Top 14

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.

Money and sport is an emotive issue. Footballers, we are told, are obscenely overpaid for kicking a bit of air-filled plastic around, with their manicured mates.

"Rugby may have many problems but the gravest is undoubtedly that of the persistence of summer..."

The launch of the 2012/13 French Top 14 season may still be over a month away, but there has been a raft of activity in the transfer merry-go-round...

The future of European rugby looks uncertain this off season as the Celtic unions prepare to block proposed changes by Premiership Rugby and the Ligue Nationale Rugby.

While the rise and rise of French club rugby due to the massive amounts of money being pumped into clubs across the country is nothing new, the recent influx of world class players to French shores has got the whole of the northern hemisphere talking...

At 25 years old and a rugby education very much deep rooted in the south west of England (having played for Bristol and Gloucester), I embarked on a journey to the land of Frogs legs and baguettes to play for the LOU

If you spend any time reading online rugby forums, there is a chance that at some point you will have seen a debate regarding whether the Northern Hemisphere season needs restructuring.

Leaders Toulouse saw their advantage at the top cut to a single point after a shock defeat at Bordeaux allowed Clermont to slash the gap between first and second.