Rugby World Cup news — SportsCatch

England U20 lock Elliot Williams targets Junior World Championship bronze after South Africa defeat

Harlequins second-row Elliot Williams, 19, opens up on his rapid rise through rugby, going viral after Austin Healey questioned his age on air, and England U20s' determination to finish third at the Junior World Championship.

Rugby Jul 17

Ainsworth-Cave leads England against New Zealand haka in Junior World Championship third-place play-off

England Under-20 skipper Aiden Ainsworth-Cave says facing the New Zealand haka is the first thing his squad thought of when the third-place play-off draw was made. The two sides meet at Tbilisi's Mikheil Meskhi Stadium on Saturday, their first encounter since the 2017 Junior World Championship final.

Rugby Jul 17

Dual international Hilsenbeck leads USA's Nations Cup charge after switching from Germany

California-born fly-half Christopher Hilsenbeck, who spent seven years representing Germany, is now starring for the USA Eagles — sealing a last-gasp Nations Cup win over Portugal with a penalty two minutes from time.

Rugby Jul 17

Ireland can topple All Blacks at Eden Park and seize second in world rankings

Ireland travel to Eden Park with a genuine shot at ending New Zealand's 32-year, 52-match unbeaten home record. A victory for Andy Farrell's side would lift them above the All Blacks to second in the World Rugby Men's Rankings.

Rugby Jul 17

Beth Blacklock leaves Saracens for newly promoted Stade Rochelais in personal homecoming

Scotland centre Beth Blacklock has departed Premiership Women's Rugby champions Saracens to join newly promoted French Élite 1 Féminine side Stade Rochelais, a city where her father once lived and played rugby.

Rugby Jul 17

England switch Buenos Aires hotel to dodge Argentina World Cup celebrations

England have changed their post-match hotel in Buenos Aires to avoid a repeat of the mass street celebrations that followed Argentina's 2022 World Cup triumph, after hundreds of thousands of fans gathered outside their current base on Wednesday night.

Rugby Jul 17

Injury and illness force New Zealand U20 into five changes for bronze final against England

New Zealand U20 head coach Kane Jury has made five changes to his starting XV for the Junior World Championship bronze match against England, with injuries and illness forcing key reshuffles in both the forward pack and backline.

Rugby Jul 17

Ex-Patriots linebacker Maluia closing in on USA Eagles debut after strong MLR campaign

Former New England Patriots linebacker Cassh Maluia is on the verge of a USA Eagles Test debut after impressing in Major League Rugby, with head coach Scott Lawrence confirming the NFL convert is developing well but needs more time.

Rugby Jul 17

Australian-born MLR champion Charlie Abel set for USA Eagles debut at 34

Charlie Abel, a two-time Major League Rugby champion with the Chicago Hounds, is in line for his first USA Eagles cap at 34 after being named on the bench for their World Rugby Nations Cup clash against Spain.

Rugby Jul 16

Titterrell urges England U20 to make New Zealand fear them in rare Junior World Championship bronze final

England U20 head coach Andy Titterrell has made four changes for Saturday's Junior World Championship third-place play-off against New Zealand in Georgia, calling on his side to make the Baby Blacks 'fear' them in a fixture England have not played in nearly a decade.

Rugby Jul 16

Rugby Australia moves to merge Wallaroos and Sevens programmes ahead of 2029 World Cup

Rugby Australia is pushing to unite its women's XVs and Sevens programmes under a single high-performance system, with players and executives backing the shift as the country targets success at the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup on home soil.

Rugby Jul 16

Nine-cap Wallaroo Ashley Fernandez joins Leicester Tigers as fifth Australian signing this summer

Lock forward Ashley Fernandez will leave the ACT Brumbies to join Leicester Tigers for the 2026/27 Premiership Women's Rugby season, becoming the club's fifth Australian recruit ahead of a campaign aimed at improving on last year's ninth-place finish.

Rugby Jul 14

Matfield names France as World Cup favourites ahead of Springboks and All Blacks

2007 World Cup winner Victor Matfield believes only South Africa, New Zealand and France can lift the trophy at next year's Rugby World Cup, singling out Les Bleus — fresh from a second-half comeback win over Australia — as the team most likely to go all the way.

Rugby Jul 14

Rugby Australia opens door to Jarome Luai code switch ahead of 2027 World Cup

Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh has confirmed the governing body would consider signing Wests Tigers co-captain Jarome Luai, who faces a 12-month uncontracted window after the 2026 NRL season — potentially in time for the Rugby World Cup on home soil.

Rugby Jul 14

Junior Springboks overturn 8-point deficit to rout 14-man England 53-37 and reach Junior World Championship final

Khuthadzo Rasivhaga's hat-trick powered South Africa to a 53-37 win over England in Tbilisi, with Sale Sharks flanker Seb Kelly's first-half red card proving decisive as the Junior Boks stormed back from 20-12 down to set up a final against France.

Rugby Jul 13

Scotland and Wales edge through to fifth-place final as Australia stumble at Junior World Championship

Scotland defeated Argentina 44-26 and Wales survived a late scare to beat Australia 38-36 in Tbilisi, setting up an all-British Isles fifth-place final at the World Rugby Junior Championship in Georgia.

Rugby Jul 12

Tuipulotu hails Scotland's resilience after first Springboks away test ahead of World Cup

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu drew strong encouragement from his side's performance in a 42-28 Nations Championship defeat to South Africa in Pretoria, calling it vital preparation for the 2026 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Rugby Jul 12

England climb to fifth as record Fiji rout reshuffles World Rugby Men's Rankings

England's record 73-8 demolition of Fiji lifts them above Scotland to fifth in the World Rugby Men's Rankings, while Spain surge four places to 16th after beating Tonga in the Nations Cup.

Rugby Jul 12

Georgia and Chile lead the way as Europe dominates Rugby World Cup qualifying Nations Cup

Georgia and Chile sit top of their respective pools after two rounds of the World Rugby Nations Cup, with European nations Romania, Spain and Portugal all delivering strong results in round two.

Rugby Jul 12

USA captain Damm embraces pressure after Eagles overturn deficit to beat Zimbabwe 31-15

Jason Damm says the USA are 'happy to be under pressure' after the Eagles came from behind to defeat Zimbabwe 31-15 in Denver, keeping their unbeaten record intact at the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup.

Rugby Jul 12