Japan

The opening match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup will take place on September 20 and the final on November 2, it was announced on Tuesday.

Championship club Bristol have announced the appointment of former England captain Steve Borthwick as forwards coach.

The quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup 2015 are now set and although no Tier 2 sides were unable to escape from the pools, they have been the shining lights of the tournament so far.

Japan becoming the first team in 28 years to win three pool stage matches and still fail to qualify from their group following a 28-18 victory over the USA.

Japan captured the hearts and minds of the rugby-following world last weekend with a momentous and historic 34-32 victory over South Africa.

Welcome to a new regular feature at Talking Rugby Union where will take a look back at the good, the bad and the funny of the Rugby World Cup over the past week.

Japanese captain Michael Leitch has warned Scotland that the Brave Blossoms have no intention of being World Cup one-hit wonders.

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter will put out a near first-choice line-up as he looks to avoid becoming the second side to slip up against World Cup shock troops Japan.

Japan have moved above their next World Cup opponents Scotland in rugby union's official world rankings.

The shockwaves of Japan’s 34-32 victory over South Africa on Saturday are still reverberating around the rugby world.

Japan stunned South Africa with a 34-32 win at Brighton in World Cup Pool B on Saturday.

Japan head coach Eddie Jones knows his side will assume the role of David when they take on one of rugby's true Goliaths in South Africa.

Stuart Hogg admits he has had to ask his veteran Scotland colleagues if he should tone down his playful high-jinks - before he gets on their nerves.

After 2014 turned out to be one of the most promising years in Japan’s burgeoning rugby adventure, 2015 has been a stark reminder of the challenges facing emerging rugby nations.

There will be no shortage of expectations hoisted upon the likes of Julian Savea, Duane Vermeulen and George North when the Rugby World Cup begins later this month.

World Rugby says it is "extremely disappointed" that Japan's new National Stadium will not be ready to host games at the 2019 World Cup.

The stadium where David Beckham's penalty handed England a football World Cup victory over Argentina in 2002 heads the list of venues to host Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.

In stark contrast to Round 1, there are ten games in the November Internationals 2014 Round 2 and if you get through this round with a 100 per cent record then as Fitzy used to say, "full credit".

The November Internationals Round 1 went as predicted with wins for the All Blacks, Maori All Blacks and the Wallabies, but these matches were more a celebration of rugby than the results.

There are only three games in the November Internationals 2014 Round 1 and only one of these is a test match. You could say it is the calm before the storm.