Crusaders beat Highlanders to clinch Super Rugby Aotearoa title

The return of recreational rugby in England has been given the go-ahead by the government after it approved the Rugby Football Union's (RFU) action plan for phased resumption.

The Brumbies beat the Queensland Reds 22-20 in Canberra to extend their lead at the top of the Super Rugby Australia to seven points.  The Brumbies led 14-3 at half-time.

The Canterbury Crusaders bounced back from their first loss of the competition and put one hand on the Super Rugby Aotearoa trophy on Saturday with a 32-19 victory over the Waikato Chiefs in Hamilton.

England hooker Jamie George has signed a new three-year contract at Saracens, the Premiership club have said.

Former Wallabies flanker Sean McMahon is to rejoin the Australia sevens set-up after a gap of five years in a bid to make the squad for next year's Tokyo Olympics, Rugby Australia said on Monday.

The World Champion Springboks have arrived at the Moses Mabhida Stadium after a procession from Umhlanga to Durban.

Springbok coach, Rassie Erasmus, says he hopes the team's world cup success has a permanent positive effect on South Africa.

With less than 24 hours until the Springboks take on England in the Rugby World Cup final, thousands of South Africans living in London are gearing up to get out and support the Bokke across the city.

Matching South Africa's physicality has been the byword for the week among the England squad, but flanker Sam Underhill says they will have to pick their moments to engage to prevent the World Cup final turning into a war of attrition.

After suffering their third Rugby World Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of South Africa on Sunday, Welsh rugby is having to come to terms with another disappointment.

Returning to Australia on Tuesday  after a quarter-final loss to England in the Rugby World Cup, both Michael Hooper and David Pocock expressed disappointment over the campaign.

South Africa have booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan with a 66-7 bonus point win over Canada in their final pool match in Kobe.

While praising captain Vasily Artemyev as a great ambassador for Russian rugby after their brave defeat to Ireland on Thursday, Coach Lyn Jones could not resist a quip about the fullback's most prominent physical feature.

Phil Davies hailed the courage of his Namibia side in the wake of their 57-3 Rugby World Cup Pool B loss to South Africa on Saturday as he steadies for an even bigger challenge against New Zealand on Oct. 6.

Ireland can effectively give themselves three weeks to prepare for a likely Rugby World Cup quarter-final against South Africa with a win over Japan on Saturday.

 Tonga have lost the services of fly half Kurt Morath and centre Nafi Tuitavake for the remainder of the Rugby World Cup after they were injured in their opening 35-3 Pool C defeat to England on Sunday.

Twice champions Australia were forced to abandon a wide game plan and resort to controlled possession as they survived an almighty scare in their World Cup Pool D opener against Fiji.

For the majority of this Springbok squad playing in the green and gold, in a World Cup facing off against the mighty All Blacks in the opening fixture, is a dream come true.

Liam Williams has been preferred to Leigh Halfpenny at fullback as Wales named a full-strength team for their Rugby World Cup Pool D opener against Georgia at the City of Toyota Stadium on Monday.

World Cup fever is in the air in Port Elizabeth as South Africa is set to clash with defending champions New Zealand, in their opening game in Japan for the 2019 Rugby World Cup on Saturday.

Rugby World Cup favourites New Zealand had their first training run in Japan on Tuesday with the players quickly having to adjust from the winter temperatures of back home to the sweltering heat of their Kashiwa base.

Siya Kolisi returns to captain the Springbok side that will play Japan in the final warm-up ahead of the World Cup on Friday.

Flyhalf Elton Jantjies praised the plans of Coach Rassie Erasmus and said South Africa have developed the right systems to be successful at the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Duane Vermeulen was nowhere near South Africa's surprise victory against New Zealand in Wellington last year, sitting in Japan and watching the test on television.

Friends and family have gathered at the Wanderers in Johannesburg for the funeral of late Springbok player, James Small.

Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU) president Andre Rademan is calling for calm following Deputy President Bantwini Matika's comments.

Lions hooker Malcolm Marx has extended his contract with the Johannesburg-based team until 2021.

Sacked Wallabies star Israel Folau said, "No Australian of any faith should be fired for practising their religion."

Magnificent defending for long periods and opportunism on the rare occasions they attacked earned the Brumbies a 19-17 Super Rugby victory over the Stormers in Cape Town on  Saturday.

The Eastern Cape Mighty Elephants rugby team has a new coach for the Supersport Challenge and Currie Cup competition. Southern Kings assistant coach, Chumani Booi, will take the reins.