In the time Pollard has played abroad he has helped South Africa win two World Cups.He was with Montpellier when the Springboks won the title in 2019 by beating England in the final, then was called up during the 2023 tournament - after first proving his fitness with Tigers - to help them retain their crown.Pollard kicked his nation to…

Northampton: Ramm; Freeman, Odendaal, Dingwall (capt), Hendy; Smith, Mitchell; Iyogun, Langdon, Davison, Mayanavanua, Coles, Kemeny, Pollock, Augustus.Replacements: Walker, West, Green, Lockett, Scott-Young, Pearson, James, Hutchinson.Clermont Auvergne: Newsome; Delguy, Simone, Moala, Raka; Belleau, Bezy; Akhaladze, Massa, Ojovan, Simmons, Ceyte, Sowakula, Tixeront, Lee (capt).Replacements: Fainga'a, Falgoux, Ala'alatoa, Hemery, Fischer, Bousquet, Urdapilleta, Fouyssac. Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)

Last year the RFU's Tier 2 Board ran an open tender process to the whole game for any club, college or university to join the Championship - the level below the Premiership - for the 2025-26 season if they could meet the league's minimum operating standards and growth strategy. Worcester were admitted on a majority decision, but the Tier 2…

Australian hooker Julian Heaven will join Premiership side Exeter in the summer.The 24-year-old arrives from Super Rugby's New South Wales Waratahs having come up through the academy at French side Lyon.Heaven is the second Australian player to seal a summer move to Sandy Park after back-row Tom Hooper agreed to join for next season in January.Exeter have also been linked…