South Africa have been dealt a major blow ahead of the upcoming World Cup campaign with Ulster forward Marcell Coetzee ruled out of the tournament with an ankle injury.
When Northampton Saints stand-off/centre Rory Hutchinson comes off the bench for Scotland on Saturday evening to earn his first full international cap, it will not just be those near Franklin’s Gardens and north of the border who will be cheering.
Stuart Hogg was dressed to impress as best man at a friend’s wedding at the weekend, but rather than making speeches, he is now firmly focused on letting his rugby do the talking.
Wales will miss the services of fly-half Gareth Anscombe for the upcoming World Cup in Japan next month following an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
England coach Eddie Jones has named uncapped Bath fullback Ruaridh McConnochie in the 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup that kicks-off in Japan next month.
Last weekend saw the beginning of many of the northern hemisphere’s pre-Rugby World Cup campaigns. One of these games took place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. With Joe Schmidt’s Ireland playing Six Nations rivals, Italy.
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt is expecting fly-half Joey Carbery to be part of World Cup campaign later this year despite his injury setback during the recently concluded game against Italy at Aviva Stadium last weekend.
Having made his debut against Wales and faced Warren Gatland’s side during the disastrous 2015 World Cup campaign, George Ford is looking forward to facing England’s old rivals again on Sunday.
Munster's Jean Kleyn is set to make his Ireland debut in the upcoming World Cup warm-up game against Italy after he was named in the line-up by head coach Joe Schmidt for the Saturday's encounter.