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Weekend predictions: Prem, PRO14, Top 14
James Harrington runs the rule over the Aviva Premiership and PRO14 finals, plus the Top 14 semifinals, to predict which player will shine brightest, who will have an afternoon to forget and a whole lot more.
Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images
Barbarians
Ashton returns to Twickenham with point to prove
Chris Ashton pauses when asked how he might be received by the Twickenham crowd on Sunday. "I might have been forgotten," he says with a smile, "hopefully!"
Andrew Surma/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Tipuric to fulfil 'special' ambition with Baa-Baas
Wales back row Justin Tipuric has postponed plans for a rest in order to fulfil a childhood dream at Twickenham on Sunday.
Top rugby headlines
Rugby
Moody, Franks bans at odds with safety focus
Given all the talk of player safety being a priority in rugby, the two-week bans handed to All Blacks props Joe Moody and Owen Franks are grossly inadequate, Craig Dowd writes.
Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images
Tahs' win must be the beginning, not the end - Growden
A second Waratahs triumph in a row over a Kiwi opponent is far from a faint dream - it should be an anticipated non-negotiable. They must convince themselves they are dominators, not spectators -- Greg Growden writes.
England
Saracens reluctant to let Sanderson go
Saracens would be reluctant to lose Alex Sanderson to England after Mark McCall revealed he is seen as his eventual successor as the club's director of rugby.
England: Who could replace Gustard?
Paul Gustard's decision to join Harlequins has given Eddie Jones a headache he could have done without on the road to Japan. ESPN looks at three candidates to plug England's defensive hole.
All Blacks
Taufua's All Blacks selection a lesson in persistence
Brad Shields may have decided his future lay elsewhere but Jordan Taufua's ascension to the All Blacks shows that talented New Zealanders should never give up on Test rugby, Craig Dowd writes.
Phil Walter/Getty Images
Hansen: Shields 'would have been an All Black'
Steve Hansen has claimed Brad Shields would have been an All Black this year had he not switched allegiance to England.
Aviva Premiership
Vunipola set to start Premiership final
Billy Vunipola is expected to start Saracens' Aviva Premiership final against Exeter at Twickenham on Saturday despite coming off at halftime in Saracens' semifinal victory over Wasps.
Willis to miss England tour of SA
Wasps' Jack Willis has been ruled out for up to a year after suffering "a significant multi-ligament injury to his right knee" in the defeat to Saracens, the club have announced.
Weekend Review
Weekend review: Player of the weekend, flop & more
Plenty was sorted out over an enthralling few days but who shone, who had a weekend to forget and what will fans be talking about ahead of a busy period of domestic action?
Rebooted: Australia's drought breakers
After 40 games, Australia finally saw the end of their New Zealand hoodoo with the Waratahs putting on a slick display to thump the Highlanders, while the deliberate knockdown debate continues to rage.
Six-try Saracens book Premiership final place
Saracens ran in six tries to book their place in next Saturday's Aviva Premiership final with a 57-33 victory over Wasps at Allianz Park.
Super Rugby
Super Rugby
In or out? SARU must end SANZAAR gossip
The Royal Wedding may be the headline act in London this week but a meeting to discuss a union already 20 years old will also take place. It's time SANZAAR puts the heat on South Africa and seeks some clarity around its position in the alliance.
Should South Africa ditch SANZAAR?
KweséESPN's John Goliath looks at some of the pros and the cons if SA Rugby decides to ditch their southern-hemisphere partners for their northern counterparts.
Barbarians-like Sunwolves are Super Rugby's entertainers
Amidst the continual Waratahs bleat over 'we wuz robbed' refereeing decisions, an important Super Rugby moment has been overlooked -- a group of battlers have at last been rewarded for their initiative, writes Greg Growden.
news - uk rugby
Russia handed 2019 World Cup spot
Russia have been handed a place in the 2019 Rugby World Cup after an independent disputes committee found Romania and Spain had committed eligibility violations during qualification.
Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
Clive Rowlands: One of rugby's great personalities
Huw Richards
England
England must deliver for Jones in South Africa
Eddie Jones has tasked England with solving the issues that blighted their Six Nations campaign as he seeks to find the final 30 percent of his Rugby World Cup squad in South Africa.
England's new faces: Who are they?
England coach Eddie Jones has included seven new faces in his squad for next month's tour of South Africa. ESPN gives you the lowdown on those hoping to impress.
Rugby
5 players who need to impress Springbok coach
With only three weekend's left before Rassie Erasmus announces his Springbok squad, KweséEPN looks at some of the players who can still twist the coach's arm for a spot in the June Tests.
Henry Browne/Getty Images for Barbarians RFC
Rugby
Aus rugby needs contract 'fear factor' - Growden
Rugby Australia should propose a player pay cut from Israel Folau down, using the money saved to provide much needed funding at the lower levels. That will at least help Australia's skill levels in years to come, Greg Growden writes.
Mark Evans/Getty Images
Rugby
Fans vote with their feet, but Tahs can't produce the goods
Rugby fans voted with their feet on Saturday night with thousands flooding Brookvale Oval to watch the Waratahs take on the Blues in the first ever Super Rugby match at the Northern Beaches ground.
Mark Evans/Getty Images
Louw: 'Nobody in South Africa took rugby more seriously'
Huw Richards
Rugby World Cup
Exclusive: No regrets as Piutau holds onto World Cup dream
Charles Piutau tells ESPN why he is refusing to give up on his dream of playing at a Rugby World Cup, and what the game needs to do to help the Pacific nations.
Oliver McVeigh/Sportsfile via Getty Images
Top Headlines
Don't Miss...
- Andrew Surma/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Chris Ashton returns to England with the Barbarians hoping to make a splash
Chris Ashton pauses when asked how he might be received by the Twickenham crowd on Sunday. "I might have been forgotten," he says with a smile, "hopefully!"
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