Italy

A constant in Rugby World Cup tournaments but a competitor yet to get beyond the group stage, Italy is a rugby country to always follow closely. The central Europeans have the drive and the potential to make RWC 2019 a breakthrough tournament for Italian rugby. For a variety of factors …

Having missed the preview round’s match against Ireland Sergio Parisse returns to lead Italy against England on Saturday. The Argentine-Italian will start in his usual position at the back of the scrum. The additional two changes made by Italy seee Sebastian Negri back to play flanker and Luca Bigi starting …

Fly half Serafin Bordoli has departed Argentina to return to Italy. The Olivos club play-maker will play for Calvisano in the Top 12 as a medical joker. The club are the league leaders of Italy’s domestic championship. It marks a second time for Bordoli playing in Italy. The 23-year-old joined …

Agustín Pichot is on record in pushing for promotion / relegation in the proposed World League. The former Pumas captain has been under attack on social media from rugby fans who are less than impressed with the revelations that the new competition, set to begin in 2020, will not involve …

The USA, and Japan are reportedly set to join the Rugby Championship, reports Gregor Paul for the New Zealand Herald. The publication notes that World Rugby is to establish a 12-team ‘World League’ which sees the USA and Japan joining the existing ten countries who comprise the Six Nations and …

The weekend’s test match results have given optimism to expanding the RWC from 20 to 24 teams. RWC 2019 competitors Canada and Russia suffered losses to non-RWC 2019 competitors, Brazil and Spain respectively. SPORTING Canada claimed the final spot at RWC 2019, doing so after having been sent into repechage …

Sergio Parisse will lead an altered Italian side against Wales in Rome on Saturday. The Argentine-Italian will again play at n8 though Head Coach Conor O’Shea has gone for changes from last weekend. O’Shea has moved Michele Campagnaro from wing back to his natural position of outside center. The left …

Sergio Parisse is set to overtake Brian O’Driscoll’s appearance record in the Six Nations. In his 66th tournament appearance the Argentine born Italian captain will start at no 8 for Italy’s away match against Scotland on Saturday. Head Coach Conor O’Shea has named Parisse in a forwards pack also featuring …

In May 2017 World Rugby changed player eligibility, making it much harder for a player to qualify via residency. In no small part was the change of extending residency laws from three years to five a response to the share number of foreign-born players to have played Six Nations rugby in the …

The comparative populations of the 20 countries competing at RWC 2019.