Italy have suffered a major blow to their World Cup chances as the vastly experienced Andrea Masi has been ruled out with a snapped Achilles tendon suffered against France. Zebre winger Michele Visentin, one of the last cut from the training group, has been called up as a replacement, and may …

Hat-trick hero Cory Allen will take no further part in the World Cup. The news will come as yet another hammer blow to Wales, already short of Jonathan Davies in the midfield and trio Rhys Webb, Leigh Halfpenny, and Eli Walker ruled out before the tournament. Allen tore a hamstring …

Eddie Jones has freshened up his side with six changes to the starting side that stunned the world with a victory over the Springboks on Saturday. Despite the changes, the side has not lost any strength and if anything is perhaps a bit stronger. Rotation in the tight five sees …

Romania will make their World Cup entrance on Wednesday against France at the Olympic Stadium. Head coach Lynn Howells has selected his strongest possible side for the Pool D match-up, making only one change to the run-on side that faced Tonga in the final warm-up match in Bucharest earlier this …

Vern Cotter has named his first Scottish team of the World Cup for what promises to be an enormously interesting game at Kingsholm on Wednesday with giant-killers Japan lined up as opponents. Cotter has taken no chances and named a very strong lineup to face the Brave Blossoms. Grant Gilchrist …

John McKee has offered his team a vote of confidence ahead of their match against Australia on Wednesday, making only four changes to the side that never quite got going against England on Friday. The changes all come up front, with one enforced after Dominiko Waqaniburotu was suspended for a …

French Head Coach Phillipe Saint-André has made thirteen changes to his team that faced Italy on Saturday. Only no8 Louis Picamoles and left winger Noa Nakaitaci remain from the side which sees veteran hooker Dimitri Szarzewski named as captain. Szarzewski will join the Belgium born Vincent Debaty and New Zealand …

Wallabies head Coach Michael Cheika has named a powerful lineup to face Fiji in Cardiff on Wednesday. The Pool A fixture will be Australia’s first appearance in the tournament and Fiji’s second after the Pacific Islanders faced England in the tournament opener on Friday evening. Captain Stephen Moore will be …

The Up and Under is a weekly feature on Americas Rugby News which reviews the best and worst from games involving the Americas teams over the previous week. UP Japan A spectacular, brilliant, unforgettable win against all odds by the world’s leading Asian nation over the best from Africa was …

Four members of Daniel Hourcade’s 31-man roster are undergoing evaluations to determine their availability for Los Pumas’ second Rugby World Cup fixture. The South Americans will take-on Georgia in Gloucester on Friday. Confirmed out of the match is back-rower Leonardo Senatore. The 31 year old was replaced by specialist hooker …