Stuart Lancaster

Rugby Football Union chief executive Ian Ritchie expressed sadness that Manu Tuilagi and Dylan Hartley will miss the Rugby World Cup due to disciplinary issues but maintains hosts England are capable of winning the tournament.

England full-back Mike Brown is free from concussion symptoms but will not be rushed into contact training.

Matt Dawson insists England's World Cup preparations are unscathed by the recent flurry of disciplinary issues to have troubled the squad.

A tumble on a toy snake that landed a pile of dirty nappies on Joe Marler's face nearly handed the England prop a World Cup setback.

England are waiting for more details before commenting on Danny Cipriani's arrest on suspicion of drink driving following an early morning car crash.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster barely had time to catch his breath this weekend, firstly taking in the Aviva Premiership final on Saturday, before coaching an England XV to a record-breaking 73-12 victory over the Barbarians at Twickenham.

England are expected to announce they have dropped Dylan Hartley from their Rugby World Cup training squad today, after his latest ban for headbutting Jamie George.

Following on from our look yesterday at the forwards in England’s training squad for the Rugby World Cup, we now turn our attention to the backs.

Last week saw Stuart Lancaster select his provisional 50 man World Cup training squad, and with it he proved that he stuck by his principles of not selecting players plying their trade outside of England.

Dylan Hartley's World Cup hopes are under severe threat after the England hooker was hit with a four-week ban for headbutting Saracens' Jamie George.

Stuart Lancaster announced his 50-man training squad for the Rugby World Cup last week, and though there were a couple of notable absentees, it has been generally well-received.

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.

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.

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.

Steffon Armitage and Nick Abendanon will miss out on England's World Cup training squad as Stuart Lancaster holds firm on his overseas-player selection policy.

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 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.