England centre Jonathan Joseph is set to miss their three test tour of South Africa in June after being ruled out for the rest of the Premiership season due to injury on Thursday.

Five Spanish rugby players who were hit with heavy bans after confronting a referee following their heavily disputed defeat to Belgium are "on the verge of depression and cannot leave their homes", captain Jaime Nava said on Thursday.

Loose-forward Warren Whiteley is a major doubt for South Africa’s June internationals against Wales and England after being sidelined by a knee injury.

Anti-gay comments made by Israel Folau continued to engulf Australian rugby on Thursday with players in New Zealand criticising the Wallabies back, while pundits castigated the country's governing body for its handling of the situation.

England coach Eddie Jones has a fight on his hands to secure Brad Shields for the June tests, with New Zealand Rugby reluctant to release the Wellington Hurricanes captain.

All Blacks captain Kieran Read and first-choice hooker Dane Coles are unlikely to be selected for the three-test series against France in June as they recover from long-term injuries, coach Steve Hansen said on Thursday.

Yorkshire Carnegie's South African flanker Brandon Staples has been banned from all sport for four years after testing positive for three steroids, England's Rugby Football Union (RFU) said on Wednesday.

* Scrumhalf receives widespread support in NZ (Adds NZR reaction, details)

Rugby Europe has handed out bans to five Spain players who confronted a referee at the end of their shock defeat by Belgium in a World Cup qualifying match last month.

* Waratahs coach says team unity intact despite controversy (Adds Waratahs coach quotes)