England lock Ollie Chessum will return to Leicester Tigers' starting XV on Sunday as his side host Saracens in the Gallagher Premiership.
England captain Maro Itoje will return to captain a Saracens side containing four of his international team-mates during the Guinness Six Nations when they host Harlequins in the Gallagher Premiership on Saturday.
Leinster maintained their unbeaten league record with an 11th straight success in a hard-fought 22-19 win over Ospreys in Swansea.
Last week’s post-Christmas block of fixtures took us beyond the halfway point in this season’s Gallagher Premiership and a number of the round nine results have certainly whetted the appetite as English ruby welcomes in the new year.
It was the French who caught the eye in round one with six of their eight teams winning, including Stade Rochelais and Toulon away from home.
This weekend’s return of the Gallagher Premiership following a five-week hibernation was given its banner headline on Wednesday when Joe Marler confirmed he will retire from playing with immediate effect following Friday night’s Harlequins match at home to Bristol.
Cardiff back row James Botham has been drafted into Warren Gatland's Wales squad ahead of their encounter with world champions South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday.
Fit-again Cameron Redpath has been handed an entirely new role Bath this Saturday when he plays his first rugby match since seriously injuring his knee last May.
We have assembled U23 squads for all 14 of the Guinness PRO14 sides to see which of the teams has the brightest future moving forward.
With one eye on this year’s Junior World Championship to be staged in Argentina, Wales U20 head coach Gareth Williams is excited at the prospect of watching his Six Nations squad develop into a major threat.
