England

Danny Cipriani views his selection in England's World Cup training squad as the ultimate justification for his decision to return to the Aviva Premiership.

England’s Ugo Monye, New Zealand’s Brad Thorn and South Africa’s Ruan Pienaar were today added to a 30-strong Barbarians squad to face Ireland and England.

Joe Launchbury will make his first international appearance in nearly a year at Twickenham on Sunday after being named in an England XV squad to face the Barbarians.

England and Bath fly-half George Ford has been crowned Aviva Premiership Player of the Season for 2014-15 to cap an outstanding year for club and country.

Stuart Lancaster has defended the omission of overseas-based players from his World Cup training squad by arguing their selection would only weaken the English game.

England have named wings Chris Ashton and David Strettle in a 50-man World Cup training squad that also includes rugby league convert Sam Burgess.

Maro Itoje has the maturity and leadership skills to thrive in England's World Cup training squad, according to Saracens team-mate Billy Vunipola.

Mike Ford believes Sam Burgess is ready for Test match rugby as a flanker despite just four Aviva Premiership appearances in the back row.

England secured a rugby sevens berth for Great Britain at next year's Rio Olympics on Saturday after reaching the quarter-finals of the Sevens World Series at Twickenham.

England centre Manu Tuilagi has been banned from playing for his country and will miss the World Cup after pleading guilty to two counts of assaulting a police officer.

Bath and England centre Jonathan Joseph received double recognition at the annual Rugby Players' Association awards by winning the two top accolades available.

‘If there are better wingers in England than he at the minute I would be interested to know who they are’ - David Humphreys

Wasps scrum-half Joe Simpson will be out for up to two months with the knee problem he sustained in Saturday's Aviva Premiership defeat by Leicester.

World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson thinks if Steffon Armitage or Nick Abendanon wanted to play for England in the 2015 tournament they should be playing club rugby in the Aviva Premiership.

Sam Burgess's versatility to cover centre and back-row is the "added string to his bow" that can secure Rugby World Cup selection, according to Mike Ford.

Former England star Jason Robinson believes that Stuart Lancaster should adhere to current selection policy for next week's World Cup training squad announcement.

Steffon Armitage and Nick Abendanon will soon discover if they have a potential role to play at the World Cup after England confirmed they will announce their initial training squad on May 20.

England Students faced their Welsh counterparts on Wednesday evening at the Caerphilly Centre of Sporting Excellence.

The NFL Draft took place in Chicago last week, as franchises infused their rosters with fresh talent ahead of 2015 NFL season.

Bath pair George Ford and Jonathan Joseph, Harlequins skipper Joe Marler and Saracens number eight Billy Vunipola have been shortlisted for the England player of the year award, voted for by the Rugby Players' Association.