Developing Nations
Starlight Stadium will be host to the first of two Rugby Canada (women’s) test matches over the next two months. Devised as warm-up games prior to the Rugby World Cup, which is scheduled to begin in October. It is the first time Rugby Canada has played a test since they participated in the Pacific Four […]
In what feels like a lifetime ago, LWOS began to feature Rugby Europe Qualification coverage. Team’s right across Europe had high hopes, and Spanish Rugby RWC hopes were high – that was until what can be described as self-immolation that has all but spoiled those ambitions. It cannot be overstated just how important qualifying for […]
Romania Rugby has their eyes firmly set on Rugby World Cup 2023. The suspension of Russia by World Rugby may just have enabled Romania to plan for a trip to France. Romania Rugby update Current Romania Rugby coach, Andy Robinson, chatted to Ryan Jordan about Russia’s suspension, what he saw in the Romanian squad when […]
With six spots officially leftover RWC2023 qualification tournaments scheduled this season, the candidates must all be focused on ‘any and every opportunity’ to reach Paris in September 2023. World Rugby has described the pathway for qualifying International sides to follow, if they wish to add their nation to the participating 20 men’s sides for the […]
World Rugby has voted to allow former international players the chance to switch allegiance to a new country. Voted in by the full council of partner nations, the improved World Rugby eligibility rules will be a huge encouragement to many who have publically asked for the opportunity to represent one nation, another playing for another. […]
At the 1991 Rugby World Cup, Canada made the quarter-finals. The nation’s finest ever rugby achievement. They exited the competition respectably, losing 29-13 to none other than the All Blacks. Yet now in 2021, there’s doubt over whether the Canadians will even qualify for the 2023 World Cup edition. Could Canada genuinely fail to qualify […]
After the official World Rugby declaration on May 10, an affirmed International Test match schedule is now settled after New Zealand’s fixture list was announced to widespread approval. With July set to be a bumper schedule for all Tier one nations, the recognition for Pacific Islands nations, Rugby Europe teams, and for the two major […]
Well time flies and we are already knocking on the door of May. We’re less than two months away from the restart of Rugby Europe 2021 and the critical Rugby World Cup Qualifiers. However, there’s plenty of domestic rugby left in Spain to be crammed in before that date, including the Copa Del Rey de […]
With both the Six Nations Championship wrapped up and the Rugby Europe Championship 2021 on pause until the summer, the status quo that is the 6 Nation’s closed shop is the question that won’t go away. There has been a repeated failure by one of the championship partners. With Italy continually living down to original […]
The Rugby Europe Championship 2021 is now on hold until this summer, with a Covid disrupted tournament still a year away from normality. Last weekend had a massive role to play in who would be putting themselves in pole position to head to France. A fresh Portugal took on a winless Spain, whilst Romania had […]
Rugby Europe Championship 2021: Vital Wins, shattering defeats Another week of Rugby Europe Championship 2021 action and we’re another step closer to knowing who will be going to France 2023. Georgia took on Russia in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. Meanwhile, the rivalry between Romania and Spain added another chapter to the ongoing feud with […]
Announced last week, the new Chief Executive Officer for World Rugby is Alan Gilpin. And while it is not groundbreaking in his placement, it furthers the continuity in leadership and strategy. By promoting from within, World Rugby have taken the safe route, and has every confidence in their man. Gilpin is highly regarded within the […]
After years of devotion to projecting the women’s game as being an area of growth, World Rugby has bravely chosen to announce the new WXV global strategy that will begin in 2023. In the unease of choosing to formally postpone the 2021 Rugby World Cup tournament until 2022, a fresh World Rugby women’s rugby fund […]
If there was a week to watch Rugby Europe, this was it. Whilst Wales were walking over Italy, Rugby Europe Week Two results burst into life, with both games going down to the final throw and kick of the ball. As well, with Rugby Union World Cup Qualification on the line, the tension was only […]
So, with Week One in the books, coming up it’s Week Two of the Rugby Europe Championship 2021 and Spain’s first game of the competition. ESP vs GEO You couldn’t ask for a harder game but perhaps it’s a blessing in disguise. No one is expecting a Spanish win in Spain vs Georgia and a […]
A Rugby Europe Championship like no other With last year’s competition wrapped up, it is time for the Rugby Europe Championship 2021. Not only it is the return to a normal(ish) international calendar for these tier 2 nations but it marks the start of Rugby Union World Cup qualification. With the tournament about to get […]
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Are ‘rugby values’ truly superior to those of other sports? Not according to Rugby analyst Robbie Owen (or Squidge Rugby, as preferably known). According to Owen, rugby often pats itself on the back for actions that “other sports can do without needing a round of applause”. Some fans may not like it, but he is […]
Sir Clive Woodward is not a fan of the expression ‘Finishers’. His understandable argument is that all players should be capable of playing 80 minutes. But with all due respect to Sir Clive, England’s finishers nearly pulled off a remarkable victory over the All Blacks on Saturday. Messrs. Dave Ribbans, Mako Vunipola, Will Stuart, Freddie […]
With suspensions announced for star players Antoine DuPont and Pieter-Steph du Toit, it comes at the wrong time for World Rugby. The last fully contested weekend of the Autumn Nations Series was bereft of two superstars that are both former recipients of World Rugby men’s Player of the Year. It is bad timing, especially for […]
Russell and Townsend, “Strange bedfellows?” At the time of writing this, Finn Russell is tearing it up at Murrayfield against Argentina. Admittedly, Los Pumas are depleted in numbers due to ill-discipline. Having said that, the players (Russell included) can only play against what they are presented with on the day. Darcy's at the double 🤩 […]
England put on a much-improved performance against Japan after their limp display over the Pumas. An error-ridden Japan were poor, allowing England to rediscover their confidence ahead of this Saturday’s huge clash where they intend to beat the All Blacks. New Zealand, by contrast, was taken all the way by a brave Scottish team before […]
This Saturday on the last day of the World Cup, France wins bronze medal at Eden Park. This was France’s third-straight bronze medal, and while disappointing not to appear in the Cup final, they completed a confidence-boosting win. Rugby Canada finished in fourth place [for the fourth time] and must look closely at this result. […]
Staff at the French Rugby RWC2023 headquarters are under investigation by authorities, with news that the France 2023 Ethics Committee was continuing its inquiry into the operation. Reuters stated that ‘Claude Atcher, the chief executive officer of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France [organization], has been sacked after a report by the French Labour […]
After two rounds of RWC playoff qualification matches completed, two out of the four sides in this knockout tournament remain; the USA Eagles and Portugal. And one last game is scheduled for Friday, November 18. Qualification for the 2023 Rugby World Cup (RWC) is limited to 24 sides, and just one place remains in Pool […]