SYDNEY - Sydney-based Gareth Ellis is convinced England are making genuine progress in their bid to close the gap on Australia and New Zealand.
The former Wakefield and Leeds centre-turned-forward has been a regular for the national team over the last seven years and reckons England's...

AUCKLAND - Although France leaves the Rugby World Cup with a feeling of regret after pushing New Zealand so close in a nerve-shattering final, the future of French rugby looks to be in good hands.

 

France lost 8-7 but won back its pride and restored the hopes of its...

WELLINGTON - Wales coach Warren Gatland has revealed he considered asking a front-row forward to feign injury and force uncontested scrums during the controversial World Cup semi-final defeat against France.
Gatland had already seen prop Adam Jones depart with a calf injury, and then eight...

 The day after their biggest disappointment in decades, the Welsh were rallying around their captain and thinking of still finishing the Rugby World Cup on a high.

Nobody in the squad was blaming skipper Sam Warburton for the team's 9-8 loss to France in the semifinals after his...

LONDON - The Rugby Football Union have launched an investigation into all allegations of player misconduct during England's ill-fated World Cup campaign.
Any player found to have breached the RFU's elite player agreement or their code of conduct could face punishments ranging from a fine to an...

NEW ZEALAND - France will play Wales in the Rugby World Cup semifinals after holding off England in a 19-12 victory Saturday following a 16-point opening barrage through tries to fullback Maxime Medard and winger Vincent Clerc.

Despite a shambolic pool stage in which coach Marc...

WELLINGTON - Martin Johnson has warned England must be as mentally sharp as they are physically tough if they are to combat the unpredictable French in Saturday's Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
Johnson knows from experience France can veer from being a rabble to world-beaters in the space of a...

WELLINGTON - Toby Flood will start at inside centre alongside fly-half Jonny Wilkinson in England's Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France.
The Leicester playmaker comes into the side for Mike Tindall, who has been recovering from a dead leg, and as one of four changes from England's 16-12...

WELLINGTON - Tom Palmer has urged England to prey on France's mental fragility in Saturday's Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
The England lock has spent the last two years playing for Stade Francais and understands the French psyche better than anyone in the red rose squad.
France, who lost to...

WELLINGTON - Wales have received a major boost ahead of their World Cup quarter-final against Ireland with three key players passed fit to resume full training.
Full-back James Hook, wing Shane Williams and flanker Dan Lydiate are all expected to be available for Saturday's showdown.
Hook...