

A tantalising three weeks of Test rugby kicks off this weekend, as the two rugby hemispheres collide across the globe. Stay across all the line-ups, team news, odds and our individual match previews here.
First they lost Quade Cooper in the warm-up, then Tom Banks and Allan Alaalatoa succumbed to injury and concussion respectively, and then came the red card. The Wallabies went on to win anyway.
Winger Damian Penaud scored two tries as France put together a strong second-half performance for a commanding 42-23 victory over Japan in the first test at the Toyota Stadium in Aichi on Saturday.
At last kick-off is upon. Unfortunately for Eddie Jones, the build-up has come without a verbal sparring partner. But there is still plenty to discuss as the Wallabies host England in the first Test in Perth.
The rugby world is set to reunite this July, with World Rugby's Test window bringing the northern and southern hemispheres together across the globe. So what shape are the top 10 in at this key juncture, and what might they be looking to nail down?
A tantalising three weeks of Test rugby kicks off this weekend, as the two rugby hemispheres collide across the globe. Stay across all the line-ups, team news, odds and our individual match previews here.
Tries from the Australian connection of Marika Koroibete and Dylan Riley have secured Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights the inaugural Japan Rugby League One title.
England will host the All Blacks at Twickenham in November 2022 as part of a four-Test programme which includes world champions South Africa.
The halfway point between Rugby World Cups has been reached, with the countdown now on to France 2023. After a fascinating few weeks of cross-hemisphere play, where does the pecking order sit for the game's elite nations?
Ireland tore Japan apart with a stunning display of attacking rugby, particularly from their dynamic pack, to mark captain Johnny Sexton's 100th cap with an impressive 60-5 victory at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
After two years apart, the elite rugby nations of the northern and southern hemispheres will reunite throughout November, providing a valuable marker two years out from the next global showpiece. Here's what you need to know.
Wallabies centre Hunter Paisami is set to make his return to the starting line-up on Saturday against Japan with their tackle-busting star Samu Kerevi unavailable for selection through injury.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has been left sweating the fitness of star centre Samu Kerevi after the 28-year-old hobbled off the field in the Wallabies 32-17 win over Argentina on Saturday night.
The Wallabies have locked in a date to play Japan in Oita next month, where they could come up against a name etched in Australian rugby history.
Ireland will host New Zealand in one of four international tests announced by the Irish Rugby Football Union for Andy Farrell's squad in October and November.
Ireland survived some brilliant attacking Japanese play to gain revenge for their shock 2019 World Cup defeat with a 39-31 win in an entertaining and free-scoring match at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
The British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland confirmed that captain Alun Wyn Jones will miss the South Africa tour after dislocating his shoulder in the warm-up win over Japan on Saturday.
Super Rugby could be set for yet another structural change and a return to Asia after it was revealed that discussions have taken place around a new tournament that would pit leading Japanese Top League clubs against those from New Zealand and Australia.
Brave Blossoms coach Jamie Joseph has offered an alarming insight into why the increasing player drain to Japan is becoming a huge headache for Australian rugby.
Young midfielder Dylan Riley has become the third Australian-raised player in his Japan Top League team to declare their allegiance to the Brave Blossoms in a worrying trend for Australian rugby.
Wallabies captain Michael Hooper would love to see Japan play more international Tests, but says rugby's various governing bodies need to be careful not to burn out players in the process.
Eddie Jones has been cleared to continue as a consultant for Japanese Top League side Suntory Sungoliath after the Rugby Football Union said there is no conflict of interest.
The British and Irish Lions announced on Wednesday they will host Japan in Edinburgh next June ahead of their tour of South Africa.
Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper will take up a six-month sabbatical deal to play rugby in Japan, leaving the NSW Waratahs without their biggest star for most of the next Super Rugby competition.
South Africa's World Cup winning hooker Malcolm Marx has signed for Japanese Top League side the Kubota Spears.
Pool A | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
R | Team | GP | PD | P |
1 | Japan | 4 | +53 | 19 |
2 | Ireland | 4 | +94 | 16 |
3 | Scotland | 4 | +64 | 11 |
4 | Samoa | 4 | -70 | 5 |
5 | Russia | 4 | -141 | 0 |
Pool B | ||||
R | Team | GP | PD | P |
1 | New Zealand | 4 | +135 | 16 |
2 | South Africa | 4 | +149 | 15 |
3 | Italy | 4 | +20 | 12 |
4 | Namibia | 4 | -141 | 2 |
5 | Canada | 4 | -163 | 2 |
Pool C | ||||
R | Team | GP | PD | P |
1 | England | 4 | +99 | 17 |
2 | France | 4 | +28 | 15 |
3 | Argentina | 4 | +15 | 11 |
4 | Tonga | 4 | -38 | 6 |
5 | United States of America | 4 | -104 | 0 |
Pool D | ||||
R | Team | GP | PD | P |
1 | Wales | 4 | +67 | 19 |
2 | Australia | 4 | +68 | 16 |
3 | Fiji | 4 | +2 | 7 |
4 | Georgia | 4 | -57 | 5 |
5 | Uruguay | 4 | -80 | 4 |