London Welsh have failed to meet the minimum standards criteria for entry into the Aviva Premiership, English rugby chiefs have announced.

Newcastle have added three further new signings to their squad for next season.

Newcastle United took the latest step in their successful French revolution yesterday when Romain Amalfitano arrived in the North-east to finalise a three-year contract. The Stade de Reims midfielder agreed in principle to move to Newcastle in February, and he returned to their Benton training ground to push through his transfer from the French side, who have just won promotion to Ligue 1.

Reims midfielder becomes first of three new signings from Ligue 1 to arrive at St James'

Newcastle have signed Scotland scrum-half Rory Lawson on a two-year deal.

Former England striker Michael Owen will search for a new club this summer after confirmation he will be released by Manchester United.

It was a good idea at the time and for a little while it might just have been a brilliant one. Who could argue with that early impact of Kenny Dalglish? He came off a cruise ship last year to save the club but it was still easy to believe that there was no ocean wide enough to separate the great player and the winning manager from the realities of the game in which he had earned such distinction.

The Americans had put in a legend who bought the wrong players for top-end prices

Everton midfielder Tim Cahill has accepted a three-match ban for being sent off against Newcastle on Saturday but has accused opponent Yohan Cabaye of using language which has "no place either on or off the football pitch".

Huddersfield set up an all-Yorkshire showdown with Sheffield United at Wembley on Saturday week as they went through to the League One play-off final 3-2 on aggregate despite losing 2-1 to MK Dons.

Everton's appeal against Tim Cahill's red card in Sunday's 3-1 win over Newcastle has been rejected.

Everton are to appeal against Tim Cahill's sending off in yesterday's 3-1 win against Newcastle.

Newcastle hotshot Papiss Cisse has dismissed rumours that he could leave the club this summer.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew believes 2011-12 has been one of the finest seasons in the club's history - regardless of the fact that their bid to secure a top-four finish ultimately proved unsuccessful.