Experienced prop Tendai Mtawarira has been ruled out of South Africa's November internationals, but there will be a likely return for powerful number eight Duane Vermeulen after coach Rassie Erasmus named a training squad for the tour on Sunday.
England winger Christian Wade has left Premiership club Wasps to pursue a career in American football, British media reported on Friday.
Less than a year from the Rugby World Cup Eddie Jones's settled and experienced team capable of winning the tournament exists only in his mind as he deals with the destructive and debilitating reality of England's domestic game.
England coach Eddie Jones said his decision to make Dylan Hartley and Owen Farrell co-captains for the November tests was "almost a no-brainer" though his idea that they will take the field holding hands is one of his less likely predictions.
* England face South Africa, New Zealand, Japan and Australia (Adds quotes)
Danny Cipriani's international career looks to be all but over after the flyhalf was left out of the England squad for the November internationals on Thursday, despite a stellar start to the season for new club Gloucester.
Australia coach Michael Cheika has dismissed the notion of making changes to his coaching staff to rejuvenate the ailing Wallabies a year out from the World Cup.
Australia coach Michael Cheika has included New South Wales Waratahs lock Jed Holloway among three uncapped players in a 31-man squad released on Thursday for the third and final Bledisloe Cup test against New Zealand in Yokohama.
England number eight Nathan Hughes will miss tests against South Africa, New Zealand and Japan after having a striking ban extended to six weeks for describing his disciplinary hearing as a "joke" on Twitter.
Australia coach Michael Cheika has included New South Wales Waratahs lock Jed Holloway among three uncapped players in a 31-man squad released on Thursday for the third and final Bledisloe Cup test against New Zealand in Yokohama.
Big techs Amazon, Alphabet and Microsoft compete for attention with the ECB when they post their quarterly results later this week. And as David Pollard reports, tensions over Saudi's alleged involvement in the death of a journalist may surface ahead of the kingdom's investor conference - from which many high profile guests have pledged to stay away.
Saudi Arabia on Sunday called the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at its Istanbul consulate a "huge and grave mistake," but sought to shield its powerful crown prince from the widening crisis, saying Mohammed bin Salman had not been aware.