Rugby World Cup news — SportsCatch

USA stun Zimbabwe for historic first win to stay unbeaten in Nations Cup

The USA Men's Eagles beat Zimbabwe 31-15 in Charlotte to move to 2-0 in the World Rugby Nations Cup, recording their first-ever victory over the Sables in a match that saw the Eagles reduced to 14 men for much of the first half.

Rugby Jul 12

New Zealand U20 restore captain Wiseman and Muliaina for Junior World Championship semi-final against France

New Zealand U20 head coach Kane Jury has named two key changes for Tuesday's Junior World Championship semi-final against France in Tbilisi, restoring captain Haki Wiseman and first-five Mika Muliaina to the starting side.

Rugby Jul 12

Niniashvili reaches 50 Georgia appearances on eve of his 24th birthday against Samoa

Davit Niniashvili will earn his 50th Georgia appearance and 48th Test cap when the Lelos face Samoa in the World Rugby Nations Cup in Viña del Mar on Saturday, two days before he turns 24.

Rugby Jul 10

Springboks can nudge world rankings lead over All Blacks with win against Scotland

South Africa's 45-21 demolition of England earned them nothing in the World Rugby Men's Rankings, but a home victory over Scotland at Loftus Versveld on Saturday — where the Springboks boast a 79% winning record — could edge their score up by 0.03 points.

Rugby Jul 10

USA coach Lawrence targets World Cup readiness over results as Eagles face Zimbabwe

Head coach Scott Lawrence says the USA Eagles are prioritising performance over victories during the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup, with fly-half Chris Hilsenbeck's last-gasp penalty having sealed a 30-29 win over Portugal on Independence Day.

Rugby Jul 10

Former SVNS star Lance Williams earns USA Eagles debut against Zimbabwe in Nations Cup

California Legion backrower Lance Williams has been named at blindside flanker for the USA Men's Eagles' first-ever Test against Zimbabwe on July 11, as head coach Scott Lawrence makes several changes after last weekend's 30-29 win over Portugal.

Rugby Jul 10

Female rugby players 69% more likely to suffer online abuse than male counterparts, World Rugby finds

World Rugby's Social Media Protection Service analysed over 440,000 posts during Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 and found female players and match officials faced 69% more online abuse than men, with eight cases referred to law enforcement.

Rugby Jul 9

Quesada reshuffles Italy's back three to face All Blacks after Japan defeat

Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada has made three changes for the round-two clash against New Zealand in Wellington, overhauling his back three after the Azzurri managed just 10 points in their opening loss to Japan.

Rugby Jul 9

Meredith set for Wallabies debut as Schmidt laments 'curse of the 10 jersey'

Declan Meredith will win his first Wallabies cap against France in Brisbane on Saturday, stepping in at fly-half after Carter Gordon was ruled out with a calf strain. Coach Joe Schmidt admitted Noah Lolesio was briefly considered before the uncapped Brumbies playmaker was named in the starting side.

Rugby Jul 9

South Africa U20 overturn 14-point deficit to reach Junior World Championship semi-finals as top seeds

South Africa U20 stormed back from 14-0 down to beat Wales U20 52-33 in Tbilisi, securing top seeding in the Junior World Championship semi-finals. New Zealand, England, and France also advanced, setting up a last-four lineup on July 13.

Rugby Jul 7

O'Shea and Walsh hit hat-tricks as Ireland demolish USA 73-22 at Junior World Championship

Charlie O'Shea and Sean David Walsh each scored hat-tricks as Ireland bounced back from defeats to England and Argentina with a commanding 73-22 victory over the USA in their final World Rugby Junior World Championship Pool C match.

Rugby Jul 7

Wallabies lose Gordon and Hooper to injury ahead of France and Italy Tests

Australia have been hit by a double injury setback before Saturday's Nations Championship clash with France in Brisbane, with fly-half Carter Gordon ruled out with a calf strain and backrower Tom Hooper sidelined by a shoulder injury.

Rugby Jul 7

Wallaroos star Caitlyn Halse joins Leicester Tigers after standout Women's World Cup

Caitlyn Halse, 19, will leave the NSW Waratahs to join Leicester Tigers in Premiership Women's Rugby for the 2026/27 season. The full-back scored four tries at Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 across four appearances for Australia.

Rugby Jul 6

Canada and Spain's 42-42 thriller sets new record for highest-scoring draw in Test rugby

Canada and Spain shared 12 tries and 84 points in a breathless 42-42 draw at Clarke Stadium, Edmonton, surpassing England and Scotland's 38-38 Calcutta Cup classic from 2019 to become the highest-scoring draw in Test rugby history.

Rugby Jul 6

Spain U20 Mateo Aragón banned seven matches for racially abusing France fly-half at Junior World Championship

Spain under-20 player Mateo Aragón has been handed a seven-match ban after an independent disciplinary committee upheld a citing for racist verbal abuse directed at France fly-half Luka Keletaona during the World Rugby Junior World Championship in Kutaisi on 2 July.

Rugby Jul 5

USA snatch Nations Cup opener 30-29 as Hilsenbeck's late penalty sinks Portugal

Chris Hilsenbeck's clutch 78th-minute penalty sealed a 30-29 victory for the USA over Portugal in the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup in Denver on Saturday, giving the hosts a confidence-building win 15 months out from Rugby World Cup 2027.

Rugby Jul 5

Faiilagi and Tuitama each score twice as Manu Samoa demolish Hong Kong China 66-19

Manu Samoa ran in ten tries to crush Hong Kong China 66-19 at Estadio Nacional in Santiago in the World Rugby Nations Cup, with Super Rugby duo Miracle Faiilagi and Tuna Tuitama both crossing twice and AJ Alatimu contributing 21 points.

Rugby Jul 4

Erasmus flags four Springbok injury doubts after South Africa demolish England 45-21

Rassie Erasmus has raised concerns over Ox Nche, Andre Esterhuizen, Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth after South Africa's 45-21 Nations Championship win over England at Ellis Park, with Scotland visiting next weekend.

Rugby Jul 4

World Rugby Nations Cup launches 4 July with 12 World Cup qualifiers across two pools

The inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup begins in Montevideo on 4 July as Uruguay host Georgia, featuring 12 nations already qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, split across Pool A and Pool B.

Rugby Jul 4

Horan backs Shaw debut as Schmidt eyes Wallabies depth for 2027 Rugby World Cup

Wallabies legend Tim Horan has endorsed the selection of uncapped lock Lachlan Shaw for Saturday's Nations Championship opener against Ireland in Sydney, arguing Joe Schmidt is building squad depth with the 2027 Rugby World Cup firmly in mind.

Rugby Jul 4