World Cup

The battle for automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup boils down to the tale of two missing number eights for Italy and Romania.

Australia put in a superb defensive effort at Twickenham to beat Wales 15-6 to qualify for the last eight of the World Cup as Pool A winners.

World Cup quarter-finalists Argentina will conclude their pool campaign against Namibia with inspiration from Diego Maradona driving them on.

World Cup chiefs have slashed Samoa wing Alesana Tuilagi's five-week ban - but he still missed today's World Cup clash with Scotland.

Centre Jared Payne has been ruled out of the World Cup with a fractured foot, Ireland have confirmed.

Scotland stumbled into the World Cup quarter-finals but only after a nerve-shredding 36-33 win over Samoa in Newcastle.

Dan Biggar says Wales will continue to enjoy their World Cup journey after emerging in style from the tournament's so-called pool of death.

Stuart Lancaster has called on the Rugby Football Union to conduct their review into England's World Cup "privately and confidentially" following a report that Nick Mallett had been approached over the role of head coach.

New Zealand concluded their World Cup pool campaign in style Friday night, crushing Tonga 47-9 in front of a crowd of over 50,000 at St. James Park

Wales' preparations for their World Cup pool A clash with Australia on Saturday received a royal seal of approval when they were presented with their shirts by the Duke of Cambridge.

Stuart Hogg has promised Scotland's rugby team will put a smile back on the faces of the Tartan Army after watching their football counterparts suffer Euro 2016 anguish.

England's inglorious World Cup continued to unravel after Andy Farrell and Graham Rowntree received changing-room bans for Saturday's final group match against Uruguay.

The Rugby Football Union has denied making contact with former South African and Italian national coach Nick Mallett to gauge his interest as a potential successor to Stuart Lancaster.

French big hitters Louis Picamoles and Noa Nakaitaci will both start for France against Ireland in Cardiff on Sunday.

Another sensational win for Japan, England dumped out of their own Rugby World Cup and both Australia and South Africa finding form at the perfect time.

England are refusing to dwell on revelations of a training-ground fracas between Danny Cipriani and Mike Catt as their doomed World Cup draws to a close.

Wales have made six changes ahead of their World Cup clash with Australia at Twickenham on Saturday that will decide the winners of Pool A.

Match citing commissioner Peter Larter is satisfied that "no biting incident occurred" during the course of Wednesday's World Cup pool game between South Africa and the United States, World Rugby have confirmed.

Scotland's worst injury fears failed to materialise after Finn Russell, John Hardie, Ross Ford and Matt Scott were all passed fit for their do-or-die clash with Samoa.

Georgia captain Mamuka Gorgodze broke stubborn Namibia to inspire his side to a nervy second win of the World Cup in Exeter.