Rugby World Cup news — SportsCatch

Grand Slam architect Philip Doyle, trailblazer for Ireland Women's rugby, dies at 61

Philip Doyle, the coach who guided Ireland Women to a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2013 and their first-ever victory over the Black Ferns at the 2014 Rugby World Cup, has died aged 61. Blackrock College RFC, where he played and coached for decades, announced his passing.

Rugby Jun 26

Simionescu returns from nine-month injury lay-off in Romania's Nations Cup squad

Fullback Marius Simionescu, one of Romania's standout performers at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, has been named in a 32-man squad for the Nations Cup after more than nine months out injured. New cap Iacopo Bianchi is also included, while six players miss out through injury.

Rugby Jun 26

Pritchard leads new faces in Australia U20 squad to face Spain at Junior World Championship

Queensland Reds centre Treyvon Pritchard headlines a refreshed Australia U20 squad named for their Junior World Championship opener against Spain, with France-based duo Lehopoame Leota and Kingbenjamin Swerling-Finaipepe among those in line for potential debuts off the bench.

Rugby Jun 26

Bell returns from Ulster sabbatical with World Cup hunger as Wallabies target Ireland opener

Angus Bell says Joe Schmidt has made winning the three July Tests non-negotiable as Australia open their 2026 Nations Championship campaign against Ireland in Sydney, with the 25-year-old prop back from a formative stint at Ulster.

Rugby Jun 26

Italy seek Women's Rugby World Cup revenge on South Africa in WXV Global Series

Italy will host South Africa and Japan at Stadio Omero Tognon in Fontanafredda across back-to-back September weekends in the new WXV Global Series, seeking revenge for the Springbok Women's 29-24 win that knocked the Azzurre out of last year's World Cup.

Rugby Jun 25

Zimbabwe-born lock Landsberg leaves Lions for Exeter to chase World Cup debut

Darrien Landsberg is set to join Exeter Chiefs from the Lions on a two-year deal, with the 27-year-old lock hoping the move to Sandy Park will unlock a first Test cap for Zimbabwe ahead of next year's Rugby World Cup.

Rugby Jun 25

Stewart warns Wallaroos squad changes are coming as Walsh launches full-time programme

Wallaroos all-time leading try-scorer Maya Stewart says Tim Walsh's new full-time programme will force significant squad rotation, with Australia targeting the 2029 home Women's Rugby World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Rugby Jun 25

All Blacks Sevens pair Tocker and Lasaqa named to start New Zealand U20s' Junior World Championship opener against Japan

Bradley Tocker and Kele Lasaqa, both All Blacks Sevens players, have been named in New Zealand's starting XV for their Junior World Championship Pool B opener against Japan in Georgia, with Haki Wiseman captaining the side.

Rugby Jun 25

Larkham leads Schmidt and Cron into two-test Australia A tour of the USA in October

Australia A will face the USA in back-to-back fixtures in Nashville and New Jersey in late October, with a coaching trio of Stephen Larkham, Simon Cron and outgoing Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt overseeing the development side.

Rugby Jun 25

Portugal name Marques in Nations Cup squad but rest two Rugby Europe title heroes

Portugal have named a strong squad for the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup in North America, with scrum-half Samuel Marques returning after missing two Tests. However, top-scorer Rodrigo Marta and back-rower Nicolás Martins have been left out.

Rugby Jun 24

Mnebelele takes South Africa U20s armband as Norton and Moyo chase senior Springbok debuts

Hooker Siphosethu Mnebelele has inherited the South Africa U20 captaincy from Riley Norton, who has been called into Rassie Erasmus' Nations Championship squad alongside fly-half Vusi Moyo. The defending champions open their Junior World Championship title defence against Uruguay in Tbilisi on Saturday.

Rugby Jun 24

Demi Kennewell retires from Australian Sevens as a world champion after decade of service

Demi Kennewell has confirmed her retirement from the Australian Women's Sevens after a 10-year career that included 13 SVNS Series titles, a Rugby Sevens World Cup gold medal, and a 2026 HSBC SVNS World Championship triumph.

Rugby Jun 24

Arata and Leindekar headline Uruguay's Nations Cup absentees as Teros name depleted squad

Uruguay have named a 33-man squad for the World Rugby Nations Cup without Castres scrum-half Santiago Arata, captain Manuel Leindekar and several other first-choice starters, though four uncapped sevens players earn call-ups.

Rugby Jun 23

Red Roses secure four-year contract framework with RFU after becoming world champions

The RFU and England's Red Roses have agreed a new contract framework running from 2026 to 2030, guaranteeing at least 32 full-time contracts, enhanced pay, and a Women's Rugby World Cup selection bonus.

Rugby Jun 23

Sevens star Trevithick poised for Spain 15s debut at inaugural Nations Cup

Jeremy Trevithick, named in the SVNS Team of the Year, is set to earn his first 15s cap after head coach Pablo Bouza included him in Spain's 31-man squad for the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup in North America this July.

Rugby Jun 23

MacGinty handed summer rest as USA name Nations Cup squad without injured fly-half

Bristol Bears fly-half AJ MacGinty has been left out of the USA's Nations Cup squad as the 43-cap veteran continues his recovery from an Achilles injury that wiped out most of his 2024-25 season. Jack Walsh, a potential future Eagles option, is also listed among the unavailable players.

Rugby Jun 23

Abi Burton targets Lions call-up after breakthrough season with Trailfinders

Abi Burton has emerged as one of Premiership Women's Rugby's most influential No.8s this season, racking up seven tries and 160 carries for Trailfinders as they prepare to face Saracens in the PWR Final — a win that would complete a remarkable clean sweep.

Rugby Jun 23

1999 World Cup winner Nathan Grey joins USA coaching staff for Nations Cup

Australia's Nathan Grey, a World Cup winner with the Wallabies in 1999, has been appointed as USA's defence coach for the upcoming World Rugby Nations Cup, joining head coach Scott Lawrence's five-man assistant team.

Rugby Jun 23

Walsh steps up to lead Wallaroos into historic 2029 home World Cup after sevens golden era

Tim Walsh has been appointed Rugby Australia's Director of Women's High Performance, tasked with elevating the Wallaroos ahead of the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup on home soil — a role he takes on fresh from guiding the Sevens side to back-to-back World Championship titles.

Rugby Jun 23

Georgia's Junior Lelos stun New Zealand U20s for first time in history with late try

Georgia's Junior Lelos defeated the New Zealand Junior All Blacks 22-19 at the Kharebi Arena in Rustavi, ending a run of four consecutive losses to the All Blacks at U20 level with a match-winning try in the final minute.

Rugby Jun 22