Rugby World Cup 2015 is just over a month away and all 20 participants are preparing accordingly. Argentina’s rivals are to be New Zealand, Georgia, Tonga and Namibia in that order. How then are the four looking for the sport’s biggest event? New Zealand New Zealand has been busy competing in international competition …
Read More »Forward Thinking (Vol. 1, Iss. 9): World Rugby Council Membership
Rugby has expanded tremendously from the limited base that existed prior to 1987. The IRB’s change to be called World Rugby is a significant part of modernizing the brand to give it a more credible appearance and one which is far more commercially sound. Next up is the power structure …
Read More »Hourcade’s Squad for South Africa Reveals RWC Plans
Announced yesterday afternoon, Daniel Hourcade’s 26-man squad to travel to South Africa this Saturday offers significant insight into how his final squad for the World Cup is going to look. Names to have stood out in the performances to date have almost all been out, thereby implying their inclusion in the World Cup …
Read More »Forward Thinking (Vol. 1, Iss. 7): Where are the Bilingual Referees?
Rugby World Cup 2015 is almost here. The opening fixture of England v Fiji is just 53 days away. It will begin a long tournament played from September 18 to October 31 which the organizers claim as being the biggest sporting event of 2015 and the third biggest of all …
Read More »Uruguay rise, Canada fall in latest World Rankings
International rugby results from this past weekend have seen Uruguay rising in the World Rankings and Canada falling. Los Teros have moved up to 19th spot as a result of both Russia and Spain losing against lower ranked African opposition – Namibia and Kenya. Canada’s loss against Japan on Saturday sees …
Read More »Forward Thinking (Vol. 1, Iss. 4): Rethinking June Tours
Played every November, excluding Rugby World Cup years, the November or autumn internationals see European nations hosting incoming test teams from across the globe. It is a time when not only southern nations such as Argentina, Australia, Fiji, Namibia, New Zealand, Samoa, South Africa and Tonga tour the north but …
Read More »Forward Thinking (Vol. 1, Iss. 3): Time to re-think World Cup Repechage?
Uruguay’s return to the Rugby World Cup in 2015 ends a twelve year absence. Getting to the World Cup required intercontinental matches firstly against the USA and secondly against Hong Kong before reaching the final against Russia. The home and away series between Uruguay and Russia was, at the time, between …
Read More »Georgia confirm World Cup training squad
Head coach Milton Haig has named a 41-man training squad for the final stage of Georgia’s preparation for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England. In addition to local based players, Haig has selected players contracted to clubs in England, France and Russia. A large section of the squad participated in the …
Read More »Tbilisi Cup unaffected by flood
The Georgian Rugby Union has confirmed that the World Rugby Tbilisi Cup tournament will continue as planned despite heavy flooding in a section of the city adjacent the Vere River. Avchala Stadium is located approximately 14 km north of the area and has not been affected in any way. Major …
Read More »Uruguay demonstrate progress in Tbilisi Cup defeat
Los Teros opened their World Rugby Tbilisi Cup campaign this afternoon in a 19-10 losing effort against Georgia. Neither side was at full strength although Uruguay’s lineup was notable closer to the genuine article than that of Georgia’s expected starting lineup for the World Cup. With both Georgia and Uruguay involved in …
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