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Rugby

  • New Zealand ready for World Cup opener

    World Cup organisers yesterday expressed confidence the tournament would be a spectacular success as hosts New Zealand prepared for the first game against Tonga. International Rugby Board chief Bernard Lapasset said the stage was set for “an...

  • Moody out of England opener

    England were dealt a blow yesterday when it was revealed that captain Lewis Moody will miss Saturday’s World Cup opener against Argentina due to a knee injury. Moody sustained medial ligament damage in a warm-up match against Wales on August 6. He...

  • IRB declares NZ World Cup ready

    International Rugby Board chairman Bernard Lapasset declared New Zealand ready yesterday to host an “extraordinary” Rugby World Cup despite questions about the tournament make-up and unsold tickets. Rugby’s four-yearly showpiece kicks off in...

  • Malta beat Norway 64-24

    Malta turned on a second half blitz with eight unanswered tries to defeat Norway 64 to 24 at the Melita FC Stadium, Pembroke on Friday night. Both sides exchanged the lead in the first half and went to the sheds at 24-a-piece at half time. Malta’s...

  • England won’t win Cup insists Dallaglio

    England great Lawrence Dallaglio says this year’s World Cup in New Zealand has come too soon for the current squad to lift the Webb Ellis trophy but has backed them to triumph on home soil in 2015. Former No. 8 Dallaglio was a member of the England...

  • All Blacks vow they are ready ahead of opener

    The All Blacks yesterday said they are ready to challenge for the World Cup as they shrugged off a barrage of grim news just six days before they open the tournament on home soil against Tonga. The side is down to just three fit loose forwards and,...

  • Norwegian players in Malta for Shield decider

    The Norwegian Rugby League national team arrived yesterday ahead of their European Shield decider against Malta at the Melita sports ground in Pembroke, to-morrow. Almost at the same time as they filtered through the arrivals lounge, a contingent of...

  • RFU hits back after ex chief executive hits out

    As the England squad flew to New Zealand for the World Cup, the row they left behind raged on as the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said accusations against it of “gross mismanagement” made by former chief executive Francis Baron were “totally...

  • Wallabies down All Blacks in Brisbane to win Tri-Nations

    The Wallabies downed the All Blacks 25-20 to claim their first Tri-Nations crown in 10 years at Suncorp Stadium yesterday. Australia gave their hopes of a third World Cup success in New Zealand next month a major boost, with a spirited...

  • All Blacks bring back stars

    The All Blacks boosted their side with 11 first-choice stars returning for tomorrow’s Tri-Nations decider against the Wallabies. The starting XV includes 10 of the run-on side from the 30-14 victory over the Wallabies in Auckland almost three weeks...

  • Wales to play Aussies after WCup

    Wales will face Australia in a post World Cup clash at the Millennium Stadium on December 3, it was announced yesterday. The fixture will take place just a month after the climax of rugby union’s showpiece tournament in New Zealand. It is a...

  • All Blacks go for experience in squad

    World number one New Zealand named their most experienced squad yesterday as they chase their first World Cup success in 24 years at home in next month’s tournament. The 30-man squad, named in Brisbane and which will be led by All Blacks flanker...

  • Wallaby stars in drunken brawl claims

    The Wallabies’ three most exciting backline stars were engaged in a drunken brawl in Paris last November, it was alleged yesterday, threatening to disrupt Australia’s Rugby World Cup campaign. Television reports said that James O’Connor and...

  • All Blacks get reminder of World Cup nightmare

    New Zealand coach Graham Henry remained convinced his team were on the right track despite being given a reminder of a recurring Rugby World Cup nightmare when a second-string side were beaten 18-5 by South Africa in a Tri-Nations Test at Nelson...

  • Marconnet misses out on France squad

    Toulouse flanker Thierry Dus­autoir will skipper France’s 30-strong World Cup squad to travel to New Zealand for the September 9-October 23 tournament. Coach Marc Lievremont unveiled his list in the Irish capital the day after watching his side...

  • England need big match mentality says Leonard

    Jason Leonard has warned England they must perfect the art of winning close games if they are to stand any chance of regaining the World Cup. England have just one more warm-up match before travelling to New Zealand, against Ireland next Saturday,...

  • Steyn kicks All Blacks to submission

    Morne Steyn was back to his best as fiery South Africa rediscovered the art of winning by defeating a second string New Zealand side 18-5 yesterday in the Tri-Nations. The ace goal kicker went into the match battling to remain first-choice fly-half...

  • Fiji player quits army to sidestep World Cup ban

    New Zealand has lifted a ban preventing a Fijian player from attending this year’s Rugby World Cup after he resigned from the Pacific nation’s military, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said yesterday. New Zealand has barred Fijian soldiers from...

  • Injured England scrum-half Care out of World Cup

    England scrum-half Danny Care has been ruled out of next month’s Rugby World Cup after sustaining a toe injury in last weekend’s defeat to Wales. A statement from the Rugby Football Union said Care would miss the World Cup after undergoing a series...

  • Flood slams poor England

    Toby Flood has slammed England’s inability to score tries in their 19-9 defeat against Wales as “embarrassing” and “shameful”. The Leicester fly-half gave a blunt reaction to criticism of England’s back division after they failed to capitalise on a...

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