England hooker Dylan Hartley could be hit with the second significant ban of his professional playing career.

Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris may see justice done for the bite he believes he received on his finger last Saturday after England hooker Dylan Hartley was cited last night for the alleged offence.

Joe Worsley has been forced to retire from the game with immediate effect due to a neck problem, his club Wasps have announced.

Joe Worsley is set to miss out on playing in his fourth Rugby World Cup after being cut from England's training squad.

Matt Stevens’ return from the ignominy of a drugs ban continued today when he was confirmed in England’s 45-man Rugby World Cup training squad.

BIG games, big clashes and a big prize at the end of it all — the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals look set to provide some classic contests right out of the top drawer of European action.

Tom Croft and Courtney Lawes have been joined in England’s training squad ahead of Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown with Scotland by Harlequins pair Joe Marler and Chris Robshaw.

England manager Martin Johnson has named an unchanged team for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Italy at Twickenham.

Hendre Fourie has replaced Joe Worsley in the England squad to play Italy in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations match at Twickenham after proving he has recovered from a calf strain.

England captain Lewis Moody is likely to be sidelined for six weeks after suffering a knee ligament injury.

Ospreys coach Sean Holley has billed tomorrow’s Heineken Cup clash against struggling London Irish as a season-defining game.

Louis Deacon has been recalled to the England squad for the RBS 6 Nations as a replacement for banned Gloucester lock Dave Attwood.

PROP Tendai Mtawarira is a doubt for South Africa’s clash with England at Twickenham on Saturday after missing training yesterday with a medial knee ligament strain.

Wasps have tied down winger Tom Varndell and back row Dan Ward-Smith to new contracts.

Australian Barbarians 9 England 15

LEWIS MOODY believes Leicester’s Guinness Premiership title-winning stars can inspire England to a successful tour of Australia and New Zealand.

MARTIN JOHNSON yesterday insisted his decision to drop Jonny Wilkinson does not signal the beginning of the end for England’s World Cup-winning fly-half.

England have placed Stade Francais lock Tom Palmer on standby for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with France amid growing concerns over the fitness of Steve Borthwick.

Jonny Wilkinson has been dropped by England for only the third time in his 12-year international career.

ENGLAND manager Martin Johnson described his selection decision for Saturday’s Calcutta Cup showdown with Scotland as the toughest of his 18-month tenure.

Lewis Moody has been dropped for England’s Calcutta Cup game against Scotland on Saturday.

ROB ANDREW reiterated that England will not be releasing James Haskell to play for Stade Francais this weekend.

Rob Andrew reiterated that England will not be releasing James Haskell to play for Stade Francais this weekend.

Jonny Wilkinson today shrugged off the critics and vowed to keep his cool in the face of mounting criticism.

Jonny Wilkinson has been retained in an unchanged England team for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown with Ireland at Twickenham, despite concerns over his form and fitness.

DANNY CIPRIANI is rewarded for his “continued improvement” on the comeback trail by starting at fly-half when Wasps tackle their fellow Guinness Premiership heavyweights Leicester today.

MARTIN JOHNSON’S bid to keep his management team in place for the Six Nations could be undermined after it emerged Mike Ford is being considered for the England rugby league head coach’s job.

England 6 New Zealand 19

MA’A NONU fears embattled England are ready to “explode” as they attempt to salvage some pride from an autumn beset by problems.

NEW ZEALAND have named virtually their strongest side – including Richie McCaw and Dan Carter — for Saturday’s clash with England at Twickenham.

Ayoola Erinle will make his first England start after replacing Shane Geraghty at inside centre in the team to play New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday.

South Africa 9 British and Irish Lions 28

ONE last stand. After ten months of high octane rugby encompassing Magners League, Guinness Premiership, Heineken Cup, Challenge Cup, Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations those who have survived to this point with willing hearts and minds must summon their reserves of pride and energy for one last effort.

SOUTH AFRICA forward Schalk Burger has reacted to his eight-week suspension byinsisting: “I am not a rugby thug.”

British and Irish Lions boss Ian McGeechan has made wholesale changes for Saturday's final Test against world champions South Africa.

MEDICAL student Jamie Roberts is ready to outsmart South Africa if they target him for special attention in today’s crunch second Test in Pretoria.

Emerging Springboks 13 British and Irish Lions 13

Donncha O’Callaghan has described being appointed British and Irish Lions captain as the biggest honour of his life.

Ireland lock Donncha O'Callaghan has been given the honour of leading the British & Irish Lions against Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.

Englishman Phil Vickery is to captain the British and Irish Lions against Western Province tomorrow, the fifth game of their South African tour..

Ian McGeechan has underlined a commitment to select “what we see in front of us” for the British and Irish Lions’ Test series showdown against world champions South Africa.

THE Lions’ injury jinx will follow them into their South Africa tour opener against a Royal XV today.

The British and Irish Lions’ injury jinx will follow them into their South Africa tour opener against a Royal XV tomorrow.

PAUL O’CONNELL has revealed his burning desire for the 2009 British and Irish Lions to become legends.