World Cup

Fiji netball hopes for Pacific comp in lieu of cancelled World Cup

The Under 21 Championship was originally scheduled for June in Suva, with Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands set to represent the Pacific, but was postponed by six months because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

President, RubyAnn Sorovaki, said she understood why the International Netball Federation decided to cancel the event, but now their focus needs to be on keeping players engaged.

All Blacks draw Les Bleus in World Cup opener

The All Blacks will play France, Italy and two yet-to-be-determined qualifiers (Africa 1 and Americas 1) in pool play at the tournament.

The match against France will be played on 8 September 2023 at Stade de France in Paris.

The All Blacks then head to the south of France to the city of Toulouse to play Africa 1 a week later on 15 September at Stadium de Toulouse.

The team's last two Pool games will be played at Parc OL, Lyon: Italy on 29 September and Americas 1 on 5 October.

Fijiana to face England in Rugby World Cup debut

 

The Fijiana will face the 2014 world champions in the second match of a triple-header in Auckland on 18 September.

The other two teams in Pool C, France and South Africa, will square off in the opening clash at Eden Park before Fiji run out against the world top-ranked women's team, who finished runners up to the Black Ferns at the 2017 Rugby World Cup.

Tournament hosts New Zealand will face Trans-Tasman rivals Australia in the feature match, with organisers aiming to set a new match attendance record.

Wallabies target need for speed for Olympics, 2023 Rugby World Cup

With an eye on the 2021 Olympics and 2023 Rugby World Cup, Australia's elite male and female players are being put through their paces to see how they compare with gold standard speed measurements.

The Wallabies are currently ranked a lowly sixth in world rugby, just ahead of Scotland.

The Wallaroos come in at fifth, behind England, NZ, Canada, and France.

In Sevens rugby, the Australian men's side was coming fourth in 2020 before the competition was put on hold, while the Australian women were in second spot.

Japan won't play again in 2020 due to COVID

Head coach Jamie Joseph said Japan, who had games against England and Wales cancelled earlier this year due to the outbreak, had been due to play against Europe’s top teams in an eight-nation tournament later this year.

Japan have not played a test match since their quarter-final loss to eventual champions South Africa at last year’s Rugby World Cup on home soil.

“We have concluded there will be no test matches this year,” JRFU Chairman Kensuke Iwabuchi told a media briefing on Monday.

PNG cricketers take World Cup postponement in their stride

This year's Men's T20 World Cup has been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The PNG Barramundis had been set to make their senior World Cup debut in Australia but coach Joe Dawes said the team has taken the news in their stride.

"It's been probably one of the worst kept secrets for quite a while now. Although disappointing it's totally understandable in the state of the world at the moment."

2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand won't be shifted

World Rugby's general manager for women's rugby Katie Sadlier said next year could be pivotal for women's rugby.

"I talk about 2021 being the golden year for women's rugby I don't think there'll ever be a time again, hopefully, that you've got the Olympic Games and a Rugby World Cup this close together and in the same year so you know that provides such an amazing opportunity in terms of a long term profile campaign of lifting the game," Sadlier said in an online chat to Women in Sport Aotearoa from her base in Ireland.

Hansen endorses England haka response despite fine

England fanned out across the pitch in V-formation as the All Blacks delivered the challenge, with several players who crossed the halfway line standing their ground when officials tried to usher them back.

World Rugby regulations stipulate opponents must not cross the halfway line while the haka is being performed.

It did not disclose the size of the fine, which is to be donated to charity.

England level series after beating Australia in final Test

On a beautifully sunny day at The Oval, England set Australia 399 to win and bowled them out for 263 to square the contest with their oldest enemies in a year when they lifted the World Cup for the first time.

Australia retain the urn they won in 2017-18 but miss out on a first series win in England since 2001, while an Ashes series is drawn for the first time in 47 years.

From 313-8 overnight, England added 16 to be all out for 329 and leave Australia in need of pulling off the highest run-chase in an Ashes Test since 1948.

Japan chasing first ever World Cup quarter-final

Joseph, who has named his 31-man squad, said playing against heavyweights like New Zealand and Australia over the past four years had helped them develop the mental and physical toughness needed to compete at the global showpiece.

The Brave Blossoms took the Pacific Nations Cup earlier this month by trouncing Fiji, Tonga and the United States, moving up to ninth in the world to match their highest-ever ranking ahead of the Sept. 20-Nov. 2 tournament.