Alex Bywater

ALEX BYWATER: The New Year brings new possibilities and 2025 has the potential to be a truly brilliant 12 months for the game of rugby union.

ALEX BYWATER IN BRISTOL: The presence of American broadcasters is not a common sight at English club rugby press conferences, but the CNN cameras were rolling here on Wednesday.

ALEX BYWATER: Northampton and Leicester have already secured their passage to the latter rounds, while Saracens only need a point to join them. Mail Sports look at five things to look our for.

The celebrated international star has been forced to retire due to troublesome injuries Repeated physical problems have hampered the star over the past two years

ALEX BYWATER: A former England and British & Irish Lions superstar has made the difficult decision to end their career at 30-years-old amidst a myriad of serious injury complaints in recent years.

ALEX BYWATER AT THE STADE ERNEST-WALLON: This was an afternoon of untold misery for Leicester as they were ripped apart by a simply majestic French side.

England coach Steve Borthwick has finally secured the services of a performance coach to complete his international set-up, but the Saracens man won't be in place for the Six Nations.

Alex Mitchell has given England coach Steve Borthwick a big fitness boost with the Northampton scrum-half set to be fit for the start of the Six Nations.

After taking part in the NFL's International Player Pathway, Rees-Zammit signed for the Kansas City Chiefs before switching to Jacksonville. The 23-year-old is currently a free agent.

ALEX BYWATER: Warren Gatland's Wales team are favourites to finish bottom of the pile in 2025, a year after going winless to pick up the dreaded wooden spoon in the Six Nations.