After the cancellation of their game against Namibia this morning, the Canadian players headed out to help the host nation's recovery efforts.

It was Samoa who provided the opposition for Joe Schmidt’s introduction to Test rugby as Ireland’s head coach, way back when in November 2013.

Three areas where Ireland need to deliver...

Rassie Erasmus isn't a man for one kind word when a few dozen can be spread lavishly, like honey on toast.

England’s World Cup bid was just minutes old when Billy Vunipola launched himself into contact off the back of a lineout and Tonga’s Zane Kapeli floored him with a tackle that landed the big No 8 flat on his arse.

Argentina secured the consolation of qualification for the 2023 World Cup as they wrapped up their 2019 campaign with a 47-17 win against the United States.

James Harrington Pool C quarter-final qualification was decided last weekend but, with reports of another Rugby World Cup mutiny in the French camp, it’s easy to forget there’s still one key match to play, assuming it does not fall victim to Typhoon Hagibis.

In the perfect world, the one the squad envisioned on the flight out to Japan, Ireland would already have their slot booked in the quarter-final by this stage.

Peter Jackson Time to call a halt as refs fail to implement penalty rules

France secured their place in the World Cup quarter-finals with a 23-21 victory over Tonga at the Kumamoto Stadium.

Your round-up of the stories behind the headlines from Day 15 of #RWC2019

Eddie Jones believes England face a test of their “manlihood” when they attempt to guarantee passage into the World Cup quarter-finals by defeating Argentina.

The underlying narrative behind the decision to stage the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan is that it is an opportunity to give a huge impetus to the game in a country where it is — relatively speaking — a marginal presence.

Your round-up of the stories behind the headlines from Day 14 of #RWC2019

Such has been the heat on Ireland this week in the aftermath of their embarrassing loss to Japan that there will be few complaints at the short turnaround from last Saturday’s debacle in Shizuoka.

England are in the middle of a long break between pool games.

Argentina bounced back from their opening-round defeat to France with a 28-12 victory over Tonga in Osaka.

They were patting down sweat-filled brows around RTÉ’s control bunker yesterday as Montrose battled technical glitches at the start of Hugh Cahill and Donal Lenihan’s television commentary from Yokohama.

For weeks on end, a veritable posse of law enforcers queued up to hammer the warning home, that dangerous tackles meant instant dismissal.

England proved too much for Pacific Islanders, running out convincing 35-3 winners

TOKYO — The funny thing about World Cups is that they help the All Blacks find their inner Zen.

An emotional Eddie Jones choked back the tears as he reflected on what it meant to guide England into the 2019 World Cup.

If an average Six Nations fixture takes place on the day of the apocalypse, a Rugby World Cup is a declaration of war.

No room at the top — touch of farce as France load up on off-field leaders after a disappointing Six Nations. But who is really in charge, asks James Harrington

Former Ireland internationals, head coaches, a World Cup-winning captain will be among RTÉ's stable of pundits for the Rugby World Cup.

The side's 19-10 defeat of Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon secured the No.1 spot for the first time in the nations's history.

This Saturday’s game against Wales may mark the start of Jonathan Sexton’s season but it will mark the last time that an Ireland team takes to the field in Dublin under the watchful eye of Joe Schmidt.

Fit-again Mako Vunipola is approaching the best shape of his career — but try telling that to the lady who had to wheel the 122kg prop through Los Angeles airport back in June.

Ben Te’o has been left out of the England squad for Sunday’s international against Wales.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen named four uncapped players in an extended 39-man squad for the Rugby Championship as he looks to finalise his World Cup selections over the next six weeks.

A legal dispute that threatened to have "serious implications" on the Pacific Island nation of Tonga's preparations for this year's Rugby World Cup has been withdrawn.

A legal dispute which has "serious implications" for preparations by the Pacific Island nation of Tonga for this year's Rugby World Cup has come before the High Court.

Towards the end of last season, Johnny McNicholl asked himself a rhetorical question: “Am I Welsh? It’s a tough question to answer. I don’t know.”

French Rugby president Bernard Laporte has kicked to touch on the possibility of Ronan O'Gara being part of the country's World Cup coaching ticket, insisting it's a call for head coach Jacques Brunel.

As key stakeholders in rugby convene in Dublin tomorrow about a ‘world’ league that seems more concerned with concentrating and increasing the wealth for its bluebloods than spreading the word to the unconverted and the cash to the marginalised, it has probably escaped rather than focused their minds that the deciding game in Europe’s biggest international competition is once again between one nation with a population of just 6.6 million and another with just 3.1 million.

World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont has called a meeting to discuss the future of the international game amidst controversy over plans for a World League.

New Zealand rugby bosses should be concerned about the loss of expertise from rugby coaches moving overseas because of limited career opportunities at home, departing Wellington Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd has warned.

"I’ve been so proud to be part of it all, but every journey sadly must come to an end."

Saracens kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the Champions Cup knock-out phase after demolishing Northampton.

Ireland 28 Argentina 19: Another Guinness Series in the books, a handful of new Ireland caps and three satisfying if not perfect victories for Joe Schmidt to ponder before he gets his players back to build for the 2018 Six Nations.

Key Munster players Keith Earls and James Cronin are unlikely to play any rugby for the remainder of 2017.

Jordi Murphy couldn’t get down the road to Limerick quickly enough.

The Munster squad returns to training today ahead of the Guinness PRO14 trip to Italy to face Zebre in 11 days, while the province’s medical staff have received a fresh influx of injured Ireland players.

Tonga rugby players must be ardently hoping that they never again encounter the conditions prevailing at Thomond Park last night.