A potential new era for English rugby union could be emerging in the West Midlands, with the US investment group behind Birmingham City Football Club exploring plans to launch a professional rugby franchise in the city.

Kubota Spears moved to the top of Japan Rugby League One Division One at the halfway mark of the regular season after the reigning champions were dealt a rare, heavy loss.

The Glasgow Warriors remain No. 1 in FloRugby’s Professional Club Power Rankings, holding firm on 1,676 points after a weekend that delivered drama in France and Japan, but saw no movement from the United Rugby Championship or Gallagher Premiership.

Glasgow Warriors tightened its grip on the top spot in this week’s FloRugby Professional Club Power Rankings after a 31-22 bonus-point win over Munster at a sold-out Scotstoun, a result that underlined the depth behind Franco Smith’s frontliners, as Six Nations squads peeled away.

The global club rugby game delivered another decisive weekend, as Japan Rugby League One and the United Rugby Championship both produced results that reshaped domestic races and nudged the wider professional landscape forward.

The Gallagher PREM Rugby season will begin its winter break this week with the Northampton Saints in control of the No. 1 spot in the standings with an 8-1-1 record and 43 match points. On their heels is the defending champion, Bath Rugby, sitting at 8-0-2 with 41 points.

Round 4 of the Investec Champions Cup pool stage did what it always promises - it clarified the contenders, hardened the pretenders and turned home advantage into the next battleground.

The defending Investec Champions Cup winners will start the next playoffs as the top seed of this year’s knockout stage.

Pool 1 of the Investec Champions Cup delivers one of the most consequential fixtures of the final round, as the Glasgow Warriors host Saracens at Scotstoun Stadium.

Pool 3 of the Investec Champions Cup reaches a dramatic conclusion at Stade Marcel-Deflandre, where La Rochelle and Harlequins meet with very different pressures, but equally high stakes.

Pool 4 of the Investec Champions Cup closes with contrasting pressures, as the Northampton Saints host the Scarlets at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.

One of the most anticipated matchups of Round 4 arrives at Ashton Gate, as the Bristol Bears host Bordeaux in a Pool 4 clash with major implications for playoff seeding.

The DHL Stormers return to Cape Town for a must-win Round 4 clash in the Investec Champions Cup, hosting the Leicester Tigers with both teams' European hopes hanging in the balance.

Pool 2 of the Investec Champions Cup reaches a decisive inflection point at Kingsholm, as Gloucester Rugby hosts Toulon in the FloRugby Match of the Week.

Round 4 of Pool 1 in the Investec Champions Cup delivers one of the most consequential fixtures of the weekend, as Toulouse hosts the Sale Sharks at Stade Ernest-Wallon.