New Zealand

Pace, power and a path of destruction around the field are just a few of the distinct qualities about Billy Vunipola’s game, and all on the shoulders of a young 21-year-old.

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.

Rugby World Champions New Zealand will play the United States in Chicago in November, it has been announced.

Talking Rugby Union’s very own man down-under, Scotty Donaldson, in his latest article looks past international frequency and picks his Rugby Championship teams, based purely on Super Rugby form.

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.

Champions New Zealand ended the HSBC Sevens World Series in style by winning their fifth cup in London.

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

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.

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

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.

As we reach halfway in the southern hemisphere’s figurehead domestic competition, Talking Rugby Union’s southern hemisphere correspondent and resident Super Rugby expert Scotty Donaldson picks his form team of the tournament so far, with an eye towards the looming June Internationals and The Rugby Championship…

Former New Zealand captain Benji Marshall is clear to return to rugby league after being freed from his contract with the Auckland-based Blues.

Colin Slade kicked every single point for the Crusaders as they rallied from behind to beat the Chiefs 18-17 in Hamilton.

The Hurricanes scored four second-half tries to come from behind for a 39-17 victory over the Blues in Wellington.

The Southern Hemisphere rugby union press are full of this story and their old friend Quade Cooper has added his opinions. Whenever there is rugby news or debate in this part of the world, we turn to Scott Donaldson.