Sale Sharks finished seventh in The Prem and lost 13 of 18 games in a miserable season at CorpAcq Stadium.

Playing Argentina and South Africa away from home before Fiji at Murrayfield on consecutive July weekends is a daunting prospect for Scotland in the inaugural Nations Championship.

Saracens wing Tobias Elliott is among the prospects called up for a small-scale England training camp this week.

British and Irish Lions women's head coach Jo Yapp says she will pick the best possible side for the team's inaugural tour of New Zealand next summer. It could mean the team being heavily weighted towards world champions England.

Rugby Football Union council member Matthew Smith resigns after posting discriminatory criticism of television pundit Maggie Alphonsi.

Uncapped hookers Gregor Hiddleston and Seb Stephen are named in Scotland's 36-man squad for their summer matches against Argentina, South Africa and Fiji.

The 28-year-old former Queensland Reds flanker joins Ospreys having not played in a year after being plagued by injuries.

Ireland winger James Lowe will leave Leinster at the end of the season, the province has confirmed.

Worcester Warriors sign ex-Gloucester lock Tom Savage from Super Rugby side Moana Pasifika.

Gloucester-Hartpury head coach Dan Murphy says his side's experience can help make the difference in their PWR semi-final against Trailfinders.

Munster appoint former Ireland international Jared Payne as the province's new attack coach on a two-year deal.