New deal for Payne
Ulster have announced a new three-year contract for full-back Jared Payne.
Ulster have announced a new three-year contract for full-back Jared Payne.
Ulster fullback, Jared Payne, has signed a new three-year deal with the club that will see him remain at Ravenhill until at least the summer of 2016.
Scotland interim head coach Scott Johnson has named nine uncapped players in a 31-man squad for next month's international tournament in South Africa.
Uncapped Wasps flanker Sam Jones is among the latest additions to a strong Barbarians squad for their games against England and the British and Irish Lions.
Ulster's status as table-toppers was reflected in last night's glittering RaboDirect PRO12 awards ceremony in Dublin.
If, as used to be the case, a league competition was just that and things were exactly as described on the figurative tin, Ulster would be 2012-13 RaboDirect PRO12 champions at this stage.
Glasgow Warriors have confirmed that Fijian scrum-half Niko Matawalu has extended his contract until May 2015.
Leinster have announced the appointment of Australian Matt O'Connor as their new head coach.
Brian O'Driscoll has been losing a lot of sleep of late, but none of it to do with being overlooked for the Lions captaincy in favour of Sam Warburton. "I've known for a few weeks that I wasn't going to be captain," said O'Driscoll, whose 12-week-old first child, Sadie, is the cause of the insomnia.
Australia captain James Horwill has re-signed with the Australian Rugby Union and Queensland Reds in a deal which will take him through to the 2015 World Cup.
South Africa edged out rivals New Zealand 28-21 to lift the Ned Haig Cup in the Emirates Airline Glasgow Sevens at Scotstoun Stadium.
A faultless kicking display from Dan Carter and some superb running rugby saw the Crusaders end the Brumbies unbeaten home record in 2013 with a merited and hard-fought 30-23 victory at Canberra Stadium.
Sam Warburton's rapport with referees was a key factor in his appointment as British and Irish Lions captain, according to head coach Warren Gatland.
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall hailed a "big achievement" for his side after seeing them finish top of the regular season standings for the first time.
Leicester Tigers boss Richard Cockerill admitted his side would have to be "dead, dead right" if they want to beat Harlequins next weekend to reach a ninth successive Aviva Premiership final.
Lyn Jones has sent a stark warning to the London Welsh board as they head towards almost certain relegation from the Aviva Premiership.
Harlequins boss Conor O'Shea is relishing the prospect of an "incredibly exciting" Aviva Premiership play-off semi-final when the defending champions visit second-placed Leicester Tigers next Saturday.
Sale Sharks' director of rugby Steve Diamond admits that he was disappointed with their performance against London Wasps despite securing a 21-20 victory.
Exeter head coach Rob Baxter hailed his side's passion after they secured Heineken Cup rugby for a second successive season with a dramatic 40-39 win over Gloucester.
Leigh Halfpenny is determined to make his mark for the Lions in Australia, and erase the memory of the injury woes which blighted his tour of South Africa four years ago.
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Three-day festival underway in Derry
The Blues were undone by the goal-kicking of centre Christian Lealiifano, who kicked the Brumbies to a 20-13 Super Rugby win at Eden Park.
Real Madrid ambassador Zinedine Zidane believes Gareth Bale is among the top three players in the world and "more than good enough" for the Spanish giants.
Frank Lampard hopes Chelsea team-mate John Terry can follow him by signing a new contract with the club.
Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott expects the squad to quickly put the disruption of Roberto Mancini's sacking behind them this summer.