Rugby
An earthquake jolted the stands at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground on Saturday, but it was the Melbourne Rebels who did the moving and shaking on the field in a ...
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Rugby World Cup 2019, Japan
Host cities, Prefectures and stadiums
Schedule
Rugby
Sunwolves hope Amanaki Lelei Mafi can lead team to upset over Rebels
Amanaki Lelei Mafi will spearhead the Sunwolves attack against the Melbourne Rebels at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground on Saturday as the hosts look to play kingmaker in Super Rugby's ...
Rugby
Wallabies great George Smith, who earned 111 test caps, retires
Wallabies great George Smith announced his retirement Tuesday after a stint with Bristol in the England Premiership, retiring after nearly 20 years playing rugby. The veteran Australian flanker, who made his ...
Rugby May 20, 2019
Israel Folau's ban a formality after he misses appeal deadline
Rugby Australia has closed its code of conduct case against Israel Folau after the star fullback missed a deadline to appeal against the termination of his contract. Folau had 72 hours to appeal after his four-year contract was terminated last Friday, 10 days after an ...
Rugby May 18, 2019
General ticket sales for this year's Rugby World Cup resumed Saturday evening, when tickets to all 48 matches at the month-long tournament in Japan are made available. Sales of the tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis began on the official website at 6 p.m. Japan ...
Rugby May 16, 2019
Scotland's Stuart Hogg looks ahead to rematch with Brave Blossoms
by Andrew McKirdy
Scotland fullback Stuart Hogg admits the autumn heat in Japan could hamper his team's chances of claiming a Rugby World Cup quarterfinal spot at the host nation's expense later this year. But he also warns that the Scots are quick learners. "We played Japan in 2016 ...
Rugby May 12, 2019
The Sunwolves fell to their 10th Super Rugby loss of the season Sunday as they went down 33-0 to the Brumbies at Canberra's GIO Stadium. The victory leaves the Brumbies on top of the Australian Conference with four rounds remaining, while the Sunwolves, who were ...
Rugby May 7, 2019
Referees Nigel Owens, Wayne Barnes to appear in Rugby World Cup for fourth, final time
Welsh referee Nigel Owens will have a chance to control his second Rugby World Cup final after making the 12-man list on Tuesday for the tournament which kicks off in September in Japan. Owens whistled the 2015 final won by New Zealand against Australia at ...
Rugby May 7, 2019
Israel Folau found guilty of breach of conduct over anti-gay tweet
A disciplinary hearing ruled Tuesday that Wallabies fullback Israel Folau committed a "high-level breach" of Rugby Australia's code of conduct when he used social media to criticize gays. "The panel has today provided a judgment that Israel Folau committed a high-level breach of the Professional ...
Rugby May 3, 2019
Indiscipline once again cost the Sunwolves as they went down 32-26 to the Queensland Reds on Friday night at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium. Tony Brown's side was given five yellow cards, one of which was turned into a red, to ensure the Sunwolves spent 40 minutes ...
Rugby | ADDING THE EXTRAS May 2, 2019
JRFU's bewildering plans for Top League reform spark skepticism, opposition
by Rich Freeman
The news that the Japan Rugby Top League is to undergo reform following this year's World Cup should have been met with heraldic fanfare, given the nation's recent entry into the Reiwa Era. But having spoken to a number of coaches, players and longtime observers ...
Rugby May 1, 2019
Veteran lock Sam Whitelock has signed a new four-year contract with New Zealand Rugby, with a clause which will allow him to play for a season in Japan while still being selected for the All Blacks. The deal marks a departure from New Zealand's long-standing ...