Image source, Richard Winton

And on a similar theme... Manchester City and England Ladies player Lucy Bronze and her team-mates have just met the Duke of Cambridge at St George's Park.

Image source, David Ornstein

Prince William signs a wall at England's training headquarters in the company of St George's Park chairman David Sheepshanks.

The Duke of Cambridge is there to meet England Women's World Cup team and tour the facilities.

75 - Career podiums, made up of 36 wins, 21 seconds, 18 thirds.

42 - Career pole positions, placing him fourth on the all-time list.

36 - Career wins, making him the most successful British driver in the history of Formula One in terms of race victories.

Image source, Getty Images

21 - Career wins with pole position. Only Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna and Sebastian Vettel have more.

11 - Wins last season, making him the most successful non-German driver in one season as Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel both won 13 races in a single campaign.

2 - World titles, and now one of only 16 drivers to have won more than one.

Image source, PA

Blimey, it's been a busy morning. Back to rugby now and more on that England squad announcement.

Coach Stuart Lancaster: "We feel we have got tremendous strength in depth and are looking forward to working with them when we get together on 22 June.

"The policy [of not picking those playing outside of England] was put in place to protect the national team and also the long term health of the England team. It is something I have consistently supported.

"It is a policy New Zealand have and we are the only two countries to have it and we believe it is an important one.

"Having our players at English clubs is hugely important in short, medium and long term. It's been a difficult decision but the right decision."

And - at the risk of really annoying the non-F1 fans among you - more on Lewis Hamilton's new three-year deal at Mercedes.

"Continuity is one of the key factors for delivering success in Formula One and we now have that in place," said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

Image source, Getty Images

"Lewis enjoyed a historic world championship season with Mercedes-Benz last year and it was a priority for this season to renew his contract for the next term."

Wolff lavished on more praise, then, clearly being careful not to alienate his other F1 driver, Nico Rosberg, added: "Personally, I am looking forward to continuing to race with the strongest driver pairing in Formula One and to more historic achievements together."

More on Lewis Hamilton's decision to commit his F1 future to Mercedes.

The British world champion said: "This is a company filled with real passionate racers, from the board room to the factory floor, and an incredible hunger to win.

Image source, PA

"Even after the success of last year, that hunger is greater than ever - and it's the same for me, too.

"The Mercedes car I am driving right now is the best I have ever had in my career - it's just so much fun to be out there every weekend, on the limit and fighting to win at every track.

"Mercedes began supporting me in 1998 so I am very proud that this contract means I will mark 20 years with Mercedes in 2018."

Here's an interesting fact for you (depending on your definition of interesting that is)...

There are only 13 survivors of the past World Cup squad (2011) named in England's 50-man training squad for the tournament this year.

Image source, Getty Images

Nick Abendanon and Steffon Armitage have both failed to make England coach Stuart Lancaster's 50-strong training squad for the Rugby World Cup.

The France-based duo, who are the past two European players of the year, have not been chosen because RFU selection rules preclude the selection of those employed outside England.

Bath's rugby league convert Sam Burgess is included and there are call-ups for Maro Itoje (Saracens), Henry Slade (Exeter), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter) and Elliot Daly (Wasps).

Image source, PA

Lewis Hamilton has signed a new three-year deal, external with Mercedes.

The F1 team have tweeted the news, with a quote from Hamilton, who said: "Mercedes is my home."

Daily Telegraph, external: Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat, 67, will stay as the club's manager for next season only if they avoid relegation from the Premier League. They will secure their survival if they beat or draw against Arsenal on Wednesday.

At this point, we could use an up-to-date photo of Dick, or we could use a much more amusing one from 1997.

Image source, Getty Images

Obviously we went for 1997.

Anyone else seeing Roy Munson from the film Kingpin?

England caretaker-coach Paul Farbrace has admitted he would find it "hard to say no" if he was offered the job on a permanent basis.

Farbrace, 47, will take charge of the team for the two-Test series against New Zealand, which starts on Thursday.

Image source, Getty Images

"I'll give this opportunity a really good go, and if at the end something happens, then great," said Farbrace.

Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie is among the other contenders to succeed Peter Moores, who was sacked last month.

Image source, Getty Images

Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon has been named Scotland's player of the year by the Scottish Football Writers' Association.

It follows the 32-year-old's return to football with the Scottish champions last summer after nearly three years out of the game through injury.

Gordon helped Celtic retain their title and win the League Cup - and he also returned to the Scotland squad.

Image source, Getty Images

Vice-president Javier Zanetti has claimed Internazionale are close to agreeing a deal to sign Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure.

The Serie A club, who are coached by former City boss Roberto Mancini, are eager to end the 32-year-old's five-year spell in the Premier League.

"We are at the stage where we hope we can complete it," Zanetti told Italian paper Gazzetta dello Sport. "Yaya would give us that leap in quality."

Catalan Dragons prop Jeff Lima has been banned for four games after admitting striking Featherstone Rovers half-back Remy Marginet with his shoulder during their Challenge Cup sixth-round tie.

St Helens captain Jon Wilkin has been given a one-match suspension after pleading guilty to a lesser striking offence during their win over York.

After Louis van Gaal's capers, let us know what you've got up to at your end of season awards...

Al Graham: Governor's Athletic FC inaugural Awards Night, won POTY and the Dance Off. Only one trophy made it on the mantelpiece.

Sam: Luton Town - we had two players arrested for assault after our awards night. One way to trim your squad down.

King: At my team's ceremony, after winning three awards I stood up to boo the player that got the best goal award. Hilarious.

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Ashton is set to be given the chance to resurrect his stalled England career when he is expected to be named in Stuart Lancaster's Rugby World Cup training squad on Wednesday.

Saracens wing Ashton, who has 39 caps, was left out of the last two Six Nations squads and has only made two appearances for his country since last June.

But his consistent form in the Premiership, which has seen him score 10 tries in 11 games since December, is expected to earn him a recall.

Ashton was the joint leading try scorer at the last World Cup.

From football to cricket, and the rather intriguing news that England pace bowler Mark Wood has a habit of geeing himself up in the field, between spells ... by imitating a jousting horse.

Image source, Getty Images

Just for that reason he should start against New Zealand on Thursday as England's first Test of the summer gets underway at Lord's.

"I'm going to run in, try to bowl with good pace and see if I can knock the Kiwis over if I do play," says Wood.

"The slope is the big issue here - everyone knows that - but having spoken to Jimmy [Anderson] and [Stuart] Broad, they say the stumps don't move."

Rob Gallagher: Despite the absence of some "big" players the U21 squad is quite impressive and could do well this summer.

Gareth Williams: No surprise sterling not in obviously not a chance of a trophy or world class players around him!

Matthew Birch: Decent group of forwards in that England u21 squad. Who do you start???

It's been a busy morning so far, here's the pick of what's happened:

Football: Tottenham striker Harry Kane has been included in the England squad for the 2015 European Under-21 Championship, along with West Brom striker Saido Berahino and Burnley forward Danny Ings.

Football: Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon has been named Scotland's Player of the Year by the Scottish Football Writers' Association.

Image source, SNS

Football: Leeds are set to appoint ex-Brentford and Wigan boss Uwe Rosler as their fifth head coach in less than a year.

Football: John Carver says Newcastle's game against West Ham is the "biggest game in six years at this football club." Only a win will guarantee the Magpies' survival.