New Zealand

There are always interesting numbers to look at as the Rugby World Cup progresses but there are already some worth taking note of before the tournament begins. As ever the game features a mix of youth and experience, big and small, and very which way in between.   SIZE MATTERS …

Kingsley Jones is under no illusions that Canada are the underdogs in Japan but remains adamant that his charges can cause an upset. The team’s opening match at the World Cup is against Italy on September 26 in Fukuoka. It’s a must-win game if they are to achieve automatic qualification …

RWC 2019 is the ninth edition of the Rugby World Cup. Of the prior eight New Zealand have three titles and South Africa two. Their match this Sunday in Yokohama thereby sees the teams to have won five out of eight RWCs squaring-off on the opening weekend of the competition. …

New Zealand’s Mitre 10 Cup will go head-to-head with Major League Rugby for the first time in the New Year when the Tasman Mako arrive on US soil. The provincial unit will play against two MLR sides – the Houston SaberCats on a date to be confirmed followed by the …

Rugby World Cup 2007 would be a very different tournament to that of RWC 2003. With more even match scheduling it would be a more competitive event and there would be far more unpredictability in the results. Unlike RWCs 1999 and 2003 there would be three rather than four competitors …

Rugby World Cup Pool B opens with a bang on Saturday with one of the biggest matches of the pool stage. The two betting favorites – defending champions New Zealand and South Africa – will go head-to-head in Yokohama with the winner taking the mantle as front runner. Otherwise it’s …

Rugby World Cup 2003 took place in Australia. It would be the second RWC of the professional era but unlike RWC 1999 the tournament in 2003 would be staged in just one country. RWC 1999 had five pools of four which saw them being spread around Great Britain, Ireland, and …

Rugby World Cup 1999 was the first RWC of the professional era. RWC 1995 saw the end of amateurism and with it RWC 1999 would see a change in the landscape of who different teams were prepared compared to that from 1987-1995 RWCs. The 1999 World Cup was also the …

New Zealand have been forced to make a change to their Rugby World Cup roster before the tournament has kicked off. Luke Jacobson has withdrawn from the group after experiencing concussion symptoms during the week following the match against Tonga on the weekend. He is replaced by Chiefs teammate Shannon …

Old Glory DC have confirmed that Dylan Taikato-Simpson will play for the team in their inaugural Major League Rugby campaign. The New Zealand-born fullback makes the move east after spending the 2019 campaign in Colorado with the Glendale Raptors. Taikato-Simpson proved an inspired addition for the Raptors this past season. …