Biggest Winners and Losers in World Rugby for Weekend of May 15-17

England centre Manu Tuilagi will play no part in this year's Rugby World Cup after it came to light that a brush with the law has ruled him out of the running for the tournament.

There are few individuals in the sport whose current predicament seems as dire, but the impending close to the European club season also saw numerous teams make the most of their opportunities in recent days.

We also have news from Twickenham, as this year's Sevens World Series came to an end. While Tuliagi's World Cup hopes have ended, they may just be starting to brighten for a certain rugby league convert.

All that and more feature among this week's biggest winners and losers in world rugby.

Winner: Sam Burgess

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This season has been a constant "will he, won't he" struggle to determine whether former National Rugby League superstar Sam Burgess would do enough to book a spot in the England squad for this year's World Cup.

Having benefited tremendously from a shift to blindside flanker, it now looks as though the Bath signing is capable of making Stuart Lancaster's selection, with ESPN Scrum's Tom Hamilton claiming that he's set to make England's 45-man training squad.

Burgess has assuredly played his best rugby since making the move to No. 6 for Bath, but Hamilton insists the plan is to utilise him as a centre despite his previous struggles in midfield.

Tuilagi's absence from the World Cup running will have undoubtedly influenced Lancaster's alleged decision, with a new brute force now needed in that area.

With time, Burgess may come to improve his prospects in that position, but for now, a place in the training squad would ensure he's moving in the right direction.

Loser: Manu Tuilagi

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Another major tournament approaches and Tuilagi will again be absent—not through injury this time but because of a matter that was completely avoidable and within his control.

Per ESPN Scrum's Tom Hamilton, the Leicester man recently appeared in Leicester Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting a police officer, one count of assault by beating and one count of criminal damage.

Bigger than any controversy arising from jumping off a ferry in Auckland harbour or getting in a punch-up with Chris Ashton, this incident now marks a new, disappointing low for the would-be World Cup hero.

It places a new emphasis on Lancaster's need for Player of the Year Jonathan Joseph to be the beacon his side needs in midfield, but it is another glum turn in Tuilagi's career for him to miss yet another chance to shine.

Winner: USA Sevens

For the first time in their history, the U.S. claimed a superb triumph in the final leg of this year's Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham, surpassing their previous best finish of runners-up at the Adelaide Sevens in 2010.

Despite exiting at the semi-final phase of the London tournament, Fiji did enough to be christened 2015 world champions on Sunday, but the Eagles will cherish their achievement too.

Mike Friday's men beat Australia 45-22 in the final to lift the London Sevens cup and will look toward the 2015-16 campaign hoping this leg victory is but the first of many to come.

Loser: Exeter Chiefs

An impressive 44-16 win over Sale Sharks wasn't enough to earn Exeter Chiefs a place in this season's Premiership playoffs after Saracens beat them to a top-four finish.

Rob Baxter's side missed out on the playoffs through points difference, with Sarries claiming a 68-17 win over London Welsh to take fourth while Leicester beat Northampton Saints to book third.

The Chiefs can nevertheless be upbeat with the progress shown this season, and it's hard not to feel disappointed for a team that has worked tremendously hard to get to this point and missed the cut by a whisker.

A top-four finish would have given the Chiefs the first playoff berth in their history, but that reward will now have to wait until next season at the earliest.

Winner: Rhys Webb

A terrific 2014-15 Pro12 season was finished in style by Rhys Webb, who was named Players' Player of the Year for being instrumental in Ospreys' title challenge.

The Wales No. 9 has scored 11 tries this season, tying Ulster's Craig Gilroy for the lead, and he took on a leading role for his team as they completed their run to the final four. They will face Munster in Saturday's playoff semi-final.

Ospreys beat Connacht 24-20 on Sunday and missed out on first place by a single point after Glasgow Warriors beat Ulster 32-10 and Munster hammered Newport Gwent Dragons 50-27.