RFU Championship

Leeds Carnegie have announced the signing of scrum half Chris Pilgrim, 28, and centre James Fitzpatrick, 26, on two year contracts from the 2014-15 season onwards from Aviva Premiership side Newcastle Falcons.

Nottingham went down to another defeat, this time beaten 22-12 at Plymouth Albion on Friday evening.

Bedford Blues have bolstered their second row options with the capture of England Under 20s lock Harry Wells on loan from Leicester Tigers.

Chris Walker, the 22-year old Leeds Carnegie back-rower, former England Under 20s Captain and player tipped for big things in the English game has another accomplishment to add to his already impressive career – playing for Leeds alongside his younger brother Jack.

Leeds Carnegie have received a boost ahead of this Sunday's crucial Greene King IPA Championship clash with London Scottish at Headingley Carnegie with the signing of fly half Jonny Bentley on loan from Aviva Premiership side Gloucester until the end of the season.

Nottingham had what would have been a vital, and deserved win snatched away from them in controversial circumstances at the end of an absorbing afternoon's rugby.

Former British and Irish Lions head coach Sir Ian McGeechan, who is now Chairman of Leeds Carnegie, announced that the club would re-name itself Yorkshire Carnegie from the start of next season.

Another impressive defensive effort from Nottingham looked like securing a second consecutive win but the last play of the game brought a try for Jersey to snatch the points.

London Welsh go into Sunday's Greene King IPA Championship top of the table clash against Rotherham Titans at the Kassam Stadium (kick-off 2:30pm) with a point to prove, says flanker Carl Kirwan.

An impressive defensive display from Nottingham earned them a valuable win as they overcame third-placed London Scottish at rain-soaked Meadow Lane.

Nottingham flanker Tom Calladine, at just 24, already has a long list of accolades to his name, with England caps and rugby abroad in New Zealand being just two of them.

Nottingham completed their British and Irish Cup campaign, but it was another disappointing result.

Peter Browne believes London Welsh will emerge stronger for their defeats to London Scottish and Bedford Blues before Christmas, which saw the Exiles knocked off the top of the Greene King Championship table.

Former Wales scrum-half Dwayne Peel is set to join Bristol on a two-year deal from Sale Sharks ahead of the 2014/15 campaign.

In a similar way to American sports, Rugby now has its own virtual shop window where ‘free agents’ can promote themselves.

A modern day hooker must combine pace, power and an immense skill set with a flawless set piece and lineout ball. Long gone are the days of hookers slowly bumbling from breakdown to breakdown; chasing scrums and lineouts around the field.

For Ed Styles, juggling a professional rugby career with a University degree has been no easy task.

"By far the hardest thing I have ever done," said Josh Elliot when he spoke to Talking Rugby Union about his pre-season training at Ealing Rugby Club.

Well last time I did a post for Talking Rugby Union I was preparing for the RFU Championship semi final against London Welsh who we lost out to and they went on to win the Championship..

By denying London Welsh promotion to the Premiership, the RFU have opened a huge can of worms that is likely to see the matter end up in court.