Thursday, December 1

Super Shane - Scrum.com - Shane Williams calls time on his international career on Saturday following a try-filled 11 years. This week's Scrum Sevens looks back at some moments of brilliance

Little amazed by Help for Heroes - PlanetRugby - It is often understated the good that can come out of rugby - and once a year the sport does something truly special for the Armed Forces.

RFU is right to take its time selecting a head coach - The Telegraph - After the carnage of the past few months there was every chance that the Rugby Football Union would continue to make bad decisions and indulge in yet another bout of internecine warfare.

Wanted: An England Mr Fix-it to match Wales's Alan Phillips - The Guardian - The RFU needs a manager to look after all non-playing responsibilities but it requires a singular man to walk a fine line so adeptly

England rugby anarchy: At long last, someone stands up and says: We're sorry - Daily Mail - It was desperately belated, but after weeks of in-fighting and blood-letting, accusations and revelations, the RFU finally reached out to the English rugby public and said sorry for the World Cup debacle.

Time to clear it up - Sky Sports - Stuart Barnes has urged the RFU to make the leaked England reports public in their entirety.

The fresh-faced RFU - Scrum.com - "I think we can now, finally rule out any return of the fairy godmother, Sir Clive Woodward." John Taylor reports as the RFU plot their way out of the darkness

Rugby World Cup analysis shows rise of magnificent sevens - The Guardian - Statistics from the tournament confirm the breakdown is the key area in the modern game and openside flanker the pivotal position

Trouble at the top - BBC - As Johnson departs, Alastair Eykyn considers if Rob Andrew will follow

A proper Test - Sky Sports - Miles Harrison says Australia will be given a full-on game by Graham Henry's Barbarians.

RFU begins salvage operation but still appears deaf to public opinion - The Guardian - The RFU's apologies were strangely soothing but there were faintly unnerving echoes of the bad old Twickenham days of cosy back-scratching

The final chapter in the book of Smit - BBC - John Smit reflects on illustrious international career

Lego League is Just Super - The Sun - Rugby League fans may already be missing their weekly fix of the Greatest Game — but fear not! The guys at loverugbyleague.com have come up with a brilliant solution for all die hard fans ... LEGO.