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☆ Billy Guyton: First New Zealand professional rugby union player confirmed to have died with CTE
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A former professional rugby union player, who who died in 2023 at the age of 33, has become the first in New Zealand to be formally diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) – the neurogenerative disease associated with repeated head trauma. Billy Guyton died of a suspected suicide last year, CNN affiliate Radio New Zealand (RNZ) reported, and his family subsequently donated his brain to Auckland’s Neurological Foundation Human Brain Bank which made the CTE diagnosis. CNN has contacted New Zealand Rugby for comment. Around the world, players are grappling to deal with the impact of head injuries sustained during their rugby careers. In the UK, some 450 current and former rugby players have now joined lawsuits to take legal action against global governing body World Rugby and the national governing bodies of England and Wales, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), Rugby Football League Limited, International Rugby League Limited and British Amateur Rugby League Association.

Persons: CNN —, Billy Guyton, Maurice Curtis, John, RNZ, “, ”, Billy, That’s, Australia – Guyton, ” John Guyton, Michael Buckland, Curtis Organizations: CNN, rugby, Radio New Zealand, Neurological, Brain, Auckland Brain Bank, Super Rugby, Australia, Nelson Weekly, New Zealand Rugby, Australian Sports Brain Bank, World Rugby, Rugby Football Union, RFU, Welsh Rugby Union, WRU, Rugby Football League Limited, International Rugby League Limited, British Amateur Rugby League Association . Lawyers, University of Glasgow, Boston University, University of Sydney, Prevention, Befrienders Locations: New Zealand, Auckland, England, Wales

☆ Dementia and sport: These rugby players represented their country in their 20s, by their 40s, they had early onset dementia
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Popham’s wife, Mel, would have a conversation with her husband and an hour later he would have “no recollection,” he tells CNN Sport. Richard Boardman, the lawyer representing the claimants, told CNN Sport that this is causing an “existential threat” to the game. “As far as the brain is concerned, it doesn’t matter what sport is played,” Michael Grey, a neuroscientist at the University of East Anglia, told CNN Sport. Nowinski, a WWE wrestler turned neuroscientist, told CNN Sport that head injury protocols need to go beyond treating concussion. The paper, which looked at 412 Scottish former international male rugby players aged 30 and above and 1,236 members of the public who had been matched for age, sex and socioeconomic status, found that the rugby players’ risk of a dementia diagnosis over time was just over twice as high.

Persons: Alix Popham, Mel, ”, Popham, ” Popham, I’ve, Alix Popham of Wales, Pat Riordan of, Stu Forster, Lenny Woodard, Woodard, “, “ I’d, I’d, ” Woodard, Brook Joyner, Richard Boardman, ” Michael Grey, Chris Nowinski, Scott McIntyre, Nowinski, ” Ann McKee, ” Boardman, Roger Goodell, University of East Anglia Boardman, Grey, –, ” Steve Borthwick of, Alun Wyn Jones, Paul Harding, ” Grey, McKee, it’s, aren’t, we’re, shouldn’t, weren’t, ” Alix Popham Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, rugby, Rugby, Alix Popham of Wales offloads, Pat Riordan of Canada, Wales, Getty, World Rugby, Rugby Football Union, RFU, Welsh Rugby Union, WRU, Springer, University of East, National Football League Players, Wrestling Entertainment, WWE, Washington Post, Boston University CTE Center, British Medical, Exercise, NFL, NFL.com, University of East Anglia, RBS, Nations, University of Glasgow, Boston University, University of Sydney, Scottish, ’, “ Rugby, England Rugby, Boston University’s CTE, CTE Locations: France, Wales, England, Canada, Nantes, Europe, University of East Anglia, American, Woodward, Boston

We can show you where to watch a free France vs. Ireland live stream and all other games over the next six weekends. How to watch free Six Nations live streams from anywhereYou can watch every Six Nations match for free via the UK's ITVX and BBC iPlayer, with the two dividing up the games each weekend. ITV1 is showing the Ireland vs. France live stream today and will host two out of three games each weekend. How to watch France vs. Ireland live stream in the USANBC is the exclusive broadcast partner for the Six Nations in the United States. How to watch France vs. Ireland live stream in the UKITV and the BBC share the official broadcasts for the Six Nations 2024 edition in the UK.

Persons: ExpressVPN, Stan Organizations: Business, Nations rugby, Europe's, Nations, BBC, ITV1, Six Nations, ITV, Ireland, USA NBC, Six, Australia Australian, Sports Locations: France, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England, Italy, USA, United States

☆ Ardie Savea named best rugby player of the year
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2023 - Final - New Zealand v South Africa - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - October 28, 2023 New Zealand's Ardie Savea in action with South Africa's Jean Kleyn REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 29 (Reuters) - New Zealand loose forward Ardie Savea was named World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year on Sunday, despite ending up on the losing side in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final. Savea was chosen ahead of Irish centre Bundee Aki, South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth and France captain Antoine Dupont, who won the award two years ago. Savea is the 11th All Black to win the award, which was first introduced in 2001. His award comes after a stellar season in which he helped New Zealand to win the Rugby Championship and a place in the World Cup final, which they lost 12-11 to the Springboks on Saturday. Ireland’s Andy Farrell was chosen as World Rugby Coach of the Year while All Blacks winger Mark Tele'a won the award for Breakthrough Player of the Year.

Persons: Denis, Africa's Jean Kleyn REUTERS, Sarah Meyssonnier, Savea, Bundee Aki, Eben Etzebeth, Antoine Dupont, Black, Ireland’s Andy Farrell, Mark Tele'a, Mark Gleeson, Clare Fallon Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, Stade de France, Saint, Africa's, Rights, Saturday’s Rugby, New Zealand, Rugby Championship, Springboks, All Blacks, Thomson Locations: Zealand, South Africa, France, Saturday’s, New

☆ Fittingly fraught finale for fantastic World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

World Rugby addressed that with a major overhaul of the calendar they described as "the most significant development in the sport since the game went professional" but those long-suffering countries are going to have to suffer for a few years yet before they start to feel the benefits. Elsewhere, England overcame a terrible build-up to win all their pool games and Fiji shocked Australia to go through alongside Wales. FABULOUS BRANDFiji's final pool game against Portugal was one of the best seen at a World Cup, with the Portuguese playing a fabulous brand of all-court rugby reminiscent of France at their pomp. Amid emotional scenes and roared on by neutrals the world over, they secured their first-ever World Cup victory in the last minute, with Fiji scraping through via their losing bonus point. Wales will forever rue their missed chances in the first of them against Argentina before Ireland and New Zealand produced an absolute classic.

Persons: Denis, Mbonambi, Webb Ellis, Sarah Meyssonnier, agonising, England's, Owen Farrell's, Antoine Dupont, Handre, Sam Cane, Mitch Phillips, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, Stade de France, Saint, Rights, Two Nations, New Zealand, Ireland, South, Fiji, Wales, Portugal, Argentina, England, Pumas, Springboks, Thomson Locations: Zealand, South Africa, France, Portugal, England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, Portuguese, Fiji, Marseille, Paris, New Zealand, Argentina, New

☆ Rugby World Cup final: Inspirational South Africa captain Siya Kolisi chases history against New Zealand
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Patrick Snell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —South Africa and New Zealand will meet on Saturday in a Rugby World Cup final for the first time since 1995. On that occasion, it was tournament host South Africa which won a close fought contest 15-12 to lift the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time. Twenty-four years on from that enduring moment, it was the inspiring Siya Kolisi who led his country to victory in the 2019 final against England, becoming the first Black captain to lead South Africa to World Cup glory. Indeed, his participation in this year’s World Cup is also nothing short of remarkable. South Africa or New Zealand will become the first nation to win the Rugby World Cup four times.

Persons: Webb Ellis, Nelson Mandela, Francois Pienaar, Mandela, Siya Kolisi, Kolisi, Richie McCaw, Jeanne Accorsini, ”, England’s Tom Curry, ” Kolisi, he’d, Curry, Thomas Samson, it’s, “, Unwisely, Sam Whitelock, Whitelock, Ian Foster, we’ve, ” Foster, Samuel Whitelock, Sebastien Bozon, Foster, Barrett, – Scott, Jordie, Beauden –, Will Jordan Organizations: CNN, Rugby, South, Springboks, England, All Blacks, World Rugby, Rugby World, Getty, While New Zealand, Kiwis, South Africa, Blacks, Twickenham, New Zealand, New, Stade de France Locations: South Africa, New Zealand, Africa, Zwide, Port Elizabeth, England, AFP, While New, London, France , New Zealand, France, Zealand, Paris

☆ Springbok hooker Mbonambi cleared to play in World Cup final
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

World Rugby were subsequently asked to review a similar incident in a match between the two teams in London last year. "Any allegation of discrimination is taken extremely seriously by World Rugby...," it said in a statement. World Rugby added that it accepted that Curry made the allegation in good faith, "and that there is no suggestion that the allegation was deliberately false or malicious." "World Rugby is also concerned by the social media abuse that both players have been subjected to this week. There is no place in rugby or society for discrimination, abuse or hate speech, and World Rugby urges fans to embrace the sport’s values of respect, integrity and solidarity."

Persons: Rassie Erasmus, Lorraine O'sullivan, Bongi Mbonambi, Tom Curry, Mbonambi, Curry, Tom Curry’s, Siya Kolisi, Kolisi, Nick Said, Jason Neely, John Stonestreet Organizations: Aviva, REUTERS, Rights, Saturday’s Rugby, Rugby, England, Springbok, New Zealand, South Africa, World Rugby, Rugby Football Union, RFU, Springboks, Twickenham, Thomson Locations: Africa, Ireland, South Africa, Dublin, New, Paris, London, Mbonambi

☆ Springbok focus on final despite Mbonambi controversy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Rugby Union - Championship - New Zealand All Blacks vs South Africa Springboks - Auckland, New Zealand - September 16, 2017 South Africa's Bongi Mbonambi reacts after their loss to New Zealand. REUTERS/Nigel Marple/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPRESLES COURCELLES, France, Oct 25 (Reuters) - South Africa have no problem focusing on Saturday's Rugby World Cup final despite the controversy hanging over hooker Bongi Mbonambi and World Rugby's investigation into alleged discriminatory behaviour, assistant coach Felix Jones said. World Rugby are formally reviewing the allegation that Mbonambi directed a racial slur at England's Tom Curry in Saturday's semi-final, where South Africa secured a 16-15 win to set up a final against New Zealand this weekend. "Everyone, as you can expect for a World Cup final, is hugely excited and there is a high level of focus. World Rugby said separately an investigation into the allegations was being conducted by its disciplinary structures but no time line on the process was known.

Persons: Mbonambi, Nigel Marple, Bongi Mbonambi, Felix Jones, Tom Curry, Jones, Curry, Ben O'Keeffe, Malcolm Marx, flyhalf Handre Pollard, Deon Fourie, Marco van Staden, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Rugby Union, Zealand, Blacks, South Africa Springboks, REUTERS, Saturday's Rugby, Rugby, South, New Zealand, Springboks, South Africa Rugby, Stade de France, England, France, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, New Zealand, COURCELLES, France, South Africa, Saturday's, England, South, flyhalf

☆ Online abuse of Curry unacceptable, says Farrell
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

PARIS, Oct 25 (Reuters) - England flanker Tom Curry has been on the receiving end of relentless online abuse this week and captain Owen Farrell, usually a player who says the minimum in his media dealings, took to the microphone on Wednesday to say it was unacceptable. "What isn't understandable is the amount of abuse he's got," Farrell said in press conference ahead of Friday's bronze final against Argentina. But that is Tom Curry. "This is not a Tom Curry incident - someone has said something in the game that he has reported and he is getting on with preparing. This is a World Rugby and SA Rugby matter to deal with."

Persons: Tom Curry, Owen Farrell, Curry, Bongi Mbonambi, he's, Farrell, it's, we've, Tom, It's, Steve Borthwick, Mitch Phillips, Christian Radnedge Organizations: World Rugby, South Africa Rugby, New Zealand, Argentina, Rugby, SA Rugby, Curry's, Sharks, Thomson Locations: England

☆ World Cup expands to 24 teams amid radical new calendar
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The 2027 World Cup in Australia will expand from the current 20 to 24 teams, split into six first-round groups containing four sides each. LATER DRAWWR said the draw for the next World Cup would be made in January 2026, the latest it has ever been held before a tournament. WR said they had addressed this by the introduction of a Nations League competition, with two 12-team divisions. There will be a second division with a further 12 teams, which will be run by World Rugby. There will also be a new, annual expanded Pacific Nations Cup competition in 2024 featuring Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the United States.

Persons: ”, Sir Bill Beaumont, Beaumont, WR, Mitch Phillips, Mark Gleeson, Clare Fallon Organizations: Biennial Nations League, Rugby, Nations League, Six Nations, Rugby Championship, World Rugby, WR, Nations, Thomson Locations: PARIS, Paris, Australia, France, Japan, Fiji, Canada, Samoa, Tonga, United States

☆ Bruised Ireland reflect on end of an era
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Ossian Shine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"You have a group of senior players who are moving on," he added, standing barefoot, still in full Irish kit. "There’s a group of guys who won't play for Ireland again who have had an incredible impact on Irish rugby, not only in the last few years but the last decade." "It's tough," O'Mahony said. "This is the best group I've ever been part of and these lads will go on to great things," he told reporters, tears glistening in his eyes. No doubt this team will have left Irish rugby in a better place.

Persons: –, Peter O'Mahony pensively, Johnny Sexton, Winger Keith Earls, O'Mahony, I've, Johnny, fellas, Sexton, …, he'll, " O'Mahony, We've, Jasper Shine, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Rugby, New Zealand, Stade de France, Ireland, Irish, Nations, British & Irish Lions, Leinster, Thomson Locations: Ireland, Paris, New

☆ Ireland top for turnovers, Argentina have worst scrum
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Of the eight quarter-finalists, Ireland have won the most turnovers per game (5.3) and average less than 10 penalties per game (9.3) - ranking third. They have the second-best lineout success (91%), second-best tackle success and conceded the fewest penalties (eight). Their scrums had the second-worst success rate and they are fifth for lineout success, though they have made the most lineout steals (2.3). They are joint-worst with Fiji in turnovers conceded (17) and four out of 10 possessions end in an error. Traditional fans of Argentina will be horrified to see that they have worst scrum success (80%) and have won fewest turnovers but in attack they have the fastest average ruck speed (3.37 seconds) and the most rucks under two seconds (37%).

Persons: Mitch Phillips, Christian Radnedge Organizations: World Rugby, Ireland, New Zealand, Fiji, Thomson Locations: MARSEILLE, France, Italy, Uruguay, Ireland, Argentina, Wales

☆ Springboks delay naming team as they ponder bench options
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Springboks have been regimented in naming their team four days before a test, but director of rugby Rassie Erasmus says there are still deliberations over whether to go with a 5-3, 6-2 or 7-1 split between forwards and backs on the bench. In some cases we are not even sure who is the best," Erasmus told reporters on Tuesday. "We are keeping our options open for a 7-1, 6-2 or 5-3 (bench split) with both Handre and Manie being available. I think having everybody fit and seeing what the French team looks like may influence us going 7-1 or 6-2." "I have been in World Rugby meetings where we break into little groups and he's a very interesting character with the way he looks at the game," Erasmus said.

Persons: Rassie Erasmus, Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo, Erasmus, Antoine Dupont, Shaun Edwards, Andy Farrell, Nick Said, Toby Davis Organizations: France, Springboks, Namibia, Rugby, Rugby League, Thomson Locations: South Africa, Paris, France, Ireland

DUBLIN (AP) — Rugby will use mouthguard technology as part of its efforts to detect brain injuries suffered by players on the field. World Rugby said it is investing 2 million euros ($2.1 million) in the technology to support unions, competitions and clubs. “The advances in smart mouthguard technology mean elite players will be better cared for than ever before. In community rugby, players should not return to play after a diagnosed brain injury for 21 days. The Rugby World Cup is taking place against the backdrop of a lawsuit filed by former international rugby players against governing bodies, including World Rugby, contending rugby authorities failed to take reasonable action to protect the players from repeated blows to the head during their careers.

Persons: Eanna Falvey Organizations: DUBLIN, —, Rugby, Elite, World Rugby, rugby, AP Rugby

☆ Namibia's Deysel apologises to Dupont for dangerous tackle
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Dupont suffered the injury in the 46th minute and was forced off the field at the Stade de Marseille on Thursday after a clash of heads in a clumsy tackle. Deysel, whose initial yellow card was quickly upgraded to a red on bunker review, said the collision was accidental. "I would like to extend my best wishes to Antoine Dupont," he told reporters. In relation to Deysel's abuse, World Rugby said on Friday that they would "support Namibia in any way possible to stamp out online hate." At the time, World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin said: "Rugby is a sport for everyone and we take our responsibility very seriously to make the sport as inclusive, accessible and relevant as possible.

Persons: Namibia's Johan Deysel, Peter Cziborra, Johan Deysel, Antoine Dupont, Dupont, Deysel, Fabien Galthie, Antoine, Deysel's, Alan Gilpin, Hritika Sharma, Nick Said, Mitch Phillips, Gerry Doyle, Ken Ferris Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, REUTERS, Rights, France, Rugby World, Stade de Marseille, Namibia, French Rugby Federation, Italy, Ireland, South, World Rugby, Thomson Locations: France, Namibia, Orange, Marseille, Rights MARSEILLE, South Africa, Uruguay, Hyderabad

☆ World Rugby breaks with kit tradition to assist colour-blind fans
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Nick Said | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NICE, France, Sept 15 (Reuters) - A new policy from World Rugby will see old foes clash in new kits at the World Cup in France to help fans with colour vision deficiency (CVD) distinguish between the teams. World Rugby said one in 12 males, including the organisation's chairman Bill Beaumont, and one in 200 females live with CVD to varying degrees and to accommodate them certain colour combinations will not be allowed at the tournament. Australia will also don an unfamiliar white kit when they take on Portugal in Saint-Etienne on Oct. 1. "An estimated 300 million people live with some form of CVD, which can impact their day-to-day life in a variety of ways through being unable to see or differentiate certain colour combinations," World Rugby said in a statement. Kit combinations at the World Cup were also decided based on the potential for those taking part in games living with CVD.

Persons: Bill Beaumont, –, mirth, Etienne, Nick Said, Peter Rutherford Organizations: World Rugby, Scotland, Rugby, Thomson Locations: France, Africa, Tonga, Portugal, Wales, Australia, Saint, New Zealand, South Africa

☆ All Blacks rout Namibia 71-3 in Toulouse deluge
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Lawrence White | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The All Blacks' discipline continues to be an issue even in games like this one where they are in complete control. They conceded 11 penalties to Namibia's seven, as well as seeing de Groot given a red card for a high shot. Namibia left slightly worse off than the 71-9 margin when these sides met in the last World Cup. The crowd were on their feet to applaud Malan as he raised a fist from his stretcher on the way off, defiant amid disaster. Reporting by Lawrence White and Nick Mulvenney, editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, de Groot, McKenzie, Namibia's Malan, Cam Roigard, Flyhalf Damian McKenzie, Ethan de Groot, I'm, Allister Coetzee, Winger Caleb Clark, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Ofa Tuungafasi, Beauden Barrett, Swanepoel, bayed, Namibia Le Roux Malan, Coetzee, Malan, Lawrence White, Nick Mulvenney, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, de Toulouse, Blacks, Leicester Fainga'anuku, New, Italy, Uruguay, Thomson Locations: Zealand, Namibia, Toulouse, France, TOULOUSE, New Zealand

☆ South Africa hooker Marx ruled out of World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Rugby Union - Rugby Championship - South Africa v New Zealand - Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela, South Africa - August 6, 2022 New Zealand's Samisoni Taukei'aho in action with South Africa's Malcolm Marx REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 14 (Reuters) - South Africa's World Cup title defence suffered a major blow on Thursday when hooker Malcolm Marx was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with a long-term knee injury as coach Jacques Nienaber delayed naming a replacement in the squad. The pair were not deemed fit enough when the World Cup squad was announced on Aug. 8 but both played a major role in the team's 2019 triumph. Stormers hooker Joseph Dweba was the nominated standby option when the squad was announced. One of the leading hookers in world rugby, Marx has also been a strong ball carrier for the Springboks and a key source of turnovers at the breakdown. Reporting by Julien Pretot and Nick Said; Editing by Alison Williams; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Africa's Malcolm Marx, Siphiwe, Malcolm Marx, Jacques Nienaber, Nienaber, Bongi Mbonambi, flyhalf Handre Pollard, Pollard, Joseph Dweba, Marx, Malcolm, Deon, Marco, Mbonambi, Van Staden, Julien Pretot, Nick Said, Alison Williams, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, New Zealand, Mbombela, Africa's Malcolm Marx REUTERS, World, Leicester Tigers, South African Rugby, Romania, Sunday, Springboks, Bongi, Thomson Locations: Africa, New, Mbombela, South Africa, Bordeaux

☆ Samoa name former Australia star Leali'ifano to start against Chile
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Lawrence White | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Summary Rules change means former Wallabies flyhalf eligibleSamoa target Chile clash as most winnable Pool D gameFormer All Blacks Luatua and Sopoaga also featureTOULOUSE, France, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Samoa have selected 35-year-old Christian Leali'ifano, who scored the most points for Australia at the 2019 World Cup, as flyhalf in their opening Pool D clash against Chile in Bordeaux on Saturday. Samoa are taking advantage of a relaxation in World Rugby's eligibility rules, which means players who stand down for three years from appearing for one country can then play for another for which they qualify. That means they can also field former All Blacks Steven Luatua, who starts at number eight, and the versatile Lima Sopoaga as a replacement back. Former Highlanders and Wasps player Sopoaga can play at flyhalf or fullback and, while New Zealand-born, qualifies for Samoa through his family background. Samoa will target Chile, the lowest ranked team at the tournament, as their most winnable game in a pool also containing England, Argentina and Japan as they look to progress from the pool stage for the first time since 1999.

Persons: Sopoaga, Leali'ifano, Blacks Steven Luatua, Theo McFarland, James Lay, Seilala Lam, Michael Alaalatoa, Chris Vui, Agaese Seu, Fritz Lee, Steven Luatua, Jonathan Taumateine, Nigel Ah, Danny Toala, Duncan Paia'aua, Jordan, Paul Alo, Emile, Sam Slade, Sa Jordan, Ed Fidow, Lawrence White, Ken Ferris Organizations: Wallabies, Blacks, Australia, Chile, Saturday, Samoa, Lima, Former Highlanders, Wasps, flyhalf, The Pacific Islanders, English, Saracens, Manu, Junior, Jordan Lay, Lima Sopoaga, Thomson Locations: Samoa, Chile, TOULOUSE, France, Bordeaux, New Zealand, England, Argentina, Japan, Fiji, Lima

☆ All Blacks want more ball-in-play at World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | Thomson Reuters | Leads Coverage Of Sport Across The Asia-Pacific. Still Reports On The Full Panoply Of Sport. Many Olympics World Cups World Championships Grand Slams Grands Prix | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Certainly, we want to get into a fast-paced game that suits us the style that we love to play. I think it was 44 minutes during one of the (Bledisloe Cup games against Australia), so it's big difference." "At the weekend the ball was like soap so there's probably more kicking involved in that strategy," he added. The veteran hooker, though, warned that the All Blacks might have to accept that they would not get more than 40 minutes of ball-in-play at this World Cup, nor be able to rely on their opposition fading through fatigue. "At the World Cup, people turn up on the day and that pressure and that intent can do funny things to you," he said.

Persons: Denis, Stephanie Lecocq, Jordie Barrett, Greg Feek, Feek, Dane Coles, Coles, Ethan de Groot, Nick Mulvenney, Toby Davis Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, New Zealand, Stade de France, Saint, Haka, Rights, Blacks, Namibia, Australia, World Rugby, France, Thomson Locations: France, New, Rights LYON, Toulouse, Paris

☆ England's Curry banned for Japan, Chile games
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A statement from World Rugby said: "The player accepted that foul play occurred and that the offence warranted a red card. England are already without captain Owen Farrell and number eight Billy Vunipola for the Japan game as they serve out the final game of their suspensions. Curry's was their fourth red in six matches, though Freddie Steward's against Ireland in the Six Nations was rescinded. Earlier on Tuesday England assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth said the red card was the result of a "fast-moving game." “You will appreciate that I can’t talk around this instance or any other that may affect pre-hearing,” he said.

Persons: Tom Curry, Mathieu Raynal, Peter Cziborra, Curry, Argentina fullback Juan Cruz Mallia, Owen Farrell, Billy Vunipola, Curry's, Freddie Steward's, Farrell, Vunipola, Richard Wigglesworth, ”, Mitch Phillips, Ken Ferris, Toby Davis Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, England, Rights, Japan, Argentina, Saturday, Argentina fullback, Independent, World Rugby, Ireland, Nations, Thomson Locations: Argentina, Orange, Marseille, France, Rights MARSEILLE, England, Chile, Paris, Samoa, Japan

☆ Battle of best nines past and present in World Cup opener
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Jasper Shine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dupont, 26, enters his second World Cup as captain of an expectant host nation and widely regarded as one of the best players in the world, certainly pre-eminent among test halfbacks. This game is not about me against him, it is about me doing my role for the team." Smith conceded that New Zealand, like all teams, would have special plans to defuse the threat of the 2021 World Rugby Player of the Year's fearless running. According to statistics published in the Times, since the 2019 World Cup Dupont has had 9.5 carries and made an average of 44 metres per 80 minutes. "They're the most beautiful team to watch, a team that generations and generations have dreamed of," he told reporters on Wednesday.

Persons: scrumhalves Antoine Dupont, Aaron Smith, Dupont, Smith, Antoine Dupont, he's, " Smith, Nick Mulvenney, Toby Davis Organizations: New, Times, Blacks, Zealand, Thomson Locations: France, New Zealand, Japan, Zealand, Zealanders

☆ A Tough Draw for the Favorites at the 2023 Rugby World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Joe Ritchie | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The 2023 Rugby World Cup in France opens this week with four big favorites. Those four teams sit atop the World Rugby rankings: No. But they are clustered in two of the tournament’s four pools, A and B, and, under the World Cup format, the winner of one plays the runner-up of the other. If the teams finished the group stage according to their ranking, New Zealand would play Ireland and France would play South Africa in the first knockout matches. This happened because the draw was determined in December 2020 and is based in part on how each team finished at the 2019 World Cup.

Locations: France, Ireland, Africa, Zealand, New Zealand

☆ England's Farrell has red card overturned
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

However, Farrell argued that the offence was worthy of only a yellow card and the independent judicial committee agreed. "After reviewing all the evidence... the committee concluded that the Foul Play Review Officer was wrong, on the balance of probabilities, to upgrade the yellow card issued to the player to a red card," the committee said in a statement. In the Committee’s opinion, this mitigation was sufficient to bring the player’s act of foul play below the red car threshold. Unlike the Foul Play Review Officer the committee had the luxury of time to deliberate and consider, in private, the incident." The bans that are being put in place for foul play are not stringent enough.

Persons: Owen Farrell, Farrell, Taine Basham, Basham, Alix Popham, ” Popham, “ Farrell, Mitch Phillips, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Wales, Saracens, Ireland, Argentina, Thomson Locations: England, Wales, Fiji, Japan

☆ Neville relishing her moment in history at the Rugby World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBLIN, May 15 (Reuters) - Joy Neville says selection on merit is more important to her than "tags and labels" as she prepares to become the first woman to officiate at a men's Rugby World Cup in France later this year. "I'd like to think that I'm there because I'm good enough," Neville told Reuters. "I've always asked to be selected through merit and for no other reason – drop all the other tags and labels. Neville said the role of TMO can be a thankless one, drawing criticism both for interfering to much or for not getting sufficently involved in matches. In the role of TMO sometimes you're damned if you do and damned if you don't," she says.

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