for their Super Rugby derby opener against the Highlanders in Hamilton on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions suffered a double blow on the eve of their departure to Buenos Aires.

NEWS: The Brumbies announced that head coach Dan McKellar has signed a two-year extension to his current contract that will keep him in the hot-seat in the National Capital until at least the end of the 2021 season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger his team to face the Chiefs in Hamilton in Round One of Super Rugby 2019.

NEWS: Matthew Rees will hang up his boots at the end of the season following an illustrious career spanning 19 years.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Flyhalf Christian Lealiifano will lead the Brumbies into action in their first Super Rugby match of 2019 after being named as captain for the clash with the Rebels at GIO Stadium.

INJURY UPDATE: Scotland star Stuart Hogg is set to miss the rest of the Six Nations - and what’s more - could be in a race against time to make the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 – TEAM BY TEAM: In the 10th instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season we look at the Rebels.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England’s recent upturn in form after a disastrous 2018 has no doubt pleased their fans. Currently, the team picks itself, as every player seems to be in superb form.

NEWS: Sharks coach Robert du Preez's plans to ease his son, Robert junior, back into Super Rugby were dealt a sucker punch.

INJURY UPDATE: Wales received a massive boost ahead of their crucial Six Nations clash against England in Cardiff.

INJURY UPDATE: One of England's key players will play no further part in their bid to win a second Six Nations Grand Slam under Eddie Jones.

INJURY UPDATE: Wales were hoping to have this player available for their final two matches of Six Nations 2019.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: England captain Owen Farrell is a rugby "genius" whose game is thriving with the extra responsibility of leadership.

NEWS: Gloucester scrumhalf Callum Braley was included in Italy's training squad for next week's Six Nations match against reigning champions Ireland in Rome.

NEWS: The Blue Bulls Company has confirmed the resignation of High-Performance Manager Xander Janse van Rensburg.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Brumbies are done with 'boring' the opposition into submission.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Cheetahs coach Franco Smith named a 25-man squad for their upcoming three-week trip to Ireland and Wales in the Pro14.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Ma'a Nonu talks about his World Cup aspirations, the Blues and lunch.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers are looking to put a few injuries concerns behind them, as they build-up towards a 'brutal' season opener.

INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls returned to Loftus Versfeld after their warm-up against the Sharks with one injury concern.

SIX NATIONS REACTION: France flyhalf Camille Lopez says the blame lies with the players following Sunday's humiliating 8-44 loss to England in the Six Nations.

INJURY UPDATE: The Hurricanes have lost their most experienced lock to a lengthy injury on the eve of their Super Rugby season-opener.

SIX NATIONS ANALYSES: The days of England and France being on the same level in rugby are well and truly over.

ANALYSES: Jan de Koning turns to the numbers to find reasons for Ireland's 22-13 win over Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With flyhalf Robert du Preez laying low after his recent stint in England, Curwin Bosch has been given a rare opportunity to show his worth in the No.10 jersey for the Sharks.

Ireland have crossed over to Scotland for their Six Nations weekend and started it with two wins - by the Women and by the Under-20s.

NEWS: Daryl Gibson will soon share a record with former coach Ewen McKenzie.

Nigel Owens is well known for bringing the sass and wit while bossing matches. Here are some of his best chirps.

NEWS: The Highlanders have unveiled their co-captains for the 2019 Super Rugby season

TRANSFER NEWS: Ireland back row forward Sean O'Brien will join London Irish from Leinster after this year's World Cup in Japan.

There was confusion after the Sharks versus Bulls Super Rugby pre-season friendly in Ballito last Saturday - a game that eventually finished 7-all.

TRANSFER NEWS: Scrumhalf Jono Kitto is set for a second stint with Worcester Warriors having signed a contract for next season.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: A 27-man Southern Kings touring squad will depart from Port Elizabeth on Monday on a three-week PRO14 tour of Ireland and Wales.

OPINION: England and Eddie Jones’ 2019 redemption took another big step forward on Sunday as they cantered to a 44-8 victory over France at Twickenham in the Guinness Six Nations.

OPINION: Joe Schmidt’s Ireland got their Six Nations title defence back on track with a low-frills 22-13 win over Scotland at Murrayfield. Liam Heagney rates the Irish players!

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Flyhalf Stephen Donald will return to Super Rugby at the grand old age of 35.

TRANSFER RUMOURS: All Blacks blindside Liam Squire is set to leave New Zealand after the World Cup.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Wales do not fear Eddie Jones'and his England team.

TRANSFER NEWS: Glasgow Warriors have signed Scotland Sevens wing Kyle Steyn on a one-year deal ahead of the 2019/20 season.

NEWS: Gareth Baber, the Fiji Sevens head coach, is facing another major problem.

INJURY UPDATE: Scotland have been hit by a triple whammy of injuries following the Ireland match on Saturday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Northampton Saints confirmed that prop Francois van Wyk has signed a new contract with the Club to keep him at Franklin’s Gardens until 2021.

OPINION: Saturday was a deflating day at Murrayfield for Scotland. Liam Heagney rates the Scottish players!

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: It's our second season of the current 15-team format, with 14 teams in action on the opening weekend.

After just two matches England have scored 92 points and they are the only team in the Six Nations with two wins out of two. In their two matches, the Red Roses have scored 15 tries.

Six Nations reaction: England's hat-trick hero Jonny May said it was awesome to score a hat-trick, but it's all part of his job.

INJURY UPDATE: The Blues will be without a key man when they open their 2019 campaign against the defending champion Crusaders at Eden Park next weekend.

The winners in Round 1 of Rugby Europe's Championship were probably expected, but all three matches were close.

OPINION: It might not have been pretty and the expected bonus-point assault did not materialise in Rome, but ultimately Wales got the job done with a 26-15 victory over Italy. Martyn Thomas rates the Welsh players!

Wales toughed it out against Italy in a scruffy Six Nations encounter in Rome on Saturday.

England cruised to victory against France, with the visitors having no answers - and not many tries - to Eddie Jones' men's pizzaz.

SUPER RUGBY PRE-SEASON REPORT: The Bulls and Sharks played to a contentious draw in Ballito on Saturday.

INJURY UPDATE: Scotland will be sweating over the fitness of their star player ahead of their next Six Nations encounter.

England had a field day at Twickenham, narrowly missing a half-century of points against a French side who lost their heads.

Ireland bounced back after their defeat to England, with a tenacious effort against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: England are worried about France's tactics ahead of Sunday's clash at Twickenham.

NEWS: Australia's rugby superstar has signed a new four-year deal.

SIX NATIONS PICTURES: Ireland weathered a Scottish defensive storm to seal an epic win at Murrayfield on Saturday.

REPORT: Santiago Carreras scored two tries as host Argentina routed two-time defending champion United States 45-14 on Saturday to seize the lead after two rounds of the Americas Rugby Championship.

INJURY UPDATE: Ireland coach Joe Schmidt was 'hopeful' that flyhalf Johnny Sexton will make a speedy recovery from two head knocks he suffered in his team's 22-13 win over Scotland at the weekend.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A move to France could be an option for this England player.

REACTION: Wales coach Warren Gatland conceded his experimental side "got out of jail" as they struggled to a 26-15 win over Italy in the Six Nations on Saturday to equal their best run of 11 straight Test wins.

INJURY UPDATE: Glasgow Warriors have confirmed that they have lost two players for the rest of the season in a brutal double whammy.

SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 - TEAM BY TEAM: In the ninth instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season we look at the Blues.

PRE-SEASON REPORT: The Blues made it two wins from two matches in their pre-season when they edged the Hurricanes 38-31 in Mangatainoka on Saturday.

REACTION: Greig Laidlaw took a swipe at referee Romain Poite after Scotland’s Six Nations defeat to Ireland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

PRE-SEASON REPORT: The Stormers ran in 13 tries in a comprehensive 87-5 victory against Boland in a pre-season clash in Wellington on Friday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All Black legend Richie McCaw said New Zealand have to accept the damaging player drain is an inevitable fact of life.

WATCH as seasoned Springbok Pieter-Steph du Toit talks about his award as Player of the Year and his country's prospects at the World Cup.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: For some rugby players being partially blind would be enough to hang up your boots, however not for Italian international Ian McKinley.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wasps have revealed that South Africa centre Juan de Jongh has penned a new contract to remain at the club.

Ireland captain Rory Best praised his team's efforts a after beating Scotland in their Six Nations clash at Murrayfield on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 – TEAM BY TEAM: In the eighth instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season we look at the Chiefs.

TRANSFER NEWS: Crusaders will lose one of their stalwarts at the end of the 2019 Super Rugby season.

SIX NATIONS ROUND TWO: England captain Owen Farrell says his side are taking nothing for granted as they prepare to face a wounded France.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: England coach Eddie Jones summed up the dilemma facing his side ahead of Sunday's Six Nations clash at Twickenham by insisting there was still a place for "beautiful" French rugby in the modern game even if that meant a change to their traditional flair play.

Rugby Europe's top competition, sometimes referred to as the Six Nations B, starts this weekend.

SIX NATIONS ROUND TWO: Conor O'Shea's Italy are desperate to pick up where they left off against Scotland last weekend when they take on Wales for their second Six Nations game of the campaign.

SIX NATIONS ROUND TWO: The encounter at Murrayfield now has added significance, following Ireland's loss in Round One.

TRANSFER NEWS: Former England loose forward Jordan Crane is the latest Bristol Bears player to commit his future to the club after agreeing to a new one-year deal.

REPORT: Joaquin Prada and Diego Magno scored tries to spark Uruguay over Chile 20-5 Friday to take the lead in the Americas Rugby Championship.

INJURY UPDATE: Ireland's Six Nations campaign has been dealt with another injury setback.

LAW DISCUSSION: @rugby365com law guru Paul Dobson answers a reader's query about an incident in the pre-season Super Rugby match between the Stormers and Bulls.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: England head coach Eddie Jones has named his team to face France in their second Six Nations match on Sunday at Twickenham Stadium.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Italy captain Sergio Parisse warned his side are sick and tired of losing and are determined to end their 18-match Six Nations losing streak against Wales in the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.

WATCH as Reds coach Brad Thorn reacts to his team's narrow 19-21 loss to the Chiefs in a Super Rugby pre-season outing on Friday.

NEWS: The Melbourne Rebels have unveiled their captain for the 2019 Super Rugby season.

Three matches in Round 1, three winners, and two of those winners meet in Round 2, each huge winners.

SUPER RUGBY PRE-SEASON: A pre-season win for the Brumbies over the Waratahs at Goulburn on Thursday has come at a cost for both sides, with numerous players walking away from the clash with injuries.

In Round 2, the three round-one winners will play the three round-one losers, and they could all be interesting matches. The Under-20 championship is still wide open.

REACTION: Scotland coach Gregor Townsend said dropping hat-trick scorer Blair Kinghorn to the bench had been a painful decision as he named his side to face Ireland in Saturday's Six Nations match at Murrayfield.

NEWS: Charl Crous has been appointed as Head of Operations for Pro14 and will begin work in his new role in June 2019, after spending eight years with the Southern Kings in South Africa.

SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 - TEAM BY TEAM: In the seventh instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season we look at the Highlanders.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has stayed true to his word with the latest visit to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: France has added significant 'bulk' to their team for their Six Nations encounter with England on Sunday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Scotland have made four changes to the starting line-up for this Saturday’s second-round Six Nations clash with Ireland at Murrayfield Stadium.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jason Jenkins will start at lock with Lood de Jager on Saturday when the Bulls take on the  Sharks in Ballito.

TRANSFER NEWS: London Irish have not been afraid to throw the cash around this season, with the Championship leaders already having secured the signings of three players for the 2019/20 season.

SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 - TEAM BY TEAM: In the sixth instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season, Alex McLeod looks at the Crusaders.

PRE-SEASON REPORT: The Crusaders edged the Highlanders 43-38 in a thrilling Super Rugby pre-season encounter in Southbridge on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Warren Gatland has unveiled his Wales team to face Italy in Rome on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Conor O’Shea has made two changes for Italy as Edoardo Padovani comes into the backline and Nicola Quaglio into the front row for their Six Nations clash with Wales on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has made a few changes to his team for Saturday's crucial match against Scotland in Round Two of Six Nations 2019.

LISTEN as the @rugby365com team chats to renowned medical practitioner and concussion expert @jonpatricios about one of the biggest quagmires in the game.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Robert du Preez has selected his strongest available squad to take on the Bulls in Saturday’s warm-up match at Ashton College in Ballito.

TRANSFER RUMOURS: As claims of Sale Sharks signing Brodie Retallick on a world record deal are being swiftly shut down, fresh rumours have arisen of a new frontrunner leading the chase for the All Black lock.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Dan Cole's good attitude to a lengthy spell in the England wilderness is likely to end with a recall for Sunday's Six Nations international against France at Twickenham.

BREAKING NEWS: Pieter-Steph du Toit has been named South Africa's Player of the Year for 2018.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: South African-born Namibian international Renaldo Bothma has been suspended for four weeks.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: There is another Proctor teams should be worried about this year.

NEWS: The Melbourne Rebels have high hopes with this man in charge.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Josh Strauss has urged Scotland to take the fight to Ireland in this weekend's Six Nations clash after England showed the way by overpowering the 2018 Grand Slam winners.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Boland Cavaliers head coach Randall Modiba has announced his side that will take on the Stormers in a Super Rugby warm-up match at the Boland Stadium in Wellington on Friday.

LISTEN as Sharks coach Robert du Preez talks about his team's final pre-season outing and their start to the Super Rugby season.

SUPER RUGBY REACTION: Stormers' 33-28 win over the Bulls have managed to momentarily eclipse the off-field drama surrounding the franchise. By Leezil Hendricks.

OPINION: England made a big statement when they bullied Ireland in Dublin on Saturday to record a famous 32-20 win.

SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 - TEAM BY TEAM: In the fifth instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season we look at the Jaguares. It will be followed by the New Zealand and Australian conferences.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Queensland Reds will be bolstered by the inclusion of four Wallabies tourists from last year’s end-of-year Tour squad for Friday’s pre-season match against the Chiefs at Ballymore.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: On Thursday the South African Rugby fraternity will find who is regarded as the best SA Rugby player of the year 2018. Leezil Hendricks looks at all the candidates.

NEWS: Ulster has been boosted by the news that Springbok Marcell Coetzee has put pen to paper on a three-year contract extension.

REACTION: David Pocock needs to be protected from illegal neck rolls that have already forced him to miss key games for the Wallabies and is turning parents off the sport, according to his Brumbies coach Dan McKellar.

NEWS: Severe ongoing concussions have forced another international star to hang up his boots.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Colin Cooper unveiled a 27-man travelling squad for his team's pre-season encounter against the Reds at Ballymore Stadium on Friday.

Joy Neville of Ireland again makes refereeing history.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders coach Robertson has been forced to play a juggling act with his All Blacks ahead of their final pre-season outing.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger has named a 24-man squad for a pre-season match against the Crusaders at the Southbridge Rugby Club on Friday.

TRANSFER NEWS: At least one All Black has bucked the trend to follow the well-trodden path to Europe.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: England coach Eddie Jones has trimmed down his squad to just 25 players ahead of their Six Nations match against France on Sunday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wasps have had a busy transfer window and their later contract negotiations see England international scrumhalf Joe Simpson join Gloucester in the 2019/20 season.

INJURY UPDATE: Ireland's hopes of bouncing back from a demoralising loss to England suffered a triple blow.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: 'Stormers coach Robbie Fleck rushed back most of his big-name stars for final Super Rugby pre-season outing.

REACTION: The Bulls' 28-33 preseason defeat to the Stormers is not much of a concern for head coach Pote Human.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Maro Itoje will miss Six Nations matches against France and Wales due to a knee injury, but could return for the final rounds of England's title quest.

NEWS: Harlequins have landed themselves in hot water, after they overran their salary cap.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Liam Heagney looks at the real dangers awaiting Ireland when they face Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

TRANSFER RUMOURS: The All Blacks’ imminent post-World Cup exodus is one step closer to coming to fruition.

TRANSFER NEWS: Saracens have announced that British & Irish Lion and England international Elliot Daly will join the club in the off-season.

NEWS: This year injuries have already forced the likes of Springbok duo Pat Lambie and Peter Grant called time on their career.

NEWS: The All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams, who has been hampered by injuries in recent years, hinted Wednesday this could be his last year with Super Rugby and possibly New Zealand rugby.

INJURY UPDATE: Racing 92 hooker Camille Chat has replaced injured Julien Marchand in the French squad to face England in the Six Nations on Sunday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Newly appointed captain Christian Lealiifano will lead the Brumbies into action against the Waratahs in their final trial match at Goulburn Workers Arena on Thursday.

INJURY UPDATE: Tito Tebaldi will miss Italy’s Six Nations clash with Wales on Saturday, courtesy of the back problem that forced him to miss last weekend’s defeat to Scotland.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jack Dempsey will return to the Waratahs starting XV when the team heads to Goulburn on Thursday to take on the Brumbies in their second and final trial ahead of the Super Rugby season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: While South Africa's Super Rugby franchises are being inspired by Marvel, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen seems to believe that Micheal Cheika has similar characteristics as Mickey Mouse.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: There is a change in the top three in World Rugby's Rankings after the first round of Six Nations 2019.

TRANSFER NEWS: Scotland centre Chris Harris has signed a two-year contract extension with Newcastle Falcons, the English Premiership side announced.

NEWS: The bosses of England's 12 Premiership clubs are seeking talks with the Rugby Football Union over ending promotion and relegation to and from the top flight.

INJURY UPDATE: Not only does Ireland have to deal with the aftermath of a defeat to England, but the No.2 side also sit with a few injury concerns.

Front row forward Michael Aliifaalogo has been making huge impacts across the board in Australia.

ANALYSIS: As George Ford carried the ball into touch and brought an end to the game in Dublin at the weekend, you could be forgiven for having not predicted this particular outcome.

OPINION: Ireland’s lavish dream of winning a second Grand Slam in succession was shattered at the first time of asking in the 2019 Six Nations Championship, England serving up a sobering 32-20 defeat. Liam Heagney rates the Ireland players!

OPINION: The was a huge upset in Dublin on Saturday, as England defeated reigning Grand Slam champions Ireland, 32-20.

SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 - TEAM BY TEAM: In the fourth instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season Jan de Koning looks at the Stormers. It will be followed by the final team in the South African conference, the Jaguares - then the other conferences.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Southern Kings will be thin on forwards in the future.

On Monday, 4 February 2019, SANZAAR announced the 15-man panel of referees who will officiate in the 2019 Super Rugby season.

INJURY UPDATE: England’s outstanding victory over Ireland in Dublin is forcing head coach Eddie Jones to reshuffle his pack to face France at Twickenham on Sunday.

OPINION: Wales produced a stunning comeback to kick-off the 2019 Six Nations with a 24-19 defeat of France in Paris. Martyn Thomas rates the Welsh players.

REACTION: Ireland coach Joe Schmidt warned his team to heed the World Cup “reality check” of the weekend’s comprehensive 20-32 Six Nations defeat to England.

TRANSFER NEWS: Bath star to leave the club at the end of the current season.

REACTION: South African coach Neil Powell's patience is wearing thin with his under-performing team.

PRE-SEASON SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Stormers managed to put the ongoing stand-off involving their coaching staff behind them for an impressive win.

NEWS: England fullback will leave his club at the end of the season,

PRE-SEASON SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Lions still believe the game should be played only one way - attack, attack, ATTACK!

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: The mastermind behind "the white wall that nullified" Ireland’s attack over the weekend.

NEWS: Things are not looking pretty for the Wallabies ahead of this year's World Cup in Japan.

SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 - TEAM BY TEAM: In the third instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season we look at the Bulls. It will be followed by the rest of the teams in the South African conference - then the other conferences.

REACTION: George North says Wales plan to build on their 10-match winning streak.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: One of Ireland's worst performances under Joe Schmidt.

PRO14 REACTION: Despite the Cheetahs' win over the Southern Kings, captain Shaun Venter is adamant there is something amiss within the side.

INJURY UPDATE: Scotland Head Coach Gregor Townsend has been forced to add front-row pair Fraser Brown and Murray McCallum to Scotland's 2019 Six Nations squad.

SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 - TEAM BY TEAM: In the second instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season we look at the Sharks. It will be followed by the rest of the teams in the South African conference - then the other conferences.

AMERICAS CHAMPIONSHIP: AJ MacGinty's hat-trick led 11 tries for the United States and the defending champion Eagles routed host Chile 71-8 on Saturday to start their 2019 campaign.

WATCH as veteran Springbok loose forward Duane Vermeulen explained the role former Stormers boss Thelo Wakefield played in his decision to move to the Bulls.

On the cold opening night of the first round of the Under-20 Six Nations in 2019, Ireland beat England and Italy beat Scotland.

In Dublin's cold weather, England continued their domination over Ireland with an even bigger victory than November's at Twickenham.

SIX NATIONS MATCH REPORT: Blair Kinghorn scored a hat-trick of tries as Scotland launched their 2019 Six Nations Championship campaign with a 33-20 victory at home to Italy on Saturday.

SIX NATIONS MATCH REPORT: England ended Ireland's hopes of back-to-back Six Nations Grand Slams with a deserved 32-20 victory at Lansdowne Road on Saturday in an absorbing Test match.

INJURY UPDATE: England’s stunning start to their Guinness Six Nations title quest has come at the cost of a potentially serious injury sustained by Maro Itoje.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Cheetahs pulled off a bonus point derby victory over South African rivals Southern Kings as Reinach Venter secured the hosts a fourth successive victory for the first time in the PRO14.

REACTION: England coach Eddie Jones says they will not be resting on their laurels, despite their demolition of Ireland at the weekend.

REACTION: Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw has warned his side they will need to cut out the poor defending that cost them three late tries in their 33-20 opening day home win against Italy.

INJURY UPDATE: French hooker Julien Marchand tore knee ligaments after coming on in the second half of the Six Nations loss to Wales and will miss the rest of the season, coach Jacques Brunel revealed.

AWARDS: Springboks Elton Jantjies and Malcolm Marx were the big winners at the Lions' 2018 awards ceremony.

DAY TWO WRAP: New Zealand won the Final with a clinical performance against the United States on Sunday.

WATCH as Australian Nick Malouf executes a massive tackle on South African Stedman-Ghee Gans in the fifth-place play-off match in Sydney on Sunday.

DAY ONE WRAP: Hosts Australia required an extra-time try to book their place in the quarterfinals of their home tournament - Round Four of the World Series.

PRE-SEASON ACTION: The Blues made a strong statement when the ran riot against the Chiefs, winning 43-10 in Kaikohe on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Organisers of the Six Nations have all but ruled out the possibility of a promotion/relegation system being implemented despite ongoing conversations of an international rugby restructure.

SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2019 - TEAM BY TEAM: In the first instalment of our 15-part build-up to the season Jan de Koning looks at the Lions.

REACTION: Warren Gatland hailed his Wales team as one that has "forgotten to lose".

ROUND 12 CATCH-UP MATCH: The second of three South African derby matches take place this week as the Southern Kings and the Cheetahs catch up on their Pro14 schedule.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Ireland captain Rory Best is confident he knows what England's approach will be in their Six Nations opener in Dublin on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions coach Swys de Bruin has opted for experience for his team's second Super Rugby pre-season outing.

PRE-SEASON ACTION: The Crusaders gave an early indication that they are again the team to beat in Super Rugby, despite missing a rash of the All Black stars.

SYDNEY SEVENS DAY ONE: Australia needed to beat South Africa by six points or more in their final match of the day, to keep their Cup hopes alive.

TRANSFER NEWS: The first batch of Wallabies set to depart after the World Cup has been confirmed.

SIX NATIONS REPORT: A George North try double helped Wales overcome a 16-point first-half deficit to seal a dramatic 24-19 victory over France in the 2019 Six Nations opener.

SIX NATIONS ROUND ONE: This is the match that has attracted the most and the most fervid attention.

SIX NATIONS ROUND ONE: Scotland head into a Six Nations opener at home to Italy on Saturday with high spirits.

SIX NATIONS ROUND ONE: Wales will bid to equal their longest winning sequence since 1999 when they take on France in Friday's opening game of the tournament, Warren Gatland's last campaign as Welsh coach.

NEWS: Heavy snow has caused some travel problems ahead of Friday's Six Nations opener.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Six players who could have an impact on this season's edition of Europe's leading international rugby union competition.

SUPER RUGBY NEWS: The Chiefs have bolstered their coaching ranks with the addition of Roger Randle.

SUPER RUGBY PRESEASON REPORT: Quade Cooper steer the Melbourne Rebels to a hard-fought 29-26 win over his former side the Queensland Reds.

NEWS: Edinburgh continues to hold onto their talent.

N THE SPOTLIGHT: Ireland's rise to number two in world rugby on the back of a Six Nations Grand Slam, and a historic home win over world champions New Zealand, is no accident but the fruit of a perfect storm of factors coming together, starting in the nation's schools.

The 2019 Women's Six Nations Championship starts on Friday when Ireland play England.

The Six Nations bursts into life this weekend with Wayne Barnes to whistle the men's start and Aimee Barrett-Theron the women's start.

SUPER RUGBY PRESEASON REPORT: The Highlanders' first preseason match kicked off as planned as they secure a 59-38 win over the Waratahs.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Robert du Preez has unveiled his team for Sunday's pre-season match against the Lions at Cape Town Stadium.

SUPER RUGBY NEWS: Christian Lealiifano has been named as the Brumbies Captain for the 2019 Super Rugby campaign.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Glasgow Warriors centre Sam Johnson will make his Scotland debut in this Saturday’s Six Nations opener against Italy at BT Murrayfield Stadium

REACTION: England head coach Eddie Jones has added to the war of words in the lead-up to his side’s Six Nations opener against Ireland this weekend.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Two continents, three clubs and a new language. South African-born Paul Willemse has taken the long route to potentially making his debut for France in Friday's Six Nations opener against Wales.

The @rugby365com team is joined by former @Springboks flyhalf @APetoors10, as they look at how players can prepare for 'Life after rugby' and what the pitfalls are.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders coach Scott Robertson named a squad of 30 players for their first pre-season hit-out.

TOURNAMENT PREVIEW: This year's Six Nations could be one of the most high-calibre yet.

The 20th edition of the Six Nations Championship starts on Friday night when Wayne Barnes blows the starting whistle. There will be 13 other referees to blow whistles at six venues in a compact 15-match competition over some six weeks.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Highlanders will take on the Waratahs in their first pre-season fixture at the Central Otago with a few new faces.

WORLD SERIES ROUND FOUR: Fiji will be seeking a third title in a row in this year's series', having won in Cape Town (Round Two) and Hamilton (Round Three).

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland is ready to unleash their big guns on England in the opening round of the Six Nations.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Hurricanes head coach John Plumtree has named a squad of 38 players to travel to Levin on Saturday for the side's opening pre-season match against the Crusaders.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Reds head coach Brad Thorn will hope the absence of Quade Cooper and Karmichael Hunt will have no effect during the side's opening trial against the Rebels.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Former England Under-20 back row forward David Sisi will earn his first cap for Italy in their Six Nations opener against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

The 1014 Rugby takes a look at the draw for the Six nations 2019.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: England head coach Eddie Jones has named his matchday squad to face Ireland in their opening Six Nations match in Dublin on Saturday.

NEWS: New "rapid rugby" competition will not happen this year

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lock Chris van Zyl will captain a 26-man Stormers squad in their pre-season outing against the Bulls at the Cape Town Stadium on Sunday.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Ireland will look to get under the skin of 'hothead' England captain Owen Farrell when the teams meet in their Six Nations clash in Dublin revealed Peter Stringer.

OPINION: Selecting is a passport to arguments, and agreeing with selectors a rare occurrence, but we are going to set out to choose a Six Nations XV.

SPOTLIGHT: 2019 is going to be an exciting year for Rugby fans. Of course, the World Cup is going to take place in Japan starting September. And then there is the Super Rugby 2019 season as well which is going to be played from February 15th.

TRANSFER NEWS: Brumbies lock and former captain Sam Carter will sign for Ulster Rugby at the end of the 2019 Super Rugby season concluding an almost 10-year association with the club.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls supporters will finally see new recruits Schalk Brits and Duane Vermeulen in action for the franchise.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wales kick off the 2019 Six Nations in Paris against France on Friday captained by Alun Wyn Jones, making his 49th appearance in the tournament.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: France coach Jacques Brunel has made a huge selection decision for his team's opening Six Nations match against Wales.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Cheetahs player Justin Basson has been banned for three weeks.

WORLD CUP SPOTLIGHT: Jaque Fourie's exploits as a player is the stuff of legend. As a coach, he is a neophyte, who has barely dipped his toe into the pool.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: A knee problem forced him to miss Leinster's Champions Cup pool matches this month against Wasps and Toulouse.

NEWS: There will be one less big name player at this year's World Cup in Japan.

NEWS: Australian flyhalf Jake McIntyre will leave Agen for Clermont on a two-year contract from July, the Top 14 leaders announced Wednesday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Rugby officials grapple with the thorny question of how best to stage Test matches.

IN THE NEWS: The SuperHero fixture between the Stormers and the Bulls will be an ideal opportunity for JD Schickerling to show his worth.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Waratahs head coach Daryl Gibson made a bold move ahead of his side's pre-season match Highlanders on Friday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: England have retained 25 players to continue their preparations for their Six Nations match again Ireland in Dublin on February 2.

UPDATE: Monday's meeting took place to address concerns following reports that Western Province Football Union President Zelt Marais wants Paul Treu to replace Gert Smal as Director of Rugby.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Blues assistant coach Tom Coventry sent an ominous warning to opponents when he described Ma’a Nonu’s fitness levels heading into Super Rugby.

SPOTLIGHT: Kiwi wing Zac Guildford, who was part of the All Blacks World Cup-winning squad in 2011, has left French division two leaders Nevers.

NEWS: The Sharks have bolstered their coaching team ahead of the start of the 2019 Super Rugby season.

INJURY UPDATE: Injured All Blacks star will miss more than half the Super Rugby season as he continues a long recovery from a broken neck, his team said Tuesday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Just weeks after Springbok flyhalf Pat Lambie was forced to retire, another Springbok pivot has to hang up his boots following doctors commands.

Six Nations is coming and for most people around the world that means being glued to a television set with television voices describing play and evaluating it.

REACTION: Stormers officials on Monday scrambled as the rumour mill went into overdrive with reports of sponsors threatening to pull out and players set to go on strike.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: If there was a player who summed up the saying “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone” better than any other, it is almost certainly England fullback Mike Brown.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The only way to beat England is to produce a brutal performance says Ireland wing Keith Earls ahead of the sides' Six Nations opener on Saturday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Glasgow and Scotland centre Alex Dunbar has joined Newcastle in their bid to avoid relegation from the English Premiership, the northeast club announced.

NEWS: Ulster confirmed that Roddy Grant will join their coaching team as forwards coach at the end of the current season.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers are set to be without one of their stalwarts when their Super Rugby campaign kicks off against the Bulls on February 16.

WATCH as The 1014 explore the form guide for the Six Nations teams.

NEWS: Scotland international James Lang has re-signed for Harlequins.

INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls were dealt a cruel blow just weeks out from the start of the Super Rugby season.

TRANSFER NEWS: Kyle Cooper has become the latest Newcastle Falcons player to pledge his future to the club, signing a new three-year contract.

SQUAD UPDATE: Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend added three players to his 2019 Six Nations squad.

PRE-SEASON SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers may be wearing the Thor jersey in Sunday's superhero outing at the Cape Town stadium, but the real 'Thor' will be in the opposing team.

NEWS: Harlequins scrumhalf Danny Care makes a decision about his future.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Stuart Hogg believes Scotland are on the verge of an "incredibly special" achievement and insists they are right to talk up their chances of winning the Six Nations ahead of Saturday's opener at home to Italy.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand's franchises are content with missing their All Blacks for the entirety of the preseason.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Lions are famed for their attack, which has made them universally popular and took them to three consecutive finals.

Part of the greatness of the Six Nations championship is its compactness - six teams each playing five matches in seven weeks, at six venues which are not too far apart.

TRANSFER NEWS: Adam Ashley-Cooper is back in Super Rugby to fight for his place in Michael Cheika's World Cup squad.

TRANSFER NEWS: Andrew Davidson will join Glasgow Warriors from Newcastle Falcons ahead of the 2019/20 season, subject to medical.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Joe Schmidt is allegedly poised to throw an opening weekend curveball.

INJURY UPDATE: One of England's key players is in a race against time to be fit for his team's Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Warren Gatland cut a relaxed, confident figure this week as he prepared for his final Six Nations as Wales head coach.

TRANSFER NEWS: Saracens announced that England forward Maro Itoje has committed his future to the club.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: New Bulls signing Cornal Hendricks cannot wait to show what he is capable of when he returns to playing Super Rugby for the first time since 2015.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Head coach Joe Schmidt says Ireland have been victims of spying.

REACTION: Day Two's results at the New Zealand Sevens in Hamilton did not sit well with BlitzBoks head coach Neil Powell.

NEWS: Rob Baxter’s forward-planning is gathering pace after the Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby confirmed three more of his current squad have agreed new deals with the Premiership club.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Lions head coach Zacharia de Bruin believes that his team need to adjust quickly to the new laws heading into their Super Rugby opener against the Jaguares on February 16.

NEWS: Harlequins confirmed that Jack Clifford has signed a new three-year contract with the club.

DAY TWO WRAP: Fiji defeated the USA 38-0 in the Cup Final of the New Zealand Sevens in Hamilton on Sunday.

PRO14 REPORT: The Southern Kings scored two tries in two minutes to record a sensational come-from-behind win over Edinburgh in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Bulls started their 2019 campaign on a victorious note, beating the Lions 21-17 at the Loftus Versfeld B field in Pretoria on Saturday.

PRO14 REPORT: The Cheetahs extended their unbeaten streak to five matches with a high-scoring (61-28) victory over Zebre in Bloemfontein.

NEWS: South African Tristan Blewett scored a 73rd-minute try to lift the New Orleans Gold over visiting Toronto 36-31 in the 2019 Major League Rugby season opener.

The 15 Super Rugby referees, selected in 2018 for the 2019 season which starts in February, were at a week's camp at the Clearwater resort in Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island.

SUPER RUGBY PRE-SEASON REPORT: The Stormers ran in 14 tries in their first warm-up of the season in sweltering conditions at False Bay on Saturday.

TOP 14, SUNDAY WRAP: France international Sofiane Guitoune scored twice as Toulouse moved to the summit of the French Top 14 on Sunday with a 29-16 win over struggling Grenoble.

INJURY UPDATE: The Chiefs are facing the prospect of a season without All Blacks flank Sam Cane while he continues his recovery from a neck fracture.

PRO14 REPORT: Jean Kleyn's second half score helped Munster reclaim top spot in Conference A of the Guinness PRO14 after edging out Dragons with a 7-8 win at Rodney Parade.

DAY ONE WRAP: The main protagonists in the World Series eased through the pool play without a hiccup.

PRO14 REPORT: Owen Lane produced a spectacular acrobatic try to help Cardiff Blues to an 8-7 win over Connacht, despite being down to 13 men at the time.

TOP 14 WRAP: French champions Castres ended league leaders Clermont's 13-game unbeaten run with a gritty 24-16 victory on Saturday.

A rival English club could be set to beat Wasps to the signature of All Black winger Waisake Naholo.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Brumbies put down a pre-season marked when they beat the Rebels 52-38 in Canberra on Saturday.

PRO14 REPORT: James Lowe was at it again against Scarlets as his second-half try helped Leinster to an invaluable 22-17 win.

PRO14 REPORT: Nine points from the boot of Brandon Thomson were enough for Glasgow Warriors as they battled to a 9-3 victory over Ospreys.

PRO14 REPORT: A last-gasp penalty try denied Benetton a sixth successive victory in all competitions as Ulster struck in overtime to share the points with the match ending with a 17-17 score.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The number of candidates to replace Steve Hansen, when he steps down as All Black coach after the World Cup, are getting fewer.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Scotland coach Gregor Townsend says he’s worried about the ongoing row between Premiership Rugby Limited and World Rugby over the release of players because of insurance issues.

NEWS: How to reduce the number of head injuries suffered by Rugby Union players has become a major concern for the game's authorities.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: England coach Eddie Jones was at his caustic best in London on Wednesday, at the launch of the 2019 tournament.

REACTION: English club Wasps have responded to rumours that their captain Joe Launchbury will leave the club.

NEWS: The USA Eagles has named former Springbok Jaque Fourie centre as the new defence coach

SPOTLIGHT: The efforts of months of proactive planning culminated in a very productive one-day concussion workshop in Cape Town on Thursday.

PREVIEW: Major League Rugby kicks off its second season on Saturday, with an expanded competition and increasing numbers of overseas players poised to accelerate the fledgeling competition's growth.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After a fortnight of European action, the Pro14 returns for Round 14 and on the eve of the Six Nations, there is plenty to prove as the race hots up for the Final Series.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Treviso captain Dean Budd has been included in Italy's squad for their Six Nations opener against Scotland.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: The Cheetahs are planning for all-out attack when they face Zebre in Round 14 of the Pro14 on Saturday.

NEWS: England centre Jonathan Joseph received another boost after returning from nine months out with an ankle injury by extending his contract with Premiership side Bath on Thursday.

NEWS: The death of former Samoa Under-20 flank Faiva Tagatauli on Thursday after a suspected head injury has rocked the country's rugby fraternity.

ROUND THREE: The Sevens World Series has delivered scintillating action in the opening two rounds - in Dubai and Cape Town - and it looks set to continue.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: Southern Kings coach Deon Davids has made a number of changes to the team that will take on Edinburgh in Round 14 of the Pro14 on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stormers coach Robbie Fleck will hope to find some answers when they step up their preparations for the 2019 Super Rugby season on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok Cornal Hendricks will make his first appearance in a first-class match since 2015 when he runs out for the Bulls against the Lions on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions will have a new captain when they face the Bulls in a Super Rugby pre-season fixture at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

ROUND 15: French Top 14 leaders Clermont take a weakened squad to reigning champions Castres in the pick of the Top 14 matches in the final weekend before the start of the Six Nations.

NEWS: One of France's most talented players will retire from international rugby after the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

LISTEN as the @rugby365com team chats to @LionsRugbyCo benefactor and deputy-president Altmann Allers about why the financial model in South Africa is in a drastic need of a revamp.

NEWS: At least one star player in New Zealand "never played rugby to chase money".

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wales coach Warren Gatland piled the pressure on Ireland ahead of the Six Nations Championship.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt admits he has a love-hate relationship with the Six Nations despite engineering three titles and a Grand Slam last season.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: After a week of training in Hamilton, All Blacks Sevens Coach Clark Laidlaw has finalised the 12 players that will don the black jersey in this weekend’s New Zealand Sevens in Hamilton.

Capped 86 times for South Africa, back row forward Schalk Burger shares the story of World Cup triumph in 2007 and what life is like as a Saracen in 2019.

INJURY UPDATE: Joe Schmidt had a mixed bag of news on Wednesday, when he spoke to the media at the launch of the Six Nations in London.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Japan included three South African-born players in their World Cup training squad.

TRANSFER NEWS: Dave Heffernan and Niyi Adeolokun are the latest two Connacht players to sign contract extensions with the province.

WATCH host Will Greenwood and the captains launch the 2019 Six Nations tournament.