Rugby World Cup
Quadrennial world rugby championship.
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Wales props Francis and Smith reunite at Sale with one eye on the 2027 World Cup
Tomas Francis and Nicky Smith have both joined Sale Sharks this summer, reuniting after two seasons together at the Ospreys. The Wales props see the Premiership club as the ideal platform to push for World Cup selection in 2027.
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Injury-free Frizell returns for Tasman to launch 2027 Rugby World Cup bid
Shannon Frizell makes his long-awaited return from a hamstring injury on Friday when Tasman face Otago at Forsyth Barr Stadium, with the 33-cap All Black starting at No.8 as he bids to force his way back into New Zealand's 2027 World Cup plans.
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Sue Day leads five-strong World Rugby Hall of Fame class of 2026
Red Roses record try-scorer Sue Day headlines the latest World Rugby Hall of Fame inductees, joining USA legend Jen Crawford, three-time World Cup winner Rochelle Martin, and men's internationals Abdelatif Benazzi and Diego Dominguez in the class of 2026.
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RFU to extend Steve Borthwick's contract beyond 2027 Rugby World Cup despite fan doubts
The RFU is set to hand Steve Borthwick a contract extension through to 2028, keeping him in charge beyond next year's Rugby World Cup in Australia. Performance director Conor O'Shea has publicly backed Borthwick, calling England genuine World Cup contenders.
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Canada coach eyes World Cup boost as Champ Rugby deal opens doors for 15 players
Rugby Canada's new strategic partnership with England's second-tier Champ Rugby competition, announced on 8 August, could see around 15 Canadian internationals move to professional clubs in England ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
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Rugby Canada strikes Champ Rugby deal to sharpen players ahead of 2027 World Cup
Rugby Canada have agreed a formal partnership with Champ Rugby to place Canadian players at English second-tier clubs, covering relocation costs and guaranteeing national-team availability as the side builds toward Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.
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Wallaroos target unbeaten England with nothing-to-lose mindset at WXV opener
Record-setting winger Desiree Miller says Australia can draw on their strong opening 30 minutes against England at last year's World Cup as the Wallaroos prepare to face the unbeaten Red Roses in their WXV Global Series opener at Manchester's CorpAcq Stadium.
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Rennie admits All Blacks lineout lacks experience to replace Retallick and Whitelock
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has acknowledged his side's set-piece struggles during the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Tour, pointing to the absence of centurions Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock as a key factor in his locks' inexperience.
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Carter Gordon fractures fibula and faces two months out ahead of Springboks clash
Australia fly-half Carter Gordon has been confirmed with a fractured fibula after leaving the field in the Wallabies' 28-all draw with Argentina, ruling him out for up to two months and putting his place in the Springboks Test in serious doubt.
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Uruguay hooker Myszka banned 13 games for tackle that left Chile's Shea Duret needing two surgeries
Joaquín Myszka has been suspended for 13 games after a no-arms tackle in the Americas Rugby Championship left Chilean prop Emilio Shea Duret requiring two surgeries. The ban, halved from an initial 26 weeks, rules the 24-year-old out until mid-2027.
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Kiss backs Wallabies to front up against world-number-one Springboks after historic Argentina series win
Australia coach Les Kiss says the Wallabies will be ready for the Springboks later this month after securing a first-ever series win in Argentina, capped by a 28-28 draw in Mendoza that extended their unbeaten run to five Tests.
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Former Japan head coach Lesley McKenzie joins Portugal staff for Rugby World Cup push
Lesley McKenzie, who spent six years leading Japan's Sakura Fifteen, has been appointed as a contact coach within Simon Mannix's Portugal setup as Os Lobos prepare for the Nations Cup and Rugby World Cup 2027.
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Lions Women head coach named as first New Zealand tour reaches one-year countdown
The British & Irish Lions Women are exactly one year away from their first-ever tour match, a fixture against the Black Ferns XV in Whangarei on 4 September 2027. Former England scrum-half Jo Yapp has been appointed as inaugural head coach ahead of the three-Test series in New Zealand.
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Swys de Bruin reveals he resigned as Springbok Women coach long before public announcement
Swys de Bruin has broken his silence on his departure as Springbok Women head coach, confirming he submitted his resignation well in advance and dismissing reports that unpaid bonuses were behind the split.
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Brazil name 28-strong squad for WXV Global Series Challenger with 2029 World Cup in sight
Head coach Guilherme Coghetto has named a 28-player Brazil squad for the WXV Global Series Challenger in Hong Kong, featuring 16 Women's Rugby World Cup veterans and 11 Olympians. As Yaras face Hong Kong China, the Netherlands and Spain across three weeks in September.
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Contepomi makes four changes as Argentina seek to end three-game losing run against Australia
Felipe Contepomi has reshuffled his Argentina starting XV with four personnel changes and key positional switches ahead of Saturday's Rugby Championship rematch with Australia in Mendoza, as Los Pumas look to arrest a three-match losing streak.
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USA U20 captain Spencer Huntley steps up to Eagles squad 14 months before World Cup
Scrum-half Spencer Huntley, who captained the USA at the Junior World Championship in Georgia, has been named in a 31-man USA XV squad facing Argentina XV — a call-up the 20-year-old described as what he had been working toward his whole life.
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Springbok Women name experience-heavy XV to face Black Ferns under new co-coaches
South Africa have retained 11 starters from their Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand as they prepare to face the Black Ferns at FNB Stadium in Soweto, with assistant coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September taking charge after head coach Swys de Bruin's departure.
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Swys de Bruin quits as Springbok Women head coach two days before Black Ferns clash
Swys de Bruin has stepped down as Springbok Women head coach amid reported disputes with SA Rugby, with assistant coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September named co-head coaches ahead of Saturday's match against the Black Ferns at FNB Stadium.
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Wallabies chase first five-Test winning run in five years against Argentina in Mendoza
Australia have won four straight Tests under interim head coach Les Kiss and can match a feat not achieved since 2021 when they face Los Pumas in Mendoza. Winger Max Jorgensen says the squad is focused on the task but has one eye on next year's Rugby World Cup.
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