Tonga Head Coach Toutai Kefu is feeling upbeat about playing in the Pool of Death. The Pacific Islanders recent qualification for Japan 2019 saw them grouped with Argentina, England, France and the USA. Tonga were the fifth and final team to qualify but the dating task is being greeted with …
Read More »Forward Thinking (Vol 3, Iss 5): Booking Rugby World Cup 2019
With Tonga qualifying for Japan 2019 this past weekend Pool C is complete. The Oceania side officially joined Argentina, England, France and the USA in the Pool of Death. This serves as a reminder of the need to book Rugby World Cup 2019 appropriately. Inappropriate Booking The existing model of …
Read More »Tonga Qualify for RWC 2019, Will Face Argentina and USA
Tonga has qualified for Rugby World Cup 2019 and will face Argentina and the USA. The Pacific Islanders secured the Oceania 2 spot thanks to Fiji’s 38-16 win over Samoa in Apia this evening. Played on Saturday afternoon, local time, the Samoans had a 16-14 half time lead. In failing to …
Read More »Eagles, Pumas Await Oceania 2 Winner
Apia Park in Samoa’s capital is to be the setting for the final of the 2017 Pacific Nations Cup. The Flying Fijians take-on Samoa in search of ending a perfect campaign. The Tri-Nations tournament has Fiji, Samoa and Tonga playing each other twice. The current state of Fiji being as …
Read More »Fiji Qualify for RWC, to Meet Americas 2
Fiji will meet Americas 2 in Rugby World Cup 2019. The Oceania country qualified this morning, defeating Tonga 14-10. The result means that the winner of the Canada vs Uruguay home-and-away series will face Fiji in Japan 2019. Played in Nuku’alofa, Tonga on Saturday, the teams scored one try each. …
Read More »Forward Thinking (Vol 3, Iss 2): RWC Needs Global Repechage
The Rugby World Cup needs global repechage. Wait, what? There already is one is there not? In actuality no. While it is true that Pool B of Japan 2019 will have the Repechage Winner and Pool A the Play-Off Winner the system favors particular regions over others. The Repechage Winner could, in …
Read More »24 Team Rugby World Cup ‘Far Away’
A 24 Team Rugby World Cup is ‘Far Away’. Unión de Rugby del Uruguay (URU) President Sebastián Piñeyrua noted to Ignacio Chans of Referi that the chances of expanding from 20 to 24 teams is unlikely. “I don’t believe that it would be so simple, the World Cup is already …
Read More »28 Countries Chasing 8 Vacancies at RWC 2019
There are a total of 28 countries chasing the remaining 8 vacancies at Rugby World Cup 2019. These countries are from all of World Rugby’s designated regions. In the case of the Americas the regions of Rugby Americas North and Sudamérica Rugby are combined for the purposes of Rugby World Cup …
Read More »Argentina’s Future RWC 2019 Rivals
Half of Argentina’s Rugby World Cup 2019 opponents are known. Los Pumas were drawn into the toughest pool of Japan 2019 last week. The draw handed the South Americans matches against England and France. The remaining two matches will be against qualifiers from North America and Oceania respectively. Americas 1 It …
Read More »Up and Under – RWC 2019 Special Edition
The pools are in. Rugby World Cup 2019 will be as exciting as any before. The spread of teams across the pools is relatively even, albeit there are winners as there are losers. In this special edition of Up and Under we put them under the microscope. UP Pool C It’s official, …
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