The British and Irish Lions have announced the appointment of former Scotland team manager Guy Richardson as director of operations for the tour of Australia in 2013.

Scotland’s scrum-half crisis eased today following positive reports on the fitness of Rory Lawson and Mark McMillan.

The Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) has appointed George Graham and Alan Tait to full-time coaching positions with the national team.

Scotland lock Stuart Grimes today failed in his attempt to overturn a two-match suspension and will miss Saturday’s second Test against Australia.

An 11 nation advance team for Afghanistan’s international peacekeeping force has arrived in Kabul to assess what needs to be done before the arrival of foreign troops joining the British forces already providing security there.