New Zealand

World Rugby has confirmed the qualification  model for Rugby World Cup 2023. The France-hosted tournament will be a 20-team competition, operating on the same model as that of Japan 2019. As was the case in RWC 2019, RWC 2023 has eight qualifying slots. The eight successful teams will join the …

Castres Olympique have publicly confirmed the signing of Tyler Ardron from the Chiefs. Canada’s Rugby World Cup 2019 captain will depart New Zealand at the completion of Super Rugby Aotearoa to join the French Top 14 club on a two-year contract. Ardron is now in his third season at the …

The damaging effects of COVID-19 have placed grave doubt on the ability for the 2020 Rugby Championship to be played. The tournament is scheduled to begin in August, though there is no hope of that possibility being realized. Measures from all four countries mean travel is complicated. Examples include a …

Not many pegged Old Glory DC as the best of the expansion sides heading into the season, and after their rude introduction to Major League Rugby even less would have expected them to be third overall and second in the East Conference when the season closed. It’s fair to say …

The pandemic pause button was hit just before the New England Free Jacks were set to host their first ever Major League Rugby match in Weymouth. Making it doubly untimely was that several of the team’s best players were just returning to the lineup from injury. The Boston faithful will …

A disappointing 2019 season saw the Raptors make significant changes in the off-season. Peter Borlase took over a new-look coaching staff and the team itself re-branded, shedding their Glendale label for the all-encompassing Colorado state moniker. Both seemed positive choices but they were only papering over seismic damage to the …

New Zealand Rugby (NZ Rugby) chairman Brent Impey has let World Rugby know clearly that he and his union are unhappy with the state of affairs, direction of rugby and the re-elected Chairman, Britain’s Sir Bill Beaumont. In a radio interview with Martin Devlin on Newstalk ZB, Impey made it clear that …

Rugby United New York are looking to sign legendary New Zealand fly half Dan Carter, reports Rugby Pass. The RWC 2011 and 2015 winner departed Japanese side Kobelco Steelers last week and is now a free agent. The 38-year-old could now join his opponent from the RWC 2015 final, Drew …

USA international Andrew Durutalo has been named to an All-Time Sunwolves XV selected by Super Rugby. The team was chosen using the same statistical model employed for the competition’s weekly XVs, and ranked the former Eagles back row as the best openside flanker for the Japanese franchise. Durutalo spent just …

The 2020 Major League Rugby season came to an abrupt end last week after just five rounds. Its cancellation meant that several players who were awaiting visa clearance made no appearances at all. Others were yet to return from preseason injuries. Below we identify a team full of players signed …