World Cup

Montpellier's English number 8 Zach Mercer (C) Fights for the ball with La Rochelle's French lock Thomas Lavault (L) and La Rochelle's French flanker Remi Bourdeau (R) during the French Top14 rugby union match between Montpellier Herault Rugby and Stade Rochelais (La Rochelle) at The GGL Stadium in Montpellier, southern France on May 13, 2023.

England veteran: Central contracts to stem exodus

Experienced England scrumhalf Danny Care said on Tuesday he would welcome central contracts for players to stop them moving abroad.

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.

Ireland's players applaud South Africa's players as they leave the pitch after the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Ireland at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on September 23, 2023.

Ireland coach denies World Cup conspiracy

Mike Catt says Ireland will not be “going into cahoots” with Scotland to ensure both progress to the World Cup playoffs at South Africa’s expense.

France's scrum-half Antoine Dupont takes part in a training session at the stade Georges Carcassonne in Aix-en-Provence on October 02, 2023, during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup. / ALTERNATE CROP - ALTERNATE CROP

Dupont to seek surgeon’s go-ahead for return

Antoine Dupont will be assessed by the surgeon who operated on his fractured cheekbone before staff decide if he can return for a possible World Cup quarter-final.

New Zealand's flanker Sam Cane leaves the field after being sent to the sin bin during the pre-World Cup Rugby Union match between New Zealand and South Africa at Twickenham Stadium in west London, on August 25, 2023.

Cane captains stacked All Blacks

Sam Cane returns to captain New Zealand as Ian Foster made nine changes to the All Blacks side to face Uruguay in their World Cup pool finale on Thursday.

Fiji's flanker Levani Botia (C) runs with the ball during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Fiji and Georgia at the stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, southwestern France, on September 30, 2023.

Fiji look to ‘Demolition Man’ to roast Portugal

Levani Botia lived up to his nickname “The Demolition Man” in taking Fiji’s Pool C game with Georgia “by the scruff of the neck”, a performance that his coach hopes he will repeat against Portugal.

Watch: Tonga turn tables on Boks

Capitalising on a loose pass from Grant Williams, Tonga’s Patrick Pellegrini scored one of the standout tries of the World Cup against the Springboks on Sunday.

This photograph taken on September 4, 2023 shows the Rugby Union World Cup trophy, the Webb Ellis Cup, presented during the tournament opening conference in Paris, ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2023 France.

RWC Permutations: How the quarter-finals will be decided

With six places in the World Cup quarter-finals still to play for, World Rugby has officially confirmed how results in each of the pools could affect the last eight.

Rassie: Boks pick Manie to create tries

Manie Libbok’s goal-kicking remains a hot topic for debate, but Rassie Erasmus says the flyhalf is helping the Springboks play an attacking brand of rugby the fans want to see.

Romania dejected Alex Livesey:Getty Images

Rugby not ready for World Cup expansion

Tier-two rugby nations must be further developed, and provided with regular tier-one opposition, before the World Cup is expanded to 24 teams, writes SIMON BORCHARDT.