Aviva Premiership

England winger Chris Ashton has held out an olive branch to Saints boss Jim Mallinder after suffering a bust-up with the coach after being dropped back in January.

Former England skipper and 2003 World Cup winner Lewis Moody has announced his retirement from rugby with immediate effect.

Northern hemisphere rugby has come in for a bit of a bashing again this week. Nothing new there then! Hot on the heels of Graham Henry a few weeks ago declaring England "World champions of wasting talent" due to playing "a game based on fear", his All Black coaching colleague Wayne Smith threw in his two penneth and listed 19 Kiwi fly-halves who he felt would be able to challenge for an England place.

A last-gasp penalty from Nick Evans spared Harlequins' blushes as they escaped from Kingston Park with a draw after a bruising encounter with Newcastle Falcons.

Top travel to bottom on Friday night as Harlequins take on Newcastle, there is an all-London clash at Adams Park where Wasps take on London Irish, and Sunday sees third-placed Northampton visiting second-placed Saracens.

Aviva Premiership: Week 16 Review

As the Premiership races towards the business end of the season, the battle for the last two play-off places hots up with as many as six sides still in contention below top two Harlequins and Saracens.

First, a confession: I'll firmly hold my hand up and say that when Luke Wallace's name came over the PA at the stoop saying that he was to replace openside Will Skinner (injured in the warm-up), I remember not being particularly filled with confidence.

Aviva Premiership: Week 15 Review

Gloucester travel the short distance to the Rec for the West Country derby on Saturday as the Premiership enters its 15th week.

Leicester prop Julian White has been cited in the wake of the Tigers' defeat to Exeter at the weekend.

The Aviva Premiership returns this weekend after a month's absence, with the battle for the play-offs and relegation set to continue.

Northampton wing Chris Ashton has reportedly informed Jim Mallinder he will be leaving this season, causing an apparent training ground bust-up.

Gloucester's form in the Aviva Premiership has been up and down this season.

Northampton Saints handed Harlequins their first away defeat of the season as they ran out 24-3 winners at a sold-out Franklin's Gardens on Friday night.

Week 13 of the Aviva Premiership sees in-form Northampton host league leaders Harlequins, as the Saints look to close the gap to the league leaders.

Harlequins bounced back from their first Premiership defeat of the season as they overcame Exeter Chiefs in a tight encounter at Sandy Park.

The New Year's weekend will see a full complement of fixtures in the Aviva Premiership as all twelve sides look to celebrate the New Year with some on-field fireworks.

Last year's champions and victors in Tuesday's Big Game Saracens, a ruthless machine set up to win at all costs, and Harlequins, the young pretenders to the crown.

Aviva Premiership: Week 11 Review