New Zealand’s Canterbury Crusaders are targeting Ronan O’Gara for a sensational move to Super Rugby next season.

New Zealand’s Canterbury Crusaders are targeting Ronan O’Gara for a sensational move to Super Rugby next season.

The battle for supremacy over the Springboks will extend all the way to the pre- and post-match functions at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, writes Donal Lenihan.

South Africa began the day as favourites to land the hosting rights for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. 

What a disaster. Ireland’s race to host the 2023 World Cup exclusively in this country is, on the face of it, all but run before even reaching the starting line of World Rugby’s council vote in London on November 15, writes Donal Lenihan.

Here's your lunchtime news bulletin.

Michael Cheika is reluctant to heed fresh calls to shift Israel Folau to the centres as the Wallabies travel to Wellington striving to arrest their worst losing streak in more than a decade.

It comes ahead of their first Bledisloe Cup game with Australia today.

England’s aim of supplanting New Zealand as world champions in 2019 has moved a step closer after a new agreement was finalised between the Aviva Premiership clubs and Twickenham.

IRFU chief executive Philip Browne accepted yesterday that the future of Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt remains very much up in the air.

He may be on the All Blacks’ watchlist but if Joe Schmidt does decide to return to New Zealand when his contract expires 12 months from now, the Ireland head coach will likely do so for more personal reasons.

New Zealand star Dan Carter has announced he will join wealthy French club Racing Metro at the end of 2015 on a three-year contract.

Steve Hansen has signed a contract extension that will keep him at the helm of New Zealand until 2017.

The use of sleeping pill and energy drinks ‘cocktails’ may be a problem among rugby players in the southern hemisphere, but Leinster head coach Matt O’Connor says it is not an issue in this part of the world.

DEPARTING All Blacks coach Graham Henry has argued for continuity in New Zealand rugby, nominating his assistant Steve Hansen as the next man for the job.

World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry has officially stepped down from his role in charge of the All Blacks but looks set to move into a background position with the New Zealand Rugby Union.

INCENDIARY tweets, guerrilla gum shields and mean-spirited old farts – kind of makes you yearn for the innocent pleasures of dwarf throwing and bungee jumping doesn’t it?

THE International Rugby Board (IRB) insisted it was committed to addressing the financial concerns over the World Cup that have led to a threat from the All Blacks to boycott the 2015 tournament in England.

All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter has signed a four-year contract to stay in New Zealand.

ALL BLACK legend Sean Fitzpatrick has defended the Irish provinces’ right to sign Kiwi talent in the face of stinging criticism from New Zealand rugby’s top official, but has questioned whether such a policy is in the best interests of the game here.

NEW ZEALAND rugby chiefs have poured scorn on reports linking Carl Hayman with a return to the All Blacks jersey for this year’s Rugby World Cup.

NEW ZEALAND’S iconic midfielder Ma’a Nonu has been linked with a move to Munster after World Cup 2011.

IRELAND will play a three-Test series against New Zealand for the first time in 2012, as the shape of International Rugby Board-approved tours changed following a new global schedule agreed in the last week.

The New Zealand and South African rugby unions have issued apologies to New Zealand's Maori players who were excluded from All Blacks selection during the apartheid era.

Argentina today moved a step closer to competing in an expanded Four Nations tournament with Australia, New Zealand and Australia after the International Rugby Board changed a regulation on player availability.

FEARS for the welfare of France centre Mathieu Bastareaud are growing after it was revealed that the 20-year-old has been hospitalised suffering from serious psychological problems, according to his club, Stade Francais.

SCOTLAND head coach Frank Hadden stepped down yesterday with immediate effect after a frustrating Six Nations campaign ended with just one victory.

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew has claimed the Six Nations’ block vote against the most controversial experimental law variation (ELV) was “ridiculous”.

NEW Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew has fired back at Irish billionaire Denis O’Brien’s claims that the All Blacks “bully” Samoan rugby.

CLERMONT AUVERGNE lock Jamie Cudmore has received a five-week ban after being sent off in last weekend’s Heineken Cup clash against Munster at Thomond Park.

Adidas have extended their sponsorship deal with the New Zealand Rugby Union through to 2019.

AUSTRALIA and New Zealand would consider scrapping future European tours if northern hemisphere unions continue to send under-strength teams Down Under for June Test matches.

Japan coach John Kirwan has called for an end to the “political games” and insisted the International Rugby Board must take the 2015 World Cup to Asia.

New Zealand full-back Mils Muliaina is a doubt for Saturday’s first Test against England after straining a hamstring in training.

ALL BLACKS captain Richie McCaw has extended his contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union until the end of 2011 — a deal including a sabbatical option which the loose forward has no immediate plans to use.

New Zealand manager Darren Shand has announced a 26-man squad for the Tests against England and Ireland and the Tri-Nations series.

New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith has rubbished reports linking him with the Ireland vacancy.

AUSTRALIA and New Zealand believe Argentina deserve a place in the Tri-Nations but have warned that the South Americans must “get their house in order” first.

Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O’Neill believes an inter-hemisphere series has the “potential” to make autumn and summer fixtures more competitive and more meaningful.

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw expects to sign a new contract with the New Zealand and Canterbury unions before the end of the World Cup.