Top 14

Fly-half Jonny Sexton faces a race against time to be fit for Ireland’s autumn international Test series after breaking his jaw in action with his French club Racing Metro.

Johnny Sexton is expected to complete a four-year deal to return from France to former club Leinster at the end of the coming season.

Saracens will open their European Rugby Champions Cup campaign by renewing hostilities with Clermont Auvergne, the French side they trounced to reach last term's Heineken Cup final.

Iain Balshaw has announced his retirement from professional rugby.

English champions Northampton and Heineken Cup runners-up Saracens have been handed tough European draws next season.

Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland has said that he may consider not selecting players based in England in the future.

Cardiff Blues centre Dafydd Hewitt will bring up a decade of service next season after completing a new contract with the Arms Park outfit.

World Cup Winner Bryan Habana has admitted that the change of nationality for Munster’s South African-born flanker CJ Stander is a real “loss” for the Boks, after the news broke that the forward has now qualified to play for Ireland through residency.

Saracens chief executive Ed Griffiths says the creation of the European Rugby Champions Cup is a 'win-win' situation for Northern Hemisphere rugby.

The two-year deadlock on the future of top-flight European rugby is over and Bill Beaumont has hailed Ian Ritchie as a vital peace broker between the parties involved.

Jonny Wilkinson believes that his role as an unofficial coach at Toulon could help extend his career.

Wales and British Lions full-back Leigh Halfpenny as of today looks set to sign for Toulon in the French Top 14.

Big-money imports to the Top 14 are damaging France's national team development, according to captain Pascal Pape.

Ireland and Lions second-row Paul O’Connell has signed a new two-year deal with the IRFU to stay in Munster until at least June 2016; rejecting the lure of a move to France.

For the first time Toby Flood has spoken-out about his decision to move from Leicester at the end of the season to France.

After much contention, Ireland flanker Sean O’Brien has agreed to stay on with three-times Heineken Cup winners Leinster.

Full-back Delon Armitage has signed a two-year contract extension with French side Toulon, which lessens the likelihood of him playing for England in the 2015 World Cup.

The Rugby Football Union is confident European competition can be salvaged for next season with chief executive Ian Ritchie warning the alternative would be vastly inferior.

Welsh and British Lions star centre Jamie Roberts, who is currently applying his trade in France, looks set to make his first appearance in over three months when Racing Metro play Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop on Sunday afternoon.

England and France, neighbours, historical enemies and now united in the Rugby Champions Cup. The clubs on both sides of the channel are clear that they do not want to remain part of the Heineken Cup, at least in its current format.