At the halfway point in the season, British and Irish Lions Tommy Freeman, Marcus Smith and Tomos Williams are enduring very different emotions.

Exeter return to second place in the Prem as they beat Leicester 24-10 at a sold out Sandy Park.

Tommy Freeman scores a hat-trick as Northampton leapfrog Bath and go top of the Prem with an stellar 41-21 victory.

BBC Sport looks at another tumultuous 12 months for the men's game in Wales with Welsh rugby close to rock bottom.

Glasgow Warriors make it back-to-back wins over Edinburgh with victory in a largely drab affair at Murrayfield to win the 1872 Cup for the fourth successive season.

Leinster hold on to beat Munster 13-8 in a festive United Rugby Championship derby at Thomond Park.

Bristol Bears come from behind to beat Newcastle 36-27 but the Red Bulls score four tries to claim their first point this season.

Ulster come from behind to claim a fifth bonus-point win of their United Rugby Championship campaign against Connacht in Galway.

Theo McFarland crosses twice as Saracens beat struggling Gloucester 30-21 at Kingsholm to end a run of three successive Prem defeats.

Cardiff withstand a late Dragons charge to win 22-19 in the United Rugby Championship at the Arms Park.

Sale score five tries in a dazzling second-half performance to totally outclass Harlequins on Boxing Day.