Rassie Erasmus can dream of an unprecedented third successive Rugby World Cup title after signing a four-year contract as South Africa head coach on Tuesday which includes the 2027 global showpiece in Australia.

Rugby: Rassie Erasmus eyes World Cup history with new Springbok contract

All Blacks captain Sam Cane said Tuesday (Nov 28) that he hoped "to evolve" as a player in Japan after signing a one-season deal with Tokyo Sungoliath. Cane captained New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup but was sent off in last month's final as the All Blacks lost 12-11 to South Africa.

Rugby: Fresh off receiving red card in WC final, NZ captain Sam Cane moves to Japan to 'evolve' himself

The All Blacks are both "mentally and physically" ready for Saturday's Rugby World Cup final against old rivals South Africa, according to defence coach Scott McLeod.

Rugby: New Zealand all set to face South Africa in World Cup final

A slew of New Zealand greats will don the All Blacks jersey for the last time in the World Cup final against South Africa and the players left to carry on are determined they will bow out with the trophy, hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho said.

Rugby World Cup final: All Blacks look to send off 'legends' with win over South Africa

Rugby hailed the expansion of the World Cup and the introduction of a Nations League competition as a new dawn for the sport as it sought to widen its international reach and increase revenue and opportunity.

Rugby: World Cup to comprise 24 teams amid radical new calendar

Centre Manu Tuilagi and scrum-half Ben Youngs will start Friday's Rugby World Cup third place play-off in what could be their final England appearances. Fellow veterans in prop Dan Cole and half-back Danny Care, both 36, are named on the bench for Friday's game with Argentina.

Rugby: Manu Tuilagi, Ben Youngs set for final outing in England colours in playoff match against Argentina

The World Cup-winning Springboks began a four-day homecoming tour in Pretoria on Thursday, with President Cyril Ramaphosa hailing the team for uniting a country with a divisive past.

Rugby: President Ramaphosa hails South Africa's World Cup winning contingent in grand return

Aaron Smith will bow out of international rugby after the World Cup final against South Africa on Saturday, leaving a gaping hole at the heart of the All Blacks team.

Rugby: All Black Aaron Smith to retire after World Cup Final against South Africa

Bhutan on Wednesday said it had given about 60 per cent of its entire population the first jab against Covid-19 since the Himalayan kingdom started an ambitious vaccination drive nine days ago.

Rugby: South Africa's Bongi Mbonambi cleared to play in World Cup final versus New Zealand

Former New Zealand coach Ian Foster revealed Tuesday that his wife and daughter were threatened by a man wielding a knife in Paris during the Rugby World Cup. His wife Leigh and daughter Michaela were accosted near the All Blacks' hotel in the French capital around the time of New Zealand's opening game against hosts France in September, he said.

Rugby: Ex-All Blacks boss Ian Foster says family threatened with knife in Paris

Rugby Australia (RA) confirmed on Tuesday it had accepted Eddie Jones' resignation as coach of the Wallabies. Jones told The Australian newspaper on Sunday he had agreed terms with RA relating to his exit, less than two weeks after saying he would honour his contract to lead the Wallabies to the 2027 World Cup on home soil.

Australia union accepts Eddie Jones resignation after Rugby World Cup debacle

New Zealand's incoming prime minister joined his countrymen in heaping praise on an All Blacks side that has exceeded national expectations by reaching the Rugby World Cup final.

Rugby World Cup: All Blacks reach final against all odds after beating Argentina in semis

New Zealand scrumhalf Aaron Smith said he would deliver an improved performance in Friday’s World Cup semi-final after admitting his erratic display in last weekend's quarter-final against Ireland might have cost his team dearly.

Rugby World Cup: New Zealand scrumhalf Aaron Smith vows to do better in semi-final vs Argentina

Eddie Jones said on Tuesday he is committed to coaching Australia for the long haul and stood by his ill-fated youth policy that saw the Wallabies crash to their earliest World Cup exit.

Eddie Jones says committed to Australia, stands by youth push after Rugby World Cup debacle

When Fabien Galthie took over as France head coach in December 2019 the Rugby World Cup on home soil was firmly in his mind but losing to South Africa in the quarter-finals on Sunday was far from what he expected.

Rugby World Cup: We did everything we could, says France coach Fabien Galthie after SA defeat

Fiji expect hooker Sam Matavesi to play in Sunday's World Cup quarter-final against England after he travelled back to England, where he lives and plays in the Premiership, after the death of his father, Sireli, earlier this week.

Rugby World Cup: Fiji expect hooker Sam Matavesi to face England after father's death

France's hopes that captain Antoine Dupont will be fit to face South Africa in the World Cup quarter-final were boosted on Wednesday when the scrum-half trained for the second day wearing a headguard.

Rugby WC: France captain Antoine Dupont trains with headguard before quarter-final tie vs South Africa

South Africa's Rugby World Cup success in 2019 was littered with iconic images from during and after the tournament win. Captain Siya Kolisi lifting the Webb Ellis trophy to wild celebrations across the country are two examples, but memories of the Springboks' simple, clinical, well-executed gameplan also stick in the mind.

Gameplan evolution takes South Africa back to Rugby World Cup quarter-finals

Antoine Dupont's chances of playing in France's quarter-final clash against defending champions South Africa at the World Cup were given a massive boost when he was cleared to resume rugby training on Monday.

Rugby World Cup: France's Antoine Dupont cleared to resume playing ahead of South Africa clash

Tyrel Lomax's return to action was cut short on Thursday as New Zealand's top tighthead prop suffered another injury in a 73-0 thrashing of Uruguay, although the three-times champions were confident he would be fit for the quarter-finals.

Rugby World Cup 2023: All Blacks waiting on Tyrel Lomax as 'monster game' looms

Uruguay captain Andres Vilaseca said facing New Zealand in the final match of their World Cup campaign was the perfect way to round out the tournament and that Los Teros would fight for every minute of Thursday's clash.

Uruguay promise All Blacks a fight in final match of their Rugby World Cup campaign

Portugal coach Patrice Lagisquet said his team continued to surprise him with the standard of their play but he feared that Fijian physicality might be too much for them in their final World Cup match next weekend.

Rugby World Cup: Portugal coach fears Fijian physicality ahead of Pool C clash

South Africa wing Makazole Mapimpi has been ruled out of the remainder of the Rugby World Cup in France with a fractured eye socket, director of rugby Rassie Erasmus confirmed on Monday.

Rugby World Cup 2023: South Africa wing Makazole Mapimpi ruled out with a fractured eye socket

Fly-half Nicolas Sanchez scored 20 points as Argentina beat Chile 59-5 on Saturday in Nantes to remain in contention for a place in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.

Rugby World Cup: Argentina stay in last-eight hunt with Chile rout

rugby-world-cup

Rugby World Cup, News on Rugby World Cup, stories on Rugby World Cup, articles on Rugby World Cup, Rugby World Cup stories at Wion, Rugby World Cup news, Rugby World Cup latest news

rugby world-cup