ONE of the Borders’ and Scottish rugby’s more popular characters, Robin Charters, has passed away at the age of 82.

British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has ruled out making another offer to Jonny Wilkinson to join the forthcoming tour to Australia.

England are to add Northampton’s Luther Burrell and Stephen Myler to their squad for their South American tour after Alex Goode and Joel Tomkins were ruled out through injury.

Former Wales centre Matthew J Watkins has revealed he has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

GLASGOW and Scotland centre Graeme Morrison is the latest talent to confirm his retirement from rugby as a result of injury problems that refuse to go away.

ROBBIE Deans is firmly of the opinion that a British and Irish Lions Test is no place to blood unproven players and his Wallabies squad reflects that belief in all but the position traditionally considered rugby’s most important – fly-half.

Australia coach Robbie Deans omitted fly-half Quade Cooper but named Israel Folau and two other uncapped players in his preliminary squad of 25 for the three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions.

The New South Wales Waratahs beat ACT 28-22 in Saturday’s Australian derby, tipping the Brumbies off the top of the Super Rugby table and raising injury concerns for the Wallabies ahead of their Test series against the British and Irish Lions.

LES Kiss has confirmed that he will be a permanent member of Joe Schmidt’s Ireland coaching team upon completion of the summer tour to the United States and Canada.

JONNY Wilkinson described winning the Heineken Cup with Toulon as a bigger achievement than his Rugby World Cup triumph with England ten years ago.

Ireland and Munster stand-off Ronan O’Gara announced his playing retirement yesterday and now intends to take up a coaching role with Racing Metro.

It’s easy to see why the SRU are eager to lure Vern Cotter from Clermont but what’s in it for the New Zealander?

Scotland Under-20s have been forced to replace Aberdeen Grammar’s Alex Hagart in the 2013 Junior World Championship squad because of a back injury.

A GROUP of nine club and age-grade coaches will represent the SRU at conferences this summer and use the opportunities to improve the quality of Scottish coaching.

MATT Stevens is delighted to be back among international rugby’s elite but insists he has no regrets about his decision to call time on his England career last summer.

Ireland’s grand slam-winning captain Brian O’Driscoll ended months of uncertainty over his future yesterday when he agreed to play on for one more year for province and country.

JIM Hamilton will be the only Scotland representative in the Barbarians squad to face England and the British & Irish Lions.

SAM Warburton might be captain of the 2013 British and Irish Lions – but he does not want or expect preferential selection treatment.

VERN COTTER has been offered the chance to lead Scotland’s 
rugby team as head coach.

SCOTLAND centre Joe Ansbro has announced his retirement from the game following medical advice that he could not return to rugby safely after suffering a serious injury last year.