Rugby

USA advances to Rugby World Cup

The United States booked a berth in the 2015 Rugby World Cup with a 32-13 victory over Uruguay on Saturday at Kennesaw State University.

Rugby

Late try gives Uruguay World Cup qualifier draw with US

Scrumhalf Agustin Ormaechea scored a try five minutes from time to give Uruguay a 27-27 draw with favourites the United States in the first leg of their Rugby World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

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Rugby

Georgia grouped with All Blacks at 2015 World Cup

Georgia's reward for beating east European rivals Romania 22-9 on Saturday was to be drawn in Group C of the 2015 Rugby World Cup with title holders New Zealand.

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England are shaping as World Cup threats

Austin Healey "Can England win the World Cup?" is a question that many fans have asked in recent weeks. It is certainly a topic of conversation Down Under where New Zealand, in particular, have started to take Stuart Lancaster's side seriously.

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All-Ireland World Cup bid gets support

Ministers from both sides of the border have signalled their backing for an all-Ireland bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

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Rugby

Cheapest World Cup final tickets will be $268

Ticket prices for the 2015 Rugby World Cup final in England will range from STG150 ($A268) to STG715 ($A1,277), organisers announced on Wednesday.

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Wallaroos draw France in World Cup

Australia have been drawn alongside hosts France for next year's Women's Rugby World Cup.

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Horror draw for Wallabies at World Cup

GEORGINA ROBINSON Australia face arguably their toughest road yet to Rugby World Cup glory after drawing England and Wales in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament.

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John O'Neill joins RWC15 board

Australian Rugby Union (ARU) chief executive John O'Neill was appointed to the 2015 Rugby World Cup board on Thursday, as was Wales Rugby Union (WRU) chairman David Pickering.

Rugby

Richie McCaw breaks silence on eye gouge

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has admitted he was "surprised" the International Rugby Board did not cite French player Aurelien Rougerie for the infamous eye gouge in the Rugby World Cup final.

Rugby

'There's £35,000... down the toilet' - cash obsessed England slammed in leaked report

English rugby was in uproar on Wednesday after leaked reports into the country's World Cup campaign painted a damning portrait of an ill-disciplined, divided squad obsessed with making money.

Samoans blame managers, alcohol for World Cup flop

In a damning report to Samoa's prime minister, the Pacific nation's rugby captain has blamed their World Cup failure on a lack of professionalism and a culture of alcohol abuse in the team management.

Reds alert: Cooper to miss start of Super Rugby after surgery

Georgina Robinson BELEAGUERED Australian rugby star Quade Cooper will have surgery on his injured knee in Brisbane tomorrow. Cooper's manager, Khoder Nasser, confirmed the Wallabies five-eighth would be operated on tomorrow, just days before the Queensland Reds begin training for next year's Super Rugby season.

Rugby

Too much hoopla over haka: All Black great

Georgina Robinson FORMER All Black Alan ''AJ'' Whetton has called the International Rugby Board ''pedantic'' after it slapped a £2500 ($3800) fine on the French team for getting within 10 metres of New Zealand's haka at Sunday's final.

Big issues

Five things we learnt from the World Cup

Mick Cleary in Auckland 1 Referees should be allowed to use their discretion

Rugby

After cup success, Henry heads for another clash with Wallabies

Duncan Johnstone GRAHAM HENRY is heading to the northern hemisphere to coach the British Barbarians and Richie McCaw is heading for some specialist attention on his problem foot.

The buzz

Crusaders get set for a 'special' homecoming

Duncan Johnstone THE All Blacks' Crusaders stars are buzzing at the chance to bring the World Cup to Christchurch today for their second victory parade in 24 hours.

Magic trip

Call it destiny, karma, fate … or just plain Black magic

Nearly a quarter-century of hurt came to an end for New Zealand on Sunday night - and it seemed written in the stars, writes Toby Robson.

Player of the year

France captain wins IRB player of the year award

France captain Thierry Dusautoir was named the International Rugby Board (IRB) player of the year for 2011 at a ceremony on Monday.

Cup of great cheer but changes needed

Spiro Zavos A Rugby World Cup final is different. Here was a French side that had lost two matches in the pool rounds then played poorly in the semi-final against Wales.

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New Zealand celebrates 'ultimate achievement'

Hundreds of thousands of jubilant New Zealanders packed central Auckland for the All Blacks victory parade, celebrating their "ultimate achievement" in winning the Rugby World Cup.

Long road to 2015 Cup glory for tarnished Wallabies

Greg Growden As for the ''Bronzed Wallabies'', their World Cup campaign fell short, prompting queries such as:

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Wonder boy

Blond ambition: O'Connor puts hand up for midfield

Darren Walton WALLABIES wonder boy James O'Connor is spruiking a midfield playmaker's role in Australia's time of need.

The final verdict

The final verdict: it was good, even great, but not the best ever

Greg Growden The seventh World Cup tournament is over. The new World Cup champion has been crowned. And numerous compelling questions can now be answered.

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French resistance leaves a nation sweating bullets

Peter FitzSimons Aux armes, citoyens, formez vos bataillons! And even before the opening whistle of the World Cup final, the French rugby team did exactly that, linking arms, forming into a veritable rugby battalion and marching right into the teeth of the All Blacks' haka.

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Long dark cloud lifts as All Blacks close the door on 24 years of pain

Greg Growden The 24-year All Black gloom has lifted.

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Burdened McCaw proves a worthy vessel of nation's hopes

Marc Hinton THE finest player in the modern game can now call himself a world champion.

Rainbow pointed to pot of gold for fans

Georgina Robinson AUCKLAND: A rainbow that appeared over Eden Park yesterday afternoon, just as one did before the last All Blacks triumph 24 years ago, was a sign of the long-awaited New Zealand victory to come.

Memories are made of this

John Eales The five most enjoyable minutes of my rugby career were the final five of the 1999 world cup final in Cardiff. When our lead over the French became unassailable our coach Rod Macqueen spilt the bench to reward everyone for what had been an arduous campaign. There were many great stories, Dan Crowley for one, who had been reserve for the whole final in 1991, got on the field. It was a wonderful team moment as those who had bled and bruised together over the last two years savoured the moments before the final whistle.

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France bemoan their luck after World Cup final loss

France were left cursing the absence of a stroke or two of good fortune after losing 8-7 to New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup final here on Sunday.