BT just champion

Cost-cutting Newcastle have told Nick Easter that he is free to leave at the end of the season. The defence coach is the latest departure from the club, following announcements about full-back Mike Brown, scrumhalf Louis Schreuder and No10 Will Haydon-Wood. London Irish want flanker Josh Basham.

Leicester Tigers have made a move to sign England Under 20 Phil Cokanasiga. Steve Borthwick wants to poach the centre from London Irish to provide back up to Dan Kelly. Flanker Olly Cracknell is also on the verge of moving from

London Irish to Leicester.

BT Sport are set to sign a new contract to broadcast the Champions Cup. An eight-year deal has been proposed, with the current contract expiring at the end of the season. Channel 4 are keen to continue their involvement with one match per round likely to be shown on free-to-air. After the launch of the United Rugby Championship, South African teams will also be involved with their domestic broadcaster Super Sport set to add to the multi-million pound package.

Wales women’s progression since they handed 12 players professional contracts at the start of the year is set to be hit by the departure of head coach Ioan Cunningham after this year’s World Cup. He will replace Byron Hayward at Wales Under 20s. Former amateur boxer Hayward is returning to boxing as a coach.

Raffi Quirke is set to sign a new long-term Sale deal as the Sharks begin to plan for life without

Faf de Klerk. Instead of replacing De Klerk, who is moving to Japan, Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson will make the 20-year-old his No1 choice at scrum-half.