Aviva Premiership

Gloucester rugby director David Humphreys believes the team is showing signs of improvement in form as they resume their 2016/17 Aviva Premiership campaign against Northampton Saints at Franklin's Gardens on Friday.

Leicester Tigers' campaign in the 2016/17 season has suffered a major blow as Australian centre Matt Toomua will be facing a lengthy rehabilitation period following a knee injury.

Gloucester lock James Hudson has confirmed his decision to retire from professional rugby on medical advice.

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter has included five England-based players in the squad for the autumn internationals.

After our look in the opening weeks of the season at the English-qualified player numbers that each Aviva Premiership club are deploying, we have continued to monitor the numbers as the season goes on.

England international Chris Ashton has announced his decision to switch from Saracens to Toulon at the end of the ongoing season.

Tonga prop Taione Vea has announced his decision to retire from professional rugby with immediate effect following a spinal injury.

Former Wasps and Worcester hooker Edd Shervington has agreed to a short-term deal with Aviva Premiership club Bristol.

Wales' upcoming campaign against Australia has received a shot in the arm after Premiership Rugby has decided to release the players as "a gesture of flexibility".

With Aviva Premiership squads larger than ever, the Aviva A League is becoming more and more important for younger players as a means of pressing their claims for playing time with the senior team.

Wasps boss Dai Young insisted that the relationship between the Aviva Premiership clubs and England national team will continue to be on the right side despite the recent argument over the Brighton camp training.

Harlequins are a tough team to evaluate this year, with their contrasting home and away form, but one area where they have definitely made a significant stride forward is at the scrum.

Saracens lock Maro Itoje aspires to maintain a new run of winning streak as he heads into the European Rugby Champions Cup game against Toulon.

Harlequins have confirmed that flanker Luke Wallace has extended his contract with the Aviva Premiership club.

The meeting held between Premiership Rugby coaches and the Rugby Football Union in London on Thursday ended on a positive note.

Jimmy Gopperth capped a stellar start to the new season by being named Aviva Premiership Rugby Player of the Month for September.

Leicester Tigers have announced the signing of Argentina international Tomas Leonardi as a replacement for injured Mike Williams.

Saracens head coach Mark McCall insisted that the meeting to be held on Thursday between the Premiership Rugby clubs and head coach of England Eddie Jones need not be an agitated one.

Wasps have confirmed on Wednesday that fly-half Jimmy Gopperth has signed a fresh contract with the Aviva Premiership club.

Sale Sharks centre Johnny Leota has been suspended for two weeks by the Rugby Football Union after he was sanctioned for a dangerous tackle during the Aviva Premiership game last week.