Aviva Premiership

As Saracens captain Steve Borthwick prepares to make a record 263rd Aviva Premiership appearance, head coach Mark McCall has blasted the 'damaging' criticism he received as England skipper.

Saracens chief executive Ed Griffiths says the creation of the European Rugby Champions Cup is a 'win-win' situation for Northern Hemisphere rugby.

Aviva Premiership's seventh-placed side Wasps, Gloucester in eighth and Exeter Chiefs one place behind now have an eye on Europe following the creation of European Rugby Champions Cup.

From the start of next season, Sale Sharks will stage their home matches at the AJ Bell Stadium at 2pm on Saturdays.

The two-year deadlock on the future of top-flight European rugby is over and Bill Beaumont has hailed Ian Ritchie as a vital peace broker between the parties involved.

Sale Sharks will be treating their Aviva Premiership clash with Harlequins tomorrow (11th April) as if it is a Cup semi-final as they push for a play-off place.

Versatile London Welsh back-row forward Mitch Lees has signed for Exeter Chiefs on a two-year deal which begins at the start of next season.

Saracens director of rugby will be playing it safe with England full-back Andy Goode, who was concussed during Saturday's Heineken Cup quarter-final win over Ulster.

England prop Joe Marler has signed a new contract with Harlequins that will keep him at Twickenham Stoop until 2016.

Worcester director of rugby Dean Ryan was under no illusions about the task still ahead of his side after the Warriors gave themselves an outside chance of avoiding relegation with a 17-12 victory at Newcastle.

As every Aviva Premiership Round finishes you think that it cannot get any more dramatic but the next round arrives and proves that it absolutely can do!!

Worcester gave themselves a fighting chance in their relegation battle by ending a 22-match Aviva Premiership losing run with a hard-fought 17-12 victory over fellow strugglers Newcastle at Kingston Park.

Saracens maintained their position at the top of the Aviva Premiership table with a bonus point 32-20 win over local rivals Wasps at Adams Park.

Leicester made it eight Aviva Premiership games unbeaten as they consolidated their place in the title play-offs with a 22-16 win over Northampton at Franklin's Gardens.

In-form Sale snatched a typically gritty 12-11 victory at third-placed Bath to press their claims of an Aviva Premiership play-off place.

Bath will be looking to bring Sale's late push for a place in the Aviva Premiership play-offs to a halt at the Recreation Ground on Friday night.

Round 17 of the Aviva Premiership was one of the most emotional rounds yet. It produced massive highs and extreme lows and continued to show exactly why the Aviva Premiership is one of the most exciting and competitive leagues in the world.

Scotland prop Geoff Cross has signed for London Irish on a two-year deal.

Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill remains hopeful of holding on to winger Vereniki Goneva despite interest from France.

Leicester consolidated fourth place in the Aviva Premiership with a six-try thumping of Exeter at Welford Road on Sunday.