Rugby World Cup

The announcement was made by Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy at his final address to conclude his first visit to Samoa yesterday.

“Rugby is an integral part of Samoa and Australia’s national identities and a symbol of the shared love of sports between the two nations. This Australian Government funding recognises our shared love of rugby, and the power of sports to bring our people together. Australia’s Pacific AusSports Initiative also assists other sporting codes including netball, cricket and rugby league.”

Jones took over from the sacked Dave Rennie last month but, despite the World Cup being so close, has brought on board no backroom staff since his appointment.

Reuters reports the 63-year-old, who was knocked back this week by former New Zealand rugby league coach Michael Maguire, said he was looking for specific skills for a specific task.

"In a lot of ways, we've got time because as a coaching team, we need to be together probably for the last six or eight weeks of Super Rugby, where selection is going to become important," Jones said.

Vern Cotter dramatically split ways with the Flying Fijians at the start of the month, just eight months out from the Rugby World Cup in France.

Matters got worse for the union a week later with news that assistant coach Richie Gray was also leaving, saying that he considered he had to exit from ‘an integrity point of view’ after the departure of Cotter.

It’s left Fiji looking for a head coach and now the FRU acting chief executive Tevita Tuiloa has said he has offered the job to Robertson.

Reuters reports Australian Jones, who led the Wallabies to the 2003 World Cup final, has been linked with various roles at Rugby Australia since he was sacked by England in December.

"It's not going to happen," New Zealander Rennie told reporters, later adding: "It's not going to happen before the World Cup.

"We've had no discussions around changes to the coaching group ... what happens beyond 2023 is another matter."

Jones was equally blunt in an interview with the Guardian on Friday when he was asked whether he would be interested in working under Rennie.

Former Ireland coach now All Blacks selector and analyst Joe Schmidt will be given an expanded role with the team.

The All Blacks produced one of the best performances in recent times to upset the Springboks at Ellis Park last Sunday.

However, Foster's job had come under scrutiny following a run of five defeats from their last seven games, with NZR boss Mark Robinson refusing to back Foster after the All Blacks victory in Johannesburg.

'We feel it is a new dawn for this team' - Robinson

Beaten out for the All Blacks' top job by Ian Foster in 2019 - the six-time Super Rugby winning coach is contracted with the Crusaders to the end of next season.

Robertson told the Rugby Pod - a podcast hosted by ex-Scotland international Jim Hamilton - that international rugby is where his future lies and he wants to be coaching at the 2027 World Cup.

"I want to win a Rugby World Cup. But I want to win it with two different countries. I think that would transcend (the game).

Hong Kong, Kenya, the United States and Portugal will clash in a round-robin format, and the winners will go into Pool C at the World Cup, alongside Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia.

The World Cup will be played in France for the second time from Sept. 8 next year. The country also hosted the tournament in 2007.

Saturday's 32-22 win by the Irish in Wellington clinched a historic first series win in New Zealand and moved them top of the world rankings.

"If we played New Zealand again next week, we'd probably beat them again," said ex-Ireland coach O'Sullivan.

"But I think, come the World Cup, things will even up again."

"There is a lot of water to flow under the bridge between now and next year," he added.

Ireland's latest victory over the All Blacks was their fifth win in eight contests against the three-time world champions.

Mo’unga announced on live television on Friday that he has signed a one-year contract extension that will keep him with the All Blacks, Crusaders and Canterbury in 2023.

“Some good news, for me and my family, that we’ve re-signed for next year’s season in 2023,” the newly-turned 28-year-old told Sky Sport ahead of the Crusaders’ 28-15 Super Rugby Pacific win over the Reds in Christchurch.

The United States was confirmed as host of the men's showpiece event in 2031 and will stage the women's tournament two years later.

The hosts were finalised following a World Rugby Council meeting in Dublin.

"This is a historic day for rugby in Australia. We are beyond thrilled to be welcoming not one, but two World Cups to our shores," Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan said.