World Cup

As the world cup draws ever closer, players from each nation are finding out whether they have made the final squads which will compete for rugby's ultimate prize in New Zealand

The 1995 rugby world cup is the most talked about in the competition's short history. It was the first major sporting event held in post-apartheid South Africa and became the symbol of a united nation

A player who might be surprised to be left out is the young Sharks flier Lwazi Mvovo who seemed to be on an upward curve performance wise

So as everyone said Riki Flutey didn't make the 30 to go to New Zealand with Joe Simpson seeming to have took his place after the injury to Danny Care

After Ireland's loss to France at the weekend many rumours were flying around that Tomas O'Leary and Luke Fitzgerald had been dropped from the squad especially O'Leary after his poor performance vs France, of course as seen today it's true both have been dropped

In less than a month's time the 2011 World Cup will kick off in New Zealand, but it is hard to believe that one of sport's most successful global events is not yet 25 years old.

Back rower and occasional second row Gorgodze is one of the increasing numbers of Georgian players plying their trade in France's Top 14 competition

New Zealand will not be surprised to find that bookmakers around the world have made the defending champions odds-on favourites for the Tri-Nations.

With the start of the Rugby World Cup just over a month away my excitement is building. Last week I received my final match day ticket for the Ireland vs. Italy match in Dunedin and that was the key to my kid like excitement going through the roof

Sam Warburton's meteoric rise to rugby stardom looks set to continue at the World Cup later this year

This week I preview pool B, one of the most intriguing pools in the 2011 World Cup for several reasons. It houses two 2007 RWC semi-finalists in Argentina and England

Two months from now the rugby world will be gripped with World cup fever. Already preparations are well under way, both for the organizers and for the nations involved

For many, the fly-half position is the most talked about in professional rugby. With so many differing attributes making up the number ten jersey though, it is hard to create an ideal blueprint for the perfect ten.

While almost every squad has submitted a long list of players vying for selection, the make-up of each team is still very much in question

They shocked everyone at the 2007 RWC in France, first they beat the host nation in the opening game of the tournament, then they comfortably defeated the Irish and progressed to the semi-final

There is a large and persuasive school of thought that sport, like religion, is something to be seen as an entity entirely separate to politics

This is my prediction for Australia's strongest World Cup starting 22. Let us know your thoughts and who would you include in your starting 22?

This is my prediction for South Africa's strongest World Cup starting 22. Let us know your thoughts and who would you include in your starting 22?

Kosuke Endo is an experienced and accomplished winger for Japan. Last year he scored a remarkable 5 tries in one game in the Asian Five Nations

This is my prediction for Wales's strongest World Cup starting 22. Let us know your thoughts and who would you include in your starting 22?