Rugby Football Union chief executive John Steele has left his post three months before the start of the World Cup, the union has said.

Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter has been given a suspended four-week ban from match-day coaching for implied criticism of a referee.

Saracens coach Brendan Venter was left waiting to find out what punishment he would receive from the RFU after questioning the integrity of a referee.

Bath and England winger Matt Banahan has been suspended for two weeks for stamping, the Rugby Football Union said in a statement on Wednesday.

New England rugby coach Martin Johnson is facing his first major crisis since taking over at Twickenham, with the country's leading players considering strike action in a row over pay. The Daily Telegraph has learnt that England's senior players are involved in a contract dispute with the Rugby Football Union.

Wales coach Warren Gatland will take his strongest available side to South Africa for two Tests against the world champions in June after guiding his team to the Six Nations grand slam in his first season in charge. In recent years, Six Nations sides have rested leading players when travelling to the Southern Hemisphere in the off-season.

South Africa's captain, John Smit, has urged his team to give their World Cup-winning coach, Jake White, a rousing send-off at the Millennium Stadium this weekend as the Springboks prepare to say goodbye to the man who masterminded their triumphant campaign in France.

Jake White, South Africa's World Cup-winning coach, on Monday played down suggestions he would be replacing Brian Ashton next month as the man in charge of England, although he didn't rule himself out of the job at some point in the future. White is stepping down when his contract runs out in December.

World Cup-winning South Africa coach Jake White has held talks with England rugby chiefs, a media report said on Sunday. White guided South Africa to a 15-6 victory over England in the World Cup final at the Stade de France in Paris on October 20 and announced on Wednesday that he would quit his post in December.

English rugby's ruling body has responded angrily to criticism of coach Brian Ashton by England World Cup stars Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt. Dallaglio and Catt have both accused Ashton of failing to properly prepare and organise England during their run to the World Cup final.