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IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All Blacks captain Kieran Read was far from his best during 2018 season.

EXCLUSIVE: Listen as Jake White chats to Jan de Koning about life in Japan and what the future holds for the former World Cup-winning Springbok coach.

The Six Nations is great for the rugby played and also for the ceremonies around the matches. These ceremonies include those moments of proud emotion when the anthems are sung.

RugbyPass, the global rugby channel and home of live rugby in Asia, will kick off 2019 as the exclusive rights-holder of the Guinness Six Nations rugby across its 23 Asian territories

It's a good weekend for club rugby, this last weekend in January. One down and 11 to go but before that the glorious Six Nations will start.

LISTEN as new Sharks captain Louis Schreuder speaks about his ambitions and goals for the 2019 Super Rugby season.

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.

INJURY UPDATE: England captain Owen Farrell is optimistic he will be fit in time to face Ireland in the teams' Six Nations opener at Dublin's Lansdowne Road on February 2.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Reds coach Brad Thorn's plans to win the Super Rugby title has taken a new direction clearly evident in the side's new captain.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: Conor O'Shea says the future of Italian rugby matters more than whether he remains the head coach of the Azzurri.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All Black flyhalf Aaron Cruden has failed to make a big impact with Montpellier and the French club's boss is a disappointed man.

TRANSFER FOCUS: France centre Mathieu Bastareaud could ply his trade in South Africa for the Sharks come 2020.

SQUAD UPDATE: England get a midfield boost ahead of Six Nations opener against Ireland.

SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365com's acclaimed writer Paul Dobson looks at how Six Nations winners fared in the World Cup the years that they won their titles.

TRANSFER FOCUS: Wallaby halfback Nick Phipps could be set to make the switch to the Premiership.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All four Super Rugby teams will have to produce noteworthy success in aid of Springboks' World Cup campaign says Lions head coach Zacharia 'Swys' de Bruin.

NEWS: Wales coach Warren Gatland isn't short of offers.

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

NEWS: Ulster have banned a fan for life after allegations of racist abuse directed at Ireland star Simon Zebo.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Any team targeting the Lions forward pack will be in for a surprise according to Lions loosehead prop Dylan Smith.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Southern Kings have acquired the services of a former South African schools flyhalf.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers will play three warm-up games in preparation for the 2019 Super Rugby season.

SPOTLIGHT: French club Clermont were "responsible" for the harm former player Jamie Cudmore suffered after sustaining a concussion, a neurologist has told a court.

REACTION: Springbok flyhalf Pat Lambie's sudden retirement has shock not only South Africa but the world.

NEWS: The Bulls will be getting some help from Bloemfontein during the Super Rugby season.

The magnificent South African Rugby Annual 2019 is now available. It is the 48th edition and, if anything, better than the 47 that went before it.

INJURY UPDATE: Ireland have lost a versatile forward to injury ahead of their Six Nations opener against England.

OPINION: The pool stage of the Champions Cup was wrapped up this weekend, as the competition heads into a Six Nations break, before returning with the knockout rounds of club rugby’s grandest prize at the end of March.

NEWS: Zimbabwe international tighthead prop Farai Mudariki is the latest Warriors player to commit his future to the club by signing a new one-year contract.

NEWS: France have brought in a replacement for the injured Bernard le Roux.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England coach Eddie Jones believes Jonathan Sexton receives preferential treatment from match officials.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Just days out from the first Sevens World Series event of the year, the All Blacks Sevens have confirmed the final places in their 2019 squad.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: According to the bare statistics, Wales are the world's third-best Rugby Union team, behind only the mighty All Blacks and Ireland, but their clubs are failing to match the dizzy heights of the national side.

INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls suffered two cruel blows before they even played in a pre-season friendly.

REACTION: Following the Pro14 South African derby between Cheetahs and Southern Kings it seems like both sides walked away with only positive notes.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok attack coach and Lions head coach Zacharia Francois de Bruin believes that the All Blacks are still the best team in the world leading up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Competition among the Springbok starting team is heating up as preparations for the Rugby World Cup in Japan fast approaches.

INJURY UPDATE: Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has lost another forward to injury ahead of his team's Six Nations opener against England in Dublin on February 2.

SQUAD UPDATE: Head coach Gregor Townsend added four players to the Scotland squad for the 2019 Six Nations.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: South Africa's decision to scrap the 30-Test cap policy has played a vital role in the team's recent success.

LISTEN as Lions coach Zacharia de Bruin explains how they will be dealing with the rash of departures ahead of the 2019 Super Rugby season.

SEVENS SPOTLIGHT: BlitzBok flyer Siviwe Soyizwapi debut visit to the New Zealand Sevens in Wellington was an emotional one, as the team were crowned the tournament champions.

NEWS: Disgraced fullback Karmichael Hunt was Monday given a chance to revive a rugby career overshadowed by a drug scandal.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After the compelling pool stage, the European Champions Cup quarter-final fixtures have been confirmed.

TRANSFER FOCUS: With Wales international Rhys Priestland heading for the exit door, Premiership club Bath have set their sights in All Black flyhalf.

INJURY UPDATE: England boss Eddie Jones suffered further pre-Six Nations injury scares as Wasps’ Champions Cup campaign ended with a 37-19 defeat against Leinster.

NEWS: Bath confirmed the signing of Josh McNally, who will join the club ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Defending champions Leinster Rugby will have a home Champions Cup quarter-final after defeating Wasps 37-19 at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday.

Italy got their Six Nations preparations underway at their Giulio Onesti base in Rome on Sunday amid media reports in France that Racing 92 pair Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers have been approached about replacing Conor O'Shea as boss at the end of this year's World Cup in Japan.

LISTEN as Sharks coach Robert du Preez talks about the 2019 season and why they must finally end their Super Rugby drought.

TRANSFER NEWS: Exeter Chiefs have announced that England internationals Jack Nowell, Henry Slade and Luke Cowan-Dickie have all signed new two-year deals at Sandy Park.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Flyhalf Joey Carbery kicked all nine points in Munster’s compelling victory over Exeter Chiefs to send the Limerick-based club into the Champions Cup quarterfinals for the 18th time.

WATCH: South African derbies are not faint of heart, as this rabid brawl between the Southern Kings and the Cheetahs in a Pro14 encounter at the weekend proves.

NEWS: England coach Eddie Jones is “cautiously optimistic” of Owen Farrell's chance of being fit for the Six Nations opener against Ireland.

NEWS: Springbok flyhalf Pat Lambie is retiring from rugby with immediate effect.

NEWS: England star in a race against time to be fit for England's clash against Ireland.

Taking part is the most important aspect of Italian participation in the Six Nations.

WATCH as Rosko Shane Specman speaks about the next chapter in his illustrious career, which has seen him win back-to-back Sevens World Series titles.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Toulouse will play domestic rivals Racing 92 in the quarter-finals after edging past Bath Rugby in a hard-fought encounter, defeating the English side 20-17 at the Stade Ernest-Wallon.

NEWS: Wallabies star Kurtley Beale has avoided sanction from Rugby Australia for his presence in two leaked videos appearing to involve drugs.

CHAMPIONS CUP MATCH REPORT: Toulon ended their campaign on a high with a 27-24 success at Newcastle Falcons in an entertaining Pool Five encounter at Kingston Park.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Saracens will have a Champions Cup home quarterfinal after a 38-19 win over Glasgow Warriors at Allianz Park on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Eddie Jones has admitted spying on the opposition still happens in rugby union.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Castres Olympique rounded off their Champions Cup campaign with a 24-22 comeback victory over Gloucester after a late Ma’ama Vaipulu try.

CRUNCH TIME: Stars of the global game head into an intense final weekend of the pool stages with seven coveted quarter-final places, as well as home venue advantage, still up for grabs.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Racing 92 have secured a home quarterfinal after last season’s finalists topped Pool Four with an entertaining victory over Scarlets, defeating the Welsh region 46-33 at Paris La Defense Arena.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: New Hurricanes assistant coach Carlos Spencer could not think of a better venue for his first game with his new franchise than his old home town of Levin.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Ulster battled from 13 points behind to earn a 14-13 win against Leicester Tigers on Saturday and earn a Champions Cup quarterfinal spot in the process.

REACTION: England coach Eddie Jones believes captain Owen Farrell is "maturing at a good rate" heading into the Six Nations.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Cardiff Blues secured a superb home and away double over Lyon in the Champions Cup after their 33-14 triumph at Cardiff Arms Park in Pool Three.

NEWS: Tom Banks has committed his future to the Brumbies and Australian rugby by signing a contract extension through to the end of 2022.

NEWS: Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend will be a worried man ahead of this year's Six Nations tournament.

This is the last round of pool matches for European Professional Club Rugby's Champions Cup, the Challenge Cup and the Continental Shield There is then an abeyance to March when the knock-out matches start - after the Six Nations has been completed.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: England head coach Eddie Jones has named a 35-man squad to begin preparations to play Ireland in their opening Six Nations match in Dublin on February 2.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Replacement prop Luan de Bruin went from villain to her, as he scored the winning try in a 24-17 win for the Cheetahs over the Southern Kings.

NEWS: Seasoned Springbok flyhalf Pat Lambie looks set to call it a day, as he continues to struggle with concussion symptoms.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Some much-needed experience returns to the BlitzBoks squad

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Edinburgh ended a seven-year drought in Europe, when they secured a home quarterfinal.

Of the Six Nations countries, Scotland has the smallest number of players to choose from, but you will never hear that as any excuse from them as the flower of Scotland's rugby does battle in Europe.

South Africa's top players - wearing their new Marvel-inspired jerseys - will be on display at the Cape Town Stadium on February 3.

TRANSFER NEWS: English club Wasps have signed another All Black.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Micheal Cheika is the perfect mentor to guide Australia's World Cup campaign as far as Will Genia is concerned.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland coach Joe Schmidt on Wednesday showed his hand in what will be his last Six Nations championship.

The exciting Six Nations is just weeks away, and all of France will be hoping for something better.

THE RUGBY POD: Watch as Andy Goode & Jim Hamilton get stuck into the non-selection of Alex Goode.

WATCH as Munster coach Johann van Graan plays down his role in Munster's improved European form.

ROUND 11 CATCH-UP MATCH: The first of three South African derby matches takes place this week as the Southern Kings and the Cheetahs catch up on their Pro14 schedule.

In the first edition for 2019, @King365ed & @LoffieEloff debate the merits of resting players during @SuperRugby in a World Cup year.

NEWS: Former club player and forwards coach Fabrice Landreau was on Thursday name sporting director of Stade Francais, the Top 14 side announced.

NEWS: Sharks coach Robert du Preez has revealed the team's new captain for the 2019 Super Rugby season

REACTION: Coach Gregor Townsend believes Scotland can challenge for the Six Nations crown, despite an extensive injury list containing 19 internationals.

OPINION: The penultimate round of the Champions Cup pool stage didn’t bring too many shocks, but it did bring plenty of absorbing and compelling rugby.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wasps have confirmed that talented New Zealand centre Malakai Fekitoa will join the Premiership side from French giants Toulon.

TRANSFER NEWS: Munster Rugby confirmed that flyhalf Ian Keatley will depart the province for Italian PRO14 side Benetton Rugby at the end of the season.

CHAMPIONS CUP SPOTLIGHT: The sixth and final round of pool matches in the 2018/2019 European Champions Cup will take place this weekend.

WORLD CUP 2019 SPOTLIGHT: With the final countdown to this year's Rugby World Cup in Japan well underway, organisers are focusing their efforts on contingency planning in the notorious earthquake and typhoon-prone country.

PRO14 SPOTLIGHT: Two talented scrumhalves, for many years on the periphery of national selection, will take centre stage in Port Elizabeth on Friday.

INJURY UPDATE: Ireland will have to readjust their halfback options for the Six Nations.

WATCH as veteran hooker Schalk Brits talks about the administrative blunder that saw the Stormers lose out on his services.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wasps have confirmed that two of their key players will be leaving the club at the end of the season

When you think of free-flowing, 'French Flair', it’s fair to say that most people associate this with the Top 14, rather than the second tier ProD2 competition.

TRANSFER FOCUS: Former All Black centre Malakai Fekitoa is rumoured to be heading to the Premiership side Wasps.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Head Coach Gregor Townsend named seven uncapped players in a 39-man Scotland squad for the 2019 Six Nations.

TRANSFER NEWS: Connacht Rugby have announced the signing of prop Paddy McAllister from English Premiership side Gloucester.

OPINION: Jan de Koning looks at one of the key reasons for Munster's demolition of Gloucester in the battle of the South African coaches.

The extraordinary life of Wilf Rosenberg was ended by a stroke on Monday, 14 January 2019. He was 84.

TRANSFER NEWS: The next wave of an exodus from the Southern Kings is about to get underway.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Australia are working relentlessly to rewrite their dismal 2018 season ahead of the World Cup 2019.

SPOTLIGHT: Geoff Parling - a member of the last England team to beat the All Blacks - believes that opponents need to stop treating the New Zealand national side as if they are different, despite their history.

SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365com's acclaimed writer Paul Dobson looks at the Welsh prospects ahead of the 2019 Six Nations - a World Cup year.

REACTION: Ireland international Simon Zebo was the target of "racist insults" during Racing 92's European Cup match against Ulster in Belfast.

INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls will start their 2019 Super Rugby campaign with a number of players on the long-term injury list.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The All Blacks coaching options are shrinking day by day.

INJURY UPDATE: Wales' Six Nations preparation has been overshadowed with constant injuries worries.

TRANSFER NEWS: Sinoti Sinoti will be thrilling Newcastle Falcons fans next season - the hot-stepping wing agreeing on a contract extension to remain with the Kingston Park club.

INJURY UPDATE: The Southern Kings received some timely good news, ahead of their derby match with the Cheetahs.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Former Bulls centre Dewey Swartbooi has been appointed head coach of the University of Johannesburg Varsity Cup team.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Reds will need to show a lot more resolve in 2019, if they are to shed their also-rans tag.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England second-tier clubs are exploring the prospect to join PRo14, according to reports.

REACTION: Wallabies utility back Kurtley Beale has apologised to Rugby Australia following his involvement in a leaked video which features an older man snorting an unknown white substance.

NEWS: Samoa have suffered a massive setback following the High-Performance General Manager Zane Hilton's resignation.

MATCH REPORT: Saracens guaranteed a spot in the quarter-finals after comfortably dispatching Lyon 28-10 to remain the only side in the Champions Cup with an unbeaten record this season.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Premiership front-runners Exeter Chiefs kept their Champions Cup hopes alive after a 34-12 bonus point win over Castres Olympique at Sandy Park on Sunday.

NEWS: Experienced Georgian prop Zurabi Zhvania extended his present contract with English Premiership side Wasps for another season.

MATCH REPORT: Glasgow Warriors took a giant leap towards the Champions Cup quarter-finals with a 33-24 bonus-point win over Cardiff Blues at Scotstoun on Sunday.

WATCH a collection of the best tries from Round Five of the Champions Cup at the weekend!

SPOTLIGHT: What is it about Gerbrandt Grobler and whispers? A UK newspaper interview last August resulted in him branding Ireland as 'unfortunately a small place and a lot of people talk’.

CHAMPIONS CUP REACTION: Gloucester coach Johan Ackermann is looking to 'freshen up' his team, following their embarrassing 15-41 loss to a fired-up Munster on Friday.

TRANSFER NEWS: London Irish’s rebuild ahead of their potential re-entry into the Premiership took a step forward this week as they secured the services of yet another international forward.

INJURY UPDATE: Wales head coach Warren Gatland faces a massive selection problem ahead of their Six Nations campaign.

WATCH as veteran hooker Schalk Brits opens up on his expectations for the 2019 season, which includes the World Cup in Japan later this year.

NEWS: Former Wales prop Ceri Jones has been appointed Dragons Head Coach until the end of the current 2018/19 season.

SPOTLIGHT: rugby365's law guru Paul Dobson looks at the job of a referee, who must 'apply' the game's laws.

NEWS: Fiji, the reigning Olympic sevens champions, have been rocked by off-the-field problems in the build-up to the Hamilton and Sydney legs of the World Sevens Series.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Montpellier claimed a try-scoring bonus-point victory (45-8) against Newcastle Falcons on Saturday.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Defending champions Leinster put down a big marker with a bonus-point 29-13 win over Toulouse on Saturday.

TRANSFER SPOTLIGHT: Wasps have confirmed that Matt Mullan has left the club with immediate effect and by mutual consent.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Scarlets put on a wonderful display of attacking rugby to dispatch Leicester Tigers 33-10 at the Parc y Scarlets and claim their first win this season.

INJURY UPDATE: England have been forced to undergo their Six Nations campaign without Bath flank Sam Underhill.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Edinburgh regained top spot in Pool Five as they beat RC Toulon 28-17 at Stade Felix-Mayol on Saturday.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Ulster made it a three-peat for Irish provinces in the crucial Round Five.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Bath edged out their English rivals Wasps in a back-and-forth encounter at The Recreation Ground, triumphing 18-16 in Pool One, courtesy of a late Rhys Priestland penalty.

REACTION: Officials reacted with shock at the announcement that one of the most respected members of the Hurricanes squad and a one-time all black has joined the European exodus.

CONTRACT NEWS: The Hurricanes today announced contract extensions for a pair of promising youngsters, who have committed their immediate playing futures to the Wellington-based franchise.

CHALLENGE CUP WRAP: La Rochelle stunned Zebre with an exceptional second-half showing to book their place in the quarterfinals.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ireland scrumhalf Conor Murray revealed he was deeply ‘hurt’ by rumours that he’d failed a drugs test.

TRANSFER NEWS: Another promising South African lock has decided to take up residency abroad.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Ireland flyhalf Joey Carbery's impressive performance guided Munster to a comfortable 41-15 bonus-point win over Gloucester at the Kingsholm Stadium.

REACTION: The ugly side of social media came to fore this week in the wake of Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi's comments on transformation.

OPINION: There will be much fanfare when the Southern Kings' new owners are confirmed later this month.

HEAVYWEIGHT CLASHES: The two most successful clubs in European history go head-to-head, with Pool One supremacy and eventual qualification for the knockout stage on the line.

WATCH as the Bulls speak out about their new captain, Springbok lock Lodewyk de Jager, as the 2019 Super Rugby season looms.

TRANSFER NEWS: Northampton Saints have confirmed that All Blacks centre Matt Proctor will join the Club from Super Rugby franchise Hurricanes.

PRO14 SPOTLIGHT: While the focus shifts to the Champions Cup in Europe for the next fortnight, the two South African franchises head into a crucial period that includes two domestic derbies.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Of course, England's chances are excellent.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Not only will All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen depart from the national side, but most of his senior players have revealed their post-World Cup aspirations.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Lions, losing finalists for the past three years, have started the process of replacing the rash of departed Springboks.

TRANSFER NEWS: Any teams in the market for a seasoned prop? There is a 28-year-old front row forward, with 80-odd first-class games to his credit, looking for a job.

CHAMPIONS CUP SPOTLIGHT: Alex Shaw looks at the renaissance of French giants Toulouse, ahead of the final rounds of league action.

CHAMPIONS CUP SPOTLIGHT: Leinster's senior coach Stuart Lancaster has labelled Toulouse the 'best counter-attacking team' they've played against, delivering high-praise to the first team to beat Leinster in Europe since April 2017.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The South African contingent in the Frech team increased with the announcement of their Six Nations squad.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: The hapless Southern Kings will head into a crucial three-week period without the services of a key player.

Eddie Jones’s controversially tough England training sessions meant players were five times more likely to sustain injuries on international duty than with their clubs last season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England star Billy Vunipola has revealed that he was scared when returning to action for Saracens following a three-month hiatus after breaking his arm for the third time.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Like father, like son. Romain Ntamack is following in the footsteps of his dad, Emile, a 46-time international, by being called up to the France squad for the Six Nations.

TRANSFER NEWS: Ireland international lock Ultan Dillane has committed his future to Connacht by signing a two-year contract extension that will keep him at the Sportsground up to the end of the 2020/21 season.

TRANSFER NEWS: Griquas' 2019 campaign got off to a bumpy start. They have lost the services of a Springbok before he even joined their backroom staff.

SCHOOLS SPOTLIGHT: One of South Africa's top school Paarl Boys' High have been accused of unethical recruitment practices.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Northampton Saints scrumhalf Cobus Reinach's brilliant performance has made sure he was named the English Premiership Player of the Month for December 2018.

TRANSFER NEWS: South African-born Shane Gates has become the latest player to fulfil his ambition of playing Super Rugby.

SQAUD ANNOUNCEMENT: Former England Under-20 back-row David Sisi could earn his first cap for Italy after being called up in coach Conor O'Shea's 31-man preliminary training squad for the Six Nations.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Bath will be without one of their key players when they resume their European campaign against Wasps in Pool One match at the Recreation Ground on Saturday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wales flyhalf Rhys Priestland will leave Bath at the end of the season, the English Premiership club announced.

INJURY UPDATE: Wales's fullback Leigh Halfpenny is likely to miss the start of the Six Nations due to an ongoing battle with concussion, his Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac confirmed.

European action is back in the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup. It is the penultimate round of pool play.

RugbyPass columnist Ben Smith looks into the reasons behind Sale Sharks' meteoric rise in the past month.

TRANSFER NEWS: Worcester Warriors fullback Chris Pennell has extended his Sixways career by two more years having become the 12th member of the current squad to sign a new contract.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ben Smith takes a look at the combined threat of the Vunipola brothers, Mako and Billy.

Happy New Year! We wish a wonderful 2019 to all referees and all those who have anything to do with them, including the kind people who send us the appointments each week.

NEWS: Kenya's participation in the next few legs of the Sevens World Series is in doubt over a player strike.

TRANSFER NEWS: A Leicester Tigers back row forward has been spotted at Harlequins’ training ground, adding to speculation that he is set to join the London club next season.

After a sensational season in 2018, for both the Springboks and the Lions, wing Aphiwe Dyantyi won Breakthrough Player of the Year at the World Rugby Awards in Monaco.

TRANSFER NEWS: Samoan international Alapati Leiua signed a two-year contract extension with Premiership side Bristol Bears.

TRANSFER NEWS: Ireland utility back Ian Keatley has become the latest player on his way out of Munster.

CHAMPIONS CUP ROUND FIVE: Two candidates for the Springbok coaching job, when Rassie Erasmus steps down in 2020, will go head-to-head in a crunch match this week.

OPINION: The headline result of Round 12 in the Premiership saw Sale Sharks force their way into playoff contention with a 24-18 win over Saracens at the AJ Bell, with the reigning champions well-beaten in the north-west.

A huge tree in South African Rugby rugby has fallen. Johan Claassen died in Pretoria on Sunday at the age of 89. There is scarcely an aspect of rugby in South Africa that he did not contribute greatly to.

NEWS: Leicester head coach Geordan Murphy has his sights set on bringing a few new faces to his club in the near future.

INJURY UPDATE: Sharks loose forward Jean-Luc du Preez will return to South Africa after sustaining an injury during his short stint at English club Sale Sharks.

WATCH as Siyamthanda Kolisi, the first black player to captain the Springboks, expresses some strong views on 'quotas' and transformation.

TRANSFER NEWS: Sale Sharks have announced the signing of Jake Cooper-Woolley from fellow Premiership Rugby club Wasps.

TRANSFER NEWS: Los Pumas wing Santiago Cordero is set to move to French side Bordeaux Begles.

NEWS: Following the announcement of Pote Human as Bulls head coach a few weeks ago, the Blue Bulls Company have unveiled their new captain and coaching team for the 2019 season.

NEWS: With Steve Hansen's departure as New Zealand head coach following the World Cup 2019 many names have been linked with the role.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Joe Launchbury lead his side to a much-needed 27-16 victory on his return from injury against Northampton Saints at the Ricoh Arena.

INJURY UPDATE: A knee injury will sideline New Zealand centre Malakai Fekitoa for six weeks, struggling Top 14 outfit Toulon said on Monday.

PRO14 REPORT: The Cheetahs scored five tries on their way to a 27-12 win against Zebre in Italy.

NEWS: French rugby was left mourning the death of a 23-year-old student on Monday.

TOP 14 REPORT: Scottish scrumhalf Greg Laidlaw claimed 18 points as French Top 14 leaders Clermont ended La Rochelle's run of seven straight wins with a five-try, 44-19 victory on Sunday.

NEWS: Cardiff Blues confirmed that Welsh legend Gareth Edwards has stood down as a Director of the company following 22 years of service.

Francois de Klerk is only 172cm and weighs 87kg, which tells it’s own story.

OPINION: Andy Goode has gone on record about how much he doesn’t like Dave Ward.

Siya Kolisi may be the first black player to captain the Springboks, but he has some strong views on 'quotas' and transformation.

MATCH REPORT: Joey Carbery guided Munster to a 31-24 victory over Connacht and top spot in Conference A of the PRO14 after a pulsating encounter at the Sportsground.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Northampton Saints coach Chris Boyd is eyeing a few big names to bolster his squad.

WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN: Japan's biggest and most important match at the 2019 World Cup will probably be against Scotland.

Ireland are the reigning Six Nations Champions and would go into the 2019 championship as favourites.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ireland legend Paul O'Connell is finding his feet as a coach in France

INJURY UPDATE: Wales second row Adam Beard is a Six Nations doubt after leaving today’s Ospreys Cardiff Blues derby on a stretcher.

PREMIERSHIP MATCH REPORT: Robert Du Preez kicked 14 points to help power Sale Sharks into the Premiership Rugby top four with a victory over Saracens.

MATCH REPORT: A Sam Hidalgo-Clyne try ensured Scarlets secured their first win in five matches in all competitions as their stunning run of form against Welsh rivals Dragons continued.

MATCH REPORT: Mike Brown enjoyed a day to remember as Harlequins claimed a 38-17 bonus-point win on the road at Newcastle Falcons and the fullback broke the club’s all-time appearance record.

TOP 14, SATURDAY WRAP: Pau secured their first league win since October despite forwards coach Carl Hayman's suspension after an altercation with members of his squad at the start of the week.

ANALYSIS: Big signings always bring big expectations, however unrealistic they can be.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The fine line between winning and losing can boil down to confidence.

PREMIERSHIP MATCH REPORT: Jonny May scored twice against his former club as Leicester Tigers reignited their Premiership Rugby top-four push with a resounding bonus-point 34-16 win against Gloucester Rugby.

TRANSFER NEWS: Glasgow Warriors head coach Dave Rennie has agreed on a one-year contract extension at the club.

MATCH REPORT: Southern Kings' dismal Pro14 campaign has been amplified with a 0-38 defeat to Edinburgh at Murrayfield.

PREMIERSHIP MATCH REPORT: Sean Lonsdale’s first Premiership Rugby sent Exeter Chiefs back to the top of the table as they edged past Bristol Bears with a 14-9 win at Sandy Park.

NEWS: England’s Man of the Series during the recent November internationals decides long-term future.

INJURY UPDATE: Wales star Leigh Halfpenny has been sidelined for almost two months.

MATCH REPORT: First-half tries from Scott Williams and George North handed the Ospreys a 20-11 victory over Cardiff Blues in the PRO14 at the Liberty Stadium.

MATCH REPORT: Four first-half tries, including two for Sean Cronin, and a staunch second-half defensive display ensured Leinster took maximum points with a 40-7 PRO14 win over Ulster.

MATCH REPORT: Dean Budd’s first-half double inspired Benetton to a 20-17 victory over Glasgow Warriors to back up their form with a fourth win on the trot.

MATCH REPORT: Bryce Heem crossed for a dramatic double after 18 minutes of added in time in one of the most sensational games in the history of Premiership Rugby

In Queen Elizabeth II's 2019 honours list Billy Beaumont, rugby player and administrator, has been knighted and is now Sir Bill Beaumont.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: South African teams back in action after Pro14 break.

NEWS: Cardiff Blues have confirmed that back rower Samu Manoa has left the region with immediate effect on compassionate grounds.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: John Mitchell has already made a 'big impact' on the England squad ahead of next year's World Cup says England lock George Kruis.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Gloucester lock Tom Savage has picked up a suspension following an RFU Disciplinary hearing.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Round 12 of Premiership Rugby – the last before the European and Premiership Rugby Cup break – the League table couldn’t be tighter.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: A 25-man Southern Kings playing squad departs for Edinburgh on Wednesday for their first Pro14 match of 2019.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Leinster wing James Lowe faced the music on Thursday.

OPINION: Round 11 marked the final weekend of Premiership action of 2018 and it’s fair to say that the competition signed off in style for the calendar year.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Cheetahs will be facing Zebre in Round 13 of the Pro14 Championship in their first match of the New Year on Sunday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Saracens have announced that hooker Joe Gray has extended his stay at the club for another season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Southern Kings head coach Deon Davids named his matchday squad of 23 on Friday for the side’s opening Pro14 match for 2019.

TRANSFER NEWS: Former Maori All Black flank Luke Braid has left Bordeaux-Begles six months before his contract was up for personal reasons, the Top 14 club announced.

NEWS: Clermont have snapped up English lock George Merrick from Harlequins for next season, the Top 14 leaders announced Friday.

John Thornett, a great leader of men and a great rugby gentleman, has died at a nursing home in Batemans Bay, some 300km south of Sydney, at the age of 83. He had long been ill.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Questions have been raised over Johnny Sexton's leadership after Leinster's 17-26 loss to Munster in Limerick.

PREVIEW: Third-placed La Rochelle head to leaders Clermont on Sunday looking for their first ever win at Stade Marcel Michelin in more than 60 years of matches in the pick of this weekend's Top 14 action.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Harlequins hooker Dave Ward could face a lengthy ban after allegedly spitting on a Wasps player during Saturday’s Premiership game at Twickenham.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England will be hoping to have a fully fit Billy Vunipola by the time the World Cup comes around in 2019.

NEWS: Bath confirmed it has agreed the release of Darren Allinson from his current contract with immediate effect.

NEWS: Scotland international prop Murray McCallum has put pen to paper on a two-year contract extension, keeping him at Edinburgh until at least 2021.

NEWS: Premiership club Sale Sharks announced that openside flank Tom Curry has signed a contract extension which will keep him in the North West until 2023.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: The PRO14 have decided to cite just one player after Munster and Leinster derby which saw a red card and two yellow cards issued by referee Frank Murphy.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: New faces in Jaguares squad for 2019 Super Rugby season.

VIDEO: Despite losing to South Africa Ireland this year, the All Blacks' superiority has not faded.

In this age when sporting seasons disappear, the all-rounder has also disappeared, his life gobbled by the year-long demands of one, professional sport. The all-rounder belonged to the innocent enthusiasm of the amateur.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Dragons earned a tense 23-22 win over Ospreys, snapping a streak of over four years without a win against their Welsh provincial rivals.

TRANSFER NEWS: Sale Sharks secured the services of World Player of the Year nominee Faf De Klerk until 2023.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The year delivered some interesting events which had some supporters in tears and others celebrating well into the early hours.

INJURY UPDATE: Ospreys forwards Nicky Smith and Dan Lydiate are injury doubts for the start of Wales' Six Nations campaign.

TOP 14 WRAP: South African flank Jacques du Plessis produced a second-half double as Montpellier snapped a two-game losing streak with a 41-13 win over Pau.

INJURY UPDATE: England were left facing an anxious wait to discover the full extent of an ankle injury suffered by Sam Underhill while the forward was playing for club side Bath on Sunday.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Harlequins staved off a second-half fightback from Wasps to taste a 20-13 victory in the Premiership Big Game 11 at Twickenham Stadium.

PRO14 REPORT: Rey Lee-Lo scored two tries as Cardiff Blues ended Scarlets’ 27-month unbeaten home record in the Pro14 with a memorable 34-5 derby-day victory.

PRO14 REPORT: A rampant Munster side handed defending Pro14 champions Leinster only their second defeat of the season as they claimed a dramatic 26-17 interprovincial derby win.

REACTION: Sale Sharks Director of Rugby has reportedly been involved in an altercation with a journalist following his side’s 30-15 away win over Gloucester in the Premiership.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Sale Sharks bared their teeth as they overcame Gloucester 30-15 at Kingsholm with a scintillating attacking display to make it back-to-back Premiership wins.

MATCH REPORT: Bath Rugby overcame an early Leicester Tigers try to run out 23-16 winners in a hard-fought encounter at the Rec.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Double defending champions New Zealand will head into the 2019 World Cup in Japan as favourites, but Six Nations Grand Slam champions Ireland have proven there are chinks in the All Black armour.

PREMIERSHIP MATCH REPORT: Bristol Bears produced a stunning second-half comeback to defeat Newcastle Falcons in front of more than 18,000 fans at Ashton Gate in the Premiership Rugby.

TRANSFER NEWS: Sale Sharks have confirmed that Josh Beaumont is the latest member of the squad to extend his rugby career in the North West.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk has improved his game in leaps and bounds since leaving the Lions in South Africa for the Sale Sharks in England 18 months ago.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Festive season brings with it a second helping of derby fixtures right across the Pro14 after Round 11 delivered tension and drama throughout the weekend.

TOP 14 PREVIEW: Clermont dip into the basement on Saturday for the points that will guarantee them top spot heading into 2019.

TRANSFER NEWS: New Zealand international Steven Luatua has committed his future to Bristol Bears, the club has revealed.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Saracens avenged their defeat to Exeter Chiefs last weekend with a battling 25-17 win over Worcester Warriors at Allianz Park.

NEWS: Three capped BlitzBoks, Ryan Oosthuizen, James Murphy and Heino Bezuidenhout, have been named in the SA Rugby Sevens Academy team.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: This weekend marks halfway point in the Premiership Rugby league season with another set of bumper crowds heading to watch top-flight rugby in England.

NEWS: Kiwi Wayne Pivac's first tour as Wales coach could not be tougher.

PRO14 REPORT: Stuart McInally scored the crucial try as Edinburgh clinched the 1872 Cup with a hard-fought 16-8 win over Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun.

TRANSFER NEWS: Scott van Breda is the latest player to commit his future to the club by signing a new two-year contract.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Cobus Reinach scored a vital intercept try for the second straight week as he helped Northampton Saints to a 31-28 victory over Premiership leaders Exeter Chiefs.

NEWS: James Fish and George Furbank have committed their futures to Northampton Saints, by putting pen to paper on new deals which will see both players remain at Franklin’s Gardens until 2021.

NEWS: Premiership club Sale Sharks announced that openside flank Ben Curry has signed a contract extension which will keep him in the North West until 2023.

PRO14 REPORT: Tries from Luca Bigi and Federico Ruzza helped Benetton to a powerful 28-10 win over Zebre in the Pro14.

NEWS: This Wales and Ospreys stalwart could not recover from a shoulder injury.

PRO14 REPORT: Caolin Blade’s second-half try helped Connacht continue their impressive recent form with a hard-fought 21-12 Pro14 victory over Ulster at the Sportsground.

TRANSFER NEWS: Sale Sharks have announced that former Bulls flank Jono Ross has re-signed with the club until the end of the 2021-22 Premiership season.

SQUAD UPDATE: Connacht have bolstered their backline stocks for the next few months,

OPINION: There were some excellent performances in Round 10 of the 2018/2019 Premiership Rugby season.

WOLRD CUP SPOTLIGHT: World Rugby and Premiership Rugby's insurance dispute could leave some countries in heaps of trouble ahead of the World Cup 2019 in Japan.

NEWS: The Bulls confirmed this Springbok star will not be joining them for Super Rugby

It's a time of blessings, peace, joy and happy festivities - and also, it seems, a time for rugby, at least in the Six Nations.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Former All Blacks Test lock Ali Williams pays homage to departing head coach Steve Hansen.

WATCH an emotional tribute to Ireland's epic 2018 rugby season.

SIX NATIONS SPOTLIGHT: First there were two. Now there are six.

NEWS: Bristol Bears have beaten off interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs to secure the re-signing of Chris Vui until 2022.

TOP 14 WRAP: Toulouse grabbed a dramatic 20-20 draw at Clermont on Sunday to stay only three points behind the leaders at the Top 14 summit, while reigning champions Castres suffered a second straight home defeat.

NEWS: Glasgow Warriors have been handed a boost ahead of next weekend’s second 1872 Cup fixture at Scotstoun with the news that Scotland international Zander Fagerson has signed a new three-year deal.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Bath picked up an important 24-14 win over Wasps as Freddie Burns shone brightest at a wet and wintery Ricoh Arena.

TRANSFER NEWS: All Black star's move to the Premiership from Toulon is ‘now a certainty’ according to reports coming out of France.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Billy Twelvetrees kicked a late penalty to give Gloucester a hard-fought win at Newcastle Falcons and strengthen their position inside the Premiership's top four.

NEWS: Three more rugby players in New Zealand have been banned for doping.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: World Cup winner Schalk Burger confirmed he is leaving Saracens at the end of the season.

NEWS: Gloucester flyhalf Owen Williams could be in hot water after Newcastle Falcons posted an image which appears to show the Welshman with his fingers in the eye area of a Falcons player.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wasps have managed to secure the signatures of five experienced players for next year's Premiership season.

Exeter ended Saracens unbeaten start to the season to move back top of the Premiership table with a 31-13 win at Sandy Park.

World Cup Rugby is less than a year away, and all the playing nations are eagerly waiting for the event to kick-off in Japan.

PREMIERSHIP MATCH REPORT: Exeter Chiefs laid down a marker as they ended Saracens unbeaten start to the season to move back top of the Premiership Rugby table with a 31-13 win at Sandy Park.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Leinster denied Connacht a first away victory in Dublin since 2002 as Leo Cullen’s men staged a stunning late rally to battle back from 17 points down to win 31-29.

VIDEO: Toulon put in a strong performance to beat Lyon 40-7 on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Rob Du Preez booted Sale Sharks to a crucial 27-10 victory over Bristol Bears at the AJ Bell Stadium as they continued their climb up the Premiership Rugby table.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The French Rugby Federation (FFR) and the French National League (LNR) have proposed to World Rugby to lower the legal height of a tackle to waist level, they announced.

TOP 14 SPOTLIGHT: Just days before the Christmas, the Top14 has managed to provide the rugby community with a tantalising fixture.

REACTION: Pau academy coach James Coughlan has responded to the backlash against rugby following the death of 19-year-old Stade Francais academy player Nicolas Chauvin.

TOP 14 WRAP: After three straight defeats in the Top 14, Stade Francais returned to winning ways on Saturday with a 19-6 win at struggling Agen.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Luke Morgan grabbed the only try of a pulsating derby at the Liberty Stadium as the Ospreys ended Scarlets’ ten-game winning streak against Welsh regions in the PRO14.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Ulster claimed PRO14 bragging rights and moved back to second in Conference B with a bruising victory over rivals Munster at the Kingspan Stadium.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Cobus Reinach’s blistering solo try inspired Northampton Saints to a fine 32-6 victory on the road at Worcester Warriors.

NEWS: Fiji scrumhalf Frank Lomani has turned down an offer to join English club Wasps in the Premiership.

TRANSFER NEWS: Seems like fellow Australian Super Rugby franchises have no problem making space for Brad Thorn's unwanted men.

PRO14 REPORT: Benetton reigned supreme in a close fought Italian derby as Ratuva Tavuyara’s first-half try sealed a memorable 10-8 away victory in Parma.

MATCH REPORT: A Jonah Holmes inspired brace put to bed Leicester Tigers’ worse run since 1975 with an assured 35-24 victory over Harlequins.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Another Kiwi expressed his desire to play for Ireland.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Duhan van der Merwe scored two intercepted tries as Edinburgh beat rivals Glasgow Warriors 23-7 to take home the 1872 Cup.

Originally the Six Nations Championship was for senior men only. But recently it's become less exclusive. The Under-20s have their Six Nations and others like clubs and students enjoy the ride on the bandwagon, and since 1996 there has been a Women's Six Nations as well.

NEWS: Premiership clubs to receive more cash.

World Rugby has announced the Referees for the Americas Rugby Championship in 2019.

THE TOP DOG BATTLE: Premiership Rugby returns this weekend with a mouth-watering top-of-the-table clash as last year’s finalists Saracens and Exeter Chiefs do battle.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After a European break the Pro14 returns with a bang in Round 11 and with derby season beginning it should be a thrilling weekend.

PRO14 MATCH REPORT: Cardiff Blues earned a thrilling inter-pro 19-16 victory over Dragons but that doesn’t tell half the story of the visitors’ rousing 14-man rearguard.

Europe's Championship will end its league fixtures in January 2019, Rounds 5 and 6. After this there come the tense knock-out rounds. Qualification for the quarterfinals is at stake in these matches.

OPINION: Now that we know the Springbok coaching position will be vacant after the 2019 World Cup, it is time to take a look at and analyse possible candidates.

UPDATE: Rory Kockett and Etienne Oosthuizen faced the music on Wednesday.

INJURY UPDATE: England and Gloucester flyhalf Danny Cipriani will be sidelined for a lengthy period.

NEWS: The Cape Town Stadium will host the double-header of Super Rugby pre-season matches featuring all four South African franchises.

TRANSFER RUMOURS: Seems like Racing 92 is not the only candidate that has caught the eye of All Blacks captain Kieran Read.

As Christmas draws nearer, rugby's minds turn more and more to the great happening at Bethlehem many years ago and the joys of being with loved ones in a great loving family around the world. We wish all in rugby and their loved ones a happy and blessed Christmas.

TRANSFER NEWS: Leicester Tigers are set to fill their defence coach vacancy with a former employee of the club who served a six-month ban for gambling on European Champions Cup matches.

TRANSFER NEWS: Glasgow Warriors head coach Dave Rennie has managed to secure the signature of talented Grant Stewart.

World Rugby has announced the appointment of match officials for the Women's Six Nations in 2019. Aimee Barrett-Theron of South Africa will blow the whistle to get it started.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Sale Sharks Director of Rugby Steve Diamond speaks to Chris Jones about the Premiership clubs bold plan to openly target South African player.

TRANSFER NEWS: Another Wallaby will make the move to Europe.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Just over a week ago they were still on the 'wanted' list at the Bulls. Next year Western Province's successful Currie Cup coaching panel will be part of the Stormers set-up.

NEWS: Two former Wales captains will join Wayne Pivac's coaching team after next year's World Cup.

NEWS: Rugby Australia has announced significant changes to the Wallabies coaching set-up.

NEWS: The All Blacks will still have the services of one of their stars after World Cup 2019.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Castres veteran scrumhalf Rory Kockott could be out of the game for a very long time.

The four-time European champions, Toulouse, remain undefeated in Champions Cup pool play after a back-to-back double over Wasps.

VIDEO: All Blacks wing Rieko Ioane was in top form in 2018.

OPINION: With December 25 just around the corner, Paul Dobson took the time to take at significant events on the day!

TRANSFER NEWS: Reds playmaker Duncan Paia'aua is bound for Toulon at the end of 2019.

OPINION: The European Cup headed off into the Christmas break in fine fettle this weekend, as Saracens, Toulouse and Racing 92 all maintained their 100 percent starts to the competition.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With Cape Town Sevens' huge success over the last four years, the City of Cape Town Council is keen to keep the tournament in the Mother City for another three years.

NEWS: Exciting Australian Schoolboys and Under-18 international talent Reesjan Pasitoa has agreed to join the Brumbies in 2020 following the completion of his studies at Nudgee College in Brisbane.

NEWS: English Premiership side Leicester announced the appointment of Geordan Murphy as head coach on a permanent basis on Tuesday despite a poor run of results under his leadership.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ireland captain Rory Best believes Joe Schmidt should be the man to coach the British and Irish Lions in 2021.

INJURY UPDATE: Clermont's All Black Isaia Toeava is expected to be out for six months, the club said on Monday, after injuring his shoulder in the 49-24 European Challenge Cup win over the Dragons at the weekend.

INJURY UPDATE: Ireland will have to readjust their pack following the news of Iain Henderson.

CHAMPIONS CUP REACTION & HIGHLIGHTS: French giants Toulouse afforded themselves a 'smile', but English rivals Saracens were 'grumpy' after both teams remained unbeaten.

NEWS: Duncan Weir has committed his future to Warriors by signing a new two-year contract to remain at Sixways.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: England test prop Ellis Genge has hit out at the English game's “private school mould,” stating that it is stopping the sport from progressing.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: A superb first-half performance ensured Racing 92 stayed top of Pool Four with a resounding 34-11 victory over Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on Sunday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Worcester Warriors captain GJ van Velze has extended his Sixways stay after signing a new two-year contract.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Edinburgh put in a superb second-half display to defeat Newcastle Falcons 21-8 at Kingston Park on Sunday.

NEWS: A familiar face will return to the Super Rugby scene in 2019.

REACTION: New Zealand Rugby Union Chief Executive Steve Tew has confirmed that the search for a new coaching staff won’t commence until after next year’s World Cup.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Castres Olympique blew Pool Two wide open after a dramatic 13-12 victory over Munster at Stade Pierre Fabre on Saturday.

CHAMPIONSHIP CUP REPORT: Reigning champions Leinster set up a mouth-watering Round Five clash against Toulouse.

NEWS: South Africa will have an ideal opportunity to fine-tune their preparations for next year's World Cup in Japan.

REACTION: Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has signalled his interest in the All Blacks head coaching job.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Glasgow Warriors' hopes are still alive after a 21-10 win over Lyon at Scotstoun Stadium on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Teams at the World Cup could be facing a major problem when it comes to preparation, after an insurance wrangle between the Premiership Rugby Limited and World Rugby.

REACTION: The gloves will come off in the wake of revelations that seasoned Springbok Eben Etzebeth has been courted by French club Toulon.

COACHING SPOTLIGHT: In an era when many former internationals are racing to get high-profile coaching positions, finding a Springbok helping out at school and club level is a rarity.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Two-time former champions Saracens maintained their 100 percent record and cemented top spot in Pool Three.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Toulouse claimed a 42-27 bonus-point victory over Wasps at Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse, on Saturday and remain top of Pool One.

NEWS: Wallabies assistant coach Stephen Larkham appears to be on the outer, as Rugby Australia consider changes to the national coaching setup.

REPORT: All Black legend Dan Carter slotted five conversions and one penalty as his Kobelco Steelers crushed the Suntory Sungoliath 55-5 to grab the Japan Rugby Top League crown on Saturday.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Steve Hansen has confirmed he will bring an end to his hugely successful reign as New Zealand coach, following next year's World Cup in Japan.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wallaby Israel Folau's younger brother John will join his superstar sibling at the Waratahs next season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: When next year’s World Cup comes to a conclusion, so too will Steve Hansen’s current contract as All Blacks coach.

WATCH as the Stormers unveil the jersey they hope to "blow the opposition away" with in 2019.

NEWS: European Professional Club Rugby are launching a review of events which led to the cancellation on Saturday of the Challenge Cup match between Romanian side Timisoara Saracens and visitors Northampton.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Exeter Chiefs put a massive dent in Gloucester's play-off hopes with a bonus-point 29-17 win a Kingsholm Stadium on Friday.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Ulster kept the pressure on Racing 92 in Pool Four, with a commanding bonus point win over Scarlets.

WATCH as All Black coach Steve reveals his future plans ... post World Cup 2019.

SPOTLIGHT: Michael Cheika will survive the axe as Wallaby coach, but his powers will be curtailed.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Francois de Klerk started this year exiled from the Test arena, but will head into 2019 as one of South Africa's most important weapons as they bid for World Cup glory in Japan.

WATCH as the Bulls' new Director of Rugby, Alan Zondagh, explains how he will cure the ills that have plagued the franchise in recent years.

CRUNCH TIME: Former champions Toulouse, Saracens and last season's runners-up Racing 92 can all clinch qualification for the quarterfinals with fourth-round wins this weekend.

SPOTLIGHT: Former Wallabies flanker George Smith has stated his desire to continue playing despite his advanced age.

TRANSFER RUMOURS: As we approach January 1, when Premiership players can officially put pen to paper with a rival club from the same competition, more and more deals are getting closer to completion.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks have found a special way to honour one of the true legends of the game - Tendai Mtawarira.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: There is a belief that it is New Zealand who steals players galore from the (other) islands and that they wouldn't be nearly as good otherwise.

TRANSFER NEWS: The rumours proved to be true. Another All Black will be heading to France for a European swansong.

SPOTLIGHT: Ben Smith take a look at the options available to All Black Beauden Barrett when he takes a sabbatical.

REACTION: Professional clubs across Europe will pay tribute this weekend to Nicolas Chauvin, the young Stade Francais player who died after breaking his neck in a youth match last Sunday.

INJURY UPDATE: France internationals Rabah Slimani and Alivereti Raka risk missing Les Bleus' Six Nations campaign after suffering injuries with Clermont that will sideline them for "several months".

TRANSFER NEWS: An All Black and a Springbok have joined the growing exodus to Europe.

As Christmas gets closer, club rugby continues to rule. In the case of EPCR rugby, it is club rugby of the highest calibre.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus sat down with Matthew Pearce to discuss all the trials and tribulations of his first season at the helm of the Boks.

NEWS: Malcolm Marx, who on Tuesday was named the Players' Player of the Year at the annual 'Choice Awards', is in line for yet another accolade.

REACTION: Victor Matfield took on and overcame some tough hurdles in his playing career, but the 'high-risk environment' of coaching was too much to stomach for the Springbok legend.

NEWS: Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt turned down the opportunity to become part of the All Blacks coaching team last year.

NEWS UPDATE: The next few days will be critical to the survival of retired Springbok Naka Drotské.

WATCH as Wallaby legend David Pocock gives a concerning update about his ongoing neck injury.

NEWS: The Dragons have announced that Bernard Jackman will leave his post at the region with immediate effect.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: Springbok second row Franco Mostert will make his first start for Gloucester on Friday.

This is Hans Saestad's 10th book and it may just be his best, as he continues to make a marvellous contribution to South Africa's rugby literature.

On The Rugby Pod this week, the issue of players asking for more money in their new contracts was a hot topic.

SPOTLIGHT: From trick plays to dodgy DJs to crossbar challenge contest.

NEWS: The former Eastern Province Rugby Union President Cheeky Watson has pleaded 'not guilty' to charges of fraud and money laundering in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday.

REACTION: The surge of sentiment to get rid of Michael Cheika as Australian coach is gathering momentum.

REACTION: All four South Africa’s four Super Rugby teams will get support from the Rassie Erasmus and his Springbok coaching team in the 2019 season.

NEWS: Premiership Rugby chairman Ian Ritchie on Tuesday insisted his organisation remain on track to complete a multi-million-pound investment deal that will change the face of Rugby Union.

NEWS: The final piece of the Reds 2019 coaching puzzle has been added.

NEWS: The Irish Rugby Football Union has managed to lock one of its key assets into a long-term contract.

EURO SPOTLIGHT: This past weekend brought the Champions Cup to the halfway mark of the pool stage and helped dispel plenty of pre-tournament predictions on who might make the knockout rounds.

NEWS: A French teenager has passed away after suffering a heart attack while playing rugby at the weekend.

AWARDS: South Africa's players have revealed who they rate as the best in the country.

BREAKING NEWS: The Bulls have officially unveiled their new Super Rugby coach for 2019.

INJURY UPDATE: Two of South Africa's key players are in a race against time to be fit for the New Zealand leg of the Sevens World Series.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A collaborative anti-doping education meeting involving the key stakeholders in South Africa was held on Monday - at Newlands, Cape Town.

NEWS: Five players have been banned, after a New Zealand Rugby Judicial Committee completed the latest anti-doping hearings of allegations brought by Drug Free Sport New Zealand.

WATCH: The story of the Cape Town Sevens in sixty seconds. What a show!

OPINION: Alex Shaw brings us the best from the past weekend's Champions Cup games!

TRANSFER NEWS: The steady stream of All Blacks heading for the exit door is not dissipating.

Ben Smith takes an analytical look at the changes Ireland made to the defensive structures that allowed them to beat New Zealand.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Rassie Erasmus is busy preparing the way for a replacement to take over from him as Springbok coach after the World Cup in Japan next year.

REACTION: Stuart Lancaster has finally answered the speculation surrounding his future.

NEWS: Rugby Australia Chairman Cameron Clyne on Monday addressed the media in a somewhat farcical press conference.

NEWS: There appears to be no shortage of candidate to replace Eddie Jones as England coach.

NEWS: A French teenager is in a serious condition in intensive care after suffering a heart attack while playing rugby at the weekend.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Rassie Erasmus is busy preparing the way for a replacement to take over from him as Springbok coach after the World Cup in Japan next year.

SPOTLIGHT: The steady stream of players heading for the exit door has painted a picture of Europe being the proverbial 'pot of gold' at the end of the rainbow.

NEWS: A marquee player system similar to the one operating in the English Premiership is being considered across the Channel in France.

INJURY UPDATE: South Africa paid a dear price for their improved performance in the Cape Town leg of the Sevens World Series.

NEWS: Reports that Reds wing Izaia Perese is set for a shocking code switch, after linking up with the Brisbane Broncos, have been confirmed.

NEWS: The South African Rugby Players' Association has a new President.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Reds have added firepower to their backline ahead of the 2019 Super Rugby season.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Racing 92 sit top of Pool Four after a pulsating 36-26 bonus-point victory over Leicester Tigers in Paris.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Munster put in a battling performance against a stubborn Castres Olympique side to win 30-5 at Thomond Park on Sunday.

FINAL WRAP: Fiji beat the United States 29-15 in the Cup Final and secure their first World Sevens Series victory in South Africa since 2009.

REACTION: Legendary All Blacks loose forward Wayne Shelford has set the bar for talented Blues number eight Akira Ioane.

INJURY UPDATE: Wasps’ injury problems have worsened after Nathan Hughes was removed from the field just 19 minutes into his side’s crunch clash with Toulouse at the Ricoh Arena.

REACTION: The Bulls will know on Monday where they stand with Springbok legend Victor Matfield, in the protracted coaching saga.

NEWS: Reports out of France claim that All Black captain Kieran Read is close to agreeing on a seven-month contract to play with Top 14 club Racing 92 after next year’s World Cup.

REACTION: All Black Jerome Kaino has come out in support for his former school, following heated debate surrounding player poaching in the schoolboy game.

COACHING SPOTLIGHT: Reports that Victor Matfield will soon be unveiled as the new coach of the Bulls ahead for the 2019 Super Rugby season appear to be premature.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: In a repeat of the 2004 Final, undefeated Toulouse beat Wasps 24-16 on Saturday to remain on course for a quarterfinal spot and all but knock the English club out.

WATCH as we bring you all the #VIDEO highlights from Round Three of the European Champions Cup.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Four-time European champions Leinster beat Pool One rivals Bath 17-10 after a hard-fought battle at The Recreation Ground on Saturday.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Gloucester put in a terrific second half performance to pick up a vital 27-19 away victory against Exeter Chiefs in a Pool Two match on Saturday.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Both RC Toulon and Montpellier took try-scoring bonus points from their Pool Five clash on Saturday.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Glasgow Warriors kept alive their dream of a play-off spot with a bonus-point 42-22 win over Lyon on Saturday.

READERS' FORUM: Follow our LIVE updates of the Cape Town Sevens, Round Two of the World Series!

RugbyPass columnist Liam Heagney shines the spotlight on the contrasting approaches to the vexed issue of player management.

SEMIFINAL WRAP: The United States will appear in the Final of the South African leg of the World Series for the first time.

DAY ONE WRAP: Vilimoni Koroi scored a try in overtime to save New Zealand from the ignominy of missing out on the Cup quarterfinals.

QUARTERFINAL WRAP: We are set for two cracking semifinals in Round Two of the Sevens World Series.

REACTION: An ambitious bid to set up a Pacific Islands Super Rugby team has failed, it the Fiji Rugby Union revealed on Thursday.

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Ulster held off a late charge from Scarlets to keep alive their chances of qualifying for the playoffs.

NEWS: The concept of dual captaincy seems to be taking off, with new Blues coach Leon MacDonald the latest to embrace the idea.

 The Six Nations competition starts on 1 February 2019 when Wayne Barnes blows the whistle at Stade de France to start the match between France and Wales. It ends on 16 March 2019 when Paul Williams blows the final whistle of the Calcutta

NEWS: South African and French rugby is in a state of shock after the news that Barend Britz has been beaten to death.

The Rugby Pod this week brought up some interesting discussions on the possible futures of two South African stars.

CHAMPIONS CUP WIN: Edinburgh came back from a half-time deficit to blow Newcastle Falcons away and go top of pool five.

Fhatuwani Rasivhenge, probably the best-known Sevens referee in the world, whom the rugby world knows as Rasta, has decided that the World Rugby Sevens Tournament in Cape Town will be his last Sevens tournament as he then wishes to concentrate on 15-a-side rugby where he has already achieved great things.

ROUND THREE SPOTLIGHT: The pivotal round of the European Champions Cup takes place this weekend.

Paddy O'Brien and the other carers looking after the Cape Town Sevens' match officials, have announced the match officials appointed to the matches on Day 1.

INJURY UPDATE: Saracens have suffered a blow with the news that their England lock Maro Itoje will be absent for their busy Christmas schedule.

WORLD SERIES ROUND TWO: The global roadshow moves into the shadows of the picturesque Table Mountain, but don't let the serene setting fool you.

Nick Koster, will be playing his last rugby match when he captains Cambridge against Oxford in the Varsity Match on Thursday, 6 December 2018.

NEWS: Former France international Thomas Lievremont has been sacked as coach of Romania after winning just one of three matches in November, the national federation announced on Friday.

BACK-TO-BACK CLASHES: The competition has reached the crucial halfway stage, ahead of the year-end break.

Two men who became Springboks in the same year and retired to Onrus, died within five days of each other. One was Gertjie Brynard, the other Wynand Mans, Brynard in Onrus, Mans in Hermanus.

In the 137th Varsity Match at Twickenham on 6 December 2018, Oxford beat Cambridge 38-16, five tries to one after Cambridge had led for most of the first half.

NEWS: The boardroom drama enveloping the recent Western Province Rugby Football Union elections took a dramatic new twist on Wednesday.

Springbok lock Franco Mostert arrived at Gloucester and rather than putting the normal questions to him, the club handed junior supporter Chloe the microphone to interrogate the burly second row forward.

On Thursday, 6 December 2018, Oxford play Cambridge in a women's Varsity match for the 32nd time.

Dr Gert Brynard played on the wing for South Africa in its worst of years but survived to enjoy the victories of three years later.