2:41 PM BST England’s Rugby World Cup squad were stranded at Japan’s Narita International Airport for more than five hours on Monday amid the travel headache caused by Typhoon Faxai. Winds of up to 105mph battered Tokyo overnight, causing widespread traffic congestion and forcing the canceling of many flights, including the 16-hour delay of the

10:27 AM BST Inspired by the hot-stepping, tackle-shredding highlight reel that was Rupeni Caucaunibuca at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, Marika Koroibete looms as a key strike weapon when the Wallabies open their 2019 campaign against Fiji in 12 days’ time. Koroibete has seemingly gone to another level this season with his confidence and skill-set

2:18 AM BST The All Blacks got exactly what they wanted from their final match ahead of the World Cup when they demolished Tonga 92-7 on Saturday, and deliberately chose to play the last 15 minutes a man down, coach Steve Hansen said. Inside centre Ryan Crotty, who was not injured, was taken off immediately

2:51 PM BST SYDNEY — David Pocock got through a solid 58 minutes as the Wallabies wrapped up their preparations for the Rugby World Cup with a less-than-convincing 19-point victory over Samoa at Bankwest Stadium. But it was otherwise a mixed final hit-out for Australia before they head for Japan, after Samoa roared into life

1:51 PM BST Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said the country has “lost a legend” after the sudden passing of former South Africa World Cup winner Chester Williams due to a suspected heart attack at the age of 49 on Friday. The death of Williams, who scored 14 tries in 27 appearances for the Springboks, comes

12:45 PM BST England prop Mako Vunipola and winger Jack Nowell will miss the first two matches of Rugby World Cup in Japan, head coach Eddie Jones has said. Vunipola, 28, suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury during his international comeback in England’s 57-15 win over Ireland last month and will not be fit

6:58 PM BST Springboks legend Chester Williams has died at the age of 49, SA Rugby has confirmed. Williams, who played on the wing in South Africa’s 1995 World Cup winning side, died suddenly of a heart attack in Cape Town on Friday. He played 27 Tests for the Springboks in a career between 1993

4:56 AM BST Wallabies back row star David Pocock will retire from Test rugby after the upcoming World Cup. Pocock will captain the Wallabies against Samoa in Sydney on Saturday, in what will now be his final test in Australia and his 78th overall. “I feel like it’s time for me to move onto other

1:34 AM BST Backline veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper is excited about Australia’s prospects, describing the 2019 group as the most connected of the four Wallabies World Cup squads in which he’s been selected. The 35-year-old utility back will win his 119th cap against Samoa in Sydney on Saturday, when Australia play their last Test before the

12:13 PM BST KUMAGAYA, Japan — South Africa head into their final Rugby World Cup warm-up match, against hosts Japan on Friday, with not only the upcoming tournament on their minds but also the embarrassing loss they suffered the last time the teams met. At the 2015 World Cup, Japan caused one of the biggest