(Other) Thursday 18 April 2013 The Philippines had plenty to celebrate in 2012 – can they spring a surprise in the Top 5 in 2013?
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(Other) Friday 21 December 2012 Jonah Lomu has scored more tries on the Rugby World Cup stage than any other player Since its inception back in 1987, Rugby World Cup matches have been hosted in eight countries (to become nine in 2019 when Japan host the showpiece tournament) and been contested by 25 teams. Here, to celebrate reaching the 1,000 days to go milestone on the road to England 2015, we delve further into the numbers behind the tournament – from tries scored, to goals dropped and matches won. Which teams and players have troubled the abacus more than any others? Been there, done that RWC 1987 and 2011 winners New Zealand and three-time runners-up France have both played a record 43 matches in the tournament’s history
(RUGBY WORLD CUP) Tuesday 27 November 2012 The moment Wales’ hopes of a first RWC Final were dealt a massive blow as captain Sam Warburton is sent off against France With less than a week to go until the Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool Allocation Draw takes place in London, we continue our series of articles looking at the record of each of the 12 directly qualified teams at previous tournaments with Wales. WALES ON THE RWC STAGE Wales’s adventurous approach has left an indelible mark on the history of the Rugby World Cup, with the wing play of first Ieuan Evans and then Shane Williams in particular providing many moments of magic. But it was a new-found resolve in defence that almost saw Wales to their first final at Rugby World Cup 2011
(RUGBY WORLD CUP) Sunday 25 November 2012 Francois Pienaar receives the Webb Ellis Cup from President Mandela in an iconic image in RWC history With just over a week to go until the Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool Allocation Draw takes place in London, we continue our series of articles looking at the record of each of the 12 directly qualified teams at previous tournaments with South Africa. SOUTH AFRICA ON THE RWC STAGE When South Africa won Rugby World Cup 1995 it was not only a victory for the Springboks but for the whole of the newly christened ‘Rainbow Nation’. Readmitted into the international sporting fold after decades of exile due to the oppressive apartheid regime, South Africa wasted no time in making their mark on rugby’s showpiece event
(RUGBY WORLD CUP) Monday 19 November 2012 Tonga’s finest hour in RWC history was their shock win over eventual finalists France in 2011 With only two weeks to go until the Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool Allocation Draw takes place in London, we begin a series of articles looking at the record of each of the 12 directly qualified teams at previous tournaments, starting with Tonga. TONGA ON THE RWC STAGE Tonga can legitimately lay claim to being the most improved team in recent Rugby World Cup history.
(Other) Thursday 15 November 2012 Matthew Vaea was a key figure in Samoa’s shock win over Wales In the second part of our series of retrospectives looking back at famous Rugby World Cup matches to correspond with the weekend’s action, we look back at Wales’ shock defeat to Western Samoa at Rugby World Cup 1991. There’s nothing quite like an upset to invigorate a tournament, and there haven’t been many bigger shocks than Western Samoa’s 16-13 win over Wales at Rugby World Cup 1991.
(RUGBY WORLD CUP) Monday 8 October 2012 Twickenham will host the RWC 2015 Final Final selection of up to 12 venues to be announced early next year Planning and preparation on schedule All stakeholders committed to delivering an exceptional even England Rugby 2015 (ER 2015), the tournament organiser for Rugby World Cup 2015, has today announced the long list of 17 potential match venues for consideration to host the 48 Rugby World Cup 2015 matches.
(Other) Friday 5 October 2012 RWC 2003 winner Lawrence Dallaglio will be present at another region’s first qualifier this weekend – Photo: Sébastien Pons / England Rugby 2015 Rugby World Cup 2015 will be an event that reaches beyond the borders of England, and its influence will be felt in Hungary this weekend when they face Bulgaria in the opening match of the European qualifying process.
(Other) Thursday 4 October 2012 Jonny Wilkinson at the grave of William Webb Ellis in Menton – Photo: Sébastien Pons / England Rugby 2015 As the man who kicked England to victory over Australia in the final of Rugby World Cup 2003, Jonny Wilkinson will always have a special place reserved in the history of the tournament.
(Other) Tuesday 2 October 2012 Olivier Magne and Will Greenwood with the Webb Ellis Cup in front of the Eiffel Tower – Photo: Sébastien Pons / England Rugby 2015 France has an affinity with Rugby World Cup. While the national side are yet to take the final step in lifting the Webb Ellis Cup, they have lit up the tournament throughout its history.