Gavin Mairs

Hyron Andrews, the former Sale Sharks forward, has been found dead the day before the Johannesburg-based Lions' Champions Cup match against La Rochelle.

Blackheath FC’s history is so rich that Montague Druitt, the prime suspect in the Jack the Ripper murders, once served as the club’s secretary and director, while the fictional Dr Watson, of Sherlock Holmes fame, was described as having played for the club in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1924 classic The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire.

Bath 14 Montpellier 32 The wait for a first win by a Prem side in the opening round of the Champions Cup continues as Bath crashed to a shock defeat by Montpellier at the Recreation Ground.

After the sugar rush of the high-scoring jamboree opening to the Prem campaign, the first round of the Champions Cup proved to be a sobering comedown for England’s leading clubs.

Bath 14 Montpellier 32 After the sugar rush of the high-scoring jamboree opening to the Prem campaign, the first round of the Champions Cup proved to be a sobering comedown for England's leading clubs.

The opening round of the Champions Cup made for sobering watching for supporters of the Prem clubs. But perhaps the most uncomfortable viewer of the weekend would have been England head coach Steve Borthwick.

At the centre of a large banner that hangs on the wall at the entrance to the Saracens home changing room is a huge glass of red wine below the words “Saracens Blend”.

Maro Itoje is to commit his future with Saracens and England by signing a contract extension beyond next year’s World Cup, despite interest from several Top 14 clubs.

In the autumn of 2018, English rugby found itself at a crossroads.

History of RFU and PRL flashpoints 1997 Elite clubs form the Courage League - which will become Premier Rugby Limited (PRL). 1998 Clubs boycott