Bath's England international Olly Barkley has signed a new two-year contract with the Zurich Premiership leaders.

The 22-year-old has scored nine tries this season and tops the Premiership points scoring charts with 336 from 23 appearances.

Barkley, who featured for England in the RBS 6 Nations, said: "I am pleased to be signing a new deal.

"I am convinced that I have made the right decision and have importantly made that decision based upon rugby reasons.

"That is the reason that is most important to me and that is why I have decided to put pen to paper on a new deal here.

"The whole blend here at Bath Rugby is right. We have the right coaching staff and medical staff and I think that the team spirit here among the guys is second to none. I have to say that happiness is the main thing in life and that is why I am staying here."

n Gloucester have been given a lift ahead of their Zurich Premiership showdown against Saracens on Saturday with the news that club skipper Jake Boer has agreed a new three-year contract.

Theflanker, named the 2002-03 Premiership player of the season, is in his fourth year with the west country outfit and the 28-year-old South African has made 111 appearances, scoring 19 tries.

n Ireland centre Gordon D'Arcy has been rewarded for his sparkling form in the RBS 6 Nations by being named player of the championship.

D'Arcy scored half the 12,000 votes castin a poll run by the BBC Sport website. Teammate Paul O'Connell was second, England winger Ben Cohen third, Gareth Thomas of Wales fourth and French flanker Serge Betsen fifth.