Rugby World

IT WAS unfortunate timing. As July began, women’s soccer was still making positive headlines as their World Cup rushed to its big conclusion over in France. Meanwhile, complaints were being aired about the summer competition between women’s rugby’s t

6th Fancy having dinner with the England squad? Well, Twickenham is hosting a drinks reception followed by a four-course dinner with the full England World Cup training squad this Tuesday in aid of the Try for Change charity. Tickets are available fr

What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen on the pitch? When Benetton played the Scarlets away, George Clancy was the referee. He said something to one of our props, something like “work on your bind”. But our prop doesn’t understand any English so he ju

Brad Tucker’s last-minute try from a driving maul secured Seattle Seawolves’ 26-23 win over San Diego Legion and thus back-to-back Major League Rugby (MLR) titles. It was their fourth try in all, following scores by Stephen Coetzee, JP Smith and Riek

CONTROVERSIALLY, LAST autumn Owen Farrell twice escaped sanction for dangerous tackles that caused no lasting physical damage but left a mark on the game. Soon after, World Rugby launched a ‘decision-making framework for high tackles’. The framework

LEICESTER CAPTAIN AND HOOKER You’ve got to celebrate your little wins in a game and if that means you get a good turnover, say, you celebrate that. Some guys will celebrate in people’s faces. If someone did that to me I wouldn’t be that bothered, it

Age 20 (19 Feb 1999) Born Buderim, QLD Franchise Reds Country Australia Position Back-row What sports have you played? I’ve played cricket and rugby most of my life, starting as early as I could. However, I stopped playing cricket to turn my attent

BACK IN the 1970s, I played rugby for Coventry Welsh RFC, writes RW reader Trefor Jones. One particular caper happened when visiting Cardiff for an Easter tour. When trying to book our accommodation, we found that once we mentioned we were a rugby cl

IT’S STARTLING what little things you take away from a hefty loss. Some clam up. Some seethe. Some scheme. But after representing Namibia on the wrong side of a record defeat in the World Cup, losing 142-0 to the Wallabies in Adelaide in 2003, Kees

WHEN IS a three-year deal not a three-year deal? Well, when the duration is actually half that time. Sports organisations are among the best public relations spinners in the game. Take NZ Rugby’s announcement that Brodie Retallick had inked a new “th

“ Antoine Dupont is setting the bar for scrum-halves. He was fantastic in the Top 14 final for Toulouse. He’s a really exciting player and has only scratched the surface of where he’s going. I’ve got the years on him and know that when I’m long retir

NOTHING BRINGS out the clichés like a Heineken Cup draw, where there are “no easy games” and every pool is a “huge challenge”. Coaches are quite right to offer such platitudes, not least because they are true; the days of chalking up a routine try bo

“That was after beating France in 2016. I managed to put Vis (Tim Visser) over in the corner with an overhead flick and it was the luckiest thing you’ll ever see in your life. I got Man of the Match. Everything clicked.” “It was an incredible honou

FIFTEEN-A-SIDE rugby increasingly looks like 14- or 13-a-side as cards seem to be coming out with more frequency. The U20 World Cup had yellow and red cards issued that significantly influenced the outcome of matches. There’s a zero-tolerance approac

AT THE start of July, Eddie Jones named an England training squad to continue preparations for the World Cup. I may be wrong but it seemed to be the 500th squad he has announced. Since he arrived as coach, he has astonishingly called up 128 players f

CORY HILL times his arrival perfectly to provide a demonstration. We’re at the doors to the Wales team room at their Vale Hotel base, but before entering in the morning all players must go through a series of wellness checks. Two tablets are set up o

JACOB STOCKDALE recently bought a Mustang on eBay. It’s navy blue with white stripes down the centre. Cars are a big love of his and the plan is to make use of his days off by doing this one up, learning about engines as he goes. If Stockdale were a

Age 26 (17 Jan 1993) Born Sigatoka, Fiji Club Clermont Position Back-row Height 6ft 5in Weight 18st 1lb Fiji caps 13 (5T) Twitter @Peceli_Yato WITH A year still to go on Peceli Yato’s contract, and the player himself saying “I really

BACK IN 2012, I had the misfortune to be present at the Top 14 final. It was a dire spectacle, one of the worst games of rugby that I can remember. Jonny Wilkinson’s Toulon lost to Toulouse 18-12 in a match devoid of tries, invention or ambition. The

WHO WOULDN’T want to emulate the best athletes in the world? Whenever you get the opportunity to pick up insight about the very top performers in your favourite field, you would be silly to pass them up. Enter the exciting Jack Nowell, Exeter Chiefs

KYLE SINCKLER has worn the England No 3 shirt on all bar one occasion since March last year. From the final Six Nations game against Ireland, through the South Africa tour, the autumn Tests and another championship campaign, the only time he has not

WORLD CUP organisers marked the recent ‘100 days to go’ milestone in Tokyo by saying they believe the tournament will not only be unique but one of the most successful ever. “The Webb Ellis Cup is here in Japan, our host cities are ready, our stadium

Age 28 (9 April 1991) Born Morriston, Swansea Club Saracens Position Back three Height 6ft 1in Weight 13st 10lb Wales caps 56 (12T) Lions caps Three Twitter @SanjayWills POST-HOLIDAY and pre-World Cup camp, Liam Williams was in the

DUANE VERMEULEN has taken the rugby road less travelled. According to the 33-year-old – who is set for a leadership role with the Springboks in the upcoming Rugby Championship and at the World Cup in Japan – the journey has made all the difference in

THE RAP on the door startles us awake. “Guys, come quick, there’s a bear,” hollers Justin Green. “Quick or you’ll miss the bear.” Clad only in our pants, we trundle down steps as quickly as we can to join Justin, his heavily-pregnant wife Melissa and

FOR MARIO LEDESMA , coaching is much more than getting a team to perform on the field. For Mario Ledesma, everything that gets the team ready for a game is part of a road that needs to be taken. As he prepares for his sixth World Cup as a player and

“It sounds obvious but speed to the ball is critical. Beating the attacker is paramount. Once you’re on the ball you have to dig in and stay strong because you know the big hits are coming and nowadays those hits or rolls or twists might not always b

JAPAN MAY be grouped with Ireland and Scotland at the upcoming World Cup, but they have realistic hopes of progressing to the  quarter-finals. Their historic win over South Africa at RWC 2015, and other recent performances, has shown how far Japanese

ACCORDING TO James Morehen: “Professionals and weekend players get caught up at the service stations and at airports” when it comes to food. The nutritionist adds: “For the same price as a big meal, you can get pretty decent stuff from the services.”

EXCITEMENT HAS been building for months, years even, and now the 2019 World Cup is only a matter of weeks away. It all kicks off with Japan v Russia in Pool A in Tokyo on 20 September and the tournament climaxes with the final in Yokohama on 2 Novemb

311 That’s the record number of World Cup tries scored by New Zealand, who have topped the pile in every tournament bar 1991, when their tally of 19 was pipped by Scotland’s 20. Almost a sixth (16%) of all the World Cup tries ever scored have been no

Capacity 30,132 How to get there Kaigan line from Kobe Sannomiya to Misaki Koen or head to JR Wadamisaki station on the overground. Then a six-minute walk. Capacity 30,000 How to get there Take the Kintetsu Nara line to Higashi-Hanazono station – 2

Probably the best transport deal in the world is the Japan Rail Pass – certainly better than your average commuter pass. It lasts seven, 14 or 21 days and gives almost limitless travel on the country’s main train network. Supplement the pass with an

It’s home to the well-renowned car manufacturers, but there’s much more to Toyota than that, as we reveal… Toyota Kaikan Museum appeals to both children and adults, with the exhibition hall introducing Toyota’s concept of car manufacture and the late

The venue for four Rugby World Cup pool games as well as the semi-finals and final, this city has something for everyone… Admire authentic Japanese architecture, including 17 historical buildings, as well as a vast Japanese garden in southern Yokoha

The Kanagawa Prefecture has myriad destinations offering scenic nature, historical culture and gourmet cuisine… Kamakura – the samurai capital that was built 800 years ago and sits by the seaside on the island of Honshu – can be reached in 50 minutes

Taste cuisine using the freshest seafood and local ingredients as Hakodate boasts vast fields and is surrounded by the sea… Goryokaku Park in Hakodate city centre – a ten-minute walk from Goryokaku Koen Mae tram stop – is well known as Japan’s first

Use Osaka as your base for a wider trip in the Kansai region. Then post-match make the most of the brilliant nightlife… Check out Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum for a look at the prints made with woodblocks during the Edo period. The museum also offers short

These two cities are perfect for viewing Mount Fuji – Fujinomiya is actually the closest city to the peak… Not far from Fujinomiya’s city centre is the Fujisan Hongu Sengentaisha Shrine (right), which dates back more than 1,200 years and regards Moun

Arts and crafts, hot springs and hikes – and, of course, Kobe beef. This Japan 2019 venue has much to offer… Arima Onsen is the oldest hot spring in Japan and it is rated as one of the top three in the country. It has two kinds of spring, which is ve

The Okinawa Prefecture comprises more than 160 islands surrounded by the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean… In Okinawa’s capital city Naha, you’ll find Shurijo Castle Park. Shuri is the name of the former capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom and the cast

Have an unforgettable experience and learn about the country’s traditional culture in the middle of the Japanese Alps… Ancient Japan continues to thrive in Gifu today. Located in the heart of Japan, the Gifu Prefecture flourished as a centre for trad

Kagoshima to the south, Kumamoto in the centre and Miyazaki to the east… there is much to uncover during a tour around these three prefectures on Kyushu, the most southerly of Japan’s four main islands. From majestic mountains to scenic sea views, th

From making your own knife to going on a local gourmet tour, Kumamoto offers a vast array of experiences… At Tateyama Shop, you can get fitted with a kimono, take a stroll along Kajiyamachi street and then experience a tea ceremony while viewing the

Located in the north of the Miyazaki Prefecture, Takachiho is famed for its beautiful gorge and spiritual experiences… One of the best-known legends of Japanese mythology centres on Takachiho. The tale is of Amaterasu, the Shinto sun goddess, and how

Rich in nature and food, the Miyazaki Prefecture has lots to discover – and you can enjoy it all in a warm climate… Udo Shrine (Udo Jingu) is located in a cave in the side of a cliff on the Nichinan Coast south of Miyazaki City. It is dedicated to Y

Kagoshima is located in the southernmost part of Kyushu, where you’ll find beautiful scenery and bountiful food… Take a tour of Kagoshima Fish Market with an English-speaking guide. Kagoshima boasts the third-longest coastline in Japan and with the K

From sea views to sushi and straw art to hot springs, there is a huge variety of things on offer in the port city of Niigata… September and October are not just the dates for the World Cup; it’s also when the Niigata Wara Art Festival takes place. Th

Head off the beaten path and visit the Nara Prefecture, which is full of World Heritage Sites and picturesque villages… Rather than just visit a temple, why not stay in one? Mount Shigi offers such lodgings, where you can sample shojin ryori cuisine

A small island located off the coast of Niigata on Honshu, Sado is the perfect place to discover Japanese traditions… Onidaiko (demon drumming) is a form of folk entertainment unique to Sado, with ‘demons’ dancing to the beat of drums. It’s performed

There is plenty to see in Hokkaido – Japan’s second largest island – and train is the best way to take it all in… Lake Akan Ainu Kotan is a settlement inhabited by about 120 indigenous Japanese people and the master craftsmen create intricate wood ca

Tottori Prefecture on Honshu is a gateway to historical sites and thrilling activities – all surrounded by nature… The Kurayoshi Shirakabe Storehouses along the Tamagawa River retain the feel of their origins in the Edo and Meiji periods. The area ha

Saga is one of Japan’s more unknown destinations – but that doesn’t make the Kyushu destination any less attractive… Ever wanted to be a ninja? Well, the Ninja Village Hizen Yumekaido gives you the chance. Not only can you rent ninja costumes but you

From the rugby venues in Kobe and Osaka or Tokyo and Yokohama, you can reach the Setouchi area by shinkansen… Okayama’s Korakuen Garden is rated one of Japan’s three best gardens and dates back 300 years. Tie in a stroll there with a visit to Okayama