Rugby

Northampton will be keen to stop Midlands rivals Leicester from finishing as champions for a record 10th time at Twickenham.

Dylan Hartley will be out to impress and press for Lions selection when he leads Northampton into the Aviva Premiership final.

Wallabies winger Digby Ioane is a doubt for the first Test against the British and Irish Lions after a knee operation.

Danny Cipriani feels he is finally ready to take responsibility and fulfil his potential after a difficult year

Former England centre Dan Hipkiss has been forced to retire because of a shoulder injury, his club Bath said on Wednesday.

Australia flanker George Smith's knee injury is not as serious as first thought and he may recover to face the Lions.

Alex Goode and Joel Tomkins have pulled out of England's three-match tour to Uruguay and Argentina because of injury.

Former England captain Martin Johnson says the Premiership final between Leicester and Northampton will be a fantastic occasion.

British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland has ruled out offering to Jonny Wilkinson another chance to join the Lions tour.

Jonny Wilkinson has vowed to do everything he can to be ready to answer an injury SOS from the British and Irish Lions.

Lions veteran Paul O’Connell admitted he would not have been disappointed had he missed out on selection this time around.

Former England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has been named European Player of the Year.

Queenland Reds coach Ewen McKenzie has defended Quade Cooper after the fly-half was omitted by Australia for the Lions series.

Australia's Israel Folau is unknown in rugby union and says he might be able to catch the British and Irish Lions on the hop.

Jonny Wilkinson described winning the Heineken Cup with Toulon as a bigger achievement than England's 2003 World Cup triumph.

Quade Cooper has been left out of Australia's preliminary squad for the three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions.

Ireland will take six uncapped players to North America next month.

Jonny Wilkinson kicked 11 points as he led Toulon to a nail-biting 16-15 victory over Clermont in the Heineken Cup final.

Round-up: South Africa's Bulls remain on course for the Super Rugby semi-finals after a 35-18 victory over New Zealand's Highlanders.

Danie Rossouw has been included in Toulon's starting line-up for Saturday's Heineken Cup final against Clermont Auvergne.