12:59 PM BST Huw Richards Close • FT’s rugby writer from 1995 to 2009• Also writes for the International Herald Tribune and the Sunday Herald This Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa will be the culmination of a four-year cycle that began as the All Blacks toted the trophy around Twickenham in 2015.

12:00 AM BST Craig Dowd Close Craig Dowd played 60 Tests for New Zealand between 1993 and 2000, including in two World Cups, and he was part of the All Blacks team that won their first series in South Africa in 1996. He played for the Blues and Auckland in New Zealand domestic rugby, and

1:24 AM BST TOKYO — England have received a fine for encroaching on the haka during last Saturday’s Rugby World Cup semifinal against New Zealand. The World Rugby regulations state England breached tournament rules “relating to cultural challenges, which states that no players from the team receiving the challenge may advance beyond the halfway line”,

11:08 AM BST Sale flanker Ben Curry will be in Yokohama to watch twin brother Tom play for England in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final after his club agreed to release him for the weekend. While Tom packs down against South Africa in England’s first final since 2007, Ben was preparing to play Bristol in

10:10 AM BST Jerome Garces will referee the Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa, organisers said Tuesday. He will become the first Frenchman to receive the honour when the two teams meet in Yokohama on Saturday. Garces will be joined by Romain Poite [France] and Ben O’Keeffe [New Zealand] as assistant referees

2:43 AM BST New Zealand Rugby (NZR) boss Steve Tew has poured cold water on the prospect of Warren Gatland coaching the All Blacks due to his commitment to the British & Irish Lions. Gatland, who will step down as Wales coach after the Rugby World Cup, has signed to coach the Lions in South

8:42 AM BST Eddie Jones sent tongue-in-cheek best wishes to Warren Gatland for Wales’ bronze medal match after the New Zealander queried whether England had played their World Cup final a match early. Gatland’s Wales side were knocked out of the World Cup on Sunday, losing 19-16 to South Africa. They now face New Zealand

4:18 PM BST YOKOHAMA — The Springboks’ journey to Rugby World Cup finalists is in part down to a change in the players’ priorities where they parked promoting their social media and moving for financial gain to refocus on playing for their country, according to head coach Rassie Erasmus and captain Siya Kolisi. South Africa

2:03 PM BST South Africa head into the Rugby World Cup final against England next Saturday knowing they still have plenty to work on but fully expecting another war of attrition rather than an open game, according to coach Rassie Erasmus. The Springboks advanced to their third final with a taut 19-16 victory over Wales

Oct 27, 2019 Wales coach Warren Gatland said his team can leave Japan with heads held high after trying everything they could to break the South African stranglehold during Sunday’s Rugby World Cup semifinal. In a game full of kick and chase, South Africa always seemed to be on top, though they needed a Handre