Jonny May: How drunken call with president’s wife set up French adventure

England’s second-highest tryscorer on underdog life at Soyaux Angoulême, post-retirement plans and why age catches up with wings faster than with other players

Fittest man in rugby Seb Atkinson out to make England No12 shirt his own

Gloucester centre, who holds unofficial record for gruelling Bronco fitness test, impressed in Argentina and aims to stake his claim in the autumn internationals

Some teams still think I’m a physio, says first female Six Nations referee

Hollie Davidson reflects on her extraordinary rise into men’s senior international ranks and can handle the abuse if it means changing rugby’s landscape

How Fran Jones went from verge of quitting to Melbourne main draw

Rare genetic disorder slowed Yorkshirewoman’s early career progress, but aged 25 she has risen 91 places in world rankings to No69. So what went right?

Which centre pairing will Steve Borthwick pick for Six Nations?

After 11 consecutive victories, head coach faces welcome dilemma before Wales opener at Twickenham next month. Can he find a title-winning combination?

No league wins but sell-out crowds: Red Bull has created buzz at Newcastle

Investment in Prem strugglers by drinks company has brought full houses to Kingston Park thanks to free cans and ex-players at games — there’s sense of a team coming together

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Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu: Springbok magician with London roots

South African’s grandfather was anti-apartheid ANC activist who fled to England in 1961, where his dad grew up. Fly half spent three months at a Welsh school

How small corner of Lancashire became hotbed for England coaches

Richard Wigglesworth and Lee Blackett are latest in long line of coaches from the area who are now guiding national team’s fortunes

How high-ball law change made rugby better spectacle (and more dangerous)

Battle for air supremacy is now more important than ever, which explains why Steve Borthwick has amassed a pool of aerial experts going into the autumn fixtures

Jack van Poortvliet: I wasn’t always enjoying playing for England — now I am

From British & Irish Lions camp to potato harvests in Norfolk, Leicester scrum half embracing maturity on and off the pitch as he eyes Steve Borthwick’s squad

Fabian Holland: From rugby-mad Dutch boy to All Blacks’ rising star

Seeing New Zealand play on TV as a five-year-old in the Netherlands fuelled an obsession for Holland, who is now proving himself as their imposing second row

James Horwill: I was ready for Lions controversy… but not involving me

Former lock recalls stamping ‘circus’ that overshadowed time captaining Australia against in 2013 — and left Brian Moore fuming at judicial officer

Jofra Archer and the long, long road back to Test cricket

Sussex fast bowler has come through injury struggles and is set to play first match for England’s red-ball side in 1,596 days after help from ECB’s PDF file — and his menagerie of pets

Freddie Steward: I’ll do anything to play for England — even move to No12

Full back has rediscovered his zest with Leicester Tigers after a challenging year, but knows attacking and versatility are key to reviving his England career

Gabriel Ibitoye: Why wing makes Bristol feel like they have ‘17 players’

Wing Gabriel Ibitoye has become one of Bristol Bears’ prime creative influences and will present huge test for Bath in Gallagher Premiership play-off semi-final

Luke Cowan-Dickie: Beers were pointless — now I have a nice sugary Coke

Sale and England hooker on ‘the worst four years of my life’ and his journey from addiction and spending a night in a cell to a place in Lions squad