

They are not there yet, but the decision to hand Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua conditional licences to join Super Rugby from 2022 is the biggest step toward forging genuine Pacific pathways since the turn of professionalism -- Liam Napier writes.
World Rugby (WR) is set to spend 1.2 million pounds ($1.65 million) annually over three years on two Pacific Island teams to help them join Super Rugby in 2022, the sport's governing body said on Wednesday.
New Zealand Rugby's decision to delay a Pacific islands entry into Super Rugby Aotearoa next year was just the latest in a history of the Pasifika nations being "shafted", the head of the Pacific Rugby Players (PRP) union has said.
The Pacific Island Rugby Players Union has welcomed comments from World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont that it could offer funding to help a Pasifika team take part in a revamped Super Rugby competition from next year.
Tonga hooker Paula Ngauamo has been banned for seven weeks for kicking an opponent in the head during his team's 31-19 win over the United States.
Tonga gave captain Siale Piutau a parting gift of a first victory of the Rugby World Cup with a 31-19 win over the United States on Sunday that left the Eagles pointless at the end of their campaign.
Zimbabwe-born Wallabies star David Pocock has enjoyed the improved performances of some of rugby's Tier 2 nations at the World Cup and believes there may be some merit in further relaxing the eligibility laws to help continue that upward trajectory.
France withstood a furious Tonga fightback to grind into the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup on Sunday with a nerve-jangling 23-21 win.
Julian Montoya scored a hat-trick in the first 26 minutes as the Pumas got their World Cup campaign back on track with a 28-12 victory over Tonga on Saturday that snapped a 10-match losing streak.
A first-half double from Manu Tuilagi and a late bonus-point sealing try by substitute Luke Cowan-Dickie gave England the perfect start to their Rugby World Cup campaign.
As the eyes of the world prepare to turn their gaze on the Rugby World Cup, the game got an early reminder of the Pacific Island discussion that pops up all too regularly. It continues to be nothing but rhetoric, Craig Dowd writes.
Rookie winger George Bridge scored four tries as the All Blacks completed their Rugby World Cup preparations with a 92-7 thrashing of Tonga at Waikato Stadium on Saturday.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has made several changes to his Bledisloe Cup winning side for their final World Cup warm-up match against Tonga at Waikato Stadium on Saturday.
World Rugby has defended its decision to allow Saturday's Pacific Nations Cup match between Samoa and Tonga to go ahead in Apia, after several players took umbrage with the playing surface post-match.
Tonga has offered Wallabies exile Israel Folau a chance to return to international rugby.
The All Blacks will face Tonga in a home Test just two weeks before their bid to defend the Webb Ellis Cup begins next year.
Wing Liam Williams scored two tries on his 50th appearance for Wales to help secure an emphatic 74-24 victory over Tonga at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.
Can Scotland build on their home run against South Africa? And will England's second-string side impress against Japan? ESPN assesses the biggest talking points and players to watch.
Jonah Holmes will make his first Wales appearance on Saturday after Warren Gatland made 14 changes for the visit of Tonga.
Pool A | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
R | Team | GP | PD | P |
1 | Japan | 4 | +53 | 19 |
2 | Ireland | 4 | +94 | 16 |
3 | Scotland | 4 | +64 | 11 |
4 | Samoa | 4 | -70 | 5 |
5 | Russia | 4 | -141 | 0 |
Pool B | ||||
R | Team | GP | PD | P |
1 | New Zealand | 4 | +135 | 16 |
2 | South Africa | 4 | +149 | 15 |
3 | Italy | 4 | +20 | 12 |
4 | Namibia | 4 | -141 | 2 |
5 | Canada | 4 | -163 | 2 |
Pool C | ||||
R | Team | GP | PD | P |
1 | England | 4 | +99 | 17 |
2 | France | 4 | +28 | 15 |
3 | Argentina | 4 | +15 | 11 |
4 | Tonga | 4 | -38 | 6 |
5 | United States of America | 4 | -104 | 0 |
Pool D | ||||
R | Team | GP | PD | P |
1 | Wales | 4 | +67 | 19 |
2 | Australia | 4 | +68 | 16 |
3 | Fiji | 4 | +2 | 7 |
4 | Georgia | 4 | -57 | 5 |
5 | Uruguay | 4 | -80 | 4 |