In stories you may have missed this week, the first part of the hotly anticipated Israel Folau documentary dropped, a former PM has called out Rugby Australia's stance on the Voice, and a five-year ban has been handed down for a disgraceful act out west.
In stories you may have missed this week, Jordan Petaia's World Cup dreams are on a knife's edge, World Rugby lower tackle height to come to Australia and the 38-metre maul try that would have New Zealand great Wayne Smith weeping.
Japan was an unexpected detour on Simon Cron's journey to being a Super Rugby head coach, but with lessons from former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen under his belt and more ambition he's ready to lead the Western Force to new heights.
Brodie Retallick will join the growing list of All Blacks heading to Japan after the Rugby World Cup in France, with the New Zealand lock having signed up for a second stint with the Kobelco Steelers.
Week 4 of the Autumn Nations Series is headlined by big Tests in Twickenham and Dublin, the latter of which will see the Wallabies look to bounce back from a historic loss to Italy. Stay across all the lineups, team news and match odds.
Damian Penaud scored two tries for France as they beat Japan 35-17 at the Municipal Stadium on Sunday to extend their unbeaten run to 13 games.
Week 3 of the Autumn Nations Series is headlined by big Tests in Marseille and Edinburgh, the latter of which will see Scotland attempt to down the All Blacks for the first time in 32 attempts. Stay across all the lineups, team news and match odds.
England have made five changes for the match against Japan on Saturday with Leicester's Guy Porter getting the nod at outside centre while Northampton lock David Ribbans will make his Test debut.
England put last week's ragged defeat by Argentina firmly behind them when they ran in six tries, plus a penalty try, and played some highly entertaining rugby along the way to overwhelm Japan 52-13 at Twickenham on Saturday.
After a entree serving of Test rugby at the weekend, we're set for the main course over three delicious sittings in November. Nine of World Rugby's top 10 ranked nations are in action this weekend. Stay across all the lineups, team news and match odds.
There were just two Tests over the weekend, but there were no shortage of talking points in Tokyo or Edinburgh. Certainly Gregor Townsend has put the role of breakdown "jackal" firmly back in the spotlight, after Glen Young's cleanout of Tate McDermott.
New Zealand kicked off their end-of-year tour with a 38-31 victory over Japan on Saturday but the makeshift All Blacks side were given a mighty scare in front of a crowd of more than 60,000 at Tokyo's National Stadium.
The northern and southern hemispheres come together for a massive slate of Test matches this autumn, in what is likely the last time the Six Nations and Rugby Championship nations will face each other before the World Cup. So what's new for the top 10?
As the Wallabies and All Blacks prepare to do battle in the Bledisloe Cup, Japan is offering to be peace-maker in the simmering Super Rugby stand-off between the trans-Tasman rivals.
France had to rally again in the second half to beat Japan for a second successive week as they edged the home team 20-15 in Saturday's second test in Tokyo.
France had to rally again in the second half to beat Japan for a second successive week as they edged the home team 20-15 in Saturday's second test in Tokyo.
After we were treated to a stunning weekend of rugby we enter week two, 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.
What a treat we have in store for us this weekend. Every series is alive and headed to a decider, so who'll come out on top? 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.
| 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 |
