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REACTION: Coach Fabien Galthie said France must "go up another level" after breezing past Australia 41-17 in their final World Cup warm-up on Sunday.

TEAM UPDATE: England has confirmed that Jonny May has replaced Anthony Watson in their squad for the World Cup.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland coach Andy Farrell has had his selection hand forced by injury ahead of the World Cup.

MATCH REPORT: Eddie Jones' winless return to Australia continued with another horror story in Paris on Sunday, a humbling 17-41 loss to World Cup hosts France.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Sharks continued their off-season recruitment by luring another Springbok to Durban.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the World Cup warm-up match between France and Australia at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

REACTION: South Africa and Scotland are set to face off in pivotal pool match in the opening round of the World Cup, in Marseille on September 10.

REACTION: A historic win by Fiji over England has reminded Australia and other Pool C rivals that advancing to the World Cup quarterfinals is no guarantee.

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls gave Namibia coach Allister Coetzee food for thought ahead of the World Cup in two weeks after their 43-30 victory over the Welwitschias at the Vegkop Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday.

NEWS: The All Blacks are holding thumbs that prop Tyrel Lomax will recover in time for the World Cup after sustaining a deep gash on his upper leg in the loss against the Springboks at Twickenham on Friday.

Los Pumas player ratings: Argentina put on an impressive display against Spain at the Civitatis Metropolitano in Madrid, leaving their opponents chasing shadows throughout the match played in high temperatures and high pace.

NEWS: Wales flyhalf Dan Biggar has announced he will retire from international rugby union after the upcoming World Cup in France.

MATCH REPORT: Argentina scored nine tries in a 62-3 rout of Spain in a Rugby World Cup warm-up on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Ireland hung on desperately to edge Samoa 17-13 their final World Cup warm-up match in a rainy Bayonne on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Scotland wrapped up their World Cup warm-up campaign with a 33-6 victory over Georgia at Murrayfield on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Italy convincingly beat Japan 42-21 on Saturday in both teams' final warm-up match before the World Cup in France.

REACTION: England coach Steve Borthwick lamented his side's poor tackling after a shock 22-30 loss to Fiji.

England player ratings live from Twickenham: It was Friday when Steve Borthwick’s assistant, Kevin Sinfield, calmly vouched that "getting better and improving is never a straight line".

WATCH as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber chats to @king365ed after their 35-7 rout of the All Blacks at Twickenham at the weekend.

MATCH REPORT: Fiji has caused one of the greatest upsets in rugby history beating England for the first time ever by 30-22 in a World Cup warm-up game at Twickenham on Saturday.

REPORT: Wales and British and Irish Lions player Rhys Webb is facing a potentially career-ending ban.

REACTION: The All Blacks were blasted as "panicky and rattled" by New Zealand media on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the World Cup warm-up match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium in London.

STATEMENT: The real reason for Elton Jantjies' departure from the Springbok team has been revealed.

REACTION: The All Blacks' already fragile second row stock suffered another major setback during their 7-35 defeat to the Springboks on Friday.

PREVIEW: The Wallabies' second row has a distinctly French flavour as skipper Will Skelton and Richie Arnold line up against many of their club teammates in Paris in their World Cup warm-up.

REACTION: If Auckland was the wake-up call, Twickenham was the remedy for the defending World Cup champions South Africa.

OPINION: Finn Morton rates the New Zealand players after their record 7-35 loss to South Africa at Twickenham on Friday.

OPINION: @king365ed rates the South African players after their record 35-7 win over New Zealand at Twickenham on Friday.

MATCH REPORT:  The Springboks made a big statement concluding their World Cup preparations with a resounding 35-7 win over the All Blacks at Twickenham on Friday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the World Cup warm-up match between New Zealand and South Africa at Twickenham Stadium in London.

MATCH REPORT: The Cheetahs got their build-up to their new European campaign off to a victorious start.

PREVIEW: The world's top-ranked team, Ireland, completes its World Cup warm-up fixtures on Saturday by taking on Samoa in Bayonne.

PREVIEW: Scotland will be eager to fine-tune their squad when they host Georgia at Murrayfield on Saturday.

NEWS: A first for the United Rugby Championship is on the cards for the 2023/24 season when Ospreys play the Sharks in London at the Twickenham Stoop for their Round 3 match-up on November 3.

PREVIEW: The woes of the England rugby team since they started their preparations for the World Cup could not have been scripted any worse.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Will Skelton will become the 87th Wallabies captain when he leads the side onto Stade de France on Sunday for the side’s final Test before the 2023 World Cup.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: In another incredible effort to grow the sport, World Rugby has launched rugby’s first-ever global streaming platform RugbyPass TV.

NEWS: Former Wales head coach Wayne Pivac will lead Japanese second-division side NEC Green Rockets next season.

NEWS: Centre George Moala will miss all but one of Tonga's World Cup pool games after he failed in an appeal to have a five-match ban over-turned, World Rugby announced on Thursday.

WATCH as Springbok captain Siya Kolisi fronts up to the media ahead of his team's encounter with the All Blacks at Twickenham on Friday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Former New Zealand flyhalf Lima Sopoaga will make his Samoa Test debut in this weekend's World Cup warm-up with Ireland.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Despite heading in a new direction, Stormers captain Salmaan Moerat will stay true to the legacy of former skipper Steven Kitshoff.

PREVIEW: @king365ed brings you the views of both camps ahead of the World Cup warm-up match between arch-rivals South Africa and New Zealand at Twickenham on Friday.

NEWS: England have suffered a fresh blow ahead of the World Cup.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Head coach Andy Farrell has named his matchday squad to face Samoa in Saturday’s World Cup warm-up fixture at Stade Jean-Dauger in Bayonne.

TEAM ANNOUNCMENT: Courtney Lawes will earn his 100th cap as England captain on Saturday as Steve Borthwick’s men take on Fiji at Twickenham Stadium in the last of Nations Series games before the start of the 2023 World Cup in France.

PREVIEW: Head coach Jamie Joseph said Thursday that Japan had "turned the page" ahead of their final World Cup tune-up against Italy after a spate of red cards and injuries.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Matthieu Jalibert will start at flyhalf in France's final World Cup warm-up match against Australia this weekend, head coach Fabien Galthie announced on Thursday.

WATCH as Springbok centre Andre Esterhuizen previews the Twickenham Test against the All Blacks.

NEWS: Griquas confirmed the arrival of former Springbok lock Franco van der Merwe as the new assistant coach.

NEWS: Stormers head coach John Dobson has revealed his new squad captain ahead of the 2023/2024 season.

SPOTLIGHT: Australia 'A' Head Coach Jason Gilmore has confirmed his side to face Portugal at Stade Jules-Ladoumègue in Massy, south of Paris, on Saturday.

REACTION: All Blacks coach Ian Foster has laughed off the idea there's anything disloyal about his predecessor Steve Hansen's brief link-up with the Wallabies.

SPOTLIGHT: Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend wants his team to play their best rugby when they face South Africa in the World Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: Lalakai Foketi has boldly declared the Wallabies aren't in France to make up the numbers and won't be satisfied with anything less than winning the World Cup.

REACTION: South Africa must expect another fierce onslaught from New Zealand in their Word Cup warm-up match at Twickenham on Friday.

NEWS: Argentina will be heading to the World Cup without one of their big names.

SPOTLIGHT: Two things that immediately struck Rosko Specman as he drove into the South Africa Sevens team’s base at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport on Wednesday, were ‘hard work’ and ‘no comfort zones’.

TRANSFER NEWS: France prop Demba Bamba will join Racing 92 from Lyon next season, the Paris-based Top 14 club announced on Wednesday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jamie Ritchie will lead Scotland in their final match before the upcoming World Cup.

WATCH as Springbok veteran Eben Etzebeth explains why they will leave nothing in the tank in their face-off against the All Blacks at Twickenham on Friday.

PREVIEW: Namibia will be entering their final preparation stages for the 2023 World Cup and they will face the Bulls in Windhoek on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: A matchday 23, with over 1000 Tests of international experience, has been given the task of taking on the current world champions South Africa in a match that will complete preparations for the 2023  World Cup in France.

SPOTLIGHT: Scotland star Duhan van der Merwe admitted that his rise on the international stage in the colours of Scotland was something that he could never envisage a few years ago.

WATCH as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber responds in mirthful fashion to a question about flyhalf Manie Libbok's declining goalkicking standards.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: England No.8 Billy Vunipola has not escape punishment for his dangerous tackle during England's defeat to Ireland on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: In another shocking move Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones has hinted that flyhalf  Ben Donaldson could be in line for his first Wallabies appearance when Australia face hosts France in their World Cup warm-up.

UPDATE: Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby, paid tribute to former Springbok captain Marthinus Theunis Steyn (Theuns) Stofberg, who sadly passed away on Wednesday following a serious car accident outside Stellenbosch on Monday.

BREAKING NEWS: The verdict of England captain Owen Farrell's appeal hearing has been released and it is going to upset his critics.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ruan Pienaar resumes his role at flyhalf for the Cheetahs when they face the Western Force in the opening of four Challenge Series games in Bloemfontein on Friday night.

WATCH as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber clears up any doubt about the injury status of World Cup winners Handre Pollard and Lukhanyo Am and their possible return to the squad.

NEWS: The BlitzBoks received some bad news ahead of the Sevens season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: When days are dark, friends are few. However, that is not the case for Australia's head coach Eddie Jones.

NEWS: South Africa has lost a huge figure in the coaching fraternity with the sad news that the Griffons’ assistant coach Oersond Gorgonzola has passed away.

NEWS: World Rugby has announced the referee appointments for the 40 matches that comprise the pool stage of this year's World Cup in France.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Ange Capuozzo will travel to the World Cup in France after being selected in the Azzurri squad announced on Tuesday.

WATCH as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber unpacks the key to success for his team against the All Blacks at Twickenham on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: All Black star Ardie Savea says there is no such thing as a "warm-up" for his team as they prepare to face the Springboks at Twickenham Stadium in London.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Bayonne lock Manuel Leindekar and Castres scrumhalf Santiago Arata were both named in Uruguay's 33-man World Cup squad.

NEWS: The eight venues for the 2025 Women's World Cup in England have been announced, two years out from the start of the showpiece tournament.

REACTION: Veteran All Blacks hooker Dane Coles said he was "gobsmacked" to hear former New Zealand coach Steve Hansen is helping rivals Australia prepare for the World Cup.

WATCH as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber explains how they will continue to ease captain Siya Kolisi back to full match fitness.

SQUAD UPDATE: Uncapped hooker Diarmuid Barron has joined the Ireland squad ahead of their warm-up clash against Samoa in Bayonne.

NEWS: The 'Bunker' review system and the shot clock will feature at the upcoming World Cup in France, World Rugby announced Monday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Namibia, beaten in all 22 matches they played at six previous World Cups, named 39-year-old lock PJ van Lill among 31 players on Monday for the 2023 tournament in France.

WATCH as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber unpacks the reasons behind his left-field selection for the World Cup warm-up encounter with the All Blacks.

NEWS: South Africa's new position in the Men's Rankings was confirmed by World Rugby on Monday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Flank Anthony Jelonch was named in host nation France's World Cup squad by head coach Fabien Galthie on Monday despite suffering from a serious knee injury.

NEWS: Wales coach Warren Gatland has named two captains to lead his side in the World Cup in France in two weeks. 

NEWS: Israel Folau has been left out of Tonga’s World Cup squad announced by coach Toutai Kefu who named 32 players with one more name to be added.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber has revealed his team for their final World Cup warm-up match against the All Blacks in London on Friday.

NEWS: England’s Billy Vunipola will know his fate on Tuesday following his red card against Ireland when the hearing for the red card offence will take place.

NEWS: World Cup-winning All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has joined the Wallabies in a short-term advisory role ahead of next month's World Cup.

NEWS: The Lions have nabbed a Bull after being on the hunt for months to fill their coaching positions with the announcement that one of the most prolific kickers in South African rugby will join them as kicking consultant.

SPOTLIGHT: Assistant coach Jason Ryan says the All Blacks will send out their strongest "available" "team for their World Cup warm-up match against the Springboks on Friday.

WATCH as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber responds to questions around the poor kicking performance of flyhalf Manie Libbok in the last two Tests.

Which team has competed at the World Cup regularly but has never won a single game? Today we take a look at the team from Namibia, galant competitors but a victory has always eluded them.

WATCH as returning Springbok captain Siya Kolisi sings the praises of veteran fullback Willie le Roux, despite a performance that had the cynics calling for his head.

REACTION: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell will be hoping that the foot injury Dan Sheehan suffered against England on Saturday is not a serious one.

WATCH as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber unpacks his team's record win over Wales in Cardiff at the weekend.

SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies assistant coach Jason Ryles says his new boss Eddie Jones shares similar coaching philosophies to Craig Bellamy, who he played and worked under at the Melbourne Storm.

REACTION: Wales head coach Warren Gatland admitted that the Springboks physically dominated his side in all areas of the game in Saturday's World Cup warm-up match in Cardiff.

REACTION: England coach Steve Borthwick was left hoping for a rapid finish to rugby's often lengthy disciplinary procedures after Billy Vunipola joined Owen Farrell as a World Cup doubt by being sent off during a 10-29 warm-up loss to Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: France has beaten Fiji 34-17 in a World Cup warm-up match at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes on Saturday evening.

NEWS: The world's most capped player Alun Wyn Jones was shown a yellow card just three minutes into his French Top 14 debut as his Toulon side lost 27-15 at Lyon.

WATCH as Springbok captain Siya Kolisi speaks about his first game after knee surgery - a 40-minute outing in a 52-16 rout of Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

OPINION: The ambition in Dublin was for Steve Borthwick’s team to live up to their head coach’s promise that they definitely were in the right direction towards Marseille and being pitch-perfect for their World Cup opener versus Argentina.

OPINION: The men in green eventually got out of second gear to see off a disjointed if earnest England side, that refused to go away even after going down to 14 men.

REPORT: Another one of Steve Borthwick's stars is set to face the music in the coming days.

NEWS: Georgia eased past the USA 22-7 on Saturday in their second warm-up for this year's World Cup.

OPINION: Ian Cameron rates the Welsh players after their humbling 16-52 loss to South Africa.

OPINION: @king365ed rates the South African players after their 52-16 demolition of Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

REPORT: The Springboks will head into their next World Cup warm-up match against the All Blacks with some momentum after they hammered Wales 52-16 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the World Cup warm-up match between Ireland and England at Lansdowne Road in Dublin.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the World Cup warm-up match between Wales and South Africa at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

NEWS: Brave Blossoms coach Jamie Joseph has made four changes to the original World Cup squad for Japan that was announced three days ago.

WATCH as iconic Springbok captain Siya Kolisi explains how he found strength in God to recover from knee surgery and recover in time to be ready for the World Cup.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: England captain Owen Farrell has been told when he must appear before an appeal hearing in his labyrinthian and disputatious saga.

REACTION: Former leading referee Nigel Owens warned Rugby Union is in "big trouble" if Owen Farrell's dangerous tackle against Wales is no longer regarded as worthy of a sending-off.

INTERVIEW: Wales coach Warren Gatland admitted he is planning for some short-term success and the World Cup is his target.

REACTION: South Africa's Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus took to social media to show his support for Ireland's head coach Andy Farrell.

PREVIEW: There are some intriguing matches in the latest round of the World Cup warm-ups and World Rugby has published the ranking permutations.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The South African Under-18 team to face England in the International series in Paarl on Saturday underwent wholesale changes including new captain JJ Theron.

PREVIEW: @king365ed unpacks the World Cup warm-up encounter between Wales and South Africa in Cardiff on Saturday and what it means for the Springboks' title defence that starts next month.

PREVIEW: The whole controversy surrounding Owen Farrell this week has taken some of the spotlight away from Saturday's big World Cup warm-up match between Ireland and England in Dublin.

PREVIEW: World Cup hosts France will welcome Fiji to Stade de la Beaujoire for a warm-up match on Saturday evening and there is no doubt that Fabien Galthie's side needs a strong performance against an ever improving Fiji.

REACTION: Ireland coach Andy Farrell slammed much of the commentary surrounding son Owen.

NEWS: All Black head coach Ian Foster has added another player to his injury list.

NEWS: National Rugby League assistant Jason Ryles has answered an SOS from Wallabies coach Eddie Jones and will join the Australian squad as a replacement for attack coach Brad Davis.

BREAKING NEWS: Wales suffered a double injury blow ahead of their final World Cup warm-up match against reigning champions South Africa in Cardiff on Saturday.

NEWS: France-based New Zealand rugby player George Tilsley has been given a six-month suspended prison sentence for assaulting his girlfriend.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: England appointed a new captain for their World Cup warm-up match against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday as a replacement for Owen Farrell, who awaits his fate after World Rugby appealed his disciplinary ruling.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: James Ryan will captain Ireland in the final home match before the World Cup, while Keith Earls is in line to win his 100th Test cap in green should he feature off the replacements bench.

WATCH as affable Springbok Ox Nché reveals why he almost missed a second consecutive World Cup and why he prefers cake over salad.

World Rugby has lodged an appeal against the decision to overturn Owen Farrell’s red card from Saturday’s match against Wales, placing the England captain’s participation in the World Cup in doubt again.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: France have recalled captain Gregory Alldritt for their World Cup warm-up clash with Fiji in Nantes on Saturday while Paul Willemse and Francois Cros also return for the tournament hosts.

Ange Capuozzo will return to Italy's starting line-up following six months out after being picked on Thursday for this weekend's World Cup warm-up with Romania.

NEWS: Eddie Jones' second stint as Australia's head coach has not gone as planned. 

WATCH as Wallaby coach Eddie Jones blow up at the Australian media over their 'negative' questions.

OPINION: The final spot for the World Cup in France went to Portugal and now the biggest rugby spectacle in the world is just around the corner.

With most of the rugby stars' attention solely focused on the 2023 World Cup, the rest of the stars has been extremely busy with pre-season training.

TEAM NEWS: Ireland confirmed that five players have been cut from the 42-man World Cup training squad on Wednesday.

WATCH as Springboks Ox Nche and Cheslin Kolbe talk about the biggest threats they face against Wales in a World Cup warm-up match in Cardiff on Saturday.

NEWS: It seems like England's concerns are far from over as captain Owen Farrell might still be banned for his tackle during the World Cup warm-up match against Wales at Twickenham.

NEWS: The Cheetahs and the Western Force, will kick off their campaigns in the Challenge Series on Friday, August 25 against each other.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Romania coach Eugen Apjok on Wednesday selected nine players based in France including Stade Francais prop Thomas Cretu in his 33-man squad for next month's World Cup in France.

NEWS: The South African Under-18 team must lift their heads and knuckle down as they start preparing for their second game in the U18 International Series against England on Saturday.

INTERVIEW: Shock new Wallabies captain Will Skelton is pledging to be his own man while also leaning on teammates for support during Australia's World Cup campaign.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Bulls assistant coach Chris Rossouw believes the Springbok star Kurt-Lee Arendse will only get better after claiming five individual awards at the franchise's annual awards ceremony.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Warren Gatland has named his Wales team to play South Africa in a World Cup warm-up match on Saturday.

WATCH as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber explains which aspects of the team's game and approach improved since they won the World Cup in 2019.

NEWS: Six South Africans have been included in the Barbarian match-23 to face Samoa in Brive on Friday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has named his 33-player squad for the upcoming World Cup 2023, to be held in France next month.

NEWS: The release of the Super Rugby Pacific draw for 2024 has revealed an action-packed schedule headlined by fierce rivalries.

NEWS: Of the 20 teams lining up in France only one is making its first appearance at the World Cup.

REACTION: Kevin Sinfield has vituperated the critics of England captain Owen Farrell in the wake of the surprise ruling in his disciplinary hearing.

NEWS: Injured Ireland back row forward Jack Conan is going really well in his recovery from the foot problem which cast doubt on his World Cup participation.

WATCH as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber unpacks the reasons behind starting captain Siya Kolisi and scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse against Wales, instead of easing them back into the fray off the bench.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE:  Owen Farrell's ruling has been confirmed and it will certainly raise a few eyebrows.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber has revealed his team for Saturday's World Cup warm-up match against Wales in Cardiff.

#RWC SQUADS: The men who will fight for the prestigious World Cup trophy from September 8 to October 28.

REPORT: Hosts Tonga crossed for six tries in a 36-12 romp over Canada on Tuesday to claim a second straight win over the Canucks in tune-ups for the World Cup.

WOMEN SPOTLIGHT: In a boost to the management of the Springbok Women, the experienced Franzel September has been added to the team’s coaching staff, joining Laurian Johannes-Haupt as assistant to interim head coach Louis Koen.

INTERVIEW: Two-Test playmaker Carter Gordon says he's ready for the World Cup pressure-cooker despite being the only specialist flyhalf in the Wallabies squad.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Quade Cooper's spectacular fall from grace is complete with Wallabies coach Eddie Jones overlooking the playmaker for Australia A's team to play Portugal.

SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks are bracing themselves for another tricky encounter against Wales when they meet in a World Cup warm-up match in Cardiff on Saturday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Japan head coach Jamie Joseph has named his World Cup squad With three places in the 33-member squad still to be confirmed.

INJURY UPDATE: Wales is the latest team sweating over the fitness of key players, just weeks out from the World Cup.

WATCH as UJ coach Jonathan Mokuena chats to @king365ed about his graduation from SARU's Elite Coaching Programme and what the future holds for him.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Xola Nyali has been handed the captaincy as the South African Under-18 team prepare for their U18 International Series opener against France at Stellenberg High School in Durbanville.

SPOTLIGHT: There is always the risk of picking up injuries in World Cup warm-up matches and this past weekend's clashes proved that anything could happen from now until the big event in France.

NEWS: For the first time since January 2008 Wales are below Fiji in the World Rugby's Rankings.

INJURY UPDATE: France suffered a double blow less than a month before the hosts open the World Cup against New Zealand with flyhalf Romain Ntamack ruled out with a knee injury and prop Cyril Baille in doubt with a calf problem.

PREVIEW: Canada brace themselves for another physical challenge against Tonga at the Teufaiva Stadium on Tuesday.

INJURY UPDATE: England scrumhalf Jack nan Poortvliet has been ruled out of the World Cup after suffering an ankle injury.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Scotland are peaking at the right time which is a major alarm bell for their heavyweight World Cup pool stage contenders, Ireland and South Africa.

SPOTLIGHT: England flyhalf George Ford, a close friend of Owen Farrell since childhood, said England would rally around their skipper as he faces a ban.

INJURY NEWS: France's chances of winning the World Cup title have suffered a major blow with reports of Romain Ntamack's injury.

FEATURE: Walvis Bay is renowned for the abundance of its wildlife. Whales bask offshore while flamingos, pelicans and Damara terns all shelter in the tidal lagoon.

SPOTLIGHT: It is not easy to tell assistant coaches to continually chop and change teams when they stand to lose 40% of their income when things go awry.

OPINION: Rugbypass writer Ben Smith shares his views on the World Cup warm-up match between All Blacks and Springboks at Twickenham on August 25.

REPORT: Namibia produced a strong fightback in the final quarter to beat Chile 28-26 in Temuco on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: France flyhalf Romain Ntamack left the field with a suspected knee problem and Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe also suffered an injury as the World Cup hosts won 30-27 in a warm-up match in Saint-Etienne on Saturday.

REACTION: England captain Owen Farrell seems set to miss the start of the World Cup after being sent off in a 19-17 warm-up win over Wales at Twickenham on Saturday, although coach Steve Borthwick cautioned against pre-empting the disciplinary process.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok captain Siya Kolisi might very well make his comeback to the playing field in a week and was asked if he felt he was ready to once again lead the team.

OPINION: Scotland sorted out their slow start issues but were unable to deliver the 80-minute performance needed to overcome Les Bleus on home soil.

OPINION: France didn’t quite reign supreme in the St-Etienne hot-box, a stadium which will host four World Cup games later this year, but there were many flashes of brilliance to admire nonetheless.

REPORT: A late Thomas Ramos penalty helped France edge Scotland 30-27 in their World Cup warm-up match in Saint-Etienne on Saturday.

OPINION: England have beaten Wales 19-17 in their international match at Twickenham in what was scrappy and at times chaotic affair in west London.

OPINION: What a crazy, crazy game.

REPORT: Georgia hammered Romania 56-6 in Tbilisi in a warm-up fixture for this year's World Cup on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT:  A late penalty made sure England edged Wales 19-17 at Twickenham on Saturday despite a red card to captain to Owen Farrell.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the World Cup warm-up match between France and Scotland in Saint-Etienne.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the World Cup warm-up match between England and Wales at Twickenham in London.

The Springboks departed South Africa’s shores on Saturday determined to make the country proud.

NEWS: Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has refuted any conspiracy theories doing the rounds regarding the composition of his 33-man World Cup squad.

SPOTLIGHT: Max Jorgensen has placed his studies on hold in the hope of becoming the youngest Wallaby ever to debut at a World Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok lock Jean Kleyn might be on his way to the World Cup for South Africa on Saturday, but the towering lock is not ready to bid Munster farewell yet.

INTERVIEW: Still sporting his Springbok blazer, Canan Moodie reflected on the unreal moment he was selected for the World Cup squad.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Flank Pieter Labuschagne will miss the start of Japan's World Cup campaign.

PREVIEW: France and Scotland will see the return of their captains, Antoine Dupont and Jamie Ritchie, to their starting line-ups for Saturday's World Cup warm-up game in Saint-Etienne on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Wales coach Warren Gatland has been unable to resist a little dig at Eddie Jones and his initial failures to rejuvenate the Wallabies as the pre-World Cup war of words begins to crank into gear.

PREVIEW: Namibia head coach Allister Coetzee has two changes to his starting line-up to face Chile on Saturday.

FEATURE: There is no actual evidence that William Webb Ellis "picked up the ball and ran" during a game of football at Rugby School but that has not prevented a legend building up around him.

SPOTLIGHT: Retshegofaditswe 'Tshego' Nché, better known as Ox, was born a month after South Africa hosted and won the 1995 World Cup.

PREVIEW: The rivalry between England and Wales will resume this weekend when Steve Borthwick's men tries to bounce back at Twickenham.

NEWS: The All Blacks have bolstered their lock stocks for their clash against the Springboks in London on August 25.

NEWS: Tomasi Cama has been named as head coach of the All Blacks Sevens for the 2024 season.

WATCH as South African Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer chats to @king365ed about the lack of female graduates in a recent coaching programme.

REACTION: Henry Arundell has been told to "trust his instincts" by England coach Steve Borthwick when the 20-year-old rising star faces Wales in a World Cup warm-up match at Twickenham on Saturday.

REACTION: Wales coach Warren Gatland is "pretty confident" key back row forward Taulupe Faletau will be fit to take his place in the squad for next month's World Cup in France.

INTERVIEW: Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber unpacks the 'pros and cons' of his utility policy.

MATCH REPORT: Tonga sent a powerful message to fellow Pool B competitors at the World Cup with a comprehensive 28-3 win over Canada in Nuku'alofa on Thursday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: England head coach Steve Borthwick has made 11 changes to his starting XV for Saturday's second World Cup warm-up match against Wales at Twickenham.

OPINION: South Africa is not the only team using the rotation system in their build-up to the World Cup and results over the weekend are proof of that.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: French coach Fabien Galthié wielded a heavy axe for the second of his team's two World Cup warm-up matches.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Australia coach Eddie has backed young players to spearhead the Wallabies' campaign to win their third World Cup which kicks off in France next month.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has made six changes to his starting line-up for this Saturday’s return leg against France in Saint Etienne.

NEWS: They say lightning never strikes in the same place twice, but that is exactly what the Highlanders will be hoping for with the return of one of their most successful coaches.

FEATURE: There is a region in south-west France where the walls of bars and bedrooms are adorned not with pictures of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele but Antoine Dupont, Cyril Baille and Romain Ntamack.

WATCH as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber reveals the surprising options he is considering as alternatives at flyhalf.

NEWS: Wallaby veteran Michael Hooper has reportedly been left out of Eddie Jones' squad for the upcoming World Cup.

NEWS: Wales legend Alun Wyn Jones will get the chance to run out at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium one more time when he plays for the Barbarians against Wales in a tribute match on November 4.

ANALYSIS: Ben Smith reveals why the Springboks have a readymade solution for the injury-enforced absence of Lukhanyo Am at the World Cup in France.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White is confident his squad will have enough depth to compete on all fronts during the 2023/2024 season.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Head coach Warren Gatland has revealed his Wales team for their second World Cup warm-up match against England.

FEATURE: On a parched pitch in an impoverished South African township, a group of young men do push-ups on the hard ground before kicking off a game of rugby.

AWARDS: Kurt-Lee Arendse was rewarded for his fine form during the 2022/2023 season.

FEATURE: Portugal may have snuck into this World Cup through the back door but the future looks bright for a country where the game is steadily building its numbers among the younger generation.

The quandary in the Springbok camp is the absence of a pin-point accurate goal kicker with the omission of Handre Pollard from the Springbok World Cup squad.

NEWS: Former France scrumhalf Rory Kockott has come out of retirement to join Stade Francais as World Cup cover, the Parisian club announced.

REACTION: The absence of three injured first-choice players will be a massive challenge for South Africa in their World Cup defence.

SPOTLIGHT: Tim Horan rates Michael Hooper a 50-50 chance of World Cup selection and hopes Rugby Australia "give him the option" to go out on his terms if the Wallaby champion isn't on the plane to France

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Scotland could start their World Cup campaign in France next month without one of their star players.

WATCH as Springbok captain Siya Kolisi speaks about his knee injury, surgery and recovery.

WATCH Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber unpack the injury status of those players who missed the World Cup cut.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: South Africa will head to the World Cup in France without a number of key players.

INJURY UPDATE: Italy's hopes of reaching the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time suffered a significant blow on Tuesday as highly-rated back Tommaso Menoncello was ruled out due to a serious left arm injury.

WATCH as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber chats to @king365ed about the team's approach ahead of their World Cup opener against Scotland at Stade Vélodrome, in Marseille, on September 10.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Fiji head coach Simon Raiwalui named his squad Tuesday for next month's World Cup but warned his in-form side they would face a big test of their credentials in warm-up matches against France and England.

PREVIEW: Tonga will get some valuable World Cup preparations when they face Canada in two 'warm-up' matches in Nuku'alofa on August 10 and 15.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentina head coach Michael Cheika has named his 33-man squad for the World Cup in France.

INTERVIEW: Former World Cup captain Stirling Mortlock is a believer again and says the Wallabies are improving enough to challenge for the Webb Ellis trophy in France.

NEWS: Former Scotland and Fiji coach Vern Cotter is to be a consultant for Romania during the upcoming World Cup, the national federation said on Monday.

NEWS: Italy's World Cup squad announcement has been pushed back 10 days, after a spate of injuries in last Saturday's Test against Ireland.

SPOTLIGHT: Having scraped home by a point the previous week, the Springboks enjoyed a more convincing 24-13 win the second time around.

EXCLUSIVE: Watch as two-time World Cup-winning Baby Bok coach Loffie Eloff unpacks his Springbok selection for the World Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: There are some major decisions resting on the shoulders of Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber, as he prepares to name his World Cup squad on Tuesday.

SPOTLIGHT: Bulls wing Canan Moodie made a huge statement, with a man-of-the-match performance during South Africa's 24-13 win over Argentina in Buenos Aires at the weekend.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: England coach Steve Borthwick has confirmed his official 33-player squad for the 2023 World Cup in France next month.

NEWS: Super Rugby Pacific’s biggest weekend is locked to go back to Melbourne for the third time in 2024.

#RWC SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: All Blacks head coach Ian Foster has named his 33-man squad for World Cup 2023 in France.

REACTION: Warren Gatland is confident his Wales side will be "desperate to perform" at Twickenham next weekend as competition for places in his World Cup squad heats up.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Stand-in Scotland captain Finn Russell is bracing himself to face a full-strength France team in next weekend's return World Cup warm-up game in Saint-Etienne.

REACTION: South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber admitted there are minor cracks that emerged during the 24-13 win over Argentina on Saturday.

#RWC SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: European-based forwards Chris Vui and Michael Alaalatoa were named co-captains as Samoa named three former All Blacks in their World Cup squad on Sunday.

REACTION: Playmakers Aaron Smith and Richie Mo'unga say the All Blacks have taken "massive steps" from their troubles of last year and are ready to challenge for the World Cup.

REACTION: Coach Jacques Nienaber admitted he has some 'tough decisions' to make before naming South Africa's World Cup squad on Tuesday.

OPINION: We rate the Welsh players after their 20-9 win over England at the weekend!

OPINION: Liam Heagney rates the England players after their 9-20 loss to Wales in Cardiff!

OPINION: Ian Cameron rates the Ireland players after their 33-17 win over Italy in Dublin on Saturday.

OPINION: Frankie Deges rates the Argentinean players after their 13-24 loss to South Africa on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: Caelan Doris scored two tries while Jack Conan suffered an injury scare as Ireland overpowered Italy 33-17 in their opening World Cup warm-up match in Dublin on Saturday.

OPINION: South Africa appears to be in good shape heading into the World Cup, based on the performances of some fringe players in the 24-13 warm-up win over Argentina at Estadio Jose Amalfitani in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

REPORT: South Africa started their World Cup warm-up campaign with an impressive 24-13 win over Argentina at Estadio Jose Amalfitani in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

REPORT: Wales ended a dour period under Warren Gatland and put down a #BIG World Cup marker with a 20-9 win over a hapless England in Cardiff on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the World Cup warm-up match between Argentina and South Africa at Estadio Jose Amalfitani in Buenos Aires.

OPINION: Scotland overcame an 18-point half-time deficit to see off a largely second-string France at Murrayfield.

OPINION: Considering this was a second-string France side, you might have expected a drop in standard from the Les Bleus of late, but there was to be no such relief for Gregor Townsend’s Scotland, in the first half at least.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the World Cup warm-up match between Wales and England in Cardiff on Saturday.

REACTION: With his best poker face on, Ian Foster insisted he was "stoked" with New Zealand's return Bledisloe Cup performance as his All Blacks side snatched a last-gasp 23-20 win over Australia.

PACIFIC NATIONS CUP, ROUND THREE WRAP: Fiji beat Japan 35-12 in Tokyo on Saturday for their fifth straight win as they build momentum towards the World Cup.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Bulls have bolstered their squad once again ahead of the 2023/2024 season.

REACTION: Eddie Jones remains confident the Wallabies can win the World Cup despite suffering a fourth straight defeat in his return to the head coaching role.

SPOTLIGHT: They say the best skill of a great leader is to listen to those around him.

OPINION: Ian Foster doesn’t believe in dead rubber matches but his selections for 2023’s second Bledisloe Test offered a very dead rubber-esque lineup; the coach handed out three debuts and named a number of further changes across the park.

REACTION: Samu Kerevi and David Porecki will be assessed for injuries, adding to Wallabies coach Eddie Jones' frustrations after another Bledisloe Cup loss.

OPINION: The Wallabies have fallen painfully short of what would’ve been a drought-breaking win in New Zealand, going down to the All Blacks 23-20 in Dunedin.

WATCH as Jacques Nienaber explains to @king365ed why the warm-up match against Los Pumas in Buenos Aires will not impact his World Cup team selection.

MATCH REPORT: New Zealand dodged a bullet with a spirited second-half comeback to narrowly beat Australia 23-20 in front of a packed Dunedin.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Bledisloe Cup encounter between New Zealand and Australia in Dunedin.

NEWS: The Bulls have confirmed the appointments of their new coaches ahead of the 2023/24 season which include former assistant Springbok coach Gary Gold.

PREVIEW: Andy Farrell will be out to test his squad depth when Ireland host Italy in the World Cup warm-up match in Dublin.

PREVIEW: The World Cup warm-up matches will be coming in thick and fast this weekend and World Rugby has published its latest ranking permutations.

TICKETS for the revamped and rebranded World Rugby SVNS at the Cape Town Stadium have officially gone on SALE!

PREVIEW: @king365ed unpacks the key aspects of the World Cup warm-up match between Argentina and South Africa in Buenos Aires.

PREVIEW: Wales and England kick off their Nations Series schedule with the first of a derby double-header on Saturday.

TRANSFER: The Stormers confirmed the signing of a Springbok on Friday.

PREVIEW: Scotland and France clash in a World Cup warm up at Murrayfield on Saturday and it could be a tough test for the visitors who are joint favourites to win the forthcoming World Cup.

PREVIEW: All Black head coach Ian Foster doesn't want his team to take their foot off the pedal when they face the Wallabies in the Bledisloe Cup return leg in Dunedin on Saturday.

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Argentina fullback Juan Cruz Mallia received a ban for his challenge on Springbok scrumhalf Grant Williams in last weekend's Rugby Championship encounter at Ellis Park.

Being selected to represent the Springboks at the 2023 World Cup will be a full-circle moment for Deon Fourie.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Italy head coach Kieran Crowley has brought in some new faces for his team's World Cup warm-up match against Ireland in Dublin.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentina coach Michael Cheika has continued his rotation policy ahead of the World Cup warm-up match against South Africa in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: It seems United Rugby Championship fans love to watch the Stormers play.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has revealed his team to face Italy in their World Cup warm-up match in Dublin on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: England coach Steve Borthwick has named his matchday 23 to face Wales in a World Cup warm-up match in Cardiff on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Fabien Galthie named three new caps in his France team to play Scotland in Saturday's World Cup warm-up match at Murrayfield.

The young Canan Moodie showed no signs of nerves as he gets ready to 'fire a shot' at a Springbok World Cup spot this Saturday.

OPINION: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White unpacks the potential Springbok World Cup squad.

WATCH as the winless Wallaby coach Eddie Jones reacted, in typical insolent, to a suggestion that he got his team selections wrong.

PREVIEW: Japan head coach Jamie Joseph on Thursday urged his players to cut out "small mental lapses" when they face Fiji in their final home game before the World Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok utility forward Franco Mostert has defended the ‘Bomb Squad’ amid public scrutiny.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Scrumhalf Tate McDermott will skipper the Wallabies for the first time in the second Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand in what coach Eddie Jones Thursday called "a new era" for Australia.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The All Blacks have made mass changes to their team to face Australia in Dunedin on Saturday, with just three players retained as starters from last week's resounding victory.

NEWS: New Zealand great Owen Franks, who has not played for the All Blacks since 2019, has joined Toulouse for the duration of the World Cup, the French champions announced on Wednesday.

WATCH as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber unpacks the reasons for selecting Bongi Mbonambi as the captain of the team to face Los Pumas in Buenos Aires.

NEWS: France lock Romain Taofifenua will miss at least three weeks of training due to a hamstring injury, leaving doubts over his fitness for the World Cup.

WATCH as Gerhardus Cornelis Steenekamp speaks about his call-up to the Springbok team and his first potential cap!

SPOTLIGHT: With the World Cup kicking off in just over a month, assistant coach Neale Hatley has underlined the urgency in the Wallabies finding winning form in Saturday's second Bledisloe Cup clash in Dunedin.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Scotland will be out to field their strongest side against France over the next two weeks as they gear up for the World Cup.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wales head coach Warren Gatland has revealed his team to face England in Saturday's World Cup warm-up match in Cardiff.

NEWS: Six Nations Rugby takes a zero-tolerance approach to any form of discrimination, and in a bid to tackle hate speech and harmful content within its online community, is using advanced AI technology to filter, block, delete, and if needed, report cases.

SPOTLIGHT: Forwards coach Paul O'Connell admitted that Jean Kleyn was "very close" to being called up to Ireland's World Cup training squad.

SPOTLIGHT: As a dyslexic, England scrum coach Tom Harrison used to read match programmes and now it is a benefit to his coaching skills. 

TRANSFER NEWS: Willi Heinz will take the field for the Crusaders in the 2024 season, continuing his stellar return to Super Rugby.

WATCH Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber explaining the selection of the 'odd couple' - Deon Fourie and Franco Mostert on the flanks for the Test against Los Pumas in Buenos Aires.

WATCH as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber unpacks the non-selection of star Jaden Hendrikse - just days out from the announcement of the World Cup squad.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber has revealed his team for Saturday's Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok wing Kurt-Lee Arendse has bobbed and weaved his way into the record books matching Bryan Habana’s record as the fastest player to reach 10 tries for the Springboks, in just eight matches.

SPOTLIGHT: James O'Connor will step up his transition into coaching after signing a contract extension with the Queensland Reds that should also see him win a role on the staff of the Junior Wallabies.

OPINION: @king365ed looks at the Springbok players most in need of a good performance against Los Pumas in Buenos Aires - those who must bash the door down to World Cup selection.

SPOTLIGHT: All Black lock Scott Barrett has been described as a player who "doesn't rest" after he received plaudits for his monster hit on Tate McDermot in Saturday’s Rugby Championship win over Australia.

NEWS: Suspended Wallaby Kurtley Beale has had his bail varied awaiting trial on sexual assault allegations, so he's able to take up an offer to play in France.

SPOTLIGHT: One Australian betting agency has listed the All Blacks as AU$1.01 certainties to extend the Wallabies' 22 years of pain in New Zealand in Bledisloe Cup game two.

UPDATE: We look at the latest movements on the World Rugby rankings after the conclusion of the Rugby Championship.

WATCH as Springbok assistant coach Deon Davids talks about how South Africa must cope with the raw passion Argentina will display in their return match in Buenos Aires this coming Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Los Pumas coach Michael Cheika has been called the busiest man in rugby, but for now he is revelling in the tight-knit brotherhood of the Argentinians.

NEWS: With the Wallabies missing two of their leaders, Quade Cooper has stepped up to help his troubled team try to match the might of the All Blacks.

BREAKING: Argentinean fullback Juan Cruz Mallia has been cited for alleged foul play during the 21-22 Rugby Championship loss to South Africa at the weekend.

STATISTICAL SPOTLIGHT: Duane Vermeulen captained the Springboks in what is potentially his final home appearance in the Green and Gold.

REACTION: Rookie Test flyhalf Manie Libbok unpacks the reasons for his mixed emotions at Ellis Park at the weekend.

OPINION: Frankie Deges rates the Los Pumas players after their heartbreaking 21-22 loss to the Springbok at Ellis Park.

REACTION: Ian Foster says the All Blacks are still not the finished product despite banking two trophies on a 10-game unbeaten streak in an ominous sign ahead of the World Cup in France.

NEWS: Former Wales captain and coach Clive Rowlands has died aged 85, the Welsh Rugby Union announced on Sunday.

MATCH REPORT: Uruguay and Chile clashed in Montevideo in the first warm-up match for both countries. The competitive match was won by a single point by the home side by 26-25 giving both Los Teros and Los Cóndores plenty to think about.

NEWS: Rocked by the World Cup loss of Allan Alaalatoa, the shattered Wallabies have just seven days to regroup before the second Bledisloe Cup clash in Dunedin.

OPINION: The lack of consistency in team selection has been the golden thread in the Springboks’ three Rugby Championship Test matches and coach Jacques Nienaber acknowledged that it put a lot of pressure on the team.

REACTION: Scrumhalf Grant Williams is in a race to make the cut for the Springboks' World Cup selection.

MATCH REPORT: Darcy Graham marked his return from injury with two tries as an experimental Scotland side beat Italy 25-13 on Saturday in a World Cup warm-up match at Murrayfield.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named a squad of 26 players for the trip to Buenos Aires for their opening World Cup warm-up game next Saturday, August 5.

OPINION: @king365ed rates the Springboks after South Africa's nailbiting 22-21 win over Argentina at Ellis Park on Saturday.

REPORT: South Africa have avoided one of the great Rugby Championship upsets, surviving an incredible Argentina comeback to win 22-21 at Ellis Park on Saturday.

OPINION: The Wallabies defended stoutly for large periods but a power game from the All Blacks and equally resistant defence kept them ahead, before blowing them away in the final quarter.

REACTION: Australian coach Eddie Jones described his team as a 'work in progress', after they crashed 7-38 to New Zealand in the Bledisloe Cup Test at the MCG.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Rugby Championship Round Three encounter between South Africa and Argentina at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

INJURY UPDATE: Wallaby prop and stand-in captain Allan Alaalatoa has been stretchered off the MCG with a ruptured Achilles - ruling him out of World Cup in France in September.

OPINION: The first Bledisloe match of the year has graced our eyes with the All Blacks prevailing in Melbourne in front of 84 000 fans.

MATCH REPORT: The All Blacks retained the Rugby Championship and  Bledisloe Cup trophies with a 38-7 win over the Wallabies at the MCG in Melbourne on Saturday.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Rugby Championship Round Three encounter between Australia and New Zealand at the MCG in Melbourne.

NEWS: Fiji moved to the top of the Pacific Nations Cup standings and fired another World Cup warning shot with a 33-19 Test win over Samoa on Saturday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Cardiff have confirmed the signing of South African flyhalf Tinus de Beer.

WATCH as World Rugby Television Match Official Manager Stuart Berry sheds light on the new Bunker review process.

NEWS: After 105 years the Loftus Versfeld playing surface is getting a 'facelift'.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The bulk of the South African Schools teams was included in a 26-player SA Under-18 squad for next month's international series against France and England.

TRANSFER NEWS: Powerhouse Argentinian back row Santiago Grondona has joined Bristol Bears, the club confirmed.

PREVIEW: @king365ed unpacks the Rugby Championship Round Three face-off between South Africa and Argentina at Ellis Park on Saturday.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUND THREE: The All Blacks are well on their way to retaining the southern hemisphere Rugby Championship title on Saturday.

NEWS: Flank Francois Cros will miss next month's World Cup warm-up against Scotland with a groin injury, France's head of performance Thibault Giroud said.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Michael Cheika has made a number of changes to his team for their final Rugby Championship[ encounter, ahead of the World Cup.

WATCH as Springbok Marvin Orie speaks about the role of lock partner Eben Etzebeth as both an 'enforcer' and a 'pacifier' in the team.

PREVIEW: Japan's World Cup preparations suffered a huge setback as Michael Leitch received a three-match ban for a dangerous tackle.

TRANSFER SPOTLIGHT: @king365ed brings you the latest on the Ellis Park rumour mill.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Italy head coach Kieran Crowley has revealed his matchday 23 for Saturday's World Cup warm-up clash against Scotland in Edinburgh.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Stormers have managed to secure the services of Springbok wing Courtnall Skosan.

REACTION: Wallaby head coach Eddie Jones is seeing shades of former greats Stephen Larkham and South Africa's Butch James in young playmaker Carter Gordon.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Under-pressure Wallabies coach Eddie Jones rolled the dice with a new-look "young, vibrant" side to face the All Blacks in Melbourne.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: @king365ed takes a look at the stats to see who has been South Africa's most productive players in the first two rounds of the Rugby Championship.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ardie Savea will captain New Zealand against Australia in Melbourne after regular skipper Sam Cane was ruled out by injury.

SPOTLIGHT: Argentina's rugby is forward orientated and they enjoy putting their heads in the dark places where most people don’t really like being.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has revealed his team for their first World Cup warm-up match against Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Malcolm Marx has become a name that is well-respected and feared with many shaking in their boots at the thought of going head-to-head with the Springbok hooker.

SPOTLIGHT: In-form playmaker Carter Gordon could link with Tate McDermott in a new Wallaby halfback pairing to face the All Blacks, while Jordan Petaia is eyeing another positional switch in his injury return.

SPOTLIGHT: What would happen if Springbok captain Siya Kolisi was to set up an OnlyFans page?

The United Rugby Championship side Leinster have been left red-faced after a major blunder was spotted on their new jersey for the 2023/24 season.

WATCH Sp[ringbok coach Jacques Nienaber talk about Jessie Kriel and other midfield selections ahead of the World Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: Former Wales and British and Irish Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones says he "couldn't turn down" the chance to join Top 14 side Toulon as cover during this year's World Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: Fearing his World Cup dream had been wrecked by serious injury, Wallaby prop Taniela Tupou says he contemplated walking away from rugby.

NEWS: Australia scrumhalf Jake Gordon has been forced to leave Top 14 side Toulon weeks after his arrival as cover for the World Cup.

SPOTLIGHT: Grant Williams says he is finally ready to play his first full Test match after struggling with injuries for years. 

TRANSFER NEWS: Saracens announced the signing of loose forward Juan Martin Gonzalez Samso.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok No.8 Duane Vermeulen will lead a new-look Bok team in their final Rugby Championship match against Argentina at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday. 

A more intense Wallabies outfit can be expected when they face the All Blacks in the final Rugby Championship clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.

SQUAD UPDATE: The Cheetahs have confirmed their player movements ahead of the 2023/2024 season.

SPOTLIGHT: The saying 'no rain, no flowers' accurately depicts Springbok assistant coach, Deon Davids' view on the loss against New Zealand in the Rugby Championship in Auckland last weekend. 

SPOTLIGHT: All Black centre Anton Lienert-Brown admitted that the last few seasons have been frustrating for him.

NEWS: Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones is reportedly planning to exploit a loophole in the overseas player selection rules to recall a former Australia test forward ahead of the upcoming World Cup.

OPINION: Former Springbok head coach Jake White shares his view on South Africa's defeat to the All Blacks in Auckland.

NEWS: World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont has reiterated his organisation’s commitment to have the next World Cup pool draw "as late as possible".

Ellis Park is a stadium that speaks to the heart of speedsters in any team and someone that is relishing the prospect of playing on the hard and fast pitch for the first time as a Springbok is Cheslin Kolbe.

NEWS: Dai Young has left his role as Cardiff's Director of Rugby with immediate effect after an investigation into bullying allegations.

SPOTLIGHT: Test referees will be getting more support with their decision-making in Tests leading up to the World Cup in France.

SPOTLIGHT: The All Blacks will be out to get the balance right between testing new combinations ahead of the World Cup and showing respect to the Wallabies in their Rugby Championship Round Three clash in Melbourne on Saturday.

STATISTICAL UPDATE: The Springboks will be looking to continue their winning streak over Argentina when the two teams meet in the final round of the Rugby Championship in Johannesburg on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Andrew Kellaway believes the cut-throat battle for World Cup spots hasn't changed the mindset of the Wallabies players as they hunt their first win of the year in Melbourne's Bledisloe Cup match.

SQUAD UPDATE: Head coach Steve Borthwick has revealed an updated England training squad.

SPOTLIGHT: There will be no sleepless nights in the Ireland camp ahead of a tough World Cup schedule in France.

STATISTICAL SPOTLIGHT:  Some more key stats have emerged showing how well the All Blacks utilised the ball against the Springboks in Auckland.

NEWS: Former Springboks coaches Matthew Proudfoot and Allister Coetzee have reportedly joined forces again and will be heading up Namibia’s 35-man squad for the World Cup.

NEWS: Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok has turned down an opportunity to further his career in France and opted to extend his contract with the Stormers.

EXCLUSIVE: The tempestuous Eastern Province Rugby Union's already bleak year took another turn for the worse.

WATCH as World Cup-winning loosehead PROP Tendai Mtawarira shares some insights into the mindset of South Africa's colourful Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus.

PACIFIC NATIONS CUP ROUND ONE WRAP: Japan admitted they would have to toughen up mentally ahead of the World Cup after losing to Samoa on Saturday, following a first-half red card for veteran Michael Leitch

WATCH as Australia coach Eddie Jones explains how he is 'sifting' through the available talent to find the best Wallaby team.

WATCH as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber speaks about the Ellis Park factor in their last home game ahead of the World Cup.

INTERVIEW: Tate McDermott said the Wallabies have licked their wounds, reviewed and "moved on bloody quickly" ahead of next weekend's Bledisloe Cup opener.

WATCH as Springbok Jessie Kriel unpacks the advantages of playing in Japan and how it benefitted his game.

NEWS: South Africa's best schoolboy rugby players will be able to test themselves against some of the best the Northern Hemisphere has to offer.

REACTION: Ireland's Jimmy O'Brien says distractions have been kept to a minimum during the disciplinary process involving captain Johnny Sexton.

NEWS: Australia and Japan will face each other more often as part of a wide-ranging deal announced Friday that lasts until 2029.

PREVIEW: There are a couple of bing names in Samoa's matchday squad for their clash against Japan on Saturday.

WATCH as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber unpacks the plan for the Rugby Championship face-off against Argentina at Ellis Park.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Bulls have managed to lure another Springbok to Loftus Versfeld - despite the determined efforts of the Lions to lure him to Ellis Park.

NEWS: Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi and flyhalf Handré Pollard would not have to prove themselves after their recovery and could potentially go straight from injury into a World Cup game.

SPOTLIGHT: The Welsh Rugby Union on Thursday revealed the home and alternate World Cup 2023 kit.

TRANSFER NEWS: Just a few days after the Bulls announced the departure of assistant coach Russell Winter, the franchise is set to lose another backroom staff member.

WATCH as @rugby365com revisits the Makazole Mapimpi story, as the late isiXhosa commentator Kaunda Ntunja so eloquently put it: 'The player who had come from the most hopeless situation in the history of the Springboks'.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Bulls family bids farewell to Springbok forward, Lizo Gqoboka who has yet to confirm his future club.

REACTION: SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus and Junior Springbok head coach Bafana Nhleko reacted enthusiastically to the announcement by SANZAAR that a new U20 Rugby Championship will kick off in 2024.

NEWS: Nigel Walker has been appointed as the Welsh Rugby Union's (WRU) first executive director of rugby.

NEWS: SANZAAR has announced that an Under-20 version of the Rugby Championship will kick off in 2024.

NEWS: Self-described "skinny rugby league winger" Les Kiss has been lured home in a coaching move that the Queensland Reds anticipate will have a halo effect on rugby in the country.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Tom Wright and Reece Hodge have been dropped from the Wallabies' Bledisloe Cup squad as Eddie Jones turns to fit-again pair Jordan Petaia and Andrew Kellaway.

NEWS UPDATE: Grieving Springboks Eben Etzebeth and Jaden Hendrikse will be available for South Africa when they tackle Argentina on July 29 in a Rugby Championship match.

The installation of the new pitch at the Cape Town Stadium has been met with pure excitement from the Stormers and fans.

OPINION: @king365ed gives his take on what the Springbok 'A-Team' to tackle the All Blacks at Twickenham may look like.

NEWS: Les Kiss's confirmation as Queensland Reds coach is imminent while James O'Connor is also close to finalising his future at the Super Rugby outfit.

TEAM UPDATE: The Springbok squad will assemble in Pretoria on Wednesday, to resume their preparations for their final Rugby Championship match.

NEWS: Warren Gatland has named a 43-strong squad for Wales’ next warm-weather camp in Turkey ahead of their upcoming Rugby World Cup warm-up matches, a three-match schedule that commences against England in Cardiff on August 5.

PERMUTATIONS: South Africa's chances of claiming the Rugby Championship trophy are extremely slim following their defeat to New Zealand last weekend.

NEWS: Harlequins confirmed that England and British & Irish Lions flyhalf Marcus Smith has signed a contract extension with the club.

NEWS: The British and Irish Lions will face a joint Australia-New Zealand side in an unofficial "fourth Test" on their 2025 tour, which will include matches against the Wallabies in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, it was announced Wednesday.

SPOTLIGHT: The Wallabies are confident they can plug the gaping hole left by a shattering shoulder injury to backline linchpin Len Ikitau.

TRANSFER NEWS: Glasgow Warriors have confirmed Logan Trotter has joined the franchise after spending last season with London Irish.

STATISTICAL SPOTLIGHT: Springbok fullback Willie le Roux has had his fair share of criticism over the last few years, but he has proven to be an asset on attack for the Springboks.

NEWS: The World Rugby Sevens Series have undergone a revamped with the bold ambition of rugby growth across eight iconic cities.

England has revealed the new home and alternate kits that will be worn at the World Cup in France.

NEWS: Premiership Rugby announced a blockbuster calendar of derbies and big games for the 2023/24 Premiership season.

OPINION: One of the big debates surrounding the Bok squad in recent seasons has been the coaching team's decision to use Damian Willemse in the flyhalf role.

All Black great Jeff Wilson has placed the spotlight on Quade Cooper after Australia's defeat to Argentina on Saturday.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: England head coach Steve Borthwick has trimmed his squad from 41 to 39 players as England step up their preparations for the 2023 World Cup in France.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Bulls confirmed that assistant coach, Russell Winter will leave the franchise to join the Japanese side, the Kubota Spears.

SPOTLIGHT: The All Blacks just missed out on moving to second spot in World Rugby's rankings.

REACTION:  In a very detailed testimony South African referee Jaco Peyper has shared his account regarding the Johnny Sexton misconduct case.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Grant Williams has handed the Springboks' management a nice headache after two rounds of the Rugby Championship season.

REACTION: Saturday's defeat to the All Blacks might have been the wake-up call the Springboks needed ahead of this year's World Cup in France.

SPOTLIGHT: All Blacks coach Ian Foster has said the side will continue monitoring Will Jordan's migraines after the wing's dazzling display against South Africa on Saturday.

NEWS: The Māori All Blacks will play two matches against the Japan XV as part of the Challenge Cup 2024.

NEWS: Johnny Sexton has willl be miss some of Ireland's games after receiving a ban for his behaviour towards Jaco Peyper.

OPINION: Rugbypass writer Ben Smith shares his view on the All Blacks' Rugby Championship Round Two victory over the Springboks.

Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones could not contain his frustration as his side suffered a last-minute 31-34 defeat to Argentina in Sydney on Saturday.

STATISTICAL SPOTLIGHT: The All Blacks outplayed the Springboks at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland on Saturday and the statistics will show a clear picture of this.

INJURY UPDATE: Wallabies centre Len Ikitau faces a race against the clock to be fit for the World Cup after scans on Sunday revealed he suffered a fractured shoulder in their defeat to Argentina.

REACTION: A defiant Eddie Jones maintains Australia can win this year's World Cup despite facing the very real prospect of arriving in France without a victory in 2023.

REACTION: Springbok prop Steven Kitshoff says his team will have to find ways to slow the All Blacks' ball down before their next meeting at Twickenham in August before the World Cup.

REACTION: Argentina coach Michael Cheika was buoyed by a "landmark" upset of his home nation Australia, but the wily veteran sees more hard yards before the upcoming World Cup.

REACTION: South Africa's Director of Rugby Johan Erasmus took to social media to share his views of the Boks' defeat to the All Blacks in Auckland on Saturday.

REACTION: Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber says the split-squad strategy should not be blamed for his team's defeat to the All Blacks in Round Two of the Rugby Championship in Auckland.

OPINION: Los Pumas certainly enjoy playing in Parramatta, beating the All Blacks in 2020 and remaining unbeaten against the Wallabies after a draw that year and a deserved 34-31 win on Saturday to close the second round in the 2023 Rugby Championship.

REACTION: Australia coach Eddie Jones insisted Saturday that his team can turn the corner by the time they meet the All Blacks in a fortnight after slumping to the second straight defeat of his reign.

REACTION: All Black head coach Ian Foster says the way his team dealt with the Boks' 'Bomb Squad' was one of the most encouraging aspects of their win in Auckland.

OPINION: The Wallabies have fallen to their second defeat in as many Tests under new coach Eddie Jones, with the men in gold losing to Argentina 31-34 in Sydney.

REACTION: Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber said it was always going to be hard for his team to recover after their slow start against the All Blacks in Auckland.

OPINION: The All Blacks went one step closer to securing the Rugby Championship with a 35-20 win over the Springboks at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.

REPORT: Argentina clocked back-to-back victories over the Wallabies for the first time Saturday in a stirring 34-31 win to ramp up pressure on Australia coach Eddie Jones.

OPINION: Against an utterly sublime All Black team, the Springboks struggled to stamp their authority with a host of poor performances in the 20-35 loss in Auckland on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: The All Blacks put one hand on the Rugby Championship trophy with 35-20 win over the Springboks on Saturday at the Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Rugby Championship Round Two encounter between Australia and Argentina in the Western Sydney stadium.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Rugby Championship Round Two encounter between New Zealand and South Africa at the Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland.

PREVIEW: It's Round Two of the 2023 Rugby Championship and World Rugby has revealed the ranking permutations for this weekend's matches.

WRAP DAY FIVE: France was crowned Under-20 champions after overpowering Ireland 50-14 in the World Championships final at Athlone on Friday.

REACTION: Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick says Eben Etzebeth's decision to play against the All Blacks is a way of honouring his late father.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUND TWO: Australia and Argentina are in desperate need of a victory when they meet on Saturday in Sydney.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUND TWO: Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick says history has not been part of the conversation in the Bok camp ahead of their clash against the All Blacks in Auckland.

NEWS: Suspended Australia star Kurtley Beale will stand trial in January accused of sexually assaulting a woman after an alleged incident at a Sydney pub.

REPORT: Tonga made a big statement with a historic 27-21 over a star-studded Australia A side in Friday’s international fixture at Teufaiva Stadium.

NEWS: Thomas Perenara, the first player to reach 150 games for the Hurricanes has recommitted to the franchise and New Zealand Rugby for a further two years.

NEWS: Eben Etzebeth will lead the Springboks against New Zealand on Saturday in Auckland despite the death of his father.