There is little doubt that the New Zealand haka is the world’s most recognisable war dance but the Rugby World Cup in Japan will feature no fewer than four pre-match rituals to leave rival players trembling.
Scotland centre Sam Johnson insists he is a different person from four years ago – for a start he no longer supports the Wallabies. What’s he got to bring against Ireland? Follow live match centre.
Namibia head coach Phil Davies has elevated lock Tjiuee Uanivi to lead the team in the absence of Johan Deysel for its Rugby World Cup opener against Italy. Follow live and get streaming info.
New Zealand’s proud record of winning every one of its Rugby World Cup pool games over 32 years is on the line against South Africa. Follow live and get streaming information.
Russia plan to spoil Japan’s big day by bringing “chaos” to the opening match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Live match centre and stream information.
Fiji coach John McKee named 12 players that ply their trade in foreign leagues to face Australia, with many tipping the Flying Fijians as possible Rugby World Cup giant-killers. Live scores.
In Uruguay, people say you’d have to be mad to play rugby, but despite a dearth of players the South American minnows have qualified for the World Cup in Japan.
Japan opens the Rugby World Cup on home soil tonight against a team beaten by 70 points in their final lead-up match. But the hosts know they can’t afford to take their eye off the ball.
Matt Toomua says the Wallabies need to ‘work together in packs of three’ if they are to stop the fast-rising Fijians causing a massive upset in Australia’s World Cup tournament opener.
Unimaginable when the tournament was first held 32 years ago, the Rugby World Cup finally hits the most populated region in the world — Asia.
Two former NRL stars from the same country will face off against each other when the Wallabies take on Fiji in their World Cup opener.
Wallabies hooker Tolu Latu thought he’d be watching the World Cup from his couch, but, given a fresh opportunity, he has put in the hard yards and earned his place in Australia’s opening match.
David Pocock and Michael Hooper have been the best double act at the breakdown for years so when Pocock was passed fit for the World Cup the Wallabies began plotting to get them on the paddock together.
It is finally here. The Rugby World Cup kicks off in Japan tonight followed by a blockbuster Saturday. Here’s everything you need to know including fixtures, TV info, stats and team news.
We know you’ll be tuning in for the Wallabies, but what other Rugby World Cup games do you need to mark on your calendar? Here are five pool fixtures in Japan that you won’t want to miss.
He was barracking for Australia in the Ashes, so that’s a good start! A Rugby World Cup win would work wonders as well as Louis Lynagh, son of Wallabies great Michael Lynagh, weighs up his international future.
The Wallabies have picked their side for their important World Cup opener against Fiji with a series of surprise shocks.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has rewarded form and youthful exuberance in his Rugby World Cup team to play the Springboks, with some massive names either benched or left out completely.
Samoan players are going out of their way to wear skin suits to cover their traditional tattoos during training sessions at the Rugby World Cup in order to not offend their Japanese hosts.
South Africa stepped up pressure on referee Jerome Garces ahead of their blockbuster World Cup clash with the All Blacks, saying it was a “well known fact” that tight decisions often go New Zealand’s way.
Fiji have always possessed an abundance of attacking flair but coach John McKee says discipline will be crucial if the Pacific islanders are to emerge from their pool at the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Rugby legend David Pocock has revealed how the Wallabies have reacted to the Israel Folau controversy as they head into the World Cup.
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus made just one change from the starting side that drew with New Zealand in July when he named his team for Saturday’s crunch Rugby World Cup clash with the world champions in Yokohama.
Greg Martin has always called a spade a spade and the former Wallaby has a blunt rationale as to why Australia’s selectors have got it right by reuniting David Pocock and Michael Hooper at the Rugby World Cup.
Head coach Warren Gatland said the Wales team were “shocked” by the news of Rob Howley’s alleged breach of World Rugby’s betting and anti-corruption regulations.
As a tier-two nation, Georgia is hoping the Rugby World Cup in Japan will bring it closer to its cherished dream of being part of rugby’s top table.
Kurtley Beale has never seen Semi Radradra in the flesh, but is ready to take down the Fijian giant as the Wallabies chase World Cup redemption. Read Beale’s EXCLUSIVE COLUMN here.
Australia’s Rugby World Cup group rivals Wales have been hit by a major setback after assistant coach Rob Howley was sent home from the tournament over a possible breach of betting rules.
Australia start favourites to top Pool D but Wales are the Six Nations champions and have every reason to feel confident while Fiji have potential to pull off an upset.
Only two Argentina, England and France will progress while Tonga have pulled off upsets at previous World Cups. There are no guarantees in Pool C.
It will be one of the games of the pool rounds when South Africa and New Zealand go head to head. Whoever wins that game, wins this group.
Ireland are favourites to win the only pool that doesn’t feature a World Cup winner but host nation Japan will have the home support and Scotland can’t be written off.
Wales’ Rugby World Cup campaign has been thrown into disarray after coach Rob Howley was sent home immediately.
Rugby fans are in for a treat with the release of a limited-edition coin to celebrate the Wallabies as they get ready for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Aussie rugby legends believe the Rugby World Cup is wide open in 2019 but a bizarre system makes a mockery of the sport.
If you haven’t had enough already (and you haven’t) there is going to be plenty more couch time coming up over the next six weeks. Bring on the Rugby World Cup.
The countdown to the Rugby World Cup is on. Here’s everything you need to know, including how and when to watch.
It is the hardest achievement in rugby. To win the the World Cup takes skill, commitment and some luck along the way.
It has almost arrived and here is your chance to study up on every squad that will be competing for the Webb Ellis Cup.
English rugby legend Stuart Barnes has a grim prediction for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the conundrum dividing the Wallabies.
Dealing with the extreme humidity during the Rugby World Cup in Japan will not be child’s play for any team, so Australia’s pool opponents Wales are keen to avoid slip-ups by splashing baby oil on balls in training.
Rugby fans are getting feverish as we count down to the opening game of the World Cup in Japan on Friday. Fox Sports Lab has compiled a quiz to get yourself warmed up for the tournament.
Michael Cheika has described the Wallabies’ lead-up to the World Cup as “perfect” while hitting back at former skipper Stirling Mortlock, who lamented a predictable performance on attack.
The All Blacks have quashed rumours that star centre Sonny Bill Williams suffered a World Cup threatening injury, declaring him fit for selection in the crunch opener against South Africa.
The Wallabies must fire first up at the Rugby World Cup or risk suffering a Pacific-sized dent to their hopes of claiming a third title. Here’s a guide to Michael Cheika’s men ahead of the opener.
The World Cup is less than a week away and the Wallabies are definitely contenders. But a massive call could make the difference from day one.
This cheat’s guide with insider tips will help you get through the Rugby World Cup tournament at a pub, club or party.
Ex-Welsh rugby captain Gareth Thomas has revealed that he is living with HIV and wants to reduce the stigma surrounding the condition.
Wales head to the Rugby World Cup with genuine title aspirations after Warren Gatland’s side spent two weeks in late-August as the globally top-ranked team.
Aside from a glorious upset win over France in 2011, Tonga have failed to impress at the Rugby World Cup, but coach Toutai Kefu is intent on changing that in Japan.
The All Blacks have suffered an injury blow a week out from the start of the Rugby World Cup, with rookie flanker Luke Jacobson forced out of the tournament.
The United States Eagles have never come close to threatening an upset in seven previous visits to the Rugby World Cup, and the odds of bucking that trend in Japan are stacked against them.
Prosecutors in South Africa are investigating if Springboks rugby player Eben Etzebeth was involved in an alleged assault and case of racial abuse a day before he was named in his country’s World Cup squad last month.
The Wallabies have a terrific track record at the Rugby World Cup. But can Michael Cheika really conjure up another miracle in Japan? Here are the arguments for and against Australia.
Yes, rugby is very much a team game. But these four Wallabies will have more pressure on their shoulders than the others as they hold the key to success at next week’s World Cup in Japan.
The legendary George Smith wants Wallabies coach Michael Cheika to persist with his recent backrow combo, even if it means leaving David Pocock on the bench. Owen Finegan disagrees.
Argentina head to the Rugby World Cup relying heavily on the tried and tested, with their squad made up almost entirely of the Jaguares side that reached the Super Rugby final this season.
The Rugby World Cup has long been a stage for young talent to impose itself. But it also remains the ultimate theatre for the great actors of the game to lap up the plaudits and take their final curtain call.
Jonah Lomu, David Campese and Bryan Habana hog the historical highlights but the 2019 Rugby World Cup could well be decided by these metronomes. And the Wallabies and All Blacks have some issues.
Rugby World Cup winner turned Sky Sports pundit Will Greenwood has picked a fascinating World XV which includes three players from New Zealand and England and one Aussie.
“If something isn’t done soon, then a professional player will die during a game, in front of the TV cameras, and only then will people demand that steps must be taken.”
France has never won a Rugby World Cup yet has reached three finals and never failed to progress out of pool play. They arrive in Japan ranked eighth after some familiar off-field turbulence.
Chiefs forward Tyler Ardron will lead Canada at the Rugby World Cup for the second time following his injury hit appearance at the 2015 tournament in England.
For the Wallabies it might just be a case of going back to the future at the upcoming Rugby World Cup and backing in Bernard Foley.
Australia lock Adam Coleman is staying out of contact training to protect his thumb ahead of the Rugby World Cup opener against Fiji as a trio of snubbed players join the team to train in Japan.
The best rugby players on Earth are about to do battle at the World Cup in Japan. But there is some great talent that can count themselves desperately unlucky to only make our ‘Snub XV.’
Fox Sports’ Phil Kearns believes Bernard Foley shades Christian Lealiifano as the ideal Wallabies five-eighth at the Rugby World Cup and hopes a way can be found to restore the “Pooper” back row mix.
The Wallabies open their Rugby World Cup campaign against a Fijian offloading freak but Australia has some exciting firepower of its own as we pinpoint five star players to watch in Japan.
Samoa and Reds halfback Scott Malolua has been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup with a dislocated shoulder that he suffered on Test debut in Saturday’s warm-up loss to the Wallabies in Sydney.
Embarrassing home soil flops in 2015, cantankerous Aussie coach Eddie Jones has transformed England to genuine 2019 Rugby World Cup contenders in Japan. Here’s what you need to know.
Conor O’Shea’s Italy face a herculean task to avoid another early Rugby World Cup flop heading into a tough Pool B that includes reigning champions New Zealand and South Africa.
Siya Kolisi dreams of becoming the first black Springboks skipper to lift the Rugby World Cup trophy, and complete the remarkable transformation of the team from “a dark place to a good space.”
New Zealand scrumhalf Brad Weber believes the All Blacks’ high-tempo game will perfectly suit the hot and humid Japanese conditions as they seek to run opponents ragged in pursuit of a third straight World Cup.
Rank outsiders Namibia hope Welsh coaches can help them end a 19-match losing streak since debuting in the Rugby World Cup 20 years ago.
Samoa coach Steve Jackson is so determined to avoid the off-field issues that have previously plagued the Pacific islanders that he called in Japanese cultural experts to advise his players when to cover up their tattoos during the World Cup.
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