The World Cup Repechage continues with Hong Kong matched up against Germany in what will be a decisive battle between two evenly-matched teams. It’s been nearly a decade since the two teams faced off and it’s fair to say they have both made significant progress in that time. Hong Kong …
Read More »Match Preview – Canada vs Kenya
The last-chance saloon opens its doors on Sunday with four teams vying for one spot on the plane to Japan for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. First up it’s Canada against Kenya. The former are favorites for most and the only side in the competition to have previously qualified. Kenya …
Read More »World Cup Repechage Guide – Canada
These are hard days for Canadian rugby fans, who yearn for the golden years when the team battered their way into a World Cup Quarter Final. The world has turned in the age of professionalism, however, and Canada’s first crack at full-time rugby won’t come officially until January with the …
Read More »World Cup Repechage Guide – Hong Kong
Hong Kong enter the Repechage competition as the wild cards in a sense. They are the highest ranked team at 21st in the world but their road through the qualification process has undoubtedly been the easiest. Two wins each over Malaysia, South Korea, and the Cook Islands was enough to …
Read More »World Cup Repechage Guide – Germany
A team that might have been here on its own merit is instead the beneficiary of the iron fist of justice. Germany had been a team on the rise, passing Canada to reach 22nd in the world in May, but then it all fell apart at the end of the …
Read More »World Cup Repechage Guide – Kenya
Kenya enter the competition ranked 28th in the world, ahead of Germany by the slimmest of margins. They qualified for the Repechage by finishing second in the Rugby Africa Gold Cup. The Simbas have never before qualified for a Rugby World Cup with their greatest success coming on the HSBC …
Read More »ARN Podcast #1 – Mark Winokur, Evan Olmstead
We’ve had plenty of requests for a podcast, and finally found enough time to get it started. This week’s show is a good one, featuring: Mark Winokur, General Manager of the Toronto Arrows Evan Olmstead, Auckland and Canada Paul Tait, Americas Rugby News Since you asked, we need your help! …
Read More »Match Highlights – Romania ‘A’ vs Kenya
Kenya played an exhibition fixture against Romania ‘A’ at Ghencea Stadium in Bucharest on Saturday. The final score read 36-5 in favor of the home side. For the Simbas this was their final run-out ahead of the Repechage series against Canada, Hong Kong, and Germany that begins in Marseille on …
Read More »Comfortable win for Canada in Coventry
Canada’s final tune-up ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers came off without a hitch on Monday evening as they defeated Coventry 35-12 in front of a healthy crowd at Butts Park. The RFU Championship side ran out nearly 30 players all told, using the match to test fringe first-teamers while …
Read More »Germany name squad for World Cup Qualifiers
Germany have begun a final training camp ahead of the World Cup Repechage tournament that begins next weekend in Marseille. New coach Mike Ford has named a 32-man squad that is at virtually full strength with only two injury casualties and 14 based outside Germany. Two players will be cut …
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