England

England finally received some comforting news ahead of their ill-fated first Test against New Zealand after Mike Brown declared himself fit for the series opener on June 7.

Leicester have signed five new players including one of the country's brightest young talents in Gloucester fly-half Freddie Burns, according to Tigers boss Richard Cockerill.

As the domestic rugby season now draws to its conclusion, rugby fans get ready to turn their gaze to the international stage and the looming summer internationals.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster has confirmed Dylan Hartley's chances of participating in next month's tour to New Zealand are diminishing.

Stuart Lancaster has dismissed any suggestion of England entering their first Test against New Zealand on June 7 intent on damage limitation.

“…There’s 35 seconds to go, this is the one… it’s coming back for Jonny Wilkinson; he drops for World Cup glory… “It’s up, it’s over, he’s done it! Jonny Wilkinson is England’s hero, yet again… England have just won the World Cup.”

Danny Cipriani is set to make his first appearance in an England squad since 2008 when head coach Stuart Lancaster names the players selected for next week's training camp.

Former England forwards specialist John Wells will step up to the role of head coach with Aviva Premiership club Newcastle next season.

New Zealand Head Coach Steve Hansen has named the first All Blacks training squad of 2014, ahead of their three tests against England this summer.

England wing Jonny May hopes he can win the right to sit his Rugby World Cup entrance exams in New Zealand this summer.

Star Worcester Warriors full-back Chris Pennell, despite the rumours over the last few weeks, insists that he is a “contracted Worcester player” and his future is at Sixways, even with talk of England opportunities and Premiership loans.

Gloucester boss Nigel Davies has said England centre Billy Twelvetrees is to be ruled out of action for “four to six weeks” and is therefore unlikely to be on the England plane to New Zealand this summer.

England will be without three Lions forwards for their looming summer tour of New Zealand – prop Alex Corbisiero and flanker Tom Croft, despite recovering from injuries will not make the tour, whilst hooker Tom Youngs will forego Test action to support his ill wife.

Stuart Lancaster will delay finalising England's touring party for June's three-Test series in New Zealand as long as possible to combat club and country fixture congestion.

Tournament bosses of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, to be hosted in England, have announced that supporters will not be segregated in the stands of each game.

Danny Cipriani has earned the right to be considered as a candidate for England's World Cup squad.

Chris Ashton is "back to his very best" and will force an England recall for the three-Test tour of New Zealand, according to Saracens boss Mark McCall.

England scrum half Danny Care believes that Saracens flyer Chris Ashton has propelled himself back into England contention after plundering the tries that have placed the London side on the brink of a first Heineken Cup crown.

Danny Cipriani hopes that guiding Sale Sharks to a top-six Aviva Premiership finish will be enough to secure his first England call-up in six years.

England and Exeter wing Jack Nowell, who broke onto the international rugby stage this year, will undergo knee surgery on a persistent problem next month, which will rule him out of England’s pinnacle summer tour to New Zealand.