Aviva Premiership

The top six academy sides in the Aviva Premiership convened at Allianz Park for Finals Day on Monday, with the best of the southern and northern conferences battling it out for final position in the 2015/16 table.

South Africa international Francois Hougaard has joined Worcester Warriors for the rest of the season.

Martin St Quinton has completed his full takeover of Gloucester Rugby, buying the Aviva Premiership club outright from Ryan Walkinshaw.

Wasps secured a crucial benchmark in the hunt for this season's play-offs as an eight-try, 64-23 triumph over league leaders Saracens at Allianz Park moved them into the top-four in emphatic fashion on Sunday.

Northampton crossed for five tries as they brushed aside London Irish to claim a 35-7 Aviva Premiership victory at Franklin's Gardens.

One of their best performances of the season so far helped Gloucester smash Harlequins 28-6 in their sixth Aviva Premiership victory of the season.

Bath overturned a 14-3 deficit to beat Worcester 16-14 and claim a morale-boosting Aviva Premiership victory at Sixways.

Sale held off a comeback in the second half by Exeter to claim a 23-17 win at the AJ Bell Stadium and boost their own hopes of reaching the top four of the Aviva Premiership.

Newcastle breathed life into their hopes of avoiding relegation with a stunning victory over Leicester Tigers at Kingston Park.

The 2015/16 Aviva Premiership season has now reached the halfway mark, with all teams besides Bath and Sale having played 11 of their 22 matches.

Worcester lock Tevita Cavubati has apologised after being banned for nine weeks for biting an opponent during Sunday's Aviva Premiership game at London Irish.

Tries either side of half-time from Ciaran Hearn and Andy Fenby breathed new life into London Irish's Aviva Premiership campaign as they secured a crucial 20-13 win against fellow strugglers Worcester to move off the foot of the table and move to just a point behind the Warriors.

Saracens extended their lead to five points at the top of the Aviva Premiership on Sunday with a hard-fought 14-11 win over second-placed Exeter at Sandy Park.

Harlequins' director of rugby Conor O'Shea admitted his side's 27-23 defeat to Northampton will take some time to get over after a late Ben Foden try won it for the visitors.

A second-half try from captain Josh Beaumont was enough to see Sale Sharks end Leicester Tigers' unbeaten Aviva Premiership home record with a hard fought 10-3 victory at Welford Road – only the Sharks’ second since 2003.

Former Wales international James Hook kicked five penalties as Gloucester fought back in abhorrent conditions to stun Bath 15-11 and leap to fifth place in the Aviva Premiership table - if only for 24 hours.

Chris Ashton's hopes of playing for England in the RBS 6 Nations Championship this season are over.

Edinburgh captain Mike Coman will join London Irish next season on a three-year-deal.

While all the speculation following Connor O’Shea’s announcement that this season would be his last at Harlequins has centred around where the Irishman will head next, it creates a very appetising vacancy in South-West London, one which will be intriguing to coaches from all over the world.

Wasps have announced the signing of hooker Tommy Taylor from their Aviva Premiership rivals Sale Sharks.