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REACTION: Eddie Jones is adamant his "pumped up" England side can ride the Scottish storm on and off the field as they bid to retain the Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield on Saturday.

PREVIEW: Bath may have lost their last five matches in succession but Gloucester hooker Richard Hibbard insists that all bets are off when a derby match rolls around.  

NEWS: Cheetahs head coach Franco Smith continues to show faith in his Varsity Cup graduates after including some of them in his team for their Super Rugby warm-up match against the Bulls in Harare on Saturday.

NEWS: Veteran Springbok Bryan Habana will captain French giants Toulon when they face the Sharks at Stade Mayol on Friday.

We bring you an easy to follow flow-chart of which teams to follow in  the Six Nations.

NEWS: Lock Steven Sykes will captain a strong Southern Kings team against South Western Districts Eagles in a warm-up match at Outeniqua Park in George on Friday.

NEWS: Coach Vern Cotter named a settled Scotland side to face England in the opening round of the 2016 Six Nations on Saturday.

NEWS: Italy captain Sergio Parisse will earn his 115th cap at No.8 to pull level with Martin Castrogiovanni, who is Italy's most-capped player, when the Azzurri face France in Paris on Saturday.

NEWS: England wing Chris Ashton will not be allowed to appeal his 10-week suspension for eye-gouging after a decision by an independent appeal committee on Thursday. 

South Africa's Women's team are presently ranked 12th in the world amongst those who play international rugby..

NEWS: France Sevens star Virimi Vakatawa is one of four uncapped players named in Guy Noves' French team for their Six Nations opener against Italy on Saturday.

NEWS: Dylan Hartley will captain England for the first time when they take on Scotland in their Six Nations opener at Murrayfield on Saturday.

NEWS: The Lions will be without the services of three key players when they make the trip to Kempton Park on Saturday for two warm-up games against the Falcons and Leopards. 

REPORT: Rene Ranger took no time returning to his block-busting best to ignite the Blues nine-try romp over the Melbourne Rebels.

NEWS: Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has named a strong team for their pre-season match against French outfit Racing 92 in Hong Kong on Saturday.

NEWS: Wallabies flyhalf Quade Cooper has failed to make Australia's 12-man squad for this week's Sydney Sevens despite making a long-haul trip for the tournament.

NEWS: Reds coach Richard Graham is eager to see how his team performs under pressure when they face the Crusaders in a Super Rugby warm-up match on Saturday.

EXCLUSIVE: Jan de Koning and Tauriq Ebrahim talk about all things rugby - from SARU's boardroom drama and the Sevens refereeing controversy, to the Kings courtroom saga.

NEWS: Controversial New Zealand wing Zac Guildford will make his first start for the Waratahs in their pre-season friendly against the Brumbies in Wagga Wagga on Saturday. 

EKSKLUSIEF: Die voormalige Suid- Afrikaanse Onder-19- afrigter, Eugene Eloff, met twee wêreldkampioenskappe en ook skrywer van die boek Coach Loffie: Wenke Vir Wenners, sluit hom by die rugby365 paneel aan!

There are two parts to this - one when a jumper catches the ball and lands near the touchline and secondly what happens beyond the 22.

NEWS: The Blues will utilise all of the fully fit squad in the opening pre-season match against the Melbourne Rebels on Thursday.

NEWS: A raft of players are set to pull on the Crusaders strip for the first time when they kick off their pre-season with a game against the Reds this Saturday.

NEWS: England and Saracens wing, Chris Ashton will have to wait until Thursday, February 4 to hear the outcome of his appeal against his 10-week suspension.

INTERVIEW: Dan Carter said Wednesday that while turning out for Racing 92 was "not playing for the All Blacks", he was relishing the new challenge of the Top 14 in France.

NEWS: All Black back row forward Victor Vito, a member of the two-time World Cup winning New Zealand team, will join Top 14 club La Rochelle next season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Star flyhalf Quade Cooper was told he has to earn a place on Australia's Olympic team after flying in from France ahead of the Sydney Sevens world series rugby at the weekend.

NEWS: The Du Preez twins, Daniel du Preez and Jean-Luc, will make their first start for the Sharks Super Rugby team in a pre-season outing against Toulon on Friday.

NEWS: Cardiff Blues wing Tom James will end his five-year Wales exile in Sunday's Six Nations game against Ireland in Dublin after being named in the team announced on Wednesday.

There are some law changes for the Varsity Cup and its other competitions that will apply in 2016.

REPORT: The Western Force have come away with a convincing 28-0 victory over the Wellington Hurricanes at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford on Wednesday.

NEWS: Bulls coach Nollis Marais named a number of young stars in his team to play the Cheetahs in their first Super Rugby pre-season match.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The NMMU-Madibaz have been far from their best for the last few years but 2016 brings a sense of renewed vigour with a younger, eager squad. Tauriq Ebrahim reports.

NEWS: Eastern Province Rugby Union President Cheeky Watson is staring down both barrels of a legal onslaught in the wake of the union's cash crisis.

NEWS: Ulster's South African-born utility back Louis Ludik is months away from becoming Irish-qualified and joins Franco van der Merwe in recommitting to the club.

NEWS: EP Kings lock David Bulbring will be heading to Wales to join Scarlets after signing a long-term contract.

OPINION: In the eyes of many South Africans Matt O'Brien is the new Bryce Lawrence, vilified by many, most of whom are anonymous.

NEWS: England head coach Eddie Jones wants newly appointed captain Dylan Hartley to "be Tarzan" when he leads the team out in the Six Nations.

NEWS: England head coach Eddie Jones is keeping his promise to his former team, the Stormers, by offering his expertise to coach Robbie Fleck. Warren Fortune reports.

NEWS: England legend Jonny Wilkinson has warned fans not to expect an immediate upturn in fortunes under new head coach Eddie Jones.

NEWS: Versatile Ireland back Luke Fitzgerald has been ruled out of the Six Nations with a knee ligament injury.

EXCLUSIVE: Jan de Koning chatted to former England prop David Flatman about the upcoming Six Nations and the differences between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

NEWS: Cheetahs head coach Franco Smith has named a 33-man squad for their tour to Zimbabwe this weekend.

NEWS: The Stormers' midfield depth will be seriously tested when Super Rugby starts later this month. Warren Fortune reports.

NEWS: Lock Lubabalo Mtyanda has replaced Philip van der Walt on the Sharks pre-season tour to France.

The Six Nations starts again with all the glamour and tradition.

INTERVIEW: England Head Coach Eddie Jones says Saturday's Six Nations opponents Scotland hold an advantage ahead of the Calcutta Cup game.

EXCLUSIVE: rugby365 law guru Paul Dobson reviews an incident during the Springbok Sevens encounter with Russia which led to a Blitzbok try.

NEWS: SANZAAR's Executive Committee approved a new bonus point system which come into effect in this year's Super Rugby tournament.

NEWS: Melbourne Rebels head coach Tony McGahan said he will not be taking any risks with his team's preparations ahead of this year's Super Rugby competition.

NEWS: Super Rugby has chosen 22 referees to form their squad of match officials for 2016.

NEWS: Former Stormers and Springbok flyhalf Peter Grant will make his first start for the Western Force in their pre-season match against the Hurricanes at the Central Coast Stadium in Gosford on Wednesday. 

NEWS: Edinburgh confirmed that captain and flank Mike Coman will leave the club at the end of this season.

INTERVIEW: The next two weeks will be crucial for rookie Super Rugby coach Nollis Marais, as he looks to stamp his mark on the Bulls. Jan de Koning reports.

VARSITY SHIELD WRAP: Defending champions UKZN-Impi got their campaign off to the perfect start in front of their home fans while UWC were made to work hard for their victory in Alice.

NEWS: After winning Japan's Top League, the Wild Knights became the 53rd All-Japan Champions after beatin Teikyo University 49-15 on Sunday.

NEWS: Ireland wing Simon Zebo has signed a two-year deal that will see him remain with Irish province Munster until at least June 2018. 

NEWS: New Zealand back Isaia Toeava will provide cover at Clermont for injured fullback Nick Abendanon after joining as a medical joker on Monday.

NEWS: Wales can expect some boisterous support after the sold-out signs were put up for all three of their home Six Nations matches at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

NEWS: Newport Gwent Dragons announced on Monday that they have signed Exeter Chiefs back row Ben White on loan.  

NEWS: Tim Agaba will get his chance to impress Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell at the inaugural Sydney Sevens after he was called up to the BlitzBoks' squad in place of Justin Geduld, who is returning home with a shoulder injury.

NEWS: Scarlets scrumhalf Rhodri Williams will leave Parc y Scarlets at the end of the season to join Championship side Bristol.

NEWS: Southern Kings head coach Deon Davids said he is concerned with his team's growing injury list ahead of this year's Super Rugby tournament.

RIP: Jannie le Roux, a lively but controversial President of the Transvaal Rugby Union for near on 20 years, died at his home in Nelspruit on Sunday.

EXCLUSIVE: Amir Mpayipeli, chairperson of Spring Rose Rugby Club, spoke exclusively to rugby365 about the cause of the chaos which ensued at the EPRU AGM.

NEWS: The Hurricanes will start the search for a new midfield when they face the Western Force in a pre-season outing in Gosford on Wednesday.

NEWS: Japan's plans for building on their remarkable World Cup success have been thrown into chaos after the country's rugby officials failed Monday to announce an interim national team coach.

NEWS: Wasps have confirmed the signing of young English hooker Tommy Taylor from Sale Sharks and will join the Coventry side ahead of the 2016/17 season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All the attention during the Varsity Cup will be on the new bonus-point system, however, Pote Human's UP-Tuks are concentrating their efforts on physicality and scrummaging.

REACTION: New Zealand Rugby CEO Steve Tew defended the Wellington Sevens on Monday after a disappointing turnout despite big-name players and the sport's inclusion in this year's Rio Olympics.

NEWS: Northampton tighthead prop Kieran Brookes has been called into England's squad for their Six Nations opener against Scotland, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) announced on Monday.

NEWS: The Sharks received a timely boost with confirmation that seasoned Springbok loose forward Keegan Daniel is returning to Durban.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Six Nations kicks off this weekend with Europe's elite Rugby Union-playing countries eager to put their disappointing World Cup campaigns behind them.

NEWS: Wallaby flank Dave Dennis will leave the Waratahs at the end of this year's Super Rugby tournament to further his career in England with the Exeter Chiefs.

REACTION: Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall admits Maro Itoje moved another step closer to an England cap after the 21-year-old helped inspire a dramatic comeback against Bath on Saturday.

REACTION: South Africa will sit down with World Rugby's referees to clear up the issues that have cost them so dearly at the Wellington Sevens.

REACTION: South Africa will sit down with World Rugby's referees to clear up the issues that have cost them so dearly at the Wellington Sevens.

NEWS: France were dealt a blow Sunday with news that centre Wesley Fofana has been ruled out of next weekend's Six Nations opener against Italy.

TOP 14 REPORT: Eric Escande booted Toulon to a scrappy 23-16 victory over defending Top 14 champions Stade Francais on Sunday.

SUNDAY PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Andy Goode came off the bench to kick Newcastle Falcons to a fantastic win over Harlequins.

REPORT: Dan Evans' late try earned Ospreys a 20-20 draw in an entertaining Pro12 clash with Glasgow Warriors at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday.

NEWS: The draw for Round Four of the Sevens World Series have thrown up some tasty derbies.

REACTION: Stormers coach Robbie Fleck was encouraged by his team's performance in their 40-15 victory over the South Western Districts Eagles in George at the weekend.

REACTION: Victorious New Zealand captain Tim Mikkelson believes his team's last-minute win in the Cup Final in Wellington will stand them in good stead for the remainder of the World Series.

PREVIEW: The opening round of the 2016 Varsity Shield will see former Springbok wing Chester Williams and schoolboy prodigy Curwin Bosch make their debuts in the competition.

FINALS WRAP: New Zealand won a hat-trick of Wellington Sevens titles, beating South African 24-21 in a thrilling Final on Sunday.

SEMIFINAL WRAP: Host New Zealand will meet arch rivals South African in the Final at the Wellington leg of the Sevens World Series.

SATURDAY WRAP: All Blacks superstar Dan Carter scored his first try for Racing 92 in a 26-3 French Top 14 triumph over Oyonnax on Saturday, as crisis-hit Clermont suffered an historic third consecutive home defeat.

QUARTERFINAL WRAP: All the big guns eased through to the semifinals of the Wellington leg of the Sevens World Series on Sunday.

SATURDAY WRAP: Connacht's forwards bullied Scarlets' pack into submission at Sportsground as Pat Lam's men recorded their first win since December 11, with a 30-17 victory.

NEWS: Canadian forward Jamie Cudmore was fined by Clermont on Saturday for his Twitter rage at the crisis-hit French club.

REPORT: The Stormers ran in six tries as they secured a comfortable 40-15 victory over the South Western Districts Eagles in their pre-season friendly at Outeniqua Park in George on Saturday.

SATURDAY WRAP: Saracens remain unbeaten at home this season after Maro Itoje's late show undid a fine defensive performance from Bath while Sale and Leicester bagged wins of their own.

NEWS: The Eastern Province Rugby Union failed to address the audited financial statements at their annual general meeting, however the 2015 annual report was adopted by an overwhelming majority of clubs.

BREAKING NEWS: The Eastern Province Annual General Meeting came to a standstill on Saturday when fighting erupted at the Union's head office.

REACTION: Kingsley Jones lauded the attitude of his Newport Dragons players after their hard-fought 23-13 victory against Leinster in horrid conditions at Rodney Parade.

Hosts and defending champions New Zealand won all three of their matches on Day One of the Wellington Sevens to march into the quarterfinals after dramatically beating South Africa 19-14 in the last match of the day.

REACTION: Wasps' accuracy in the first half of their stunning 24-11 away win at Northampton Saints was decisive according to director of rugby Dai Young.

DAY ONE WRAP: A moment of Sonny Bill Williams magic helped New Zealand score in the dying seconds to edge the Blitzboks 19-14 in a pulsating match.

AFTERNOON WRAP: Top spot in all four Pools will be up for grabs ahead of the evening session as the top eight team jostle for positions ahead of tomorrow's crucial final day.

MORNING WRAP: The opening session of Day One went according to script as some of the big guns claimed comfortable victories, while others were forced to work hard for their points.

INTERVIEW: After what has been a frustrating 12 months for 21-year-old Scarlets' flank Will Boyde, he's very much looking forward to his first ever start in the Pro12.

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Wasps moved up to fifth in the Premiership table with a convincing 24-11 win over Northampton Saints at Franklin's Gardens.

PRO12 REPORT: Newport Gwent Dragons coped better in difficult conditions to end Leinster's seven-match winning run at Rodney Parade with a 23-13 victory.

NEWS: England centre Manu Tuilagi is set to be sidelined for a fortnight after suffering a hamstring injury, it was announced Friday.

NEWS: The dates and venues for this season's European Champions Cup and Challenge Cup quarterfinals have been confirmed.

NEWS: USA Eagles coach John Mitchell has named veteran loose forward Todd Clever in his first squad ahead of the inaugural Americas Rugby Championship.

INTERVIEW: Japan's incoming national coach Jamie Joseph says he expects "a lot of hard work" between now and the 2019 World Cup as he prepares to take charge of the Brave Blossoms this year.

NEWS: Flank Billy Holland has signed a new two-year contract that will see him remain With Irish province Munster until at least June 2018.

NEWS: Sharks Director of Rugby Gary Gold will be using his team's pre-season tour to France to try and discover a winning formula ahead of this year's Super Rugby tournament. 

TOP 14 PREVIEW: French champions Stade Francais tackle European kings Toulon on Sunday in a heavyweight Top 14 clash with both sides nursing a series of headaches over discipline and form.

NEWS: Scotland centre Duncan Taylor has put pen to paper to remain at Allianz Park by signing a long-term contract with Saracens.

NEWS: Stephen Moore, who will return to Queensland at the end of the season, will continue to play a strong leadership role at the Brumbies.

NEWS: Ospreys lock Lloyd Ashley will miss the rest of the season while wing Hanno Dirksen also faces a spell on the sidelines.  

NEWS: Edinburgh's pack will continue to be bolstered by the services of No.8, Cornell Du Preez who has signed up for a further two seasons with the club.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Western Force will put their new expansive game on trial for the first time when they travel to Gosford, New South Wales, next Wednesday.

NEWS: The South African Rugby Union has been forced to douse even more flames after new revelations surrounding CEO Jurie Roux.

EXCLUSIVE: Former Springbok Sevens captain Jonathan Mokuena is taking his new role as head coach of NWU-Pukke in his stride as he prepares them for a gruelling Varsity Cup campaign. Tauriq Ebrahim reports.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The latest edition of the Six Nations Championship, Europe's elite international competition, begins on February 6 amid much soul-searching in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Sevens World Series rolls into Wellington this weekend, with anything possible after an enthralling opening two rounds to the global circuit.

PREVIEW: Tom Wood insists England's loss is very much Northampton Saints' gain after admitting those overlooked for the Six Nations are champing at the bit to prove themselves.

NEWS: Hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini has been ruled out of Italy's opening two Six Nations games against France and England.

NEWS: Clermont scrumhalf Morgan Parra and Montpellier flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc were notable absentees on France coach Guy Noves squad for the Six Nations tournament.

NEWS: Scotland duo Adam Ashe and Alex Dunbar have been sent back to their club, Glasgow Warriors.

NEWS: Embattled Eastern Province Rugby Union President Cheeky Watson has had the first set of legal documents served on him.

REACTION: Vern Cotter has said attempts by new England coach Eddie Jones to install Scotland as favourites for next month's Calcutta Cup clash are just a way to relieve the pressure on the Australian.

NEWS: Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck plans on giving every player in his squad an equal opportunity to show their worth before their first Super Rugby clash against the Bulls at Newlands on February 27.

PREVIEW: Scarlets, the best away side in the Pro12 along with Leinster, will be hoping to call on this season's away form to secure a vital victory over Connacht in a top-of-the-table clash in Galway on Saturday.

EXCLUSIVE: rugby365 columnist Matt Hawkins returns with his first contribution on Sevens for 2016 - an Olympic year.

NEWS: The appeal against the 10-week suspension imposed on Saracens and England wing Chris Ashton for eye-gouging will be heard in London on Wednesday, February 3.

REACTION: Jurie Roux, the man tasked with finding the next Springbok coach, may soon be shown the exit door himself.

INTERVIEW: All Blacks superstar Dan Carter admitted that he had been worried about moving to Paris in the aftermath of the November terror attacks but had been overwhelmed by his welcome in the French capital.

NEWS: Springbok Sevens star Ryno Benjamin has been ruled out of the next two World Sevens Series tournaments after injuring his calf during training on Thursday.

NEWS: Springbok loose forward Warren Whiteley will again captain the Lions in Super Rugby, the Johannesburg side confirmed on Thursday.

INTERVIEW: Double World Cup winner Ma'a Nonu has not scored a try in eight matches for European Champions Toulon and, although the team are still winning, there is apprehension in the stands. 

EXCLUSIVE: SARU, already fighting fire on others fronts, may soon be dragged back into the financial crisis at EP Rugby. Jan de Koning reports.

NEWS: The Waratahs have signed former Melbourne Rebels flyhalf Bryce Hegarty ahead of this year's Super Rugby tournament.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Interest in Sevens rugby is waning in New Zealand, despite the appearance of superstar World Cup winner Sonny Bill Williams at the Wellington Sevens this week.

NEWS: Paul Gabrillagues and Stade Francais team mate Laurent Sempéré have both been handed lengthy bans after being found guilty of making contact with the eyes of an opponent.

NEWS: Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw insisted his side would not go out of their way to rile new England captain Dylan Hartley but refused to rule out a Murrayfield flare-up.

NEWS: Wales coach Warren Gatland has jokingly offered Ireland coach Joe Schmidt the British and Irish Lions coaching post after describing the schedule as tough.

NEWS: Ireland coach Joe Schmidt insisted that Jonathan Sexton would be fit for the start of the Six Nations, despite the flyhalf's latest concussion injury.

REACTION: Forward power rather than 'fancy' rugby holds the key to England's chances of success in the Six Nations Championship, according to new head coach Eddie Jones.

NEWS: The Leicester Tigers and England hooker Tom Youngs has been suspended for one week for punching following an independent disciplinary hearing on Wednesday.

NEWS: Prop Juan Figallo has signed a multi-year contract extension with English Premiership club Saracens.

NEWS: Newcastle Falcons have added further international class to the playing squad after signing Japanese tighthead prop Kensuke Hatakeyama from Suntory Sungoliath for the remainder of the season.

NEWS: Worcester Warriors have secured the permanent signing of Marco Mama from Bristol ahead of the 2016/17 season.

NEWS: The Bulls suffered a cruel pre-season injury, with confirmation that Springbok loose forward Deon Stegmann faces surgery.

NEWS: Springbok lock Franco van der Merwe has signed a one-year-contract extension with Irish province Ulster, keeping him at Kingspan Stadium until June 2017.

NEWS: Martin Roberts has completed a move to English Championship side Bristol and will link up with his new team for the first time today (Wednesday). 

FEATURE: The focus will be on Sonny Bill Williams and the Ioane brothers, Rieko and Akira. However, New Zealand may have another ace up their sleeve.

INTERVIEW: Blues captain Jerome Kaino is itching to play in this year's Super Rugby competition, which gets underway on February 26.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The ninth edition of the Varsity Cup competition is set to get underway at the beginning of February and Tauriq Ebrahim looks at what it takes away from the field to be able to get on it.

NEWS: Wales international prop Rhys Gill will re-join his old team, the Cardiff Blues, next season.

NEWS: Argentine back row Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe has signed a one-year contract extension with French Top 14 giants Toulon through to 2017, the club announced on Tuesday.

INTERVIEW: England coach Eddie Jones believes Chris Robshaw is about to enter the "best part of his career" after stripping him of the Red Rose captaincy.

NEWS: Two Stade Francais players have been cited for eye-gouging in their Champions Cup game against Leicester Tigers.

NEWS: Canada's interim head coach Francois Ratier has named a 28-man squad for the 2016 Americas Rugby Championship (ARC).

NEWS: England head coach Eddie Jones has chosen his 23 players for their opening Six Nations match against Scotland next weekend.

NEWS: Clermont second row Jamie Cudmore will face "appropriate punishment" after lashing out at the French Top 14 side's management following their Champions Cup exit, club president Eric De Cromieres said on Tuesday.

NEWS: Toulon centre Maxime Mermoz was on Tuesday called up to replace injured Alexandre Dumoulin in France's training squad for the Six Nations.

INTERVIEW: Southern Kings head coach Deon Davids says preparations for his team's return to Super Rugby have stepped up a gear as they prepare for their first contact session against the NMMU Madibaz on Friday.

EXCLUSIVE: Cheetahs coach Franco Smith explained to Jan de Koning why there is a need for a 54-man pre-season training squad.

EXCLUSIVE: Cheetahs coach Franco Smith explained to Jan de Koning why there is a need for a 54-man pre-season training squad.

NEWS: Geraint John has been appointed to the Executive Board of the Welsh Rugby Union as its new Head of Rugby Performance.

EXCLUSIVE: If the ball is dropped in the opponent's in-goal does that automatically rule out the possibility of a try? rugby365 law guru Paul Dobson reports.

NEWS: Three young Port Elizabeth rugby players will receive a golden opportunity to further their burgeoning careers when they sign up with the SARU Kings Rugby Academy on Tuesday, February 26.

NEWS: Toulon scrumhalf Sebastien Tillous-Borde has been ruled out for two months as he prepares to undergo knee surgery, the French Top 14 giants announced on Tuesday.

The Wellington Sevens, the third in the 2015-16 World Rugby Series, kicks off on Saturday, 30 January 2016.

NEWS: Liam Williams could play a role in Wales' Six Nations opener after Wales kicking coach Neil Jenkins revealed he is likely to test his fitness for Scarlets this weekend.

NEWS: England and Saracens wing Chris Ashton will be appealing his ten-week suspension for eye-gouging after receiving the full written decision of the independent Disciplinary Hearing Judicial Officer.

NEWS: World Cup-winning former Springbok wing Chester Williams has his eyes firmly set on getting UWC to become the third Cape side in the Cup competition. Tauriq Ebrahim reports.

Sevens are back and the clubs of England and France withdraw into their domestic competitions, tough as they are.

INTERVIEW: Sharks Loose forward Philip van der Walt believes the Durban-based franchise is on the right track to becoming a more exciting team this year.

INTERVIEW: England head coach Eddie Jones says the appointment of Dylan Hartley as captain of the national team is part of his plan to change English rugby.

NEWS: Ireland coach Joe Schmidt breathed a huge sigh of relief with the news that star flyhalf Johnny Sexton is on the mend.

NEWS: A French court has fined Fijian player Alowesi Nailiko over a tackle which left a rival player quadriplegic, the French rugby federation confirmed.

NEWS: Former South African Schools lock Philip du Preez is one of three new signings by the Southern Kings.

NEWS: Morgan Parra and Sebastien Vahaamahina were on Monday ruled out of France's training camp ahead of the Six Nations and have been replaced by Baptiste Serin and Bernard Le Roux.

NEWS: Japan will take on Wales in Cardiff in November, their first meeting since the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Wales head coach Warren Gatland confirmed on Monday.

NEWS: Rob Baxter admits the return of Lewis Stevenson to Sandy Park "ticks a lot of boxes" for him as Exeter Chiefs look to advance over the course of the season.

NEWS: Marty Moore will leave Leinster at the end of the current season to join Wasps in the English Premiership.

INTERVIEW: The BlitzBoks have put their past performances at the Wellington Sevens behind them as they go in search of their first Cup victory in New Zealand in 14 years.  

NEWS: Ireland ace Johnny Sexton faces another spell on the sidelines after another concussion put a question mark over his Six Nations participation.

NEWS: Dylan Hartley has been appointed England captain and will lead the team during their Six Nations campaign despite having one of the worst disciplinary records in English rugby.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: World Cup-winning former Springbok captain Francois Pienaar explained the new Varsity Cup innovations is an attempt at getting the coaches to change their mindset and take more risks.

NEWS: The Stormers are looking forward to testing themselves against Super Rugby newcomers the Jaguares, in their pre-season friendly at Newlands on February 13.

INTERVIEW: Springbok wing/centre JJ Engelbrecht will arrive in Ospreylia this week raring to making his Pro12 debut for the Ospreys.

NEWS: Glasgow Warriors prop Alex Allan and Edinburgh flank Hamish Watson have been added to the Scotland squad for the Six Nations camp in St Andrews.

NEWS: Varsity Rugby, consisting of the Varsity Cup and the Varsity Shield, will see a further three teams being added in 2017, growing the number of universities to 16.

NEWS: Scotland head coach Vern Cotter has appointed defensive contact specialist Richie Gray on a consultancy basis for the forthcoming Six Nations Championship.

NEWS: Sonny Bill Williams was named to make his New Zealand Sevens debut next weekend, as he works to add the Rio Olympics to his impressive list of sporting achievements.

CAST YOUR VOTE: Which tournament would you rather watch - Super Rugby or the European Champions Cup? Cast your vote below!

NEWS: Lock Rob Simmons has been named interim captain of the Reds until prop James Slipper returns from injury.

The big results this week are in Europe and Japan.

NEWS: Christian Lealiifano signed a new two-year deal with the Australian Rugby Union and the Brumbies - which allow him two play two stints in Japan.

NEWS: Bath wing Semesa Rokoduguni has joined Eddie Jones' England squad as cover for the suspended Chris Ashton.

CHAMPIONS CUP WRAP: It may be nine years since an English side lifted Europe's top club prize but the Premiership has never had a better chance than this year.

REPORT: Exeter Chiefs upset the odds to qualify for the European Cup knock-out stages on a stunning final day of pool action on Sunday when they defeated Ospreys 33-17.

REPORT: Clermont blew their chance of reaching the European Cup quarter-finals when they went down 28-37 to Bordeaux-Begles, in one of the most extraordinary games in the competition's history.

REACTION: Munster head coach Anthony Foley hailed his side's loyal support after they finished their Champions Cup campaign on a high.

REPORT: Stade Francais secured the bonus-point victory they needed over Leicester Tigers on Sunday to storm into the European Cup quarter-finals, thus eliminating Ulster.

REPORT: Munster ended their European Cup campaign with a flourish and claimed a bonus-point 28-5 triumph at Treviso in their Pool Four encounter.

REPORT: The winner of Japan's Top League was decided with the last act of the match - over two minutes into injury time.

NEWS: Montpellier wing Marvin O'Connor has earned a call-up into the France' 31-man Six Nations training squad following an injury to Benjamin Fall.

NEWS: Scotland international Duncan Weir will join Edinburgh from Glasogow Warriors on a two-year at the start of next season.

NEWS: All Black fullback Israel Dagg is sticking around New Zealand for the foreseeable future after removing the out-clause from his contract.

REACTION: Jim Mallinder can only sit back and watch as Northampton's fate is decided on the final day of the European Cup pool stage.

REACTION: Toulon star Steffon Armitage sent out a warning to future opponents after the reigning champions booked their place in the European Rugby Champions Cup quarterfinals in April.

REACTION: Saracens became the 12th club to go through their European Cup pool without defeat since home and away matches were installed in 1997/98 and will have home advantage in the quarterfinals in April.

REACTION: Eliot Daly hailed Dai Young's influence after Wasps stormed into the quarterfinals with a seven try hammering of struggling Leinster.

REPORT: A George North try helped Northampton Saints claim a crucial 22-10 bonus-point victory over Scarlets on Saturday to keep their Champions Cup quarterfinal hopes alive.

REPORT: Racing 92 suffered their first European Rugby Champions Cup defeat in two seasons after being beaten 5-22 by Glasgow Warriors in Kilmarnock.

REACTION: Nick Williams believes Ulster's emphatic 56-3 win over Oyonnax has piled the pressure on their rivals for a place in the quarterfinals of the European Rugby Champions Cup.

REPORT: Toulon kept their hopes of a fourth consecutive European Champions Cup title alive on Saturday, but saw Wasps pip them to top spot in Pool Five.

REPORT: Wasps hit Leinster with seven tries to win 51-10 and secure top spot in the so-called 'pool of death' and a vital home quarterfinal.

REPORT: Saracens kept up their 100 percent record in this season's European Rugby Champions Cup with a comfortable 28-17 victory over Toulouse.

REPORT: Ulster face an anxious wait to discover if they have reached the European Rugby Champions Cup quarterfinals after completing their Pool One campaign with a 56-3 hammering of Oyonnax.

PREVIEW: This year, in the 13th Final of Japan's Top League, Panasonic Wild Knights play Toshiba Brave Lupus at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Sunday.

EXCLUSIVE: Exceptions in the laws of rugby football seem to be the law-makers delight but exceptions to exceptions could well produce confusion. rugby365 law guru Paul Dobson reports.

CHALLENGE CUP FRIDAY WRAP: French international flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc made a triumphant return to the rugby field when he helped Montpellier's push for the bonus point try in their 42-9 win over Harlequins.

CHALLENGE CUP FRIDAY WRAP: French international flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc made a triumphant return to the rugby field when he helped Montpellier's push for the bonus point try in their 42-9 win over Harlequins.

NEWS: The Jaguares finished their third week of preparation for this year's Super Rugby tournament with an intense training session with a selected Uruguay side that lasted almost three hours in Buenos Aires. 

REACTION: Wallaby great David Campese believes England will achieve success under new Australian coach Eddie Jones but has criticised the Rugby Football Union for putting a foreigner in charge of the side for the first time.

REACTION: Toulon's aim of leaving France's Top 14 to join the English Premiership was labelled a "long shot" by Rugby Football Union Chief Executive Ian Ritchie on Friday.

INTERVIEW: South African giant Duane Vermeulen admits mega-rich Toulon will flourish in the business end of the season despite a spluttering campaign so far in France and Europe.

NEWS:Phil Berna and Luke McCloskey are due to make their Sevens Series debuts for Canada next weekend at the Wellington Sevens after head coach Liam Middleton announced his 13-man squad on Friday. 

NEWS: Ulster has confirmed the signing of Irish-qualified England Under-20 second row, Kieran Treadwell - he will move to Kingspan Stadium on a two-year deal ahead of the 2016/17 season.

NEWS: Toulon's France international flyhalf Frederic Michalak has been ruled out of Saturday's key European Cup clash at English side Bath because of injury.

NEWS: Rugby World Cup Sevens winner Tom Isaacs returns to the Wales Sevens squad for the Wellington and Sydney legs of the 2015/16 Sevens World Series.

NEWS: The Southern Kings have confirmed a number of new signings, following a week of intensive training with the South Africa Rugby Union Mobi Unit.

NEWS: In yet another problem of its kind, Parktown Boys' High of Johannesburg have decided to suspend all sporting contacts with near-neighbours King Edward VII School.

INTERVIEW: Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has admitted he is hoping to bolster his playing squad over the coming weeks as they brace themselves for a relentless run of fixtures in the Premiership.

REACTION: Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has taken a swipe at the SANZAAR brains trust over their proposed Super Rugby innovations.

EXCLUSIVE: New Maties head coach Hawies Fourie is determined to get the institution back to its glory days but knows it won't happen overnight. Tauriq Ebrahim reports.

NEWS: Andrew Conway and John Ryan have both agreed new deals with the Irish province Munster.

NEWS: Ethan Waddleton and Jack Wilson will make their England Sevens debuts in Wellington next weekend in the third leg of the 2015/16 World Rugby Sevens Series.

St Benedict's College of Bedfordview has the excitement of an overseas tour to look forward to in 2016.

NEWS: Argentina and Australia are considering moving their Rugby Championship clash to London. rugby365 reports.

CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: Sale Sharks secured a home tie in the quarterfinals of the European Challenge Cup with a comfortable 38-5 win over Newport Gwent Dragons.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: South Africa's top match officials met in Newlands for its annual course and were told of small changes to the laws. rugby365.com law guru Paul Dobson reports.

PREVIEW: Defending European Cup champions Toulon may be looking at quitting France for the English Premiership but their most pressing concern is avoiding an exit from Europe this weekend.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Southern Kings coach Deon Davids feels the SARU mobi unit is the missing ingredient in a recipe for success. Jan de Koning reports.

Paarl Gim is certainly one of the top rugby schools in South Africa, always in the Top 20, always willing to play top opponents.

NEWS: Bulls flyhalf Handré Pollard might miss the opening weeks of the 2016 Super Rugby competition due to a shoulder strain, which may require surgery.

NEWS: Australia flyhalf Quade Cooper has joined the Australian Sevens program and will be available for selection for the Rio 2016 Olympics. 

NEWS: Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal has made an official request for his European champions to leave the French Top 14 and play in England, an English Premiership spokesman confirmed on Thursday.

CAST YOUR VOTE: We would like to know who you think should captain the Stormers this year? Cast your vote below!

NEWS: SA Rugby announced a new structure to the 2016 Youth Weeks, with the junior tournaments being hosted concurrently in Paarl and the Under-18 tournaments in Durban. 

NEWS: Semesa Rokoduguni will be staying at Bath  for at least another two years, the club confirmed on Thursday.

NEWS: New England coach Eddie Jones has added another Australian to his coaching panel ahead of the Six Nations tournament.

NEWS: Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck says he is not concerned with the lack of experience amongst the players in his squad fighting it out for the all-important No.10 jersey. Warren Fortune reports.

NEWS: The SANZAAR board discussed numerous law innovations at a crucial meeting that they hope will keep Super Rugby at the forefront of the game.

INTERVIEW: The Western Force's trial match against the Hurricanes on February 3 will be the first real test for Perth team's much talked about new attacking game style.

NEWS: One of the worst-kept secrets is out. Super Rugby-winning coach Jamie Joseph will take over Japan's national team later this year.

INTERVIEW: Jean-Marc Doussain has vowed to seize his opportunity after being recalled to the France squad after a two-year absence by his former club coach Guy Noves.

NEWS: The Australian Men's Sevens team will hand debuts to young forward Simon Kennewell and speedster John Porch for the third leg of the 2015/16 Sevens World Series in Wellington next weekend.

INTERVIEW: Jan de Koning chatted to new Cheetahs captain Francois Venter about the challenges for his young team.

NEWS: Glasgow Warriors' Tim Swinson has been suspended for one week, while team mate Ryan Wilson's complaint was dismissed following  independent disciplinary hearings.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: South African born back row forwards Andries van Schalkwyk and Abraham Steyn are among 10 uncapped players called up by Italy coach Jacques Brunel for the Six Nations.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: South African-born CJ Stander is in contention for a back row spot after being included in Joe Schmidt's 35-man Six Nations squad.

NEWS: Saracens wing Chris Ashton's dream of a return to the England team has been shattered, after he was slapped with a 10-week ban for eye-gouging.

NEWS: Sandile Ngcobo is set to make his debut as one of two changes to the Blitzbok squad for the next two legs of the World Sevens Series, while captain Kyle Brown continues to nurse a shoulder injury.

NEWS: Harlequins revealed that their Director of Rugby, Conor O'Shea, has decided to leave the club when his current contract expires at the end of the season.

EXCLUSIVE: Newly appointed University of Free State Shimlas coach Hendro Scholtz is approaching this year's Varsity Cup with a clean slate after losing the majority of his players. Tauriq Ebrahim reports.

REACTION: Scotland may have finished bottom of last year's Six Nations but that has not stopped coach Vern Cotter from telling his players to believe they can win this season's title.

INTERVIEW: Wales coach Warren Gatland claims defending champions Ireland are favourites for the Six Nations, although he said the tournament would be "an unknown quantity".

NEWS: All Blacks centre Sonny Bill WIlliams has been included in New Zealand's Sevens squad for the third leg of the Sevens World Series in Wellington on January 30-31.

NEWS: Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson has named Michael Hooper as team captain for the 2016 Super Rugby season.

NEWS: The protocol for TMOs in SANZAAR and South Africa has gone back to 2013. rugby365 law guru Paul Dobson reports.

NEWS: Alun Wyn Jones has committed his long-term future to the Ospreys and Wales after re-signing his National Dual Contract (NDC).

NEWS: Bath confirmed the signing of second row Elliott Stooke from Premiership and West Country rivals Gloucester Rugby on Tuesday.

NEWS: The ASM Clermont Auvergne player Viktor Kolelishvili has been suspended for 14 weeks for pushing referee Wayne Barnes in a European Cup match against the Ospreys. 

NEWS: United States veteran Chris Wyles has retired from international duty to focus on the remaining years of his contract with Saracens  in England and to push for the Rio 2016 Olympic Summer Games.

INTERVIEW: The Stormers are set to breathe new life into South African rugby when they start their Super Rugby campaign under the tutelage of head coach Robbie Fleck. Warren Fortune reports.

NEWS: France's professional players demanded independent doctors be employed to "cut the cord" with their clubs amid fears their health and careers are being put at risk.

EXCLUSIVE: Having 21 World Cup stars in a team is no guarantee that the Super Rugby newcomers from Argentina, the Jaguares, will dominate. Jan de Koning reports.

EXCLUSIVE: Twenty-one World Cup stars is no guarantee that the Super Rugby newcomers from Argentina, the Jaguares, will dominate.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Scarlets scrumhalf Aled Davies was the only uncapped player included in a 37-man Wales squad for this season's Six Nations.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: New France coach Guy Noves rang the changes, calling up eight newcomers, including France Sevens star Virimi Vakatawa for the upcoming Six Nations tournament.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Uncapped props Zander Fagerson and Rory Sutherland were both included in Scotland's 35-man squad for the upcoming Six Nations.

NEWS: South Africa's top referees gathered in Newlands for their annual course in preparation for the coming season and concluded the course by voting Jaco Peyper as their referee of the year.

NEWS: The two-time Super Rugby champion Chiefs suffered a double blow just weeks out from the start of the Super Rugby season.

NEWS: Stade Francais captain Sergio Parisse was named French Top 14 player of the season for 2014/15, after a vote for by his peers.

NEWS: Clermont's English wing David Strettle has been ruled out for two weeks after picking up an injury during the European Champions Cup runners-up defeat at Welsh side Ospreys.

NEWS: Former England coach Stuart Lancaster was on a brief visit to the Stormers on Monday, part of a whirlwind world tour. Jan de Koning reports.

OPINION: The Varsity Cup competition has been pushing the boundaries of innovation. However, Tauriq Ebrahim feels that the latest law adjustments are taking the tournament closer to becoming more of a gimmick.

NEWS: All Blacks Nathan Mauger and Filo Tiatia are joining the coaching ranks of Japan's Sunwolves, less than six weeks before the fledgling side makes its Super Rugby debut.

The pools end in Europe's competitions this week and there are some big clashes especially amongst the strong four teams in Pool Five - Toulon v Bath and Wasps v a resurgent Leinster.

EURO NEWS: Round Five of the European Champions Cup produced an odd assortment of transgressions that resulted in citings - including abuse of a match official, eye-gouging, biting and testicle grabbing.

Francois louw tribute, a true breakdown master!

NEWS: Ireland international tighthead prop Rodney Ah You will join Ulster ahead of the 2016/17 season.

INTERVIEW: Baby-faced Springbok lock Lodewyk de Jager may give the appearance of a 'gentle giant', but he sees himself as a 'bad cop'.

You don't want to get on the wrong side of either of these two

INTERVIEW: New Zealand Sevens Gordon Tietjens attended his country's National Sevens tournament in Rotorua looking for four players to add to his squad ahead of the next two legs of the World Sevens Series.

EXCLUSIVE: Eastern Province Rugby (Pty) Ltd hope to reach an agreement 'in the very near future' in their long-standing dispute with players. Jan de Koning reports.

NEWS: England prop Joe Marler has committed his future at the Twickenham Stoop after re-signing with the London club Harlequins.

The weather in Europe made rugby tough going. In fact all premiership matches in Scotland were snowed out.

INTERVIEW: The Western Force will be aiming to play a similar game to what 2015 Super Rugby runners-up the Hurricanes dished up last year.

EXCLUSIVE: The role of head coach is nothing new for UCT-Ikeys' Hanyani Shimange as he has been at the helm of the club side but he remains focussed on his latest challenge, the 2016 Varsity Cup.

INTERVIEW: New Bulls coach Nollis Marais believes depth will be even more important now that Super Rugby have expanded to 18 teams. Jan de Koning reports.

REACTION: Gregor Townsend refused to blame Tim Swinson's moment of madness five minutes from time for Glasgow Warriors last gasp defeat at Franklin's Gardens.

EXCLUSIVE: The 2016 Super Rugby season is upon us and all the teams will be entering their final preparation phase with pre-season matches to finalise their playing squads for the year ahead.

REACTION: Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young said he felt 'heartbroken' for his Wasps players after they saw victory and history snatched from them by Drew Mitchell's 81st minute try in Toulon.

INTERVIEW: New France coach Guy Noves claims he is not looking forward to his debut on the international bench at home to Italy in the Six Nations.

REACTION: Drew Mitchell paid tribute to long-time adversary Ma'a Nonu after scoring the crucial match-winning try as Toulon defeated Wasps in the European Champions Cup on Sunday.

NEWS: Wales international Leigh Halfpenny will see out the final year of his contract with Toulon, ending months of transfer speculation, his manager Bernard Laporte said on Sunday.

CHALLENGE CUP WRAP: Harlequins resisted a red-hot Cardiff Blues comeback to secure a 34-26 triumph and home Challenge Cup quarterfinal.

REPORT: Harry Mallinder turned into a baby face assassin on his Champions Cup debut as he gave his Director of Rugby, and Dad, Jim plenty to smile about with a match-winning try in the last play of the game.

REPORT: Australia wing Drew Mitchell scored a match-winning try after the final buzzer to keep holders Toulon's European Champions Cup defence alive on Sunday.

REPORT: Racing 92 sealed a home quarterfinal tie in the European Champions Cup with a record 64-14 victory over Scarlets in Paris.

INTERVIEW:  Sharks Director of Rugby Gary Gold says the "youngsters" in his squad will have to show what they are worth this season after the departure of a number of stalwarts.

REACTION: Leicester Tigers lock Dom Barrow says they will go to Stade Francais full of confidence as they try to secure a top two seeding in the knock-out stages.

REACTION: Leinster put their faith in youth - and gave a glimpse of what might lie ahead for the former triple European champions with their 25-11 defeat of Bath at the RDS Arena.

REACTION: Bath head coach Mike Ford still believes his team is going in the right direction, despite bowing out of the Champions Cup with a 11-25 defeat at the hands of Leinster at the RDS Arena.

REACTION: Bordeaux-Begles' World Cup star Adam Ashley-Cooper says his side will hold nothing back as they bid for a Champions Cup quarterfinal spot against ASM Clermont Auvergne next week.

INTERVIEW: Eddie Jones has revealed how he offered former adversary Jonny Wilkinson a place on his England coaching staff after meeting with the legendary goal-kicker in a supermarket.

REPORT: Two-time Champions Cup winners Leicester Tigers booked their place in the quarterfinals with an emphatic victory over Treviso.

REACTION: Ulster Director of Rugby Les Kiss has urged his side to use the hurt of their Saracens defeat to secure qualification from Pool One.

REPORT: Leinster knocked Bath out of the European Champions Cup with their first win of the campaign.

REACTION: Owen Farrell confirmed the Saracens have their eyes firmly fixed on the main prize in European this season.

REPORT: Oyonnax claimed their first-ever victory in the European Champions Cup.

REACTION: Munster captain CJ Stander felt his side had restored pride.

REPORT: Saracens secured a home quarterfinal in the European Cup with an impressive 33-17 bonus-point victory over Ulster on Saturday.

REPORT: Marco Tauleigne crossed for a late try to give Bordeaux-Begles a crucial 34-27 bonus-point victory over Exeter Chiefs.

REPORT: Munster bounced back in fine style with a 26-13 bonus-point win over Stade Français.

REACTION: Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy hailed the spirit of his side as they took a huge stride towards a first European Champions Cup quarterfinal in six years.

CHALLENGE CUP WRAP: Last season's runners-up Edinburgh put down a marker as they moved to the top of Pool Five.

EXCLUSIVE: rugby365 law guru Paul Dobson looks an incident when an overeager player pushed the referee out of his way.

INTERVIEW: New England coach Eddie Jones speaks about his plans for the upcoming Six Nations tournament.

NEWS: Argentina coach Santiago Gomez Cora is confident his team cab iron out the kinks that cost them in the opening rounds of the Sevens World Series.

REPORT: Ospreys took a big stride towards their first European Cup quarter-final in six years after they edged Clermont Auvergne 21-13 to move top of Pool Two.

NEWS: Top 14 and European Cup strugglers Oyonnax have revealed that they have terminated the contract of former All Blacks scrumhalf Piri Weepu.

INTERVIEW: The Southern Kings will be looking to do some 'astute recruiting' ahead of their return to Super Rugby. Jan de Koning reports.

NEWS: The Springbok Sevens have recharged their batteries following their impressive success at the Cape Town Sevens and are looking forward to the next two World Rugby Sevens Series tournaments in Wellington and Sydney. 

NEWS: A handful of young rugby players from previously disadvantaged communities around South Africa have developed big dreams thanks to the SA Rugby Exchange Programme. 

NEWS: Bath centre Ollie Devoto will join fellow West Country outfit Exeter Chiefs next season, the Chiefs confirmed on Friday

NEWS: The Crusaders will have to start this year's Super Rugby tournament without the services of centres Ryan Crotty and Robbie Fruean.

INTERVIEW: Sharks captain Patrick Lambie says their warm-up matches against French giants Toulouse and Toulon will provide them with the perfect test ahead of this year's Super Rugby competition.

NEWS: Wales fullback Liam Williams looks set to be fit in time for the 2016 Six Nations Nations as he prepares to resume training next week.

NEWS: The Western Force have been hit by another injury setback, with prop Tetera Faulkner likely to miss the first six weeks of the season.

Ospreys will be playing for Welsh pride when they entertain last season's runners-up Clermont in the European Champions Cup on Friday.

NEWS: Prop James Cronin and Hooker Mike Sherry have both signed contract extensions with the Munster, the club announced on Thursday.

NEWS: Scott Baldwin will make his 100th Ospreys appearance in Friday's crunch Champions Cup clash with Clermont Auvergne at the Liberty Stadium. 

INTERVIEW: Stormers coach Robbie Fleck revealed that he is relying on the experience and expertise of Western Province coach John Dobson, as well as a broader coaching base, to "spread the workload."

EXCLUSIVE: Jan de Koning caught up with new Argentina boss Greg Peters ad asked him about the reasons for Super Rugby's expansion.

The England's first foreign coach said on Wednesday he had no problems with his players singing 'God Save the Queen', rather than a specifically English anthem.

INTERVIEW: Sharks Director of Rugby Gary Gold believes the new Super Rugby format does not provide a level playing field for all 18 teams.

EXCLUSIVE: Tauriq Ebrahim looks at the men behind the scenes of the 2016 Varsity Cup competition - all of whom have at least played in the Currie Cup.

NEWS: The Lions will be sweating over the fitness of a few key players ahead of this year's Super Rugby competition.

INTERVIEW: Powerhouse centre Manu Tuilagi could have the same impact as New Zealand great Ma'a Nonu, according to new England coach Eddie Jones.

NEWS: English Premiership side Saracens announced that star Fiji Sevens wing Savenaca Rawaca will join the club for the 2016/17 season.

NEWS: Springbok JJ Engelbrecht will not be playing for the Bulls in this year's Super Rugby competition after signing for Welsh side Ospreys.

REACTION: Chris Robshaw found himself in the unusual position of receiving praise from Eddie Jones as the Australian unveiled his first England squad.

NEWS: Australia international back Matt Giteau will go under the knife on Monday to fix a groin problem.

NEWS: Oyonnax player Stanley Wright has been suspended for three weeks.

NEWS: Stade Francais's Fijian wing Josaia Raisuqe has been suspended for 15 weeks.

NEWS: New Zealander Kieran Crowley, coach of Canada since 2008, has confirmed that he will take over at struggling Italian side Treviso from next season.

NEWS: Bordeaux-Begles lock Julien Ledevedec was handed a two-week ban for a headbutt in his team's 10-28-10 European Champions Cup loss to Clermont.

NEWS: New England coach Eddie Jones has named seven uncapped players in his first England squad ahead of the Six Nations.

INTERVIEW: New coach Tana Umaga is already leaving his mark on the Blues, with selection one of the key issues he is addressing.

NEWS: Saracens revealed that Wasps flyhalf Alex Lozowski will be joining the Allianz Park side next season on a multi-year deal.

NEWS: Harlequins player Dave Ward has been cleared on a charge of biting.

INTERVIEW: All Black superstar Sonny Bill Williams received a "wake-up call" during his first few training sessions with New Zealand's Sevens team.

NEWS: Wallaby Berrick Barnes is earmarked for a dramatic return to the Waratahs fold.

NEWS: Injury-plagued England prop Alex Corbisiero has left Northampton with immediate effect, the English Premiership club announced on Tuesday.

NEWS: Flying fullback Dan Fish has put pen to paper on a new long-term contract to remain at Cardiff Blues.

NEWS: Wales coach Warren Gatland is the "leading contender" to coach the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand next year, the team's Chief Executive John Feehan said.

INTERVIEW: Bulls coach Nollis Marais spoke to Jan de Koning about the 2016 Super Rugby season and what to expect.

INTERVIEW: Leo Cullen has challenged Leinster to put their European Rugby Champions Cup disappointment behind them and finish their Pool Five campaign on a high.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With Daniel Carter now plying his trade in France, rugby356 reporter Warren Fortune looks at the three main candidates for the All Blacks' No.10 jersey in 2016 and beyond.

NEWS: England centre Kyle Eastmond has renewed his contract with English Premiership outfit Bath.

NEWS: Hooker Rob Buchanan has committed his future to Harlequins, the club announced on Tuesday.

NEWS: England discard Andy Farrell will join Munster in an advisory role with immediate effect, the club announced on Tuesday.

REACTION: Toulon's maverick owner Mourad Boudjellal is renowned for his outlandish verbal broadsides, but his latest rant caused more than just a stir in Australasia.

This week we have the second last round of Europe's competitions.

INTERVIEW: Brumbies utility back James Dargaville still doesn't quite understand the new, "convoluted" Super Rugby format. But there is a simple solution to winning it.

NEWS: New Zealand legend Dan Carter has won another award.

NEWS: Wallaby wing Nick Cummins will pursue Olympic gold after signing with the Australian Sevens program.

NEWS: All Black centre Casey Laulala extended his contract with Racing 92 until 2019, the Parisian club announced on Monday.

NEWS: Three players will appear before a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel on Tuesday.

NEWS: Andy Goode joined a select list of players on Sunday after the Premiership legend became only the fourth player to score points for five different clubs, 18 years on from starting his career with Leicester Tigers.

NEWS: For the fourth time this season, flyhalf Steven Shingler kicked a penalty to secure a victory for Scarlets in the last minute of the game, this time against Connacht at Parc y Scarlets on Sunday afternoon.

REACTION: Ulster came from 23 points down at Oyonnax to keep their Champions Cup dreams alive, but Director of Rugby Les Kiss knows it is not going to get any easier.

NEWS: Hooker Siyabonga Ntubeni was in included in the Stormers 38-man training squad despite an injury cloud hanging over his availability.

NEWS: Leicester Tigers have snagged another big Springbok, with World Cup-winning wing JP Pietersen their latest capture.

NEWS: Centre Harry Sloan has re-signed for English Premiership side Harlequins, the club confirmed on Monday.

OPINION: rugby365.com reporter Warren Fortune says the new Springbok coach will face an uphill battle in trying to get the team ready to beat the world's best.

REACTION: Gregor Townsend has played down fears that Mark Bennett will miss the start of the Six Nations, after going off injured in club action for Glasgow Warriors.

NEWS: Wing Adam Thompstone and centre Matt Smith have both agreed to new contracts with Leceister Tigers, the club confirmed on Monday.

INTERVIEW: Eddie Jones wants England to become the most dominant team in the world and knows that must start with a win against Scotland in their Six Nations opener at Murrayfield on February 6.

REACTION: Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac is not taking anything for granted despite his side moving back to the top of the table after a 21-19 victory over Connacht at Parc y Scarlets.

The European matches have got up to date before the next two vital rounds.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Around the world and in South Africa there will be tests of possible law changes. In South Africa these will be done in the Varsity Cup.

NEWS: Western Force hooker Heath Tessmann has re-signed for the team ahead of this year's Super Rugby season and will look to back up another strong year of rugby after playing all 16 matches for the Force last season.

REACTION: Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young expressed concerns about Joe Launchbury after the England lock went off looking groggy during Sunday's 32-22 English Premiership win over Worcester.

NEWS: The Waratahs received a timely boost with Wycliff Palu and Matt Lucas returning to the fold as part of the team's 38-man extended squad announced for the upcoming 2016 Super Rugby season. 

NEWS: Cheetahs coach Franco Smith surprised by naming midfielder Francois Venter as captain for the 2016 Super Rugby season.

REACTION: New England coach Eddie Jones would not have enjoyed this weekend's Premiership action, as more of his frontline players suffered injury setbacks.

PRO12 REPORT: Steve Shingler snatched a 21-19 victory from the jaws of defeat, as Scarlets returned to the top of the Pro12 table thanks to his last-minute kick.

REPORT: Frederic Michalak scored a penalty four minutes from time to keep champions Toulon in the hunt for the European Champions Cup knock-out rounds on Sunday.

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Shane Geraghty's second-half introduction injected life into London Irish, but the hosts were made to stave off a spirited Newcastle Falcons comeback before completing a crucial 20-15 victory.

REPORT: Ulster staged one of the great European comebacks, as they turned-over a 23-point half-time deficit in Oyonnax.

REACTION: Victor Matfield says that the East Midlands derby clash at Welford Road are why he still enjoys playing top flight rugby.

JAPAN WRAP: The Wild Knights will play the Steelers and the Brave Lupus will take on Jubilo for a spot in the LIXIL Cup Final, following the quarterfinals of the Japan Top League.

REPORT: Castres kept their slim hopes of a place in the European Challenge Cup quarterfinals alive as they beat Pau 30-21.

REACTION: Munster coach Anthony Foley has urged everyone at the province to dig deep and find the answers to rectify a disappointing defeat at Stade Francais.

REACTION: Racing Metro's star attraction Dan Carter is enjoying being a part of the Paris club's unbeaten start to the Champions Cup.

REPORT: Stade Francais, who played an entire half with just 14 men, put in a powerful performance to beat Munster 27-7 in their European Champions Cup tie on Saturday.

PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: The boot of Ben Botica finally condemned Saracens to their first defeat of the season as Harlequins ran out 29-23 winners after a sensational contest at the Stoop.

REACTION: Clermont Auvergne head coach Francke Azema has told his players that their hard-fought victory over Bordeaux will count for little or nothing if they don't back it up with a win over the Ospreys in Round Five.

REPORT: Racing 92 pummelled Glasgow in a bonus-point 34-10 victory on Saturday to put themselves firmly in the driving seat of Pool Three of the European Champions Cup.

REACTION: Edinburgh coach Alan Solomons admits his team needs to be more clinical after they beat Benetton Treviso 28-13 at Murrayfield.

INTERVIEW: The next three weeks could be season defining for Bath as they chase their European dreams with three massive matches in the Champions Cup.

NEWS: The Ospreys' medical department have confirmed that Wales scrumhalf Rhys Webb could return to action for the region in February – but have revealed that Tyler Ardron has been ruled out for up to eight weeks.

PRO12 WRAP: Jonathan Sexton pulled the strings for Leinster as the Irish province made it seven wins on the trot to go top of the Pro12.

REPORT: ASM Clermont Auvergne have taken charge of Pool Two in the Champions Cup after picking up a priceless away win at Stade Chaban-Delmas.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Star-studded yet stuttering Toulon just need time to gel, according to Australian playmaker Quade Cooper.

NEWS: One of Scarlets' promising young talents, Jack Condy, has been ruled out for up to 14 weeks having undergone reconstructive shoulder surgery on Friday.

NEWS: Jacques Engelbrecht has signed with the Southern Kings for the 2016 Super rugby season.

NEWS: Australian playmaker Matt Giteau has been ruled out for at least three weeks, Toulon coach Bernard Laporte said Friday ahead of his team's crucial string of European Cup pool matches.

NEWS: Experienced campaigners Sam Cane and Aaron Cruden will co-captain the Chiefs in 2016. 

INTERVIEW: Exeter Chiefs centre Ian Whitten says they can ill afford to take for granted their proud home record when they play host to rivals Gloucester in Saturday's Premiership clash.

NEWS: Struggling Oyonnax will have to do without explosive wing Fetu'u Vainikolo for the rest of the season after the Tongan underwent knee surgery.

NEWS: Scarlets hooker Emyr Phillips has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2015/16 season having undergone reconstructive knee surgery.

NEWS: Worcester Warriors have swooped in to sign New Zealand's Jackson Willison from French Top 14 side Grenoble ahead of the 2016/17 season.

EXCLUSIVE: Jan de Koning spoke to Golden Lions Rugby Union President Kevin de Klerk about the ongoing John Mitchell saga.

NEWS: The Melbourne Rebels pre-season schedule is set with the team announcing on Friday that they will face international heavyweights Manu Samoa in a trial match and a trip across the ditch to test their skills against the Blues.

Despite the appalling weather conditions in some regions, which saw the second leg of the 1872 Cup switched from a waterlogged Scotstoun to Murrayfield, the Pro12 still attracted sell-out crowds to the New Year's derby fixtures.

PREVIEW: Wasps will be looking to end a three-game losing streak when they meet Worcester Warriors in the final game of Round Nine of the Premiership.

Last season's beaten finalists Clermont can take control of their own destiny when they travel to Bordeaux-Begles on Friday in a European Champions Cup match rearranged due to November's Paris terror attacks.

NEWS: Edinburgh's commitment to bring through Scotland age grade talent continues in the backs with centre Chris Dean extending his contract with the capital club until May 2018. 

NEWS: England suffered a setback with the news that wing Jonny May will not play again this season, after undergoing knee surgery.

NEWS: Flank John Muldoon has signed a new contract with Connacht for the 2016/17 season, the province and the Irish Rugby Football Union announced on Thursday.

NEWS: Hooker Dave Ward has re-signed for the English Premiership outfit Harlequins, the club announced on Thursday.

Scarlets backs coach Stephen Jones says the narrow four-point void between first and sixth place in the Pro12 is making for an exiting season.

Flyhalf Matthew Morgan – regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in the Welsh game – will move to Cardiff Arms Park from Bristol from the 2016/17 season having put pen to paper on a two year contract.

INTERVIEW: Christiaan Johan Stander hasn't lost his South African accent entirely, but he is an Irishman at heart.

NEWS: The Western Force will partake in two pre-season fixtures against the Hurricanes and against the Asia Pacific Dragons ahead of this year's Super Rugby competition. 

INTERVIEW: Brumbies lock Blake Enever says the introduction to pre-season of experienced Wallabies player's drives him to improve his own game.

INTERVIEW: Jaguares and Argentina wing Manual Montero is itching to get involved in this year's Super Rugby competition.

INTERVIEW: Hard-hitting Ulster back row forward Nick Williams is hoping they can put right their disappointing defeat to Munster with a Champions Cup victory over Oyonnax.

INTERVIEW: Reds captain James Slipper believes his inexperienced team is on track to becoming a stronger and tougher side ahead of this season's Super Rugby competition.

NEWS: New Zealander Kieran Crowley dropped a massive bomb on Canada when he quit as coach, less than a month ahead of the new Americas Rugby Championship.

NEWS: Leinster wing Fergus McFadden has been slapped with a three-week ban for foul play.

NEWS: London Irish have signed Hurricanes flyhalf James Marshall for the 2016/17 season.

NEWS: England discard Andy Farrell has been appointed as Ireland defence coach.

NEWS: Dom Barrow of Leicester Tigers has received a one-week suspension, after he was charged with striking contrary to Law 10.4(a).

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: rugby365 law guru Paul Dobson looks at a couple of interesting incidents in a Premiership match at the weekend.

INTERVIEW: World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset is anticipating a game-changing 2016 for the game.

NEWS: The South African duo Abraham Steyn  and Andries van Schalkwyk are among 20 uncapped players named by Italy coach Jacques Brunel in his Six Nations training squad.

NEWS: Ireland wing Tommy Bowe has revealed that he will miss this year's Six Nations as he continues his recovery from a cruciate knee ligament injury.

NEWS: Harlequins revealed that second row forwards Charlie Matthews and Sam Twomey have re-signed with the club.

OPINION: With a new year and new season ahead, Tauriq Ebrahim dips his toes into the murky waters of the rugby world and asks whether or not anyone can catch or match the mighty All Blacks.

This is a great book about great people.

NEWS: Argentina prop Juan Pablo Orlandi has been drafted in by Pau as injury cover for the injured Sylvain Charlet.

NEWS: Bath lock Dave Attwood has been ruled out of England's Six Nations campaign after undergoing neck surgery, his club coach Mike Ford revealed on Tuesday.

NEWS: England back-row hopeful Nathan Hughes confirmed on Tuesday he has extended his contract with Premiership side Wasps.

NEWS: Marius Goosen will be Benetton Treviso's head coach again after the club parted ways with Umberto Casellato on Tuesday.

NEWS: Springbok flank Francois Louw has extended his contract with English Premiership club Bath.

NEWS: Wasps confirmed that Samoan prop James Johnston has left the club and will pursue alternative options.

Europe's Champions Cup and Challenge Cup are catching up matches postponed in the wake of the France murders in November.

England legend Austin Healey believes Saracens flank Maro Itoje will play an integral part for England this year.

NEWS: France head coach Guy Noves named hooker Guilhem Guirado as his captain ahead of this year's Six Nations tournament.

Despite festivities and  heavy rains, Europe's matches, by and large, were played.

NEW: Leinster coach Leo Cullen believes Ireland stalwart Sean O'Brien has the potential to be Ireland's next captain.

Bath head coach Mike Ford is hoping his players can lift themselves for one of Europe's toughest tests after a shock defeat at the Newcastle Falcons.

NEWS: The Australian Sevens program has named former Brumbies coach Andy Friend as their new national Men's Sevens head coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

NEWS: Former New Zealand coach John Mitchell will be the man to take the United States through to the next World Cup in Japan after he signed a four-year contract with USA Rugby.

NEWS: South African flank Schalk Burger signed a two-year contract with English Premiership champions Saracens on Monday.

NEWS: Sharks hooker Monde Hadebe headlines the latest list of recruits for the SARU-run Southern Kings.

NEWS: England international James Haskell has extended his stay in Coventry after signing a new contract with his club Wasps.

NEWS: Connacht Academy players Sean O'Brien and Peter Robb have both been rewarded with senior contracts for next season, their club and the Irish Rugby Football Union announced on Monday. 

NEWS: Following the disappointment of two narrow defeats in their derby double-header, Newport Gwent Dragons have been dealt a further blow with the news that Dorian Jones is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

OPINION: It can't get much more depressing than the current state of the nation in the Republic of South Africa. Jan de Koning asks if there's hope for 2016.

REACTION: Carl Rimmer insists Exeter Chiefs can ill afford to dwell on their loss at Northampton Saints as Premiership rivals Gloucester now loom large on the horizon.

Brumbies flank Scott Fardy says the team will stop at nothing in order to walk away with the Super Rugby title at the end of the season.

REACTION: Dean Ryan admitted his Worcester Warriors side left themselves too much to do after their comeback against Harlequins fell agonisingly short on Sunday at Sixways.

TOP 14 SUNDAY WRAP: Champions Stade Francais scored a dramatic late try in an 18-17 win over Toulouse in France's Top 14 on Sunday after Ma'a Nonu's Toulon had beaten Conrad Smith's Pau earlier in the day.

NEWS: Leinster wing Fergus McFadden has been cited after his team's 13-0 Pro12 win over Connacht at the RDS Arena last Friday.