The England coach, Stuart Lancaster, last night received a significant helping hand from the Rugby Football Union's disciplinary class when Manu Tuilagi, a clear first choice at outside centre, was cleared to play in the three-Test series against South Africa, which begins in Durban in 10 days' time.

Stuart Lancaster is sweating on the availability of two key players for England's South Africa tour.

Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi could miss England's tour of South Africa after being cited following an incident during the Aviva Premiership final two days ago.

Today

Youngster to face Quins in final that can provide timely distraction from Premiership politics

Ben Foden is determined to give Mike Tindall a Twickenham farewell he will never forget after the former England captain was named in the Barbarians team for Sunday's non-cap international.

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.

The Way I See It: The comparison is perhaps not so much to the Bayern Munich of Gerd Müller as to the Ajax of Johan Cruyff

With or without Venter's support on the sidelines, Saracens will find their title hard to hold on to

The parallels are freakish: England will travel to South Africa in June for a five-match tour during which they will attempt to lay solid foundations for an assault on the world title a little over three years hence – just as they did in 2000. And we all know what happened then. As every coach involved in that previous trip, from Sir Clive Woodward and Andy Robinson to Brian Ashton and Phil Larder, has subsequently asserted, it was the Springbok Experience that made it all possible.

The parallels are freakish: England will travel to South Africa in June for a five-match tour during which they will attempt to lay solid foundations for an assault on the world title a little over three years hence – just as they did in 2000. And we all know what happened then. As every coach involved in that previous trip, from Sir Clive Woodward and Andy Robinson to Brian Ashton and Phil Larder, has subsequently asserted, it was the Springbok Experience that made everything else possible.

Mike Catt believes England head coach Stuart Lancaster could still tap into the expertise of Wayne Smith - despite the New Zealander turning down the chance to be involved in the national set-up.

Keith Mills was one of the longest-serving and most recognisable backroom men in the history of Wigan's rugby league club and the only man to have also played football for Wigan Athletic. Though his professional careeras a rugby league player was brief – 25 first-team games and nine substitute appearances from 1967-69 – he had more claim to the honorary title of "Mr Wigan" than many who pulled on the famous cherry and white hooped shirt more often.