James Haskell has branded himself a trainee British and Irish Lion - but still expects a brutal challenge touring New Zealand where he joked "everyone wants to offer you out for a fight".
Richie Gray and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne have been ruled out of Scotland's summer tour through injury.
The Rugby Players' Association has described plans to extend the domestic season in England as "not viable" and insist it will put player welfare at risk.
Warren Gatland has delivered a positive squad fitness bulletin as the British and Irish Lions continued New Zealand tour preparations without England powerhouse Billy Vunipola.
The British and Irish Lions have been dealt a crushing injury blow after England number eight Billy Vunipola withdrew from the New Zealand tour.
Denny Solomona is a major doubt for England's Argentina tour after suffering a foot injury in training.
Wasps have vowed to stick to their blitz attack principles in Saturday's Aviva Premiership final - with or without injury doubt Kurtley Beale.
Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder was a relieved man as Saints just held off Connacht 21-15 to keep alive their hopes of European Champions Cup qualification for next season.
Kurtley Beale faces a race against time to be fit to end his stint at Wasps by featuring in the Aviva Premiership final.
Table toppers Munster booked their place in next Saturday's Guinness PRO12 final with a runaway 23-3 victory over Ospreys at Thomond Park.
Josh Bassett's late try sent Wasps into their first Aviva Premiership final for nine years as they edged out Leicester Tigers 21-20 at the Ricoh Arena.
Northampton kept alive their hopes of playing in the European Champions Cup next season with a hard-fought 21-15 victory over Connacht in the second play-off at Franklin's Gardens.
Exeter ended Saracens' hopes of a second successive European and domestic double in dramatic fashion at Sandy Park.
Scarlets reached their first ever Guinness PRO12 final after defeating much-fancied Leinster 27-15 at the RDS despite having Steff Evans sent off before half-time.
Cardiff Blues' hopes of playing Champions Cup rugby next season came to an end in Paris as they were beaten 46-21 by Stade Francais in their play-off semi-final clash.
The "fear of God" may have been lifted from the Scotland squad but Zander Fagerson insists there will be no slacking now that Gregor Townsend is in charge.
Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones will make his comeback from injury when the Ospreys face Guinness PRO12 play-off opponents Munster on Saturday.
Scotland wing Tommy Seymour is "living a dream" following his British and Irish Lions selection to tour New Zealand.
Rory Hughes and Greig Tonks have been drafted into the Scotland squad after injury forced Saracens wing Sean Maitland to withdraw.
Ian Ritchie has "no regrets" over hiring Stuart Lancaster, insisting the former England head coach helped end civil war at the Rugby Football Union.
England captain Dylan Hartley could be edging towards a British and Irish Lions call-up following an injury scare surrounding Wales hooker Ken Owens.
Changes to the qualification process have been announced for the European Champions Cup competition.
Jimmy Gopperth has swept the board in English rugby's top awards by being named the Aviva Premiership player of the season.
Newcastle's Aviva Premiership 'home' game against double European champions Saracens next season will be played in Philadelphia.
Rugby Football Union chief executive Ian Ritchie is to retire at the end of the summer.
Scotland prop Simon Berghan has signed a two-year contract extension with Edinburgh.
Leicester captain Tom Youngs is keen to lead his team in Saturday's Aviva Premiership semi-final against Wasps.
Eddie Jones has insisted he does not care about the specifics of Test rugby's eligibility rules - and will pick anyone who qualifies for England.
Edinburgh have signed South African winger Duhan van der Merwe from Montpellier.
England will start the defence of their RBS 6 Nations Championship title away to Italy.
Taulupe Faletau is relishing an inevitably ferocious battle for back-row starting places on the British and Irish Lions' New Zealand tour.
Iain Henderson has no doubt that Ireland's stunning victory over world champions New Zealand six months ago can help the British and Irish Lions this summer.
