Clark hands England captaincy to Leeds team-mate

The conveyor belt which in the past has helped the likes of Danny Care and Tom Palmer towards England careers has produced for the second successive year the captain of England's Under-20 side.

Calum Clark led the side last year and ahead of the Under-20 Six Nations which begins next Friday at Gloucester, he has handed over the armband to his club-mate Jacob Rowan.

The Keighley-born 20-year-old plays in the same position as Clark in the back row and represented the team in last year's Six Nations.

Leeds director of rugby Andy Key said: "It's fantastic that the club in successive years is able to provide the No 7 and the captain.

"Jacob is coming on really well under what is a very strong back row contingent with the likes of Hendre Fourie and Calum.

"He's going to have to wait his turn to get into the team but when given his opportunity, like against Bourgoin earlier in the season and Parma the other weekend, he has rocked up every time and shown us what his potential is."

Rowan's development has been aided by loan spells at Otley and Nottingham in recent seasons, and prompted England

Under-20 head coach Mark Mapletoft to name him as captain.

Saracens have announced they will sign England prop Matt Stevens when his drug suspension expires.

Winger Semi Tadulala has joined his former Bradford Bulls team-mate Lesley Vainikolo at Gloucester after successfully obtaining a work permit.

European rugby officials have launched an investigation into the Ospreys' 16th-man controversy during their Heineken Cup win against Leicester.

Steve Borthwick has been retained as England captain for the RBS 6 Nations Championship.