Best a Saint Northampton Saints continue their march back to the Guinness Premiership with a National League One match at Doncaster this afternoon boosted by news that Ireland flanker Neil Best will join them next season. The Ulsterman's signature follows that of Carlos Spencer, who has extended his contract
Johnson's escort service Martin Johnson is a prize at a fundraising dinner for Linda Uttley, 41, a former England, Lioness, Wasps and Teddington Antlers lock forward, who has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Guests at the dinner on March 14 can bid for a night out with the only England captain to lift the World Cup
Worcester's building boom Worcester Warriors have applied for planning permission for an £8m extension to their East Stand, which will take capacity to 12,000. The plans include a cantilever roof with no support pillars to restrict views. The work is part of a £23m development that will make Sixways' capacity 20,000 by 2013
Welsh waste Wales coach Warren Gatland wants the four Welsh regions to stop splashing the cash on transfers. 'I can see why they want to bring in new faces, but I would rather see them spend £200,000 on improving their facilities or a new physio and fitness adviser,' says the Kiwi, who once told Wasps he would sell England international Joe Worsley if it meant more money for facilities. 'We have to look ahead and not at a quick fix'
Clever move USA flanker Todd Clever, right, who played against England at the 2007 World Cup, has made history Stateside by becoming his country's first professional rugby player. In a nation that barely understands the concept of amateur sport, putting the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club player, who is 26 years old, on the Eagle's payroll shows that the giant is finally stirring
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Don, 80, refuses to blow final whistle Don 'Dippy' Jones, believed to be Britain's oldest ref, has celebrated his 80th birthday, but says he has no plans to hang up his whistle. Jones, from Stourbridge, takes charge of two North Midlands Society matches a week. 'I enjoy my refereeing, I have a good rapport with the players and it's still such a lot of fun, so there's no reason why I shouldn't continue,' says Jones, who goes square dancing to keep fit
Two-horse race for Lions Jake White has emerged as a contender to coach the Lions in South Africa in 2009 but the reality is the committee's reluctance to consider an overseas coach should rule out White and Warren Gatland. Brian Ashton says his priority is England's tour to Argentina, leaving Ireland's Eddie O'Sullivan and Scotland's Frank Hadden as the favourites, unless Ian McGeechan makes a late run
Tale of two Bobs There were red faces among the RFU blazers at Twickenham last Saturday when a welcome message to the 82,000 fans from RFU president Bob Taylor, a former England captain, was accompanied by a photograph and signature of his predecessor, Bob Rogers. Who said that the RFU is behind the times?