England's Premiership Rugby is confident of completing a "landmark" investment deal with a private equity company by the end of the year, according to senior figures within the organisation.

Flyhalf Johnny Sexton signed a new deal with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) on Tuesday that committed him to Ireland and Leinster until the end of 2020-21 season.

South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus and his assistants are to spread out across the country’s four Super Rugby teams to offer support as they look to harmonise preparations for next year's World Cup in Japan.

Mako Vunipola has vowed to fight his way back into England head coach Eddie Jones' plans ahead of next year's Six Nations and World Cup after the prop spent more than two months out of action with a calf injury.

South Africa will play only two home tests next year during a curtailed build-up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, with Johannesburg and Pretoria set to host the matches.

A decision on the future of Wallabies coach Michael Cheika should be "wrapped up" by Christmas after he presented his end-of-year review at a Rugby Australia (RA) board meeting on Monday, according to chairman Cameron Clyne.

Wallabies winger Sefa Naivalu has moved north to the Queensland Reds from the Melbourne Rebels to replace Izaia Perese, who has been released "to pursue opportunities in another sport".

Maro Itoje is expected to be fit for the start of the Six Nations in February after Saracens' director of rugby Mark McCall said the England forward does not need surgery to repair a knee injury.

Guinness will become the title sponsor of the Six Nations rugby tournament from 2019 after a six-year deal was announced on Friday.

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games organisers have formally proposed moving the start time of the marathon races forward to avoid the worst of the Japanese capital's scorching summer heat.