Ireland and Leinster hooker Sean Cronin is expected to be out for three months following shoulder surgery.

Jerome Kaino and Charles Piutau will return for the Blues to play fellow strugglers the Force on Saturday, but Patrick Tuipulotu is again likely to be on the sidelines.All Blacks Kaino, the Blues skipper and No8, and fullback Piutau...

A penitent Bismarck du Plessis will return to the Sharks' front row for tomorrow's match against the Highlanders in Dunedin but will not resume the captaincy.The hooker has completed his four-match ban for a kick to the head of...

Drew Mitchell says not picking Steffon Armitage in England's World Cup squad over fears it would harm morale would be a "cop-out".

London Welsh continue re-building their squad for next season with the signings of half-backs Joe Carlisle and Josh Davies.

England internationals Billy and Mako Vunipola sign "multi-year" contract extensions with Premiership club Saracens.

Stuart McInally secures an extended stay with Edinburgh after his conversion from the back row to hooker.

The Hurricanes deserve every ounce of the praise that has been heaped upon them this season. This is a team that looks energised, enterprising, enthusiastic and eager to take the game's most enigmatic franchise to the finals and beyond.They...

Concussion has removed Richie McCaw from Super rugby action this week but opened up an enthralling comparison between the next line of players chasing his All Black No 7 jersey.Where the backup for McCaw was uncertain a few years...

Demand for the much anticipated All Blacks test in Samoa has reached fever pitch - with many of the stadium's stands filled up and all eight corporate boxes sold out.Work to get Apia Park ready for the July 8 showdown between the...