RFU Championship

Impressive away victories for both Bristol Rugby and Doncaster Knights on Sunday has put both in pole position to meet in the Championship play-off final, writes Lewis Hughes.

Championship title contenders Bristol, Yorkshire Carnegie and Doncaster have all met minimum standards criteria that would allow them to play in the Aviva Premiership next season.

After flirting with relegation all season long, the worst was all but confirmed for London Irish when they lost 13-6 to Newcastle Falcons in Round 20 of the Aviva Premiership.

Kevin Sinfield will finally bring his dual-code playing career to an end next month but says he could return to Headingley in an administrative capacity.

Former England assistant coach James Lowes, who quit as boss of Bradford Bulls at the weekend, has returned to rugby union as a consultant with his old club Yorkshire Carnegie.

London Irish are resigned to seeing their international contingent thinned if they are relegated from the Aviva Premiership, but head coach Tom Coventry believes the majority of the squad will stay.

Scotland centre Alex Grove has left Aviva Premiership club Worcester on loan for an unspecified amount of time, joining London Scottish in the Greene King IPA Championship.

Bristol captain Dwayne Peel's return to first team action has been deferred until March.

Alex O’Meara talks to Talking Rugby Union about his late start in rugby, coming back from injury and his move to Cornish Pirates.

Kevin Sinfield says he is ready to play this weekend should Yorkshire Carnegie head coach Bryan Redpath select the former Leeds Rhinos captain in his squad to face Bedford in the Championship.

Championship club Bristol have announced the appointment of former England captain Steve Borthwick as forwards coach.

Former Wales captain Ryan Jones has announced his retirement from professional rugby with immediate effect.

Ealing Trailfinders’ new prop Sam Rodman says he has settled in well at Trailfinders Sports Club after recently signing his first professional rugby contract.

When London Welsh's Guy Armitage comes up against Doncaster Knights and his brother Bevon, any brotherly love will be put to one side as the Greene King IPA Championship gets underway on 5th September.

The 2015/16 British & Irish Cup fixtures have been revealed as the cross-border competition enters its seventh year.

London Welsh have confirmed that Matt Corker will captain the Exiles for the 2015/16 season.

Winger Josh Drauniniu has unfinished business at London Welsh, where he is heading back to spearhead their attempts to win a third Championship title in four years.

London Welsh have confirmed that they will return to their Old Deer Park ground in south-west London, leaving Oxford's Kassam Stadium, in time for the 2015/16 season.

London Welsh have announced the departure of the club's chief executive Mike Stevens.

London Scottish is pleased to announce the signing of England Students captain Freddie Clarke on a one-year deal.