Rugby Union

Hurricanes captain Brad Shields looks set to tour South Africa with England in June after handing in a formal request to the New Zealand Rugby Union.

Head coach Richard Cockerill has signed a two-year contract extension with Edinburgh, committing him to the club until 2021.

A brain injury forces Dragons centre Adam Hughes to retire from rugby, after receiving advice from a specialist.

John Barclay says the Champions Cup semi-final against Leinster will be the biggest game he has played for Scarlets.

Worcester prop Biyi Alo is to leave the Premiership club in the summer and join French second-tier side Soyaux Angouleme.

Centre Jonathan Joseph is set to miss England's tour of South Africa as he requires surgery on a foot injury.

Glasgow Warriors prop Jamie Bhatti signs a new one-year contract following a "whirlwind" first full year as a professional.

Northampton Saints lock Christian Day is to retire at the end of the season after 17 years as a professional.

Team news as Gloucester host Newcastle Falcons in Friday's European Challenge Cup semi-final at Kingsholm (19:45 BST).

BBC Sport Wales' Dafydd Pritchard examines why Scarlets' Champions Cup semi-final against Leinster is so significant for the Welsh side.

All Blacks great Dan Carter says he is more motivated than ever as he looks to end his top-level career by winning the Champions Cup.

Newcastle Falcons sign Samoan prop Logovi'i Mulipola from Premiership rivals Leicester Tigers on undisclosed terms.

Stuart Hogg endorses the benefits of sports psychology after Jason O'Halloran claims Scottish rugby is '20 years behind' New Zealand.

Yorkshire Carnegie flanker Brandon Staples is banned for four years after testing positive for the presence of three steroids.

Five Spain players have been given bans for confronting the referee after their team's controversial World Cup qualifying defeat by Belgium in March.

In a special Rugby Union Weekly podcast with international referee Wayne Barnes, Danny Care and Ugo Monye disagree on what the forward pass rule should be.

New Zealand scrum-half Brad Weber becomes the first top-level rugby player to condemn Israel Folau's anti-gay comments.

The UK man will contest charges that he punched Australia's rugby sevens captain James Stannard.

Leicester's Telusa Veainu expects training to involve a few "punch-ups" after a below-par display in defeat by Northampton.

Ulster players express "sadness" at the departures of Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding following the termination of their contracts.