World Cup

New Zealand's fly-half Richie Mounga celebrates with New Zealand's full-back Damian McKenzie (R) after scoring a try during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between New Zealand and Uruguay at the OL Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, near Lyon, south-eastern France, on October 5, 2023.

McKenzie magic steers NZ to playoffs

New Zealand cantered to the bonus-point victory they needed to progress to the World Cup quarter-finals with an 11-try thrashing of Uruguay on Thursday night.

PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 19: Springboks line up during the Rugby Championship match between South Africa and Argentina at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Boks to be stripped of SA flag?

The Springboks are under threat of playing a potential World Cup quarter-final under neutral colours after government failed to comply with ant-doping regulations.

GQEBERHA, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 20: Handre Pollard and Lukhanyo Am during a training session in 2021

Watch: Lukhanyo back in camp!

Lukhanyo Am wasted little time in getting stuck in after joining up with the Springboks at their World Cup base in Toulon.

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 08: Lukhanyo Am of South Africa celebrates during the Rugby Championship match between South Africa and Australia at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on July 08, 2023 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)

Boks get ‘Lucky’ for World Cup playoffs

Lukhanyo Am is in contention to make his return for the Springboks in a potential World Cup quarter-final, assistant coach Felix Jones has confirmed.

New Zealand's openside flanker Dalton Papali'i (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring a try during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between New Zealand and Italy at the OL Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, near Lyon, south-eastern France, on September 29, 2023.

‘Devastated’ Italy burn All Blacks memories

Italy have healed their shattered confidence after the capitulation against New Zealand by throwing their unhappy memories “into the fire” ahead of their must-win World Cup clash with France.

(From L to R) France's scrum-half Maxime Lucu, France's fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and France's lock Cameron Woki celebrate the victory during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between France and New Zealand at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris on September 8, 2023. (

Dupont-less France near full strength

France have made just two changes to their starting lineup for their final Pool A match against Italy in Lyon on Friday.

Italy shake up backline for France finale

Ange Capuozzo has reverted to fullback as Italy named a reshuffled backline for their crucial Pool A clash against hosts France in Lyon on Friday.

LENS, FRANCE - 22 September 2007, Victor Matfield stopped by Viliami Vaki during the 2007 Rugby World Cup match between South Africa and Tonga held at the Stade Felix Bollaert, Lens in France.

Matfield: How Bomb Squad saved ’07 Boks

Victor Matfield has recalled how an early version of the famous “Bomb Squad” saved the Springboks at the 2007 World Cup.

Ireland's Finlay Bealham (left) and team-mate Peter O'Mahony celebrate after the final whistle in the Rugby World Cup 2023, Pool B match at the Stade de France in Paris, France. Picture date: Saturday September 23, 2023.

Irish rock O’Mahony is green to his fingertips

Peter O’Mahony is Ireland’s “emotional leader” according to Andy Farrell, although unlikely as it sounds he gets all dewy-eyed when his hydrangeas are blooming in his garden.

Fiji's wing Josua Tuisova (down) scores a try during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Wales and Fiji at Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, south-western France on September 10, 2023.

Fiji star misses son’s funeral for World Cup

Josua Tuisova, man of the match in Fiji’s upset Rugby World Cup win over Australia, missed his seven-year-old son’s funeral on Tuesday after opting to stay with his teammates in France.