Aviva Premiership

Northampton pulled seven points clear of third-placed Bath in the Aviva Premiership table after securing an edgy 36-21 win over London Irish at Franklin's Gardens.

Aviva Premiership leaders Saracens claimed a 23-18 victory over Newcastle at Kingston Park with the home side snatching a vital bonus point in their battle against relegation.

Sale kept a grip on sixth place in the Aviva Premiership and guaranteed a place in the European Rugby Champions Cup for next season with a 55-12 victory over Exeter at Sandy Park.

Wasps seized the initiative in the battle for European qualification after sweeping Gloucester aside with a 38-30 bonus-point victory at Twickenham.

Bath left it until the 77th minute to claim the four-try bonus point that lifts them back into third place in the Aviva Premiership as they overcame Worcester at the Rec.

Round 20 is the round that no-one can afford to lose... it is a weekend filled with huge Aviva Premiership clashes that mean absolutely everything to the teams involved.

Mike Brown's decisive try continued Harlequins' late charge for a place in the Aviva Premiership play-offs and ended Leicester's seven-match winning league run.

Northampton Saints flanker Tom Wood says it would be 'criminal' if his side were to tail off now and lose their spot in the top two of the Aviva Premiership table.

Aviva Premiership leaders Saracens have been told that fly-half Owen Farrell should be back in training this with no serious damage to his foot.

Aviva Premiership strugglers Worcester Warriors have announced the signing of South African prop Nick Schonert.

Responding to their demands for £14 million compensation, Rugby Football Union chief executive Ian Ritchie says that Aviva Premiership clubs will benefit from the 2015 World Cup.

Gloucester pair Tavis Knoyle and Sila Puafisi will appear before a disciplinary hearing in London this Wednesday after being sent off against Bath at the weekend.

Gloucester have identified the individual that threw a plastic bottle towards referee Tim Wigglesworth during Saturday's Aviva Premiership clash with Bath at Kingsholm.

London Irish scored six tries as they demolished a poor Newcastle side 40-12 at the Madejski Stadium in a one-sided Aviva Premiership clash.

Saracens are all but guaranteed of a home Aviva Premiership semi-final after seeing off a late Northampton comeback to win 28-24 at Allianz Park.

Exeter took five important Aviva Premiership points by beating Worcester 38-33 in a high-scoring, entertaining clash at Sixways.

Bath claimed a dramatic late Aviva Premiership victory over a Gloucester side that finished the match at Kingsholm reduced to 11 men.

Reigning Aviva Premiership champions Leicester put four tries on Wasps to keep up the pressure on second-placed Northampton with a 27-15 win at Welford Road.

Centre Vereneki Goneva has spurned the advances of Castres and decided to stay with Aviva Premiership champions Leicester Tigers, signing a new contract.

Harlequins kept their Aviva Premiership play-off hopes alive by beating Sale Sharks 27-12 at the AJ Bell Stadium.