CHRIS FOY - WORLD OF RUGBY: This is an emergency. Italy face arguably the most important match in their history on Saturday, when they take on Scotland in Rome.

CHRIS FOY'S WORLD OF RUGBY: Sky Sports are reportedly leading the race for broadcast rights to the Six Nations from 2022. Prepare for rugby to become a low-profile, niche sport.

COMMENT: It is a sad fact that the main barrier to rugby's progress lies here; in the home nations and those other centres of the sport's narrow European landscape - France and Italy.

CHRIS FOY - WORLD OF RUGBY: The Nations League concept is back on the table as a means of galvanising international rugby, but if it is going to make a difference, it can't be half-hearted.

The 29 year-old suffered a small tear and the initial concern was that he would be sidelined for up to six weeks. But Gayle is likely to return to training in two to three weeks and resume playing next month.

Crystal Palace have agreed a deal for West Brom's highly rated young full back Nathan Ferguson, who is valued at around £11million, with the star set to travel to London for a medical on Wednesday.

Nathan Ferguson's proposed £10m move to Crystal Palace is in the balance. The two clubs agreed a fee for the 19 year-old earlier this week giving him the green light to move to Selhurst Park.

West Brom are finalising a deal for Lee Peltier from fellow Championship side Cardiff. Defender Peltier, 33, is on the verge of joining promotion chasing West Brom from mid-table Cardiff.

Crystal Palace are facing double deadline day disappointment after failing to secure deals Hull City striker Jarrod Bowen and West Brom right-back Nathan Ferguson in the last 24 hours.

Crystal Palace retain an interest in West Brom's Nathan Ferguson after the defender underwent surgery this week.

West Brom winger Jonathan Leko has made the remarkable claim that he may decide to keep quiet if he is racially abused again after he hit out at the handling of his case against Kiko Casilla.

Kick It Out chief Troy Townsend admitted he had let Jonathan Leko down after the West Brom winger said he was not properly supported after suffering racial abuse.

EXCLUSIVE BY MIKE KEEGAN: Casilla was banned for eight matches at the start of March following an incident which took place during a Championship match at the Valley.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: There are some things much more important than sport, and when something like the coronavirus comes along rugby has to step into line.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I was not surprised in the slightest at Scotland turning over France because they are a good and improving side. France are still a long way from the finished article.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: My gut instinct was to call a halt to this year's Championship but the Six Nations committee are determined to bring it to a conclusion so let's respect that.

Norwich City players, manager Daniel Farke, owners and directors will donate a percentage of their salaries - amounting to over £200,000 - to help those negatively impacted by coronavirus.

On Saturday, the Premier League leaders joined Tottenham, Newcastle and Norwich City in putting them on furlough - although they promised to top up staff wages so they are paid their full salaries.

The governing body made the announcement on Wednesday afternoon that all men's and women's international matches scheduled for that month would not be played 'until further notice'.

Republican Sen. Martha McSally lashed out at a CNN reporter Thursday morning, calling him a 'liberal hack' and blowing off his question. '

Donald Trump's defense team began their case for the president's acquittal on Saturday - rolling out his greatest hits but surprisingly barely mentioning Joe and Hunter Biden by name. 

Tom Perez said Sunday that he is 'absolutely not' considering resigning from his post as DNC chairman among criticism over the chaos surrounding the Iowa caucuses.

Morgan described Avennatti as a 'sleazeball' and blamed the anti-Trump coverage of most cable news networks on what he called 'Trump derangement syndrome.'

The White House denied reports that Donald Trump is considering appointing a new individual to head the Coronavirus task force as confusion continues to swarm over the outbreak.

Michael Smerconish opened his Saturday morning segment of 'Smercornish' by comparing the Vermont senator to the global pandemic that has devastated markets.

The FBI has reached out to Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr to ask him about the series of stock transactions he made in the run-up to the coronavirus crisis.

CNN host Chris Cuomo said on his show Wednesday that the coronavirus has ravaged his body with a never-ending fever that feels like he is being hit by a pinata.

One new national poll shows Joe Biden 11 points ahead of President Trump, as his Republican allies fear his handling of the coronavirus could hurt his re-election chances.

The World Health Organization on Monday dismissed President Donald Trump's 'speculative' claims that COVID-19 came out of lab in Wuhan.

Jonathan Kodjia came to Aston Villa's rescue to salvage a point in a 2-2 Sky Bet Championship home draw with Stoke. Stoke twice took the lead before being pegged back by their opponents.

The 31-year-old centre-back sustained the injury in a friendly against Leicester at the weekend. He has undergone surgery, but Jones refused to put a date on the defender's potential return.

Jonathan Walters poked fun at his former team-mates as he posed with Peter Crouch drinking beers in Portugal.  Walters, who last player for Burnley, retired in March.

JASON MELLOR AT ELLAND ROAD: Danny Batth put Stoke into the lead before Sam Vokes doubled their advantage during the first-half of the second round clash at Elland Road.

Stoke boss Nathan Jones admitted his much-changed side were 'nowhere good enough' after they crashed out of the Carabao Cup to League Two Crawley.

Stoke manager Nathan Jones admits is he is running out of time after a dismal start to the season in the Championship.

Stoke could ask Tony Pulis to return for a third spell in charge of the Championship club if they sack Nathan Jones, according to The Sun.

Stoke have endured a woeful start to the Championship season under Nathan Jones and are rooted to the bottom of the table with just two points from 10 matches.

EXCLUSIVE: Stoke City HAVE FIRED manager Nathan Jones, after the club slipped to second bottom of the Championship following a dismal run of results.

Alex Neil is the man Stoke City want as their next manager following the dismissal of Nathan Jones on Friday. The Potters currently find themselves in the relegation zone following a poor start.

JASON MELLOR AT THE RIVERSIDE STADIUM: Lewis Wing added to his collection of stand out strikes to put the brakes on Stoke's bid to climb out of the Championship drop zone.

He was forced off at half-time after an awkward landing having tripped over Hull's Daniel Batty and will miss the rest of the season before sitting out this summer's tournament in addition.

Renato Sanches must have truly felt on top of the world after Portugal lifted the Euro 2016 trophy. But an assent to the lofty heights of the game can often be followed by a plummet to the bottom.

Midfielder Ki Sung-yueng has left Newcastle after his contract was torn up by mutual consent, the Magpies have confirmed. The 31-year-old has made just four appearances for the club this season.

Renato Sanches has lifted the lift on his disastrous loan spell at Swansea during the 2017/18 season and revealed he did not want to join the club in the first place.

WILL KELLEHER IN TOKYO: The Wales and Saracens star would have stayed in Japan if Wales had made the final, but flew back on Monday and has since undergone surgery on the injury.

The Welsh Rugby Union announced the news, with Jonathan Davies set to be out for more than six months because of a left knee injury suffered. Rhys Patchell has a shoulder issue.

Former Wales coach Warren Gatland has sensationally revealed he had 'suspicions' that one of his former players was a drugs cheat. He spent 12 years in charge of Wales before leaving last month.

The Exeter Chiefs tight-head, 27, dislocated his shoulder against South Africa in the semi-final and is now out for four months.

MARCUS TOWNEND AT CHEPSTOW: Davies is currently sidelined having undergone knee surgery after being injured while playing Fiji in the World Cup.

CHRIS FOY'S WORLD OF RUGBY: At the end of a World Cup season, players will try to muster some energy for matches in the Southern Hemisphere at a time when they should be lying on a beach.