{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1.1", "user_comment": "This feed allows you to read the posts from this site in any feed reader that supports the JSON Feed format. To add this feed to your reader, copy the following URL -- https://www.asiarugby.com/tag/rugby-world-cup/feed/json/ -- and add it your reader.", "next_url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/tag/rugby-world-cup/feed/json/?paged=2", "home_page_url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/tag/rugby-world-cup/", "feed_url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/tag/rugby-world-cup/feed/json/", "language": "en-US", "title": "Rugby World Cup Archives - Asia Rugby", "description": "Regional Association of the Governing Body for the Global Game", "items": [ { "id": "https://www.asiarugby.com/?p=9247", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/2023/01/24/france-2023-family-united-to-deliver-best-ever-rugby-world-cup-in-landmark-year-for-the-sport/", "title": "France 2023 family united to deliver best-ever Rugby World Cup in landmark year for the sport", "content_html": "

The family behind the delivery of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France have underscored their commitment to delivering one of the great sports events as they gathered for a special celebration in Paris.

\n\n

The family behind the delivery of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France have underscored their commitment to delivering one of the great sports events as they gathered for a special celebration in Paris.

\n

Leading figures from the French Sports Ministry, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and the French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF) presented their wishes alongside World Rugby and France 2023 representatives, reaffirming the collective mission to deliver a transformative and engaging Rugby World Cup that will deliver multiple significant benefits for Rugby and France.

\n

Productive and positive meetings took place between the France 2023 Organising Committee and World Rugby to review the progress to date and plan the final push as the tournament enters its operational delivery phase. An updated project roadmap and budget will be presented to the France 2023 board on 2 February to consolidate the good progress and set this year\u2019s priorities with the event expected to leave a tangible legacy benefiting the French grassroot rugby. Rugby World Cup 2023 will kick-off on 8 September with a blockbuster at Stade de France (Saint-Denis) when hosts France will face New Zealand in front of a sold-out crowd.

\n

FRANCE READY TO WELCOME THE WORLD

\n

Across 48 matches, 51 days and nine host cities, fans will be able to experience the best of France and its lifestyle. Organisers and host cities are working together to implement Rugby Villages in the heart of host cities where the local public and international visitors can gather to share their passion for rugby and enjoy activities and products linked to France and the tournament. In a video published today, France 2023 is inviting rugby fans to get ready for an exceptional event and moments of celebrations together with more than 600,000 international visitors expected during the tournament.

\n

Following unprecedented demand for tickets and with more than two million tickets already sold, the Organising Committee will launch the\u00a0official resale platform\u00a0on Tuesday, 24 January at 18:00 CET. The website is the only official and secured way for fans to resell tickets bought during the previous sale phases. Tickets sold on other websites won\u2019t guarantee access to the Rugby World Cup 2023 venues.

\n

Avoid disappointment, buy official >>

\n

World Rugby Chairman\u00a0Sir Bill Beaumont\u00a0said: \u201cThe waiting is almost over! Rugby World Cup 2023 will be the main event in rugby\u2019s 200th\u00a0birthday celebrations and as we begin the year of the tournament, the spirit of unity across all stakeholders is strong. We can say with great confidence that France is ready. Ready to welcome the world\u2019s best players for an unforgettable celebration of rugby and French culture. Ready also to deliver a tournament that will forever be remembered as innovative, sustainable, and transformative; a tournament that brought people together.\u201d

\n

\u201cOur partners, the public authorities, the FFR, France 2023 and Rugby World Cup\u2019s staff were united in Paris earlier this month around one common objective: delivering a fantastic and responsible event, one that France can be proud of. In addition to incredible rugby action and lifelong memories, Rugby World Cup 2023 will be a celebration of our togetherness and will leave a legacy that will live long after the champions are crowned.\u201d

\n

France 2023 Chairman\u00a0Jacques Rivoal\u00a0added: \u201cHere we are! The closing moments of a match whose outcome is eagerly awaited by all: the delivery of Rugby World Cup 2023\u2019s 48 matches, the hosting of 20 qualified nations, the guaranteed emotions everywhere in France and abroad. With millions of rugby fans from around the world, we will make this Rugby World Cup 2023 a moment of togetherness and celebration.

\n

\u201cI would like to thank all those who, collectively, will bring this unique event to the highest standards: our founding members (FFR, French State, CNOSF), World Rugby, our economic and institutional partners, and the employees of the France 2023 Organising Committee.\u201d

\n

The French Minister of Sports, Olympic and Paralympic Games\u00a0Am\u00e9lie Oud\u00e9a-Cast\u00e9ra\u00a0said: \u201cIn 2023, it is in France that rugby fans from all over the world will meet. We will be up to the challenge of this extraordinary event and are working tirelessly to ensure that it is successfully organised in every respect. Our ambition is to enable all fans to experience a unique moment of fervour and popular celebration, to ensure that this Rugby World Cup leaves a legacy for the development of rugby in our country, and to make 2023 a great year for the global rugby family.\u201d

\n

Watch \u201cLet\u2019s Celebrate Togetherness\u201d video >>

\n

Rugby World Cup 2023 – Let’s Celebrate Togetherness

\n

Rugby World Cup 2023 will be a moment of celebration and togetherness. The world will be united from 8 September to 28 October, 2023 to share an unforgettable experience: the celebration of rugby and its values, the best of France and its lifestyle, the celebration of France 2023\u2019s commitment to have a positive impact and, overall, a nationwide festival for fans in France and abroad who will come together for 51 days and 48 matches, making this tournament a truly special one.

\n

The post France 2023 family united to deliver best-ever Rugby World Cup in landmark year for the sport appeared first on Asia Rugby.

\n", "content_text": "The family behind the delivery of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France have underscored their commitment to delivering one of the great sports events as they gathered for a special celebration in Paris.\n\nRugby World Cup year kicked off with an event bringing together all of France 2023 stakeholders in Paris\nFrench Minister of Sports, Olympic and Paralympic Games Am\u00e9lie Oud\u00e9a-Cast\u00e9ra announce “We will be up to the challenge of this extraordinary event”\nRugby World Cup 2023 will \u201cCelebrate Togetherness\u201d and rugby\u2019s unique ability to unite people\nPositive and productive meetings took place as the tournament is on track for its delivery\nFrance is preparing to welcome international fans with \u201cRugby Villages\u201d in host cities\nOfficial RWC 2023 ticketing resale platform will launch on 24 January at 18:00 CET\n\nThe family behind the delivery of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France have underscored their commitment to delivering one of the great sports events as they gathered for a special celebration in Paris.\nLeading figures from the French Sports Ministry, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and the French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF) presented their wishes alongside World Rugby and France 2023 representatives, reaffirming the collective mission to deliver a transformative and engaging Rugby World Cup that will deliver multiple significant benefits for Rugby and France.\nProductive and positive meetings took place between the France 2023 Organising Committee and World Rugby to review the progress to date and plan the final push as the tournament enters its operational delivery phase. An updated project roadmap and budget will be presented to the France 2023 board on 2 February to consolidate the good progress and set this year\u2019s priorities with the event expected to leave a tangible legacy benefiting the French grassroot rugby. Rugby World Cup 2023 will kick-off on 8 September with a blockbuster at Stade de France (Saint-Denis) when hosts France will face New Zealand in front of a sold-out crowd.\nFRANCE READY TO WELCOME THE WORLD\nAcross 48 matches, 51 days and nine host cities, fans will be able to experience the best of France and its lifestyle. Organisers and host cities are working together to implement Rugby Villages in the heart of host cities where the local public and international visitors can gather to share their passion for rugby and enjoy activities and products linked to France and the tournament. In a video published today, France 2023 is inviting rugby fans to get ready for an exceptional event and moments of celebrations together with more than 600,000 international visitors expected during the tournament.\nFollowing unprecedented demand for tickets and with more than two million tickets already sold, the Organising Committee will launch the\u00a0official resale platform\u00a0on Tuesday, 24 January at 18:00 CET. The website is the only official and secured way for fans to resell tickets bought during the previous sale phases. Tickets sold on other websites won\u2019t guarantee access to the Rugby World Cup 2023 venues.\nAvoid disappointment, buy official >>\nWorld Rugby Chairman\u00a0Sir Bill Beaumont\u00a0said: \u201cThe waiting is almost over! Rugby World Cup 2023 will be the main event in rugby\u2019s 200th\u00a0birthday celebrations and as we begin the year of the tournament, the spirit of unity across all stakeholders is strong. We can say with great confidence that France is ready. Ready to welcome the world\u2019s best players for an unforgettable celebration of rugby and French culture. Ready also to deliver a tournament that will forever be remembered as innovative, sustainable, and transformative; a tournament that brought people together.\u201d\n\u201cOur partners, the public authorities, the FFR, France 2023 and Rugby World Cup\u2019s staff were united in Paris earlier this month around one common objective: delivering a fantastic and responsible event, one that France can be proud of. In addition to incredible rugby action and lifelong memories, Rugby World Cup 2023 will be a celebration of our togetherness and will leave a legacy that will live long after the champions are crowned.\u201d\nFrance 2023 Chairman\u00a0Jacques Rivoal\u00a0added: \u201cHere we are! The closing moments of a match whose outcome is eagerly awaited by all: the delivery of Rugby World Cup 2023\u2019s 48 matches, the hosting of 20 qualified nations, the guaranteed emotions everywhere in France and abroad. With millions of rugby fans from around the world, we will make this Rugby World Cup 2023 a moment of togetherness and celebration.\n\u201cI would like to thank all those who, collectively, will bring this unique event to the highest standards: our founding members (FFR, French State, CNOSF), World Rugby, our economic and institutional partners, and the employees of the France 2023 Organising Committee.\u201d\nThe French Minister of Sports, Olympic and Paralympic Games\u00a0Am\u00e9lie Oud\u00e9a-Cast\u00e9ra\u00a0said: \u201cIn 2023, it is in France that rugby fans from all over the world will meet. We will be up to the challenge of this extraordinary event and are working tirelessly to ensure that it is successfully organised in every respect. Our ambition is to enable all fans to experience a unique moment of fervour and popular celebration, to ensure that this Rugby World Cup leaves a legacy for the development of rugby in our country, and to make 2023 a great year for the global rugby family.\u201d\nWatch \u201cLet\u2019s Celebrate Togetherness\u201d video >>\nRugby World Cup 2023 – Let’s Celebrate Togetherness\nRugby World Cup 2023 will be a moment of celebration and togetherness. The world will be united from 8 September to 28 October, 2023 to share an unforgettable experience: the celebration of rugby and its values, the best of France and its lifestyle, the celebration of France 2023\u2019s commitment to have a positive impact and, overall, a nationwide festival for fans in France and abroad who will come together for 51 days and 48 matches, making this tournament a truly special one.\nThe post France 2023 family united to deliver best-ever Rugby World Cup in landmark year for the sport appeared first on Asia Rugby.", "date_published": "2023-01-24T22:40:08+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-01-24T22:40:08+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Asia Rugby", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Asia Rugby", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.asiarugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/France-2023.jpg", "tags": [ "France 2023", "Rugby World Cup 2023", "CNOSF", "FFR", "Rugby World Cup", "Featured", "News" ] }, { "id": "https://www.asiarugby.com/?p=9095", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/2022/11/09/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-rugby-world-cup-2023-final-qualification-tournament/", "title": "Everything you need to know about the Rugby World Cup 2023 Final Qualification Tournament", "content_html": "

We give you the lowdown on the tournament that will decide the 20th and final team to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2023.
\n

\n

The\u00a0Rugby World Cup 2023 Final Qualification Tournament\u00a0got underway in Dubai last weekend, where USA and Portugal each got off to a winning start.

\n

In the opening match at The Sevens Stadium on Sunday, the Eagles ran in 10 tries to beat Kenya and kick-off their bid for the 20th and final ticket to\u00a0RWC 2023\u00a0in style.

\n

Portugal followed that up with a similarly convincing defeat of Hong Kong, which was good enough to take them above USA in the\u00a0World Rugby Men\u2019s Rankings powered by Capgemini\u00a0but not the Final Qualification Tournament standings.

\n

The Eagles lead the way on points difference from Os Lobos ahead of the second round of action, which will get underway at 16:00 local time (GMT+4) on Saturday, 12 November.

\n

With so much still at stake, we give you the lowdown on the tournament, and where the winner will line up in France next year.

\n

What is the RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament?

\n

The RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament is a four-team round robin tournament that will be played between 6-18 November.

\n

Whoever finishes top of the standings following the final round of matches will secure the final ticket to Rugby World Cup 2023.

\n

Who will compete in the tournament?

\n

The four teams that will compete in the RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament are Hong Kong, Kenya, Portugal and the USA.

\n

Portugal were the first team to secure their place in the tournament, as they qualified as the third-highest ranked team from the last two editions of the Rugby Europe Championship.

\n

Os Lobos were subsequently joined by Kenya, who qualified as Rugby Africa Cup 2022 runners-up, the USA, who lost the Americas 2 play-off, and Hong Kong, who were defeated in the Asia/Pacific 1 play-off.

\n

What has happened so far?

\n

Round one

\n

The Final Qualification Tournament got underway with a comfortable victory for USA as Dylan Fawsitt and Christian Dyer each scored a hat-trick of tries in the Eagles\u2019 bonus-point 68-14 win against Kenya.

\n

Following a scoreless opening 20 minutes, USA broke the deadlock while Geoffrey Okwach was in the sin-bin, as Fawsitt crossed for his first try. He soon got a second and Jamason Fa\u2019anana-Schultz added a third for the Eagles on the stroke of half-time.

\n

Fawsitt completed his hat-trick early in the second half before Dyer and Nate Augspurger crossed the whitewash either side of a converted Brian Juma try for Kenya.

\n

Dyer then notched two tries inside three minutes to complete his own hat-trick shortly after the hour mark, while Mike Sosene Feagai and Mitch Wilson also got on the scoresheet for USA.

\n

It was Kenya who had final say, however, as Joshua Weru touched down for the Simbas\u2019 second try of the match, converted by Darwin Mukidza.

\n

Portugal ensured they kept pace with USA at the top of the standings after coming from behind to beat Hong Kong 42-14 at The Sevens Stadium.

\n

Alexander Post gave Hong Kong a seventh-minute lead in Dubai, coming up with the ball following a strong forward drive over the line.

\n

However, Portugal responded with three converted tries before half-time as Jos\u00e8 Madeira, Raffaele Storti and Miguel Morais all crossed the whitewash.

\n

Despite having Jo\u0101o Granate in the sin-bin, Portugal added a fourth try in the third minute of the second half, through Rodrigo Marta, to wrap up a try-scoring bonus point.

\n

Further well-worked scores followed from Storti and Jos\u00e9 Lima before Jack Neville\u2019s try for Hong Kong on the hour mark brought an end to the scoring.

\n

Replacement Portugal second-row Duarte Torgal was shown a yellow card late on but it had little impact on the result.

\n

When will rounds two and three be played?

\n

The second round of matches will be played at The Sevens Stadium on Saturday, 13 November.

\n

Portugal and Kenya will get the action underway when they meet at 16:00 local time (GMT+4). Hong Kong will then take on USA at 18:30 local time.

\n

Match day three will take place at The Sevens Stadium on 18 November, with the opening match between Hong Kong and Kenya at 17:00 local time (GMT+4).

\n

The RWC Final Qualification Tournament will draw to a close with the match between the USA and Portugal, which will kick off at 19:30 local time.

\n

Can I buy tickets?

\n

Entry to all six matches at The Sevens Stadium will be free to the public wishing to attend.

\n

Fans interested in travelling to the Final Qualification Tournament and looking to purchase spectator packages can get in touch with local tour operators at\u00a0sports@dnata.com\u00a0(+971 (0)4 389 8389) or contact\u00a0sports.events@thesevens.ae\u00a0for match day and venue information.

\n

Where can I watch the action elsewhere?

\n

The Final Qualification Tournament will be broadcast by The Rugby Network in the USA and Canada, on Sport TV in Portugal and SuperSport in Sub-Saharan Africa.

\n

Fans who want to tune in but do not live in those countries or regions can stream the matches live via\u00a0RugbyWorldCup.com/2023.

\n

Which RWC 2023 pool will the Final Qualification Tournament winner compete in?

\n

The team that finishes top of the RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament will take their place in Pool C in France next year.

\n

Awaiting the Final Qualification Tournament winner at RWC 2023 are Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia, who have all been drawn in Pool C.

\n

When and where will they play at RWC 2023?

\n

Whoever wins the tournament in Dubai will open their RWC 2023 campaign against Wales in Nice on 16 September, 2023, with kick-off scheduled for 17:45 local time (GMT+2).

\n

Their next match will be seven days later, against Georgia at Stadium de Toulouse (kick-off 14:00 local time) before they play Australia at Stade Geoffroy Guichard in Saint-\u00c9tienne on 1 October (kick-off 17:45 local time).

\n

The Final Qualification Tournament winner will return to Toulouse on 8 October as they complete their pool phase campaign by taking on Fiji at 21:00 local time (GMT+2).

\n

The post Everything you need to know about the Rugby World Cup 2023 Final Qualification Tournament appeared first on Asia Rugby.

\n", "content_text": "We give you the lowdown on the tournament that will decide the 20th and final team to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2023.\n\nThe\u00a0Rugby World Cup 2023 Final Qualification Tournament\u00a0got underway in Dubai last weekend, where USA and Portugal each got off to a winning start.\nIn the opening match at The Sevens Stadium on Sunday, the Eagles ran in 10 tries to beat Kenya and kick-off their bid for the 20th and final ticket to\u00a0RWC 2023\u00a0in style.\nPortugal followed that up with a similarly convincing defeat of Hong Kong, which was good enough to take them above USA in the\u00a0World Rugby Men\u2019s Rankings powered by Capgemini\u00a0but not the Final Qualification Tournament standings.\nThe Eagles lead the way on points difference from Os Lobos ahead of the second round of action, which will get underway at 16:00 local time (GMT+4) on Saturday, 12 November.\nWith so much still at stake, we give you the lowdown on the tournament, and where the winner will line up in France next year.\nWhat is the RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament?\nThe RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament is a four-team round robin tournament that will be played between 6-18 November.\nWhoever finishes top of the standings following the final round of matches will secure the final ticket to Rugby World Cup 2023.\nWho will compete in the tournament?\nThe four teams that will compete in the RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament are Hong Kong, Kenya, Portugal and the USA.\nPortugal were the first team to secure their place in the tournament, as they qualified as the third-highest ranked team from the last two editions of the Rugby Europe Championship.\nOs Lobos were subsequently joined by Kenya, who qualified as Rugby Africa Cup 2022 runners-up, the USA, who lost the Americas 2 play-off, and Hong Kong, who were defeated in the Asia/Pacific 1 play-off.\nWhat has happened so far?\nRound one\nThe Final Qualification Tournament got underway with a comfortable victory for USA as Dylan Fawsitt and Christian Dyer each scored a hat-trick of tries in the Eagles\u2019 bonus-point 68-14 win against Kenya.\nFollowing a scoreless opening 20 minutes, USA broke the deadlock while Geoffrey Okwach was in the sin-bin, as Fawsitt crossed for his first try. He soon got a second and Jamason Fa\u2019anana-Schultz added a third for the Eagles on the stroke of half-time.\nFawsitt completed his hat-trick early in the second half before Dyer and Nate Augspurger crossed the whitewash either side of a converted Brian Juma try for Kenya.\nDyer then notched two tries inside three minutes to complete his own hat-trick shortly after the hour mark, while Mike Sosene Feagai and Mitch Wilson also got on the scoresheet for USA.\nIt was Kenya who had final say, however, as Joshua Weru touched down for the Simbas\u2019 second try of the match, converted by Darwin Mukidza.\nPortugal ensured they kept pace with USA at the top of the standings after coming from behind to beat Hong Kong 42-14 at The Sevens Stadium.\nAlexander Post gave Hong Kong a seventh-minute lead in Dubai, coming up with the ball following a strong forward drive over the line.\nHowever, Portugal responded with three converted tries before half-time as Jos\u00e8 Madeira, Raffaele Storti and Miguel Morais all crossed the whitewash.\nDespite having Jo\u0101o Granate in the sin-bin, Portugal added a fourth try in the third minute of the second half, through Rodrigo Marta, to wrap up a try-scoring bonus point.\nFurther well-worked scores followed from Storti and Jos\u00e9 Lima before Jack Neville\u2019s try for Hong Kong on the hour mark brought an end to the scoring.\nReplacement Portugal second-row Duarte Torgal was shown a yellow card late on but it had little impact on the result.\nWhen will rounds two and three be played?\nThe second round of matches will be played at The Sevens Stadium on Saturday, 13 November.\nPortugal and Kenya will get the action underway when they meet at 16:00 local time (GMT+4). Hong Kong will then take on USA at 18:30 local time.\nMatch day three will take place at The Sevens Stadium on 18 November, with the opening match between Hong Kong and Kenya at 17:00 local time (GMT+4).\nThe RWC Final Qualification Tournament will draw to a close with the match between the USA and Portugal, which will kick off at 19:30 local time.\nCan I buy tickets?\nEntry to all six matches at The Sevens Stadium will be free to the public wishing to attend.\nFans interested in travelling to the Final Qualification Tournament and looking to purchase spectator packages can get in touch with local tour operators at\u00a0sports@dnata.com\u00a0(+971 (0)4 389 8389) or contact\u00a0sports.events@thesevens.ae\u00a0for match day and venue information.\nWhere can I watch the action elsewhere?\nThe Final Qualification Tournament will be broadcast by The Rugby Network in the USA and Canada, on Sport TV in Portugal and SuperSport in Sub-Saharan Africa.\nFans who want to tune in but do not live in those countries or regions can stream the matches live via\u00a0RugbyWorldCup.com/2023.\nWhich RWC 2023 pool will the Final Qualification Tournament winner compete in?\nThe team that finishes top of the RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament will take their place in Pool C in France next year.\nAwaiting the Final Qualification Tournament winner at RWC 2023 are Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia, who have all been drawn in Pool C.\nWhen and where will they play at RWC 2023?\nWhoever wins the tournament in Dubai will open their RWC 2023 campaign against Wales in Nice on 16 September, 2023, with kick-off scheduled for 17:45 local time (GMT+2).\nTheir next match will be seven days later, against Georgia at Stadium de Toulouse (kick-off 14:00 local time) before they play Australia at Stade Geoffroy Guichard in Saint-\u00c9tienne on 1 October (kick-off 17:45 local time).\nThe Final Qualification Tournament winner will return to Toulouse on 8 October as they complete their pool phase campaign by taking on Fiji at 21:00 local time (GMT+2).\nThe post Everything you need to know about the Rugby World Cup 2023 Final Qualification Tournament appeared first on Asia Rugby.", "date_published": "2022-11-09T17:45:50+08:00", "date_modified": "2022-11-09T17:45:50+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Asia Rugby", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Asia Rugby", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.asiarugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/HK.jpeg", "tags": [ "Rugby World Cup", "Rugby World Cup 2023", "Portugal Rugby", "USA Rugby", "Featured", "News" ] }, { "id": "https://www.asiarugby.com/?p=9093", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/2022/11/09/everything-you-need-to-know-about-rugby-world-cup-2021/", "title": "Everything You Need To Know About Rugby World Cup 2021", "content_html": "

Hosts New Zealand will take on England in the\u00a0Rugby World Cup 2021\u00a0final after the top two teams in the\u00a0World Rugby Women\u2019s Rankings powered by Capgemini\u00a0emerged from a captivating day of semi-final action.

\n

England were made to work incredibly hard to get past Canada at Eden Park and reach a sixth successive Rugby World Cup final.

\n

The Black Ferns stand between the Red Roses and a third title, their win over France being confirmed only when Les Bleues fly-half Caroline Drouin missed a last-minute penalty.

\n

Eden Park is expected to be packed\u00a0once again on Saturday as RWC 2021 comes to an end with the bronze final and final. It promises to be another wonderful day of rugby.

\n

WHAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR?

\n

ROUND ONE

\n

RWC 2021 got underway at Eden Park on Saturday as France ran out 40-5 winners against South Africa in Pool C.

\n

Laure Sansus scored two tries for Les Bleues, while Gabrielle Vernier, Emilie Boulard, Caroline Drouin and debutant Joanna Grisez each crossed the whitewash. Nomawethu Mabenge scored the Springbok Women\u2019s only try.

\n

England ran in 14 tries to beat Fiji 84-19 in Saturday\u2019s second match. Claudia Macdonald crossed the whitewash four times, while Amy Cokayne (twice), Abbie Ward, Helena Rowland, Zoe Aldcroft, Lydia Thompson (twice), Abby Dow, Leanne Infante and Connie Powell also scored.

\n

Fiji, who only trailed 24-14 at half-time, scored three tries, through Alowesi Nakoci, Sesenieli Donu and Lavena Cavuru.

\n

In the final match of day one, the Black Ferns recovered from going 17-0 down to beat the Wallaroos 41-17.

\n

Tries from Bienne Terita (two) and Ivania Wong gave Australia a three-score lead after 28 minutes, but the hosts hit back before half-time through Joanah Ngan-Woo and Portia Woodman.

\n

Woodman completed her hat-trick in the second half, while Awhina Tangen-Wainohu and Ruby Tui (twice) also scored.

\n

On Sunday, the action switched to the Northland Events Centre in Whang\u0101rei, where Italy ran in four tries to beat the USA 22-10 in Pool.

\n

The USA took the lead through Hallie Taufoou but went into half-time 7-5 behind following Vittoria Minuzzi\u2019s converted try. Aura Muzzo and Jenny Kronish then traded efforts, before tries from Muzzo and Maria Magatti in the final quarter confirmed a bonus-point win for the Azzurre.

\n

Canada lead the way in Pool B on points difference from Italy, after an Emily Tuttosi hat-trick helped them to a 41-5 win against Japan in Whang\u0101rei.

\n

Paige Farries, Brianna Miller (twice) and Mikiela Nelson also crossed for the Canadians, while Japan\u2019s sole riposte came in the sixth minute through Maki Takano.

\n

The opening weekend of RWC 2021 drew to a close in dramatic fashion as Keira Bevan\u2019s 86th-minute penalty gave Wales an 18-15 victory against Scotland in Pool A.

\n

When Megan Gaffney crossed for her second, and Scotland\u2019s third try of the match with less than two minutes remaining, the scores were tied at 15-15.

\n

However, there was still time for the 14 players of Wales to march downfield and win the penalty that Bevan so calmly stroked through the posts.

\n

ROUND TWO

\n

Scotland suffered a second narrow defeat in succession as Australia kicked-off round two with a\u00a014-12\u00a0win in Whang\u0101rei.

\n

The Wallaroos found themselves 12-0 down at half-time at the Northland Events Centre as Lana Skeldon\u2019s ninth-minute score was supplemented by a penalty try.

\n

However, Australia ran in two tries of their own in the second half, through Bienne Terita and Ashley Marsters, which crucially were both converted by Lori Cramer.

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Marsters and fellow hooker Adiana Talakai were both sent off late on but the Wallaroos held on for a victory that moved them up to second in Pool A.

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Next up in Whang\u0101rei, the USA ran in four second half tries to secure a bonus-point\u00a030-17\u00a0win against Japan and kickstart their own RWC 2021 campaign.

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Japan led 5-3 at half-time thanks to Megumi Abe\u2019s early try and took a 10-8 lead early in the second half as Joanna Kitlinski and Hinano Nagura traded tries.

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Alev Kelter, Elizabeth Cairns and Jennine Detiveaux each crossed the whitewash in a 15-minute period for the Women\u2019s Eagles, however, to seal the bonus point and render Komachi Imakugi\u2019s late try no more than consolation for the Sakura 15s.

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Matchday three came to a close with a hard-fought\u00a013-7\u00a0victory for England against France, which secured the Red Roses\u2019 place in the quarter-finals.

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Les Bleues lost Laure Sansus and Romane M\u00e9nager to injury in a gripping first half in which the Red Roses built a 10-0 lead thanks to Emily Scarratt\u2019s 24th-minute try, which she converted, and a penalty.

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Scarratt added her second penalty midway through the second half to give England a 13-0 lead. France responded soon after as Ga\u00eblle Hermet dotted down but were unable to breach the Red Roses defence again.

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On Sunday, Canada recovered from conceding in the opening minute to secure a bonus-point\u00a022-12\u00a0defeat of Italy and their place in the quarter-finals.

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Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi scored a stunning solo try with less than 60 seconds on the clock but Canada led at half-time thanks to tries from Paige Farries and Emily Tuttosi.

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Sara Kaljuvee and Tuttosi added further scores after the break before Elisa Giordano gave the Azzurre something to cheer with a try in the final two minutes.

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There was much to celebrate for the majority of the sold-out Waitakere Stadium as hosts New Zealand ran in 10 tries to beat Wales\u00a056-12\u00a0in Auckland.

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Chelsea Bremner, Portia Woodman (two), Sylvia Brunt (two), Maia Roos, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Krystal Murray, Mastercard Player of the Match Ruahei Demant and Ruby Tui each crossed the whitewash for the Black Ferns.

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Wales\u2019 replies came from Ffion Lewis on the stroke of half-time and Sioned Harries.

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History was made in the final match of round two as Fiji secured a first-ever Rugby World Cup win, securing a nail-biting\u00a021-17\u00a0defeat of South Africa at Waitakere Stadium.

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Fijiana led 14-7 at half-time as Ilisapeci Delaiwau and Akanisi Sokoiwasa scored either side of Zintle Mpupha\u2019s try for the Springbok Women.

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South Africa levelled the score when Aseza Hele touched down and then took the lead when Libbie Janse van Rensburg landed a penalty with less than two minutes to go. However, there was still time for Fiji to break upfield and score the match-winning try through Karalaini Naisewa.

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ROUND THREE

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Lori Cramer penalties at the end of each half edged Australia to a\u00a013-7\u00a0win against Wales that sent them through to the quarter-finals as Pool A runners-up on Saturday.

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In the fifth minute, Wallaroos scrum-half Iliseva Batibasaga scored the opening try of the match following a brilliant piece of opportunism, which Cramer converted.

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Sioned Harries burrowed over around 18 minutes later to help level the score before Cramer nudged the Wallaroos back in front with her first penalty on the stroke of half-time. It remained 10-7 until the closing stages when the Australia full-back added a second three-pointer to make sure of victory.

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The Black Ferns secured the bonus-point win they needed, beating Scotland\u00a057-0\u00a0in front of more than 16,000 fans to seal top seeding for the quarter-finals.

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Coach Wayne Smith rang the changes for the final pool match but the hosts struck within two minutes through Renee Holmes and scored seven tries in a dominant first-half display.

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Scotland dug deep after the break to stem the tide, but conceded a further two tries, to Maia Roos and a second for Holmes, who ended the match with 22 points having converted six of her side\u2019s nine tries.

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France also got the bonus-point victory they craved against Fiji, beating the Rugby World Cup debutants\u00a044-0\u00a0in the final match at Northland Events Centre.

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Marine M\u00e9nager, Melissande Llorens and Ma\u00eblle Filopon each touched down in the first half as Les Bleues attempted to ensure they would finish the pool phase no lower than second in Pool C and fourth seed.

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The all-important fourth try came midway through the second half, through Filopon and there was time for Emiline Gros, Emilie Boulard and C\u00e9lia Domain to cross the whitewash before the end.

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On Sunday, Italy were made to work hard by Japan to secure the\u00a021-8\u00a0victory that ultimately took them through to the quarter-finals as Pool B runners-up.

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Maria Magatti scored the opening try of the match within nine minutes, but Japan replied on the half-hour mark through Kyoko Hosokawa.

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The score was tied at 8-8 early in the second half after Michela Sillari \u2013 who became Italy\u2019s top-scoring woman at Rugby World Cup \u2013 and Ayasa Otsuka traded penalties. But Sillari kicked two more three pointers and then converted Melissa Bettoni\u2019s late try to wrap up the win.

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Canada made sure of top spot in Pool B and second seed for the quarter-finals as they ran in five tries to beat the USA\u00a029-14.

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Tries from Emily Tuttosi, Alex Tessier and Paige Farries gave Canada a 19-7 half-time lead, the USA\u2019s reply coming from Alev Kelter.

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The USA had a try disallowed early in the second half and conceded for a fourth time soon afterwards as Olivia DeMerchant went over. Kate Zackary did grab a second for the Women\u2019s Eagles before the end, but Canada prop Mikiela Nelson rounded off the scoring in the final play.

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In the final match of the pool phase, England ran in 13 tries to beat South Africa\u00a075-0\u00a0and claim top spot in Pool C.

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Rosie Galligan and Connie Powell both scored a hat-trick of tries at Waitakere Stadium, while Poppy Cleall and Sadia Kabeya each grabbed two and Shaunagh Brown, Marlie Packer and Abby Dow also crossed the whitewash.

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The Springbok Women\u2019s cause was not helped as they lost both Catha Jacobs and captain Nolusindiso Booi to yellow cards during the first half.

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QUARTER-FINALS

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France became the first team to book their place in the semi-finals with a\u00a039-3\u00a0victory against Italy at Northland Events Centre.

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Joanna Grisez\u2019s try gave Les Bleues a third-minute lead but the Azzurre stood firm and turned round only 10-3 behind as Michela Sillari and Caroline Drouin traded late penalties.

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A second Drouin penalty stretched France\u2019s lead and Les Bleues cut loose in the final 20 minutes, scoring another four tries \u2013 including two for Grisez who ended the match with a hat-trick.

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Les Bleues will play New Zealand in the second semi-final at Eden Park on Saturday, kick-off 19:30 local time (GMT+13), after the Black Ferns beat Wales\u00a055-3\u00a0in Whang\u0101rei.

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The hosts ran in nine tries at the Northland Events Centre, including two for Portia Woodman who overtook Sue Day to become the top try-scorer in Rugby World Cup history.

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Elinor Snowsill missed an early penalty that would have given Wales the lead and their only points came from the boot of scrum-half Keira Bevan.

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On Sunday, Marlie Packer scored a hat-trick of tries to help England beat Australia\u00a041-5\u00a0in torrid conditions at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland.

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Sarah Hunter won her 138th cap to become England\u2019s most-capped player and opened the scoring in the eighth minute. Abbie Ward, Amy Cokayne and Alex Matthews also crossed the whitewash.

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The sole reply from the Wallaroos came from Emily Chancellor, who slid over in the left corner to finish off a fine team try at the end of the first half.

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England have now won 29 tests in a row and will put that run on the line against Canada, who they will play in Saturday\u2019s first semi-final at Eden Park, kick-off 16:30 local time (GMT+13).

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Canada fell behind against the USA, to a ninth-minute Joanna Kitlinski try, but responded with two of their own before half-time, through McKinley Hunt and Karen Paquin, to lead 12-8 at the break.

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Paige Farries notched a third Canada try early in the second half before Alex Tessier added a fourth to wrap up a\u00a032-11\u00a0win. Captain Sophie de Goede kicked 12 points.

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SEMI-FINALS

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England kept their quest for a third Rugby World Cup title on track with a narrow\u00a026-19\u00a0defeat of Canada in the opening semi-final at Eden Park.

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The Red Roses looked on course for a 30th straight test victory as Marlie Packer and Abby Dow both crossed the whitewash in the opening 15 minutes.

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However, Canada struck back within five minutes, through Karen Paquin, before Alysha Corrigan touched down to help level the score at 12-12.

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A pair of Emily Scarratt penalties either side of half-time restored England\u2019s lead before Dow scored a brilliant try to extend it further.

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Tyson Beukeboom\u2019s converted try in the 68th minute gave Canada hope but a third Scarratt penalty gave England a seven-point advantage they would not relinquish.

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It means the Red Roses will take on hosts New Zealand in next Saturday\u2019s final (kick-off 19:30 local time) at Eden Park after the Black Ferns secured a nail-biting\u00a025-24\u00a0win against France.

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Les Bleues led 17-10 at half-time of the second semi-final, thanks to tries from Romane M\u00e9nager and Gabrielle Vernier and the boot of Caroline Drouin.

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Stacey Fluhler had scored the Black Ferns try, and the hosts crossed the whitewash for a second time shortly after half-time as Ruby Tui dotted the ball down just before it reached the dead-ball line.

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Theresa Fitzpatrick added a third Black Ferns try midway through the second half and a Ruahei Demant penalty minutes later gave the hosts a 25-17 lead.

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France hit back through M\u00e9nager\u2019s second try of the match to cut their deficit to a solitary point and in the final minute had a chance to win it \u2013 and reach a first ever Rugby World Cup final \u2013 but Drouin\u2019s penalty drifted wide of the uprights.

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Les Bleues will instead take on Canada in the bronze final, which will kick-off at 16:30 local time (GMT+13) at Eden Park.

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WERE THE TEAMS GIVEN AN OFFICIAL WELCOME TO NEW ZEALAND?

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Yes. On Monday, 3 October, the 12 competing teams, match officials and global rugby family were\u00a0officially welcomed to the country\u00a0by Her Excellency The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, Governor-General of New Zealand, at a ceremony in Auckland.

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Kiro said: \u201cIt\u2019s an honour to welcome rugby\u2019s finest w\u0101hine toa (women champions) from around the world to Aotearoa (New Zealand) for this hugely anticipated Rugby World Cup.

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\u201cI know the wonderful communities in Auckland and Whang\u0101rei will get behind the games and make this a World Cup to remember.\u201d

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Hosted by broadcaster Rikki Swannell, the ceremony began with an official cultural welcome to the teams, before the captain of each side and a representative of the match officials was invited onto the stage and presented with a participation medal and cap.

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New Zealand co-captain Ruahei Demant said: \u201cIt\u2019s a huge honour for us to host this tournament, it\u2019s very special. Thinking back to 2011 when we hosted the men\u2019s World Cup and how much that inspired the nation, we hope that this World Cup can do the same for many New Zealanders and that our country can get out and support the teams.\u201d

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England captain Sarah Hunter said: \u201cIt\u2019s special to be here. We\u2019ve been waiting a long time and the welcome we\u2019ve had has been absolutely incredible. Hearing that over 30,000 fans are coming to watch on the opening day is incredible and thanks to the work that\u2019s gone on in New Zealand to get behind this tournament so we can showcase just how ready we are to play. Every team is ready to go and we can\u2019t wait for that opening day on Saturday.\u201d

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Fiji captain Sereima Leweniqila said: \u201cWe are grateful to be here. It has been a journey, we\u2019ve been through some tough times just to be here so we are just grateful and ready to get out there.\u201d

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WHERE CAN I BUY TICKETS?

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You can buy tickets for RWC 2021 from the official site,\u00a0here.

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Tickets are priced from NZ$5 for children and NZ$10 for adults.

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WHAT HAPPENED AT RWC 2017?

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RWC 2017 got underway in Dublin with a big win for the defending champions England. Kay Wilson scored four of the Red Roses\u2019 10 tries in a 56-5 defeat of Spain at the UCD Bowl.

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England would go on to top Pool B, beating the USA 47-26 in the decisive match, and then won 20-3 against France in the semi-final.

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The Black Ferns had topped Pool A and were pitted against the USA in the semi-finals. Portia Woodman crossed the whitewash four times to help New Zealand to a 45-12 win.

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In the final at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast, Toka Natua scored a hat-trick of tries as the Black Ferns came from 17-10 down at half-time to win 41-32 and claim their fifth title.

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WHO WERE THE TOP TRY AND POINTS-SCORERS IN IRELAND?

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Portia Woodman ended RWC 2017 as the tournament\u2019s top try-scorer with 13, including eight against Hong Kong in the pool stage.

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Woodman\u2019s haul was more than double her closest challengers. Team-mate Selica Winiata, and Canada\u2019s Magali Harvey and Elissa Alarie each scored six times.

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Her 65 points were also the most scored by any player at RWC 2017, three more than Black Ferns colleague Kendra Cocksedge.

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England\u2019s Emily Scarratt ended the tournament with 56 points, while Magali Harvey also reached a half-century, finishing RWC 2017 with 51 points.

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WHEN WAS THE FIRST WOMEN\u2019S RUGBY WORLD CUP PLAYED?

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The inaugural women\u2019s Rugby World Cup was played across eight days in South Wales in April 1991.

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New Zealand and the USA both topped their pools and met in the first semi-final at Cardiff Arms Park, Women\u2019s Eagles captain Barb Bond scoring the decisive try to send her team to the final.

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England provided the opposition, having beaten France in the second semi-final. Gill Burns then converted a penalty try to give the English a 6-0 lead in the first half of the final.

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However, the USA replied with three tries after half-time, through Clare Godwin (two) and Patty Connell, to claim a 19-6 win and become the first women\u2019s Rugby World Cup champions.

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WHO WINS IT?

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New Zealand did not compete at the second women\u2019s Rugby World Cup in 1994, which was won by England, but returned four years later to win their first title \u2013 beating the USA in the final.

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That was the start of a remarkable run of dominance for the Black Ferns, who won four Rugby World Cups in a row between 1998-2010.

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England won their second title at RWC 2014, beating Canada 21-9 in the final. Five years ago, the Black Ferns claimed their fifth Rugby World Cup with a 42-31 defeat of England in the final in Belfast.

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The post Everything You Need To Know About Rugby World Cup 2021 appeared first on Asia Rugby.

\n", "content_text": "Hosts New Zealand will take on England in the\u00a0Rugby World Cup 2021\u00a0final after the top two teams in the\u00a0World Rugby Women\u2019s Rankings powered by Capgemini\u00a0emerged from a captivating day of semi-final action.\nEngland were made to work incredibly hard to get past Canada at Eden Park and reach a sixth successive Rugby World Cup final.\nThe Black Ferns stand between the Red Roses and a third title, their win over France being confirmed only when Les Bleues fly-half Caroline Drouin missed a last-minute penalty.\nEden Park is expected to be packed\u00a0once again on Saturday as RWC 2021 comes to an end with the bronze final and final. It promises to be another wonderful day of rugby.\nWHAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR?\nROUND ONE\nRWC 2021 got underway at Eden Park on Saturday as France ran out 40-5 winners against South Africa in Pool C.\nLaure Sansus scored two tries for Les Bleues, while Gabrielle Vernier, Emilie Boulard, Caroline Drouin and debutant Joanna Grisez each crossed the whitewash. Nomawethu Mabenge scored the Springbok Women\u2019s only try.\nEngland ran in 14 tries to beat Fiji 84-19 in Saturday\u2019s second match. Claudia Macdonald crossed the whitewash four times, while Amy Cokayne (twice), Abbie Ward, Helena Rowland, Zoe Aldcroft, Lydia Thompson (twice), Abby Dow, Leanne Infante and Connie Powell also scored.\nFiji, who only trailed 24-14 at half-time, scored three tries, through Alowesi Nakoci, Sesenieli Donu and Lavena Cavuru.\nIn the final match of day one, the Black Ferns recovered from going 17-0 down to beat the Wallaroos 41-17.\nTries from Bienne Terita (two) and Ivania Wong gave Australia a three-score lead after 28 minutes, but the hosts hit back before half-time through Joanah Ngan-Woo and Portia Woodman.\nWoodman completed her hat-trick in the second half, while Awhina Tangen-Wainohu and Ruby Tui (twice) also scored.\nOn Sunday, the action switched to the Northland Events Centre in Whang\u0101rei, where Italy ran in four tries to beat the USA 22-10 in Pool.\nThe USA took the lead through Hallie Taufoou but went into half-time 7-5 behind following Vittoria Minuzzi\u2019s converted try. Aura Muzzo and Jenny Kronish then traded efforts, before tries from Muzzo and Maria Magatti in the final quarter confirmed a bonus-point win for the Azzurre.\nCanada lead the way in Pool B on points difference from Italy, after an Emily Tuttosi hat-trick helped them to a 41-5 win against Japan in Whang\u0101rei.\nPaige Farries, Brianna Miller (twice) and Mikiela Nelson also crossed for the Canadians, while Japan\u2019s sole riposte came in the sixth minute through Maki Takano.\nThe opening weekend of RWC 2021 drew to a close in dramatic fashion as Keira Bevan\u2019s 86th-minute penalty gave Wales an 18-15 victory against Scotland in Pool A.\nWhen Megan Gaffney crossed for her second, and Scotland\u2019s third try of the match with less than two minutes remaining, the scores were tied at 15-15.\nHowever, there was still time for the 14 players of Wales to march downfield and win the penalty that Bevan so calmly stroked through the posts.\nROUND TWO\nScotland suffered a second narrow defeat in succession as Australia kicked-off round two with a\u00a014-12\u00a0win in Whang\u0101rei.\nThe Wallaroos found themselves 12-0 down at half-time at the Northland Events Centre as Lana Skeldon\u2019s ninth-minute score was supplemented by a penalty try.\nHowever, Australia ran in two tries of their own in the second half, through Bienne Terita and Ashley Marsters, which crucially were both converted by Lori Cramer.\nMarsters and fellow hooker Adiana Talakai were both sent off late on but the Wallaroos held on for a victory that moved them up to second in Pool A.\nNext up in Whang\u0101rei, the USA ran in four second half tries to secure a bonus-point\u00a030-17\u00a0win against Japan and kickstart their own RWC 2021 campaign.\nJapan led 5-3 at half-time thanks to Megumi Abe\u2019s early try and took a 10-8 lead early in the second half as Joanna Kitlinski and Hinano Nagura traded tries.\nAlev Kelter, Elizabeth Cairns and Jennine Detiveaux each crossed the whitewash in a 15-minute period for the Women\u2019s Eagles, however, to seal the bonus point and render Komachi Imakugi\u2019s late try no more than consolation for the Sakura 15s.\nMatchday three came to a close with a hard-fought\u00a013-7\u00a0victory for England against France, which secured the Red Roses\u2019 place in the quarter-finals.\nLes Bleues lost Laure Sansus and Romane M\u00e9nager to injury in a gripping first half in which the Red Roses built a 10-0 lead thanks to Emily Scarratt\u2019s 24th-minute try, which she converted, and a penalty.\nScarratt added her second penalty midway through the second half to give England a 13-0 lead. France responded soon after as Ga\u00eblle Hermet dotted down but were unable to breach the Red Roses defence again.\nOn Sunday, Canada recovered from conceding in the opening minute to secure a bonus-point\u00a022-12\u00a0defeat of Italy and their place in the quarter-finals.\nVittoria Ostuni Minuzzi scored a stunning solo try with less than 60 seconds on the clock but Canada led at half-time thanks to tries from Paige Farries and Emily Tuttosi.\nSara Kaljuvee and Tuttosi added further scores after the break before Elisa Giordano gave the Azzurre something to cheer with a try in the final two minutes.\nThere was much to celebrate for the majority of the sold-out Waitakere Stadium as hosts New Zealand ran in 10 tries to beat Wales\u00a056-12\u00a0in Auckland.\nChelsea Bremner, Portia Woodman (two), Sylvia Brunt (two), Maia Roos, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Krystal Murray, Mastercard Player of the Match Ruahei Demant and Ruby Tui each crossed the whitewash for the Black Ferns.\nWales\u2019 replies came from Ffion Lewis on the stroke of half-time and Sioned Harries.\nHistory was made in the final match of round two as Fiji secured a first-ever Rugby World Cup win, securing a nail-biting\u00a021-17\u00a0defeat of South Africa at Waitakere Stadium.\nFijiana led 14-7 at half-time as Ilisapeci Delaiwau and Akanisi Sokoiwasa scored either side of Zintle Mpupha\u2019s try for the Springbok Women.\nSouth Africa levelled the score when Aseza Hele touched down and then took the lead when Libbie Janse van Rensburg landed a penalty with less than two minutes to go. However, there was still time for Fiji to break upfield and score the match-winning try through Karalaini Naisewa.\nROUND THREE\nLori Cramer penalties at the end of each half edged Australia to a\u00a013-7\u00a0win against Wales that sent them through to the quarter-finals as Pool A runners-up on Saturday.\nIn the fifth minute, Wallaroos scrum-half Iliseva Batibasaga scored the opening try of the match following a brilliant piece of opportunism, which Cramer converted.\nSioned Harries burrowed over around 18 minutes later to help level the score before Cramer nudged the Wallaroos back in front with her first penalty on the stroke of half-time. It remained 10-7 until the closing stages when the Australia full-back added a second three-pointer to make sure of victory.\nThe Black Ferns secured the bonus-point win they needed, beating Scotland\u00a057-0\u00a0in front of more than 16,000 fans to seal top seeding for the quarter-finals.\nCoach Wayne Smith rang the changes for the final pool match but the hosts struck within two minutes through Renee Holmes and scored seven tries in a dominant first-half display.\nScotland dug deep after the break to stem the tide, but conceded a further two tries, to Maia Roos and a second for Holmes, who ended the match with 22 points having converted six of her side\u2019s nine tries.\nFrance also got the bonus-point victory they craved against Fiji, beating the Rugby World Cup debutants\u00a044-0\u00a0in the final match at Northland Events Centre.\nMarine M\u00e9nager, Melissande Llorens and Ma\u00eblle Filopon each touched down in the first half as Les Bleues attempted to ensure they would finish the pool phase no lower than second in Pool C and fourth seed.\nThe all-important fourth try came midway through the second half, through Filopon and there was time for Emiline Gros, Emilie Boulard and C\u00e9lia Domain to cross the whitewash before the end.\nOn Sunday, Italy were made to work hard by Japan to secure the\u00a021-8\u00a0victory that ultimately took them through to the quarter-finals as Pool B runners-up.\nMaria Magatti scored the opening try of the match within nine minutes, but Japan replied on the half-hour mark through Kyoko Hosokawa.\nThe score was tied at 8-8 early in the second half after Michela Sillari \u2013 who became Italy\u2019s top-scoring woman at Rugby World Cup \u2013 and Ayasa Otsuka traded penalties. But Sillari kicked two more three pointers and then converted Melissa Bettoni\u2019s late try to wrap up the win.\nCanada made sure of top spot in Pool B and second seed for the quarter-finals as they ran in five tries to beat the USA\u00a029-14.\nTries from Emily Tuttosi, Alex Tessier and Paige Farries gave Canada a 19-7 half-time lead, the USA\u2019s reply coming from Alev Kelter.\nThe USA had a try disallowed early in the second half and conceded for a fourth time soon afterwards as Olivia DeMerchant went over. Kate Zackary did grab a second for the Women\u2019s Eagles before the end, but Canada prop Mikiela Nelson rounded off the scoring in the final play.\nIn the final match of the pool phase, England ran in 13 tries to beat South Africa\u00a075-0\u00a0and claim top spot in Pool C.\nRosie Galligan and Connie Powell both scored a hat-trick of tries at Waitakere Stadium, while Poppy Cleall and Sadia Kabeya each grabbed two and Shaunagh Brown, Marlie Packer and Abby Dow also crossed the whitewash.\nThe Springbok Women\u2019s cause was not helped as they lost both Catha Jacobs and captain Nolusindiso Booi to yellow cards during the first half.\nQUARTER-FINALS\nFrance became the first team to book their place in the semi-finals with a\u00a039-3\u00a0victory against Italy at Northland Events Centre.\nJoanna Grisez\u2019s try gave Les Bleues a third-minute lead but the Azzurre stood firm and turned round only 10-3 behind as Michela Sillari and Caroline Drouin traded late penalties.\nA second Drouin penalty stretched France\u2019s lead and Les Bleues cut loose in the final 20 minutes, scoring another four tries \u2013 including two for Grisez who ended the match with a hat-trick.\nLes Bleues will play New Zealand in the second semi-final at Eden Park on Saturday, kick-off 19:30 local time (GMT+13), after the Black Ferns beat Wales\u00a055-3\u00a0in Whang\u0101rei.\nThe hosts ran in nine tries at the Northland Events Centre, including two for Portia Woodman who overtook Sue Day to become the top try-scorer in Rugby World Cup history.\nElinor Snowsill missed an early penalty that would have given Wales the lead and their only points came from the boot of scrum-half Keira Bevan.\nOn Sunday, Marlie Packer scored a hat-trick of tries to help England beat Australia\u00a041-5\u00a0in torrid conditions at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland.\nSarah Hunter won her 138th cap to become England\u2019s most-capped player and opened the scoring in the eighth minute. Abbie Ward, Amy Cokayne and Alex Matthews also crossed the whitewash.\nThe sole reply from the Wallaroos came from Emily Chancellor, who slid over in the left corner to finish off a fine team try at the end of the first half.\nEngland have now won 29 tests in a row and will put that run on the line against Canada, who they will play in Saturday\u2019s first semi-final at Eden Park, kick-off 16:30 local time (GMT+13).\nCanada fell behind against the USA, to a ninth-minute Joanna Kitlinski try, but responded with two of their own before half-time, through McKinley Hunt and Karen Paquin, to lead 12-8 at the break.\nPaige Farries notched a third Canada try early in the second half before Alex Tessier added a fourth to wrap up a\u00a032-11\u00a0win. Captain Sophie de Goede kicked 12 points.\nSEMI-FINALS\nEngland kept their quest for a third Rugby World Cup title on track with a narrow\u00a026-19\u00a0defeat of Canada in the opening semi-final at Eden Park.\nThe Red Roses looked on course for a 30th straight test victory as Marlie Packer and Abby Dow both crossed the whitewash in the opening 15 minutes.\nHowever, Canada struck back within five minutes, through Karen Paquin, before Alysha Corrigan touched down to help level the score at 12-12.\nA pair of Emily Scarratt penalties either side of half-time restored England\u2019s lead before Dow scored a brilliant try to extend it further.\nTyson Beukeboom\u2019s converted try in the 68th minute gave Canada hope but a third Scarratt penalty gave England a seven-point advantage they would not relinquish.\nIt means the Red Roses will take on hosts New Zealand in next Saturday\u2019s final (kick-off 19:30 local time) at Eden Park after the Black Ferns secured a nail-biting\u00a025-24\u00a0win against France.\nLes Bleues led 17-10 at half-time of the second semi-final, thanks to tries from Romane M\u00e9nager and Gabrielle Vernier and the boot of Caroline Drouin.\nStacey Fluhler had scored the Black Ferns try, and the hosts crossed the whitewash for a second time shortly after half-time as Ruby Tui dotted the ball down just before it reached the dead-ball line.\nTheresa Fitzpatrick added a third Black Ferns try midway through the second half and a Ruahei Demant penalty minutes later gave the hosts a 25-17 lead.\nFrance hit back through M\u00e9nager\u2019s second try of the match to cut their deficit to a solitary point and in the final minute had a chance to win it \u2013 and reach a first ever Rugby World Cup final \u2013 but Drouin\u2019s penalty drifted wide of the uprights.\nLes Bleues will instead take on Canada in the bronze final, which will kick-off at 16:30 local time (GMT+13) at Eden Park.\nWERE THE TEAMS GIVEN AN OFFICIAL WELCOME TO NEW ZEALAND?\nYes. On Monday, 3 October, the 12 competing teams, match officials and global rugby family were\u00a0officially welcomed to the country\u00a0by Her Excellency The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, Governor-General of New Zealand, at a ceremony in Auckland.\nKiro said: \u201cIt\u2019s an honour to welcome rugby\u2019s finest w\u0101hine toa (women champions) from around the world to Aotearoa (New Zealand) for this hugely anticipated Rugby World Cup.\n\u201cI know the wonderful communities in Auckland and Whang\u0101rei will get behind the games and make this a World Cup to remember.\u201d\nHosted by broadcaster Rikki Swannell, the ceremony began with an official cultural welcome to the teams, before the captain of each side and a representative of the match officials was invited onto the stage and presented with a participation medal and cap.\nNew Zealand co-captain Ruahei Demant said: \u201cIt\u2019s a huge honour for us to host this tournament, it\u2019s very special. Thinking back to 2011 when we hosted the men\u2019s World Cup and how much that inspired the nation, we hope that this World Cup can do the same for many New Zealanders and that our country can get out and support the teams.\u201d\nEngland captain Sarah Hunter said: \u201cIt\u2019s special to be here. We\u2019ve been waiting a long time and the welcome we\u2019ve had has been absolutely incredible. Hearing that over 30,000 fans are coming to watch on the opening day is incredible and thanks to the work that\u2019s gone on in New Zealand to get behind this tournament so we can showcase just how ready we are to play. Every team is ready to go and we can\u2019t wait for that opening day on Saturday.\u201d\nFiji captain Sereima Leweniqila said: \u201cWe are grateful to be here. It has been a journey, we\u2019ve been through some tough times just to be here so we are just grateful and ready to get out there.\u201d\nWHERE CAN I BUY TICKETS?\nYou can buy tickets for RWC 2021 from the official site,\u00a0here.\nTickets are priced from NZ$5 for children and NZ$10 for adults.\nWHAT HAPPENED AT RWC 2017?\nRWC 2017 got underway in Dublin with a big win for the defending champions England. Kay Wilson scored four of the Red Roses\u2019 10 tries in a 56-5 defeat of Spain at the UCD Bowl.\nEngland would go on to top Pool B, beating the USA 47-26 in the decisive match, and then won 20-3 against France in the semi-final.\nThe Black Ferns had topped Pool A and were pitted against the USA in the semi-finals. Portia Woodman crossed the whitewash four times to help New Zealand to a 45-12 win.\nIn the final at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast, Toka Natua scored a hat-trick of tries as the Black Ferns came from 17-10 down at half-time to win 41-32 and claim their fifth title.\nWHO WERE THE TOP TRY AND POINTS-SCORERS IN IRELAND?\nPortia Woodman ended RWC 2017 as the tournament\u2019s top try-scorer with 13, including eight against Hong Kong in the pool stage.\nWoodman\u2019s haul was more than double her closest challengers. Team-mate Selica Winiata, and Canada\u2019s Magali Harvey and Elissa Alarie each scored six times.\nHer 65 points were also the most scored by any player at RWC 2017, three more than Black Ferns colleague Kendra Cocksedge.\nEngland\u2019s Emily Scarratt ended the tournament with 56 points, while Magali Harvey also reached a half-century, finishing RWC 2017 with 51 points.\nWHEN WAS THE FIRST WOMEN\u2019S RUGBY WORLD CUP PLAYED?\nThe inaugural women\u2019s Rugby World Cup was played across eight days in South Wales in April 1991.\nNew Zealand and the USA both topped their pools and met in the first semi-final at Cardiff Arms Park, Women\u2019s Eagles captain Barb Bond scoring the decisive try to send her team to the final.\nEngland provided the opposition, having beaten France in the second semi-final. Gill Burns then converted a penalty try to give the English a 6-0 lead in the first half of the final.\nHowever, the USA replied with three tries after half-time, through Clare Godwin (two) and Patty Connell, to claim a 19-6 win and become the first women\u2019s Rugby World Cup champions.\nWHO WINS IT?\nNew Zealand did not compete at the second women\u2019s Rugby World Cup in 1994, which was won by England, but returned four years later to win their first title \u2013 beating the USA in the final.\nThat was the start of a remarkable run of dominance for the Black Ferns, who won four Rugby World Cups in a row between 1998-2010.\nEngland won their second title at RWC 2014, beating Canada 21-9 in the final. Five years ago, the Black Ferns claimed their fifth Rugby World Cup with a 42-31 defeat of England in the final in Belfast.\nThe post Everything You Need To Know About Rugby World Cup 2021 appeared first on Asia Rugby.", "date_published": "2022-11-09T17:40:03+08:00", "date_modified": "2022-11-09T17:41:14+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Asia Rugby", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Asia Rugby", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.asiarugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Japan-Rugby.jpg", "tags": [ "Japan Rugby", "RWC 2021", "Rugby World Cup", "Rugby World Cup 2021", "Featured", "News" ] }, { "id": "https://www.asiarugby.com/?p=9074", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/2022/11/04/meet-the-last-four-rugby-world-cup-2023-hopefuls/", "title": "Meet the last four Rugby World Cup 2023 hopefuls", "content_html": "

We give you the lowdown on the teams competing at the Final Qualification Tournament for the 20th and final ticket to France 2023, taking a look at how USA, Portugal, Hong Kong and Kenya got this far and their form on route to Dubai.

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Hong Kong, Kenya, Portugal and the USA have arrived in Dubai for a two-week trip they hope will prove to be a stop-over en route to\u00a0Rugby World Cup 2023.

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The four teams will take to The Sevens Stadium pitch on Sunday as the round-robin RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament, which will run until 18 November, gets underway.

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At the end of the three match days in the UAE, the team on top of the standings will claim the 20th and final ticket to France.

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But which teams head into the Final Qualification Tournament on form and who has the most Rugby World Cup pedigree? We give you the lowdown on each of the competing nations.

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RUGBY WORLD CUP PEDIGREE

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HONG KONG

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Hong Kong\u2019s attempts to make it to a Rugby World Cup date back to the 1995 tournament but so far they have been unsuccessful in getting over the line and booking their place at the game\u2019s showpiece event.

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More often than not it was Japan, the dominant team in Asia, who blocked their progress in the early years, although it was a defeat to Chinese Taipei that cost them dearly in the RWC 2003 qualifying campaign.

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For RWC 2015, Hong Kong\u2019s interest came to an end in the repechage when they lost to Uruguay, while in 2019, they fell short in what was by now a round-robin event, finishing second-from-last in the four-team tournament in Marseilles.

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KENYA

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Like Hong Kong, the first tournament Kenya attempted to qualify for was RWC 1995, however, defeats to Zimbabwe and Namibia ended their hopes before a win against the Arabian Gulf.

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The Simbas have entered qualifying for each Rugby World Cup since but are yet to progress to the showpiece tournament itself.

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Kenya came close to qualifying for RWC 2015, putting themselves in a good position by beating Namibia only for defeat to Zimbabwe to ensure they missed out on both a ticket to England and a place in the repechage on points difference.

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Four years later, defeat to Namibia in their final qualifier denied them direct qualification for RWC 2019. They had done enough to make the repechage but lost all three matches in Marseille, against Canada, Hong Kong and Germany.

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PORTUGAL

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Portugal\u2019s one and only Rugby World Cup appearance to date came in 2007 when the tournament was last held in France.

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Back then, Os Lobos left it until the last possible moment to qualify with a narrow aggregate victory over Uruguay.

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Os Lobos were beaten 18-12 by their South American hosts in the second leg of their repechage clash in Montevideo but thanks to their 12-5 victory over Los Teros in the first leg in Lisbon they claimed a 24-23 overall victory.

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The result avenged a heavy defeat the previous time Portugal met Uruguay in the Repechage back in 1999.

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As a reward, Portugal took their place in Pool C at the tournament proper with matches against New Zealand, Scotland, Italy and Romania.

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Cheered on by a large Portuguese contingent in St Etienne, Portugal began their campaign with a 56-10 defeat to Scotland, winger Pedro Cabral scoring their first-ever Rugby World Cup try.

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A 108-13 loss to New Zealand in their second fixture could have derailed a less spirited team, but Os Lobos finished the tournament strongly with a respectable 31-5 defeat to Italy and then in a close-run encounter against Romania, the Oaks took the game 14-10 but only after scoring two converted tries in the final quarter.

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Portugal finished their inaugural Rugby World Cup appearance beaten in every game but not bowed, achieving their target of scoring at least one try in every match.

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USA

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USA head into the Final Qualification Tournament with the most Rugby World Cup pedigree of any of the competing teams, having competed in every tournament bar RWC 1995.

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Their Rugby World Cup debut came on 24 May, 1987, at Ballymore in Brisbane, Australia, when they held off a late comeback to beat Japan 21-18.

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Defeats to Australia and England followed and they would have to wait 16 years to register their second tournament win.

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Following winless pool phase exits at RWC 1991 and RWC 1999, that victory arrived when the tournament returned to Australia in 2003. Japan again provided the opposition as the USA ran in five tries to win 39-26 at Central Coast Stadium.

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USA have only won one Rugby World Cup match since that night in Gosford, a 13-6 defeat of Russia at RWC 2011, again in the southern hemisphere, Mike Petri scoring the only try of the match.

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Qualification for the quarter-finals has so far proved elusive for the USA on the biggest stage but they did come close to securing a fourth tournament victory on their most recent Rugby World Cup outing.

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In their final Pool C match at RWC 2019, a brace of tries from Mike Te\u2019o gave the Eagles a 12-7 half-time lead against Tonga in Hanazono.

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However, Tonga outscored the USA three tries to one in the second half to secure a 31-19 victory and condemn their opponents to a fifth winless Rugby World Cup campaign.

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WORLD RANKINGS SINCE LAST RUGBY WORLD CUP

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HONG KONG

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Hong Kong have managed to climb two places in the World Rugby Men\u2019s Rankings powered by Capgemini despite only playing four tests since Japan 2019.

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Back in November 2019, Hong Kong were ranked in 24th place with 59.65 points, but they are now two places and 1.38 points better off in 22nd (61.03 points).

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A place in the world’s top 20 is within Hong Kong’s reach if they pull of a shock victory in their first encounter at the Final Qualification Tournament\u00a0 against Portugal

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KENYA

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Kenya have only played seven tests since the last Rugby World Cup, winning four, but have slipped one place in the rankings.

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The Simbas were ranked 32nd at the beginning of November 2019, with 52.55 points, and three years later find themselves 33rd with 52.06.

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This weekend, Kenya stand to gain as many as five places if they win their first meeting with USA.

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PORTUGAL

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In what is perceived as a period of success for Portugal, it comes as no surprise that the current Rugby World Cup cycle has brought gains for Os Lobos in the rankings.

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While a one-place rise to 20th does not sound much by way of momentum, the increase in rating score from 61.34 to 65.08 tells you all you need to know about the direction they are heading in.

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Looking to the weekend, Portugal will replace USA in 19th if they beat Hong Kong, irrespective of how the Eagles fare in their opening match against lower-ranked Kenya.

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USA

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The past three years have been a transitional period for the USA and that is highlighted in the rankings, in which the team has slipped slightly.

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At the end of RWC 2019, the Eagles were ranked 17th with 68.10 points and they have since fallen two places to 19th, losing almost three rating points to head into the Final Qualification Tournament with 65.17.

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USA could slip further in the rankings this weekend as they are unable to boost their score against Kenya due to the 13.11 points difference between the two nations.

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FORM GUIDE

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HONG KONG

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Hong Kong go into the Final Qualification Tournament with precious little test rugby behind them.

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Since the last Rugby World Cup finished, Hong Kong have only taken to the field four times, winning two and losing two of those matches.

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A European tour at the back end of 2019 gave Hong Kong some new experiences as they played Belgium and Spain away for the first time

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A 36-17 win in Brussels was followed by a 29-7 defeat to Los Leones but the team appeared to be heading in an upward trajectory until COVID-19 hit.

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Hong Kong\u2019s 15s test rugby was put on hold for two-and-a-half years due to travel restrictions and then reduced in status from full-time to part-time programme because of the financial repercussions of the global pandemic.

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But when Hong Kong returned, they returned in style, beating Korea 23-21 in Incheon with a last-minute penalty kick. That secured Hong Kong a place in the Asia-Pacific Qualifier and the chance of winning a direct ticket to France 2023.

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The game against Tonga was played on neutral ground in Australia and the \u2018Ikale Tahi prevailed, as most people expected them to, 44-22.

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However, for a side that had so little preparation time behind them under a new head coach, Hong Kong\u2019s performance, particularly in the latter stages of the match, gives them cause for confidence and something to work on heading into the Final Qualification Tournament.

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KENYA

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Kenya head into the Final Qualification Tournament in relatively good form, having only lost twice \u2013 both times to Namibia \u2013 in their last six matches.

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Due to the impact of the pandemic, the Simbas did not take to the pitch between September 2019 and July 2021.

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When they did return to the field, to begin their RWC 2023 qualifying campaign, Kenya suffered an agonising 20-19 defeat at the hands of Senegal, conceding the match-winning converted try in the final play.

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Kenya recovered to get their qualifying campaign back on track with a 45-8 win against Zambia and ended the year with a training camp in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

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While there, the Simbas took on both Namibia and Brazil, and led their African rivals 24-19 at half-time of their first match only to lose 60-24 as their opponents ran in seven tries after the break.

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Again, the Simbas recovered and six days later, ran in five tries to edge a 66-point thriller, beating Brazil 36-30 at Mark\u00f6tter Stadium.

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During July\u2019s Rugby Africa Cup 2022 in France, Kenya beat Uganda and Algeria to set up a winner takes all match against Namibia. However, the Simbas\u2019 hopes of securing direct qualification to RWC 2023 were ended by a 36-0 defeat in Aix-en-Provence.

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PORTUGAL

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Portugal made it to Dubai after finishing third in the combined 2021 and 202 Rugby Europe Championship tables.

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The second half of the qualification campaign began on a high with Os Lobos ending Georgia\u2019s 20-match winning streak in the competition thanks to a 25-25 draw in Tbilisi; however, results \u2013 if not performances \u2013 tailed off as the year went on.

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A crucial 37-27 defeat to Romania in Bucharest was a setback to their automatic qualification hopes but a meeting with the struggling Netherlands got them back on track, Os Lobos winning 59-3.

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Then came the run of four defeats leading into the Final Qualification Tournament, albeit three were by slender margins to higher-ranked teams.

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Spain ensured what had been a largely positive Rugby Europe Championship campaign ended on a low note for Portugal with a 33-28 victory in Madrid.

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Portugal then hosted an Italian side on a high from their Six Nations victory over Wales and again only just came out on the wrong side of the scoreline, losing 38-31.

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A 52-35 defeat to an Argentina XV followed but only after the South Americans overturned a half-time deficit.

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And in their last outing in Kutaisi in July, Portugal made their hosts Georgia work hard for a 23-14 win.

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USA

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Had it not been for Santiago Videla\u2019s late penalty in Glendale, the USA would already be through to RWC 2023 and preparing for matches against England, Japan, Argentina and Samoa in Pool D.

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They had seemingly done the hard work by winning a rain-soaked first leg of their Americas 2 play-off against Chile 22-21 in Santiago and led heading into the final 10 minutes of the second.

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But sport is a matter of fine margins and in truth the USA\u2019s form since RWC 2019 has been patchy at best.

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The team returned to action in July 2021 with heavy defeats to England and Ireland but kept their quest for a ticket to France on track with a 59-50 aggregate win against old rivals Canada.

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Victory set up a two-legged Americas 1 play-off against Uruguay, but despite winning 19-16 at home they were beaten 34-15 in Montevideo to lose the tie 50-34 on aggregate.

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A 104-14 defeat to the All Blacks in Washington followed before a 26-21 win against the French Barbarians in Houston provided Eagles fans with hope.

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That was extinguished with a swing of Videla\u2019s boot at Infinity Park and the USA now head to Dubai having won only three of their nine tests since Japan.

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The post Meet the last four Rugby World Cup 2023 hopefuls appeared first on Asia Rugby.

\n", "content_text": "We give you the lowdown on the teams competing at the Final Qualification Tournament for the 20th and final ticket to France 2023, taking a look at how USA, Portugal, Hong Kong and Kenya got this far and their form on route to Dubai.\nHong Kong, Kenya, Portugal and the USA have arrived in Dubai for a two-week trip they hope will prove to be a stop-over en route to\u00a0Rugby World Cup 2023.\nThe four teams will take to The Sevens Stadium pitch on Sunday as the round-robin RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament, which will run until 18 November, gets underway.\nAt the end of the three match days in the UAE, the team on top of the standings will claim the 20th and final ticket to France.\nBut which teams head into the Final Qualification Tournament on form and who has the most Rugby World Cup pedigree? We give you the lowdown on each of the competing nations.\n\nRugby Sevens returns to Hong Kong as 2023 Series kicks-off\nAsia Rugby & Redstrike Ink Landmark Strategic Partnership Agreement\nHong Kong Men, China Women Clinch the Asia Rugby Sevens Series 2022 First Leg\n\nRUGBY WORLD CUP PEDIGREE\nHONG KONG\nHong Kong\u2019s attempts to make it to a Rugby World Cup date back to the 1995 tournament but so far they have been unsuccessful in getting over the line and booking their place at the game\u2019s showpiece event.\nMore often than not it was Japan, the dominant team in Asia, who blocked their progress in the early years, although it was a defeat to Chinese Taipei that cost them dearly in the RWC 2003 qualifying campaign.\nFor RWC 2015, Hong Kong\u2019s interest came to an end in the repechage when they lost to Uruguay, while in 2019, they fell short in what was by now a round-robin event, finishing second-from-last in the four-team tournament in Marseilles.\nKENYA\nLike Hong Kong, the first tournament Kenya attempted to qualify for was RWC 1995, however, defeats to Zimbabwe and Namibia ended their hopes before a win against the Arabian Gulf.\nThe Simbas have entered qualifying for each Rugby World Cup since but are yet to progress to the showpiece tournament itself.\nKenya came close to qualifying for RWC 2015, putting themselves in a good position by beating Namibia only for defeat to Zimbabwe to ensure they missed out on both a ticket to England and a place in the repechage on points difference.\nFour years later, defeat to Namibia in their final qualifier denied them direct qualification for RWC 2019. They had done enough to make the repechage but lost all three matches in Marseille, against Canada, Hong Kong and Germany.\nPORTUGAL\nPortugal\u2019s one and only Rugby World Cup appearance to date came in 2007 when the tournament was last held in France.\nBack then, Os Lobos left it until the last possible moment to qualify with a narrow aggregate victory over Uruguay.\nOs Lobos were beaten 18-12 by their South American hosts in the second leg of their repechage clash in Montevideo but thanks to their 12-5 victory over Los Teros in the first leg in Lisbon they claimed a 24-23 overall victory.\nThe result avenged a heavy defeat the previous time Portugal met Uruguay in the Repechage back in 1999.\nAs a reward, Portugal took their place in Pool C at the tournament proper with matches against New Zealand, Scotland, Italy and Romania.\nCheered on by a large Portuguese contingent in St Etienne, Portugal began their campaign with a 56-10 defeat to Scotland, winger Pedro Cabral scoring their first-ever Rugby World Cup try.\nA 108-13 loss to New Zealand in their second fixture could have derailed a less spirited team, but Os Lobos finished the tournament strongly with a respectable 31-5 defeat to Italy and then in a close-run encounter against Romania, the Oaks took the game 14-10 but only after scoring two converted tries in the final quarter.\nPortugal finished their inaugural Rugby World Cup appearance beaten in every game but not bowed, achieving their target of scoring at least one try in every match.\nUSA\nUSA head into the Final Qualification Tournament with the most Rugby World Cup pedigree of any of the competing teams, having competed in every tournament bar RWC 1995.\nTheir Rugby World Cup debut came on 24 May, 1987, at Ballymore in Brisbane, Australia, when they held off a late comeback to beat Japan 21-18.\nDefeats to Australia and England followed and they would have to wait 16 years to register their second tournament win.\nFollowing winless pool phase exits at RWC 1991 and RWC 1999, that victory arrived when the tournament returned to Australia in 2003. Japan again provided the opposition as the USA ran in five tries to win 39-26 at Central Coast Stadium.\nUSA have only won one Rugby World Cup match since that night in Gosford, a 13-6 defeat of Russia at RWC 2011, again in the southern hemisphere, Mike Petri scoring the only try of the match.\nQualification for the quarter-finals has so far proved elusive for the USA on the biggest stage but they did come close to securing a fourth tournament victory on their most recent Rugby World Cup outing.\nIn their final Pool C match at RWC 2019, a brace of tries from Mike Te\u2019o gave the Eagles a 12-7 half-time lead against Tonga in Hanazono.\nHowever, Tonga outscored the USA three tries to one in the second half to secure a 31-19 victory and condemn their opponents to a fifth winless Rugby World Cup campaign.\nWORLD RANKINGS SINCE LAST RUGBY WORLD CUP\nHONG KONG\nHong Kong have managed to climb two places in the World Rugby Men\u2019s Rankings powered by Capgemini despite only playing four tests since Japan 2019.\nBack in November 2019, Hong Kong were ranked in 24th place with 59.65 points, but they are now two places and 1.38 points better off in 22nd (61.03 points).\nA place in the world’s top 20 is within Hong Kong’s reach if they pull of a shock victory in their first encounter at the Final Qualification Tournament\u00a0 against Portugal\nKENYA\nKenya have only played seven tests since the last Rugby World Cup, winning four, but have slipped one place in the rankings.\nThe Simbas were ranked 32nd at the beginning of November 2019, with 52.55 points, and three years later find themselves 33rd with 52.06.\nThis weekend, Kenya stand to gain as many as five places if they win their first meeting with USA.\nPORTUGAL\nIn what is perceived as a period of success for Portugal, it comes as no surprise that the current Rugby World Cup cycle has brought gains for Os Lobos in the rankings.\nWhile a one-place rise to 20th does not sound much by way of momentum, the increase in rating score from 61.34 to 65.08 tells you all you need to know about the direction they are heading in.\nLooking to the weekend, Portugal will replace USA in 19th if they beat Hong Kong, irrespective of how the Eagles fare in their opening match against lower-ranked Kenya.\nUSA\nThe past three years have been a transitional period for the USA and that is highlighted in the rankings, in which the team has slipped slightly.\nAt the end of RWC 2019, the Eagles were ranked 17th with 68.10 points and they have since fallen two places to 19th, losing almost three rating points to head into the Final Qualification Tournament with 65.17.\nUSA could slip further in the rankings this weekend as they are unable to boost their score against Kenya due to the 13.11 points difference between the two nations.\nFORM GUIDE\nHONG KONG\nHong Kong go into the Final Qualification Tournament with precious little test rugby behind them.\nSince the last Rugby World Cup finished, Hong Kong have only taken to the field four times, winning two and losing two of those matches.\nA European tour at the back end of 2019 gave Hong Kong some new experiences as they played Belgium and Spain away for the first time\nA 36-17 win in Brussels was followed by a 29-7 defeat to Los Leones but the team appeared to be heading in an upward trajectory until COVID-19 hit.\nHong Kong\u2019s 15s test rugby was put on hold for two-and-a-half years due to travel restrictions and then reduced in status from full-time to part-time programme because of the financial repercussions of the global pandemic.\nBut when Hong Kong returned, they returned in style, beating Korea 23-21 in Incheon with a last-minute penalty kick. That secured Hong Kong a place in the Asia-Pacific Qualifier and the chance of winning a direct ticket to France 2023.\nThe game against Tonga was played on neutral ground in Australia and the \u2018Ikale Tahi prevailed, as most people expected them to, 44-22.\nHowever, for a side that had so little preparation time behind them under a new head coach, Hong Kong\u2019s performance, particularly in the latter stages of the match, gives them cause for confidence and something to work on heading into the Final Qualification Tournament.\nKENYA\nKenya head into the Final Qualification Tournament in relatively good form, having only lost twice \u2013 both times to Namibia \u2013 in their last six matches.\nDue to the impact of the pandemic, the Simbas did not take to the pitch between September 2019 and July 2021.\nWhen they did return to the field, to begin their RWC 2023 qualifying campaign, Kenya suffered an agonising 20-19 defeat at the hands of Senegal, conceding the match-winning converted try in the final play.\nKenya recovered to get their qualifying campaign back on track with a 45-8 win against Zambia and ended the year with a training camp in Stellenbosch, South Africa.\nWhile there, the Simbas took on both Namibia and Brazil, and led their African rivals 24-19 at half-time of their first match only to lose 60-24 as their opponents ran in seven tries after the break.\nAgain, the Simbas recovered and six days later, ran in five tries to edge a 66-point thriller, beating Brazil 36-30 at Mark\u00f6tter Stadium.\nDuring July\u2019s Rugby Africa Cup 2022 in France, Kenya beat Uganda and Algeria to set up a winner takes all match against Namibia. However, the Simbas\u2019 hopes of securing direct qualification to RWC 2023 were ended by a 36-0 defeat in Aix-en-Provence.\nPORTUGAL\nPortugal made it to Dubai after finishing third in the combined 2021 and 202 Rugby Europe Championship tables.\nThe second half of the qualification campaign began on a high with Os Lobos ending Georgia\u2019s 20-match winning streak in the competition thanks to a 25-25 draw in Tbilisi; however, results \u2013 if not performances \u2013 tailed off as the year went on.\nA crucial 37-27 defeat to Romania in Bucharest was a setback to their automatic qualification hopes but a meeting with the struggling Netherlands got them back on track, Os Lobos winning 59-3.\nThen came the run of four defeats leading into the Final Qualification Tournament, albeit three were by slender margins to higher-ranked teams.\nSpain ensured what had been a largely positive Rugby Europe Championship campaign ended on a low note for Portugal with a 33-28 victory in Madrid.\nPortugal then hosted an Italian side on a high from their Six Nations victory over Wales and again only just came out on the wrong side of the scoreline, losing 38-31.\nA 52-35 defeat to an Argentina XV followed but only after the South Americans overturned a half-time deficit.\nAnd in their last outing in Kutaisi in July, Portugal made their hosts Georgia work hard for a 23-14 win.\nUSA\nHad it not been for Santiago Videla\u2019s late penalty in Glendale, the USA would already be through to RWC 2023 and preparing for matches against England, Japan, Argentina and Samoa in Pool D.\nThey had seemingly done the hard work by winning a rain-soaked first leg of their Americas 2 play-off against Chile 22-21 in Santiago and led heading into the final 10 minutes of the second.\nBut sport is a matter of fine margins and in truth the USA\u2019s form since RWC 2019 has been patchy at best.\nThe team returned to action in July 2021 with heavy defeats to England and Ireland but kept their quest for a ticket to France on track with a 59-50 aggregate win against old rivals Canada.\nVictory set up a two-legged Americas 1 play-off against Uruguay, but despite winning 19-16 at home they were beaten 34-15 in Montevideo to lose the tie 50-34 on aggregate.\nA 104-14 defeat to the All Blacks in Washington followed before a 26-21 win against the French Barbarians in Houston provided Eagles fans with hope.\nThat was extinguished with a swing of Videla\u2019s boot at Infinity Park and the USA now head to Dubai having won only three of their nine tests since Japan.\nThe post Meet the last four Rugby World Cup 2023 hopefuls appeared first on Asia Rugby.", "date_published": "2022-11-04T20:00:48+08:00", "date_modified": "2022-11-04T20:00:48+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Asia Rugby", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Asia Rugby", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.asiarugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Rugby-World-Cup-2023-hopefuls.jpg", "tags": [ "Rugby World Cup", "Rugby World Cup 2023", "USA", "Portugal", "Kenya", "Hong Kong", "Featured", "News" ] }, { "id": "https://www.asiarugby.com/?p=9011", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/2022/10/10/canada-begin-their-rugby-world-cup-2021-campaign-with-a-bang/", "title": "CANADA BEGIN THEIR RUGBY WORLD CUP 2021 CAMPAIGN WITH A BANG", "content_html": "

The bonus point was secured by Canada in the first half against Japan in Pool B.

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Canada played with pace and power to defeat Japan\u00a041-5\u00a0in\u00a0Rugby World Cup 2021\u00a0in Whang\u0101rei.

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The Pool B match was an entertaining one with Japan sticking in for 80 minutes, but Canada just had too much quality.

\n

Canada, who are third in the\u00a0World Rugby Women\u2019s Rankings powered by Capgemini, got things off to a positive start after just two minutes.

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Winger Paige Farries was the scorer of the unconverted try after a clearance kick from Japan was charged down.

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Japan, ranked 13th in the world, scored a five pointer of their own three minutes later through second-row Maki Takano to level things up.

\n

The next try in the match came from Canada hooker Emily Tuttosi which scrum-half Brianna Miller converted to make it 12-5.

\n

Miller herself then scored an unconverted try 16 minutes before half-time and Canada were looking confident.

\n

They secured the bonus point fourth try on the half hour mark when Tuttosi bagged her second of the game and then five minutes before the break try number five came their way.

\n

Miller was the player to score that one, her second try of the clash meaning that after 40 minutes it was 27-5 to Canada.

\n

It was 10 minutes into the second half when Canada got try number six, Tuttosi going over for her hat-trick effort with Sophie De Goede, the number eight and captain, adding the conversion to make it 34-5.

\n

With 14 minutes of the contest remaining the seventh try came along for Canada.

\n

Replacement Mikiela Nelson was the scorer this time and with De Goede making the conversion it was 41-5.

\n

The Japanese side never gave up in the closing stages and they will certainly have learnt a lot from the experience continue to bring a lot to this competition in the coming weeks.

\n

It ended 41-5 to Canada and afterwards skipper De Goede said:\u00a0 \u201cIt was a good game for us, we started strongly and we know that we can build from here.

\n

\u201cWe have worked a lot on our rolling maul and we hope it will be a weapon for us during the rest of the competition.

\n

\u201cCredit to Japan, they made it difficult for us and they are an improving side for sure.\u201d

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The post CANADA BEGIN THEIR RUGBY WORLD CUP 2021 CAMPAIGN WITH A BANG appeared first on Asia Rugby.

\n", "content_text": "The bonus point was secured by Canada in the first half against Japan in Pool B.\nCanada played with pace and power to defeat Japan\u00a041-5\u00a0in\u00a0Rugby World Cup 2021\u00a0in Whang\u0101rei.\nThe Pool B match was an entertaining one with Japan sticking in for 80 minutes, but Canada just had too much quality.\nCanada, who are third in the\u00a0World Rugby Women\u2019s Rankings powered by Capgemini, got things off to a positive start after just two minutes.\nWinger Paige Farries was the scorer of the unconverted try after a clearance kick from Japan was charged down.\n\nWHERE TO WATCH RUGBY WORLD CUP 2021 : TV BROADCAST PARTNERS, LIVE STREAMS\nRugby World Cup Sevens 2022: How an \u201cincredible\u201d weekend unfolded\nFiji and Australia crowned Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 champions in Cape Town\n\nJapan, ranked 13th in the world, scored a five pointer of their own three minutes later through second-row Maki Takano to level things up.\nThe next try in the match came from Canada hooker Emily Tuttosi which scrum-half Brianna Miller converted to make it 12-5.\nMiller herself then scored an unconverted try 16 minutes before half-time and Canada were looking confident.\nThey secured the bonus point fourth try on the half hour mark when Tuttosi bagged her second of the game and then five minutes before the break try number five came their way.\nMiller was the player to score that one, her second try of the clash meaning that after 40 minutes it was 27-5 to Canada.\nIt was 10 minutes into the second half when Canada got try number six, Tuttosi going over for her hat-trick effort with Sophie De Goede, the number eight and captain, adding the conversion to make it 34-5.\nWith 14 minutes of the contest remaining the seventh try came along for Canada.\nReplacement Mikiela Nelson was the scorer this time and with De Goede making the conversion it was 41-5.\nThe Japanese side never gave up in the closing stages and they will certainly have learnt a lot from the experience continue to bring a lot to this competition in the coming weeks.\nIt ended 41-5 to Canada and afterwards skipper De Goede said:\u00a0 \u201cIt was a good game for us, we started strongly and we know that we can build from here.\n\u201cWe have worked a lot on our rolling maul and we hope it will be a weapon for us during the rest of the competition.\n\u201cCredit to Japan, they made it difficult for us and they are an improving side for sure.\u201d\nThe post CANADA BEGIN THEIR RUGBY WORLD CUP 2021 CAMPAIGN WITH A BANG appeared first on Asia Rugby.", "date_published": "2022-10-10T23:56:57+08:00", "date_modified": "2022-10-10T23:57:37+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Asia Rugby", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Asia Rugby", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.asiarugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/The-bonus-point-was-secured-by-Canada-in-the-first-half-against-Japan-in-Pool-B.jpg", "tags": [ "Rugby World Cup", "World Cup 2021", "RWC", "Canada Rugby", "Japan Rugby", "Featured", "News" ] }, { "id": "https://www.asiarugby.com/?p=9005", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/2022/10/08/where-to-watch-rugby-world-cup-2021-tv-broadcast-partners-live-streams/", "title": "WHERE TO WATCH RUGBY WORLD CUP 2021 : TV BROADCAST PARTNERS, LIVE STREAMS", "content_html": "

Live stream will be available for\u00a0all matches in the territories listed below :

\n

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, China, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curacao, Denmark, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong , Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Kiribati, Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Qatar, Samoa, Sao Tome & Principe, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovenia, Somaliland, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Western Sahara and Yemen.

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Fans can find their local Rugby World Cup 2021 broadcast partner(s) below :

\n

American Samoa\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/
\nAngola\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nAnguilla\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nAntigua and Barbuda\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nArgentina\u00a0– ESPN Sur https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/
\nArmenia\u00a0– Saran
\nAruba\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nAustralia\u00a0– Stan Sports https://www.stan.com.au/sport
\nAzerbaijan\u00a0– Saran
\nBahamas\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nBajo Nuevo Bank\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nBaker Island\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nBarbados\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nBelarus\u00a0– Saran
\nBenin\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nBermuda\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nBolivia\u00a0– ESPN Sur https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/
\nBonaire\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nBotswana\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nBrazil\u00a0– ESPN Sur https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/
\nBritish Virgin Islands\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nBurkina Faso\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nBurundi\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nCambodia\u00a0– BeIN https://connect.beinsports.com/
\nCameroon\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nCanada\u00a0– TSN https://www.tsn.ca/rugby/rugby-world-cup
\nCape Verde\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nCayman Islands\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nCentral African Republic\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nChad\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nChile\u00a0– ESPN Sur https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/
\nColombia\u00a0– ESPN Sur https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/
\nColumbia\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nComoros\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nCongo\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nCook Islands\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/
\nCuba\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nCuracao\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nCzech Republic\u00a0– Saran
\nDemocratic republic of Congo\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nDjibouti\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nDominica\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nDominican Republic\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nEcuador\u00a0– ESPN Sur https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/
\nEquatorial Guinea,\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nEritrea\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nEthiopia,\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nFiji\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/
\nFrance\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby
\nFrench Polynesia\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/
\nGabon,\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nGambia\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nGeorgia\u00a0– Georgian Public Broadcaster gpb.org
\nGhana\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nGrenada\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nGrenadines\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nGuadalupe\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nGuadeloupe,\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby
\nGuam\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nGuinea\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nGuinea-Bissau\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nGuyane Fran\u00e7aise,\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby
\nHaiti\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nHong Kong\u00a0– PCCW PCCW
\nHowland Bank\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nIles Eparses\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby
\nIndonesia\u00a0– U-See TV, MNC Vision; K-Vision; VIDIO, TransVision, Tokopedia
\nInflight\u00a0– Sport 24 https://sport24live.com/
\nItaly\u00a0– Rai https://www.rai.it/
\nItaly\u00a0– Sky Italy https://www.sky.it/
\nIvory Coast\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nJamaica\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nJapan\u00a0– J Sports https://www.jsports.co.jp
\nJarvis Island\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nJohnston Atoll\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nKazakhstan\u00a0– Saran
\nKenya\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nKingman Reef\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nKiribati\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/
\nKyrgyzstan\u00a0– Saran
\nla R\u00e9union\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby
\nLaos\u00a0– BeIN https://connect.beinsports.com/
\nLesotho\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nLiberia\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nMadagascar\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nMalawi\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nMalaysia\u00a0– Astro, TM https://www.astro.com.my/
\nMali\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nMartinique\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nMartinique\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby
\nMauritania\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nMauritius\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nMayotte\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nMayotte\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby
\nMicronesia\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/
\nMidway Island\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nMoldova\u00a0– Saran
\nMonaco\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby
\nMongolia\u00a0– Saran
\nMontserrat\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nMozambique\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nNamibia\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nNauru\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/
\nNavassa Island\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nNetherlands\u00a0– Ziggo Sport https://www.ziggosport.nl/rugby/
\nNetherlands Antilles\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nNevis\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nNew Caledonia\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/
\nNew Zealand\u00a0– Spark https://www.sparksport.co.nz/
\nNew Zealand\u00a0– TV3
\nNiger\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nNigeria\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nNiue\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/
\nPalau\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/
\nPapua New Guinea\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/
\nParaguay\u00a0– ESPN Sur https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/
\nPeru\u00a0– ESPN Sur https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/
\nPhilippines\u00a0– Skycable; Cignal https://www.mysky.com.ph/
\nPoland\u00a0– Polsat https://www.polsat.pl/
\nPortugal\u00a0– Sport TV https://www.sporttv.pt/
\nPuerto Rico\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nReunion\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nRomania\u00a0– Digisport Romania https://www.digisport.ro/rugby
\nRussia\u00a0–
\nRwanda\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nSaba\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nSaint-Pierre et Miquelon\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby
\nSamoa\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/
\nSao Tome & Principe\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nSenegal\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nSerranilla Bank\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nSeychelles\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nSierra Leone\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nSingapore\u00a0– Starhub, Singtel
\nSlovakia\u00a0– Saran
\nSpain\u00a0– Moviestar https://ver.movistarplus.es/
\nSocotra\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nSolomon Islands\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/
\nSomalia\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nSouth Africa\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nSouthern Sudan\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nSri Lanka\u00a0– Supreme TV
\nSt Barts\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nSt Eustacia’s\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nSt Helena & Ascension\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nSt Kitts\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nSt Lucia\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nSt Maarten\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nSt Vincent\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nSudan\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nSwaziland\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nTajikistan\u00a0– Saran
\nTanzania\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nTerres Australes et Antarctiques Fran\u00e7aise\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby
\nThailand\u00a0– True Vision, AIS https://truevisions.co.th/sports/
\nTogo\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nTokelau\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/
\nTonga\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/
\nTortola\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nTrinidad and Tobago\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nTurkey\u00a0– Saran
\nTurkmenistan\u00a0– Saran
\nTurks and Caicos\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nTuvalu\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/
\nUganda\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nUnited Kingdom\u00a0– ITV https://www.itv.com/hub/itv
\nUruguay\u00a0– ESPN Sur https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/
\nUS Virgin Islands\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nUSA\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nUzbekistan\u00a0– Saran
\nVanuatu\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/
\nVenezuela\u00a0– ESPN Sur https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/
\nWake Island\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int
\nWales\u00a0– S4C https://www.s4c.cymru/
\nWallis et Futuna\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby
\nZambia\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nZanzibar\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/
\nZimbabwe\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/

\n

The post WHERE TO WATCH RUGBY WORLD CUP 2021 : TV BROADCAST PARTNERS, LIVE STREAMS appeared first on Asia Rugby.

\n", "content_text": "Live stream will be available for\u00a0all matches in the territories listed below :\nAfghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, China, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curacao, Denmark, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong , Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Kiribati, Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Qatar, Samoa, Sao Tome & Principe, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovenia, Somaliland, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Western Sahara and Yemen.\n\nRugby World Cup Sevens 2022: How an \u201cincredible\u201d weekend unfolded\nRugby World Cup Sevens 2022 semi-finalists confirmed in Cape Town\nWhere to Watch : Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022\n\nFans can find their local Rugby World Cup 2021 broadcast partner(s) below :\nAmerican Samoa\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/\nAngola\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nAnguilla\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nAntigua and Barbuda\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nArgentina\u00a0– ESPN Sur https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/\nArmenia\u00a0– Saran\nAruba\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nAustralia\u00a0– Stan Sports https://www.stan.com.au/sport\nAzerbaijan\u00a0– Saran\nBahamas\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nBajo Nuevo Bank\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nBaker Island\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nBarbados\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nBelarus\u00a0– Saran\nBenin\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nBermuda\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nBolivia\u00a0– ESPN Sur https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/\nBonaire\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nBotswana\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nBrazil\u00a0– ESPN Sur https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/\nBritish Virgin Islands\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nBurkina Faso\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nBurundi\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nCambodia\u00a0– BeIN https://connect.beinsports.com/\nCameroon\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nCanada\u00a0– TSN https://www.tsn.ca/rugby/rugby-world-cup\nCape Verde\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nCayman Islands\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nCentral African Republic\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nChad\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nChile\u00a0– ESPN Sur https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/\nColombia\u00a0– ESPN Sur https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/\nColumbia\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nComoros\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nCongo\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nCook Islands\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/\nCuba\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nCuracao\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nCzech Republic\u00a0– Saran\nDemocratic republic of Congo\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nDjibouti\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nDominica\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nDominican Republic\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nEcuador\u00a0– ESPN Sur https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/\nEquatorial Guinea,\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nEritrea\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nEthiopia,\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nFiji\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/\nFrance\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby\nFrench Polynesia\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/\nGabon,\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nGambia\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nGeorgia\u00a0– Georgian Public Broadcaster gpb.org\nGhana\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nGrenada\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nGrenadines\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nGuadalupe\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nGuadeloupe,\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby\nGuam\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nGuinea\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nGuinea-Bissau\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nGuyane Fran\u00e7aise,\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby\nHaiti\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nHong Kong\u00a0– PCCW PCCW\nHowland Bank\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nIles Eparses\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby\nIndonesia\u00a0– U-See TV, MNC Vision; K-Vision; VIDIO, TransVision, Tokopedia\nInflight\u00a0– Sport 24 https://sport24live.com/\nItaly\u00a0– Rai https://www.rai.it/\nItaly\u00a0– Sky Italy https://www.sky.it/\nIvory Coast\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nJamaica\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nJapan\u00a0– J Sports https://www.jsports.co.jp\nJarvis Island\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nJohnston Atoll\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nKazakhstan\u00a0– Saran\nKenya\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nKingman Reef\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nKiribati\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/\nKyrgyzstan\u00a0– Saran\nla R\u00e9union\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby\nLaos\u00a0– BeIN https://connect.beinsports.com/\nLesotho\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nLiberia\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nMadagascar\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nMalawi\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nMalaysia\u00a0– Astro, TM https://www.astro.com.my/\nMali\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nMartinique\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nMartinique\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby\nMauritania\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nMauritius\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nMayotte\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nMayotte\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby\nMicronesia\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/\nMidway Island\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nMoldova\u00a0– Saran\nMonaco\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby\nMongolia\u00a0– Saran\nMontserrat\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nMozambique\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nNamibia\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nNauru\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/\nNavassa Island\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nNetherlands\u00a0– Ziggo Sport https://www.ziggosport.nl/rugby/\nNetherlands Antilles\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nNevis\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nNew Caledonia\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/\nNew Zealand\u00a0– Spark https://www.sparksport.co.nz/\nNew Zealand\u00a0– TV3\nNiger\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nNigeria\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nNiue\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/\nPalau\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/\nPapua New Guinea\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/\nParaguay\u00a0– ESPN Sur https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/\nPeru\u00a0– ESPN Sur https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/\nPhilippines\u00a0– Skycable; Cignal https://www.mysky.com.ph/\nPoland\u00a0– Polsat https://www.polsat.pl/\nPortugal\u00a0– Sport TV https://www.sporttv.pt/\nPuerto Rico\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nReunion\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nRomania\u00a0– Digisport Romania https://www.digisport.ro/rugby\nRussia\u00a0–\nRwanda\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nSaba\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nSaint-Pierre et Miquelon\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby\nSamoa\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/\nSao Tome & Principe\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nSenegal\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nSerranilla Bank\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nSeychelles\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nSierra Leone\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nSingapore\u00a0– Starhub, Singtel\nSlovakia\u00a0– Saran\nSpain\u00a0– Moviestar https://ver.movistarplus.es/\nSocotra\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nSolomon Islands\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/\nSomalia\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nSouth Africa\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nSouthern Sudan\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nSri Lanka\u00a0– Supreme TV\nSt Barts\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nSt Eustacia’s\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nSt Helena & Ascension\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nSt Kitts\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nSt Lucia\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nSt Maarten\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nSt Vincent\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nSudan\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nSwaziland\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nTajikistan\u00a0– Saran\nTanzania\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nTerres Australes et Antarctiques Fran\u00e7aise\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby\nThailand\u00a0– True Vision, AIS https://truevisions.co.th/sports/\nTogo\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nTokelau\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/\nTonga\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/\nTortola\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nTrinidad and Tobago\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nTurkey\u00a0– Saran\nTurkmenistan\u00a0– Saran\nTurks and Caicos\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nTuvalu\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/\nUganda\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nUnited Kingdom\u00a0– ITV https://www.itv.com/hub/itv\nUruguay\u00a0– ESPN Sur https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/\nUS Virgin Islands\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nUSA\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nUzbekistan\u00a0– Saran\nVanuatu\u00a0– Fiji TV https://fijionenews.com.fj/sports/\nVenezuela\u00a0– ESPN Sur https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/\nWake Island\u00a0– NBC https://www.nbc.com/networks/peacock https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/int\nWales\u00a0– S4C https://www.s4c.cymru/\nWallis et Futuna\u00a0– TF1 https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/coupe-du-monde-rugby\nZambia\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nZanzibar\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nZimbabwe\u00a0– Super Sport https://supersport.com/rugby/womens-worldcup/\nThe post WHERE TO WATCH RUGBY WORLD CUP 2021 : TV BROADCAST PARTNERS, LIVE STREAMS appeared first on Asia Rugby.", "date_published": "2022-10-08T13:51:06+08:00", "date_modified": "2022-10-08T13:51:06+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Asia Rugby", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Asia Rugby", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.asiarugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/RWC.jpg", "tags": [ "RWC", "RWC21", "Rugby World Cup", "Rugby World Cup 2021", "Featured", "News" ] }, { "id": "https://www.asiarugby.com/?p=8962", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/2022/09/13/rugby-world-cup-sevens-2022-how-an-incredible-weekend-unfolded/", "title": "Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: How an \u201cincredible\u201d weekend unfolded", "content_html": "

Following the conclusion of RWC Sevens 2022 in Cape Town, we recap some of the highlights from a truly special weekend.

\n

Following 84 incredible matches, the curtain came down on an enthralling\u00a0Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022\u00a0with Australia and Fiji sitting on the top step of the podium.

\n

Australia dominated the women\u2019s tournament from the very first match, while Fiji were made to work hard to end their season on a high in Cape Town.

\n

But that only tells part of the story. We recap some of the highlights from a memorable weekend that sets up both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s\u00a0World Rugby Sevens Series 2023\u00a0perfectly.

\n
\n

Sevens? Completed it \"\ud83c\udfc6\"

\n

Charlotte Caslick and Sharni Williams are the first @Aussie7s players to complete a unique quartet of Sevens titles

\n

\"\ud83e\udd47\" Olympics
\n\"\ud83e\udd47\" Rugby World Cup Sevens
\n\"\ud83e\udd47\" World Rugby Sevens Series
\n\"\ud83e\udd47\" Commonwealth Games#RWC7s | #HereToSevens pic.twitter.com/mTnUxO5lxt

\n

\u2014 Rugby World Cup 7s 2022 (@WorldRugby7s) September 12, 2022

\n

\n

AUSTRALIA COMPLETE HISTORIC HAT-TRICK

\n

Heading into the 2022 season, Australia\u2019s women were determined to bounce back from a disappointing Tokyo Olympic Games in style.

\n

Ten months later, they have created history as the first team to win the World Rugby Sevens Series, Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup Sevens in the same year.

\n

In Cape Town they hit the ground running with a 48-0 win against Madagascar and didn\u2019t look back, beating England 35-5 in the quarter-finals and the USA 17-7 in the semi-finals.

\n

New Zealand stood between them and a second RWC Sevens title but a Maddison Levi hat-trick and a ninth try of the tournament for Faith Nathan helped them to a nail-biting 24-22 victory.

\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a pretty special feat that this group of young girls has done. It was something we\u2019ve been brave enough to put out there and put everything on the line to come away with,\u201d co-captain Charlotte Caslick said.

\n

\u201cIt\u2019s incredible.\u00a0I\u2019m so proud of the girls \u2013 it\u2019s been an honour to lead them this year and to watch the growth they\u2019ve had as a group and as a team.

\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really special for me to be a part of. At the moment, I\u2019m just really proud \u2013 proud of our coaching staff, proud of the girls, proud of Demi [Hayes] and I, and getting them to have this bond that is becoming a real force on the world stage.”

\n

Co-captain Hayes added: \u201cI am so proud of our group, the 12 of us, and everyone back home, the whole of Australia. Hopefully, we have done all of them proud. It\u2019s never been done before, so to take that home is really special.”

\n

FIJI BACK ON TOP OF THE WORLD

\n

By Fiji\u2019s extremely high standards, 2022 had been a slightly disappointing one, missing out on the men\u2019s Series title by four points and losing in the Commonwealth Games final to South Africa.

\n

The team put that right in Cape Town, however, to end Ben Gollings\u2019 first season as coach on a high and come away with a third RWC Sevens title \u2013 and first of those won outside of Hong Kong.

\n

Wales were dispatched 29-5 in the round of 16 on Friday before Fiji overcame Pacific Island rivals Samoa 21-10 in a bruising quarter-final the following evening.

\n

A 38-14 defeat of Australia in the semi-finals set up a showpiece match against defending champions, New Zealand. Fiji ran in five tries through five different scorers in the final to topple the All Blacks Sevens 29-12.

\n
\n

Flying finish for @fijirugby! \"\u2708\"

\n

Scenes were made in Cape Town thanks to Fellipe Sauturaga!#HereToSevens | #RWC7s pic.twitter.com/Zy3nG8FYiA

\n

\u2014 Rugby World Cup 7s 2022 (@WorldRugby7s) September 11, 2022

\n

\n

\u201cIt was huge. These boys have been fantastic this whole week,\u201d Gollings said. \u201cThey set themselves a goal and they came and finished the job this evening, and it was just incredible.

\n

\u201cWords don\u2019t really express it right now. They deserve everything they have done today.\u201d

\n

Try-scorer in the final, Kaminieli Rasaku added: \u201cToday was unreal for the boys. It\u2019s quite a long time since we won the World Cup. I think the boys are proud of themselves – their performance throughout the three days of the tournament.\u201d

\n

RWC SEVENS 2022 HIGHLIGHTS

\n

It did not take long for Australia and Faith Nathan to find their form in Cape Town, the exciting finisher becoming the first player ever to score five tries in a single RWC Sevens match in the opening tie of the women\u2019s tournament.

\n

Madagascar were on the receiving end as Nathan touched down twice in the first half, before crossing the whitewash another three times in the second.

\n

\u201cIt feels really good. They were more team tries rather than individual but it feels good,\u201d she said after the 48-0 win.

\n

Nathan went on to score a hat-trick in the quarter-final against England before a try in the final against New Zealand took her tournament tally to nine.

\n

In the men\u2019s tournament, several of Ireland\u2019s players danced their way through the media mixed zone after they capped a stunning weekend with the bronze medal on Sunday night.

\n

Having played and won the opening match of the tournament against Portugal in the pre-round of 16, Ireland then overcame England before beating South Africa in front of their home crowd in the last eight.

\n

Following that win, Mark Roche had claimed his team-mates had \u201cgot great things ahead\u201d of them, and after losing narrowly to the All Blacks Sevens in the semi-finals, they claimed third place with a 19-14 win against Series champions Australia.

\n
\n

How’s your football skills Terry Kennedy!

\n

Phenomenal as he sets up Harry McNulty in the TUDOR Daring Play of the Day! \"\ud83e\udd29\"#BornToDare pic.twitter.com/5N1cv0jhcL

\n

\u2014 Rugby World Cup 7s 2022 (@WorldRugby7s) September 11, 2022

\n

\n

\u201cIt is incredible,\u201d try-scorer Terry Kennedy said after the bronze final. \u201cWe never fail to surprise, every time our backs are against the wall, we stand up.

\n

\u201cIt was a tough loss today against New Zealand in the semis, so to come out there and put on that performance was unbelievable.\u201d

\n

WHAT NEXT?

\n

As the goalposts are taken down at DHL Stadium and the dust settles on a remarkable three days, both Australia and Fiji are now tied as the most successful teams in women\u2019s and men\u2019s Rugby World Cup Sevens respectively.

\n

Fiji\u2019s triumph in Cape Town was their third at a men\u2019s RWC Sevens, taking them level with the All Blacks Sevens, who tasted victory in 2001, 2013 and 2018.

\n

Australia, meanwhile, have now won two tournaments \u2013 having lifted the inaugural women\u2019s title in 2009 \u2013 and are now level with the Black Ferns Sevens, who claimed RWC Sevens glory in 2013 and 2018.

\n

Like the rest of the teams who competed in Cape Town, Australia and Fiji will now enjoy a well-earned rest, but they will also take a great deal of confidence into the 2023 Series.

\n

Fiji have less than eight weeks to wait until the men\u2019s World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 gets underway in Hong Kong, the scene of their first two RWC Sevens triumphs.

\n

Australia, meanwhile, have an extra month to prepare for the start of the women\u2019s Series, which kicks off with a joint event in Dubai at the beginning of December.

\n

Much work will go in on the road to Hong Kong and Dubai as teams aim to close the gap on Fiji and Australia, while others attempt to rebound from disappointment in Cape Town.

\n

If any extra significance was needed, the 2023 Series will also act as a qualification pathway for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. See you at Hong Kong Stadium on 4 November!

\n

The post Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: How an \u201cincredible\u201d weekend unfolded appeared first on Asia Rugby.

\n", "content_text": "Following the conclusion of RWC Sevens 2022 in Cape Town, we recap some of the highlights from a truly special weekend.\nFollowing 84 incredible matches, the curtain came down on an enthralling\u00a0Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022\u00a0with Australia and Fiji sitting on the top step of the podium.\nAustralia dominated the women\u2019s tournament from the very first match, while Fiji were made to work hard to end their season on a high in Cape Town.\nBut that only tells part of the story. We recap some of the highlights from a memorable weekend that sets up both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s\u00a0World Rugby Sevens Series 2023\u00a0perfectly.\n\nSevens? Completed it \nCharlotte Caslick and Sharni Williams are the first @Aussie7s players to complete a unique quartet of Sevens titles\n Olympics\n Rugby World Cup Sevens\n World Rugby Sevens Series\n Commonwealth Games#RWC7s | #HereToSevens pic.twitter.com/mTnUxO5lxt\n\u2014 Rugby World Cup 7s 2022 (@WorldRugby7s) September 12, 2022\n\nAUSTRALIA COMPLETE HISTORIC HAT-TRICK\nHeading into the 2022 season, Australia\u2019s women were determined to bounce back from a disappointing Tokyo Olympic Games in style.\nTen months later, they have created history as the first team to win the World Rugby Sevens Series, Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup Sevens in the same year.\nIn Cape Town they hit the ground running with a 48-0 win against Madagascar and didn\u2019t look back, beating England 35-5 in the quarter-finals and the USA 17-7 in the semi-finals.\nNew Zealand stood between them and a second RWC Sevens title but a Maddison Levi hat-trick and a ninth try of the tournament for Faith Nathan helped them to a nail-biting 24-22 victory.\n\u201cIt\u2019s a pretty special feat that this group of young girls has done. It was something we\u2019ve been brave enough to put out there and put everything on the line to come away with,\u201d co-captain Charlotte Caslick said.\n\u201cIt\u2019s incredible.\u00a0I\u2019m so proud of the girls \u2013 it\u2019s been an honour to lead them this year and to watch the growth they\u2019ve had as a group and as a team.\n\u201cIt\u2019s really special for me to be a part of. At the moment, I\u2019m just really proud \u2013 proud of our coaching staff, proud of the girls, proud of Demi [Hayes] and I, and getting them to have this bond that is becoming a real force on the world stage.”\nCo-captain Hayes added: \u201cI am so proud of our group, the 12 of us, and everyone back home, the whole of Australia. Hopefully, we have done all of them proud. It\u2019s never been done before, so to take that home is really special.”\nFIJI BACK ON TOP OF THE WORLD\nBy Fiji\u2019s extremely high standards, 2022 had been a slightly disappointing one, missing out on the men\u2019s Series title by four points and losing in the Commonwealth Games final to South Africa.\nThe team put that right in Cape Town, however, to end Ben Gollings\u2019 first season as coach on a high and come away with a third RWC Sevens title \u2013 and first of those won outside of Hong Kong.\nWales were dispatched 29-5 in the round of 16 on Friday before Fiji overcame Pacific Island rivals Samoa 21-10 in a bruising quarter-final the following evening.\nA 38-14 defeat of Australia in the semi-finals set up a showpiece match against defending champions, New Zealand. Fiji ran in five tries through five different scorers in the final to topple the All Blacks Sevens 29-12.\n\nFlying finish for @fijirugby! \nScenes were made in Cape Town thanks to Fellipe Sauturaga!#HereToSevens | #RWC7s pic.twitter.com/Zy3nG8FYiA\n\u2014 Rugby World Cup 7s 2022 (@WorldRugby7s) September 11, 2022\n\n\u201cIt was huge. These boys have been fantastic this whole week,\u201d Gollings said. \u201cThey set themselves a goal and they came and finished the job this evening, and it was just incredible.\n\u201cWords don\u2019t really express it right now. They deserve everything they have done today.\u201d\nTry-scorer in the final, Kaminieli Rasaku added: \u201cToday was unreal for the boys. It\u2019s quite a long time since we won the World Cup. I think the boys are proud of themselves – their performance throughout the three days of the tournament.\u201d\nRWC SEVENS 2022 HIGHLIGHTS\nIt did not take long for Australia and Faith Nathan to find their form in Cape Town, the exciting finisher becoming the first player ever to score five tries in a single RWC Sevens match in the opening tie of the women\u2019s tournament.\nMadagascar were on the receiving end as Nathan touched down twice in the first half, before crossing the whitewash another three times in the second.\n\u201cIt feels really good. They were more team tries rather than individual but it feels good,\u201d she said after the 48-0 win.\nNathan went on to score a hat-trick in the quarter-final against England before a try in the final against New Zealand took her tournament tally to nine.\nIn the men\u2019s tournament, several of Ireland\u2019s players danced their way through the media mixed zone after they capped a stunning weekend with the bronze medal on Sunday night.\nHaving played and won the opening match of the tournament against Portugal in the pre-round of 16, Ireland then overcame England before beating South Africa in front of their home crowd in the last eight.\nFollowing that win, Mark Roche had claimed his team-mates had \u201cgot great things ahead\u201d of them, and after losing narrowly to the All Blacks Sevens in the semi-finals, they claimed third place with a 19-14 win against Series champions Australia.\n\nHow’s your football skills Terry Kennedy!\nPhenomenal as he sets up Harry McNulty in the TUDOR Daring Play of the Day! #BornToDare pic.twitter.com/5N1cv0jhcL\n\u2014 Rugby World Cup 7s 2022 (@WorldRugby7s) September 11, 2022\n\n\u201cIt is incredible,\u201d try-scorer Terry Kennedy said after the bronze final. \u201cWe never fail to surprise, every time our backs are against the wall, we stand up.\n\u201cIt was a tough loss today against New Zealand in the semis, so to come out there and put on that performance was unbelievable.\u201d\nWHAT NEXT?\nAs the goalposts are taken down at DHL Stadium and the dust settles on a remarkable three days, both Australia and Fiji are now tied as the most successful teams in women\u2019s and men\u2019s Rugby World Cup Sevens respectively.\nFiji\u2019s triumph in Cape Town was their third at a men\u2019s RWC Sevens, taking them level with the All Blacks Sevens, who tasted victory in 2001, 2013 and 2018.\nAustralia, meanwhile, have now won two tournaments \u2013 having lifted the inaugural women\u2019s title in 2009 \u2013 and are now level with the Black Ferns Sevens, who claimed RWC Sevens glory in 2013 and 2018.\nLike the rest of the teams who competed in Cape Town, Australia and Fiji will now enjoy a well-earned rest, but they will also take a great deal of confidence into the 2023 Series.\nFiji have less than eight weeks to wait until the men\u2019s World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 gets underway in Hong Kong, the scene of their first two RWC Sevens triumphs.\nAustralia, meanwhile, have an extra month to prepare for the start of the women\u2019s Series, which kicks off with a joint event in Dubai at the beginning of December.\nMuch work will go in on the road to Hong Kong and Dubai as teams aim to close the gap on Fiji and Australia, while others attempt to rebound from disappointment in Cape Town.\nIf any extra significance was needed, the 2023 Series will also act as a qualification pathway for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. See you at Hong Kong Stadium on 4 November!\nThe post Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: How an \u201cincredible\u201d weekend unfolded appeared first on Asia Rugby.", "date_published": "2022-09-13T16:39:55+08:00", "date_modified": "2022-09-13T16:39:55+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Asia Rugby", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Asia Rugby", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.asiarugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Rugby-World-Cup-Sevens-2022.jpg", "tags": [ "Rugby World Cup", "Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022", "Australia Rugby", "RWC Sevens", "Fiji Rugby", "RWC", "Featured", "News" ] }, { "id": "https://www.asiarugby.com/?p=8960", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/2022/09/13/fiji-and-australia-crowned-rugby-world-cup-sevens-2022-champions-in-cape-town/", "title": "Fiji and Australia crowned Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 champions in Cape Town", "content_html": "

Fiji claimed their third men\u2019s Rugby World Cup Sevens title by beating defending champions New Zealand, while Australia\u2019s women took down New Zealand to win the title for the first time since 2009 in Cape Town.

\n

Fiji and Australia were crowned Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 winners in the men\u2019s and women\u2019s events respectively as they both defeated reigning champions New Zealand in two exhilarating finals in Cape Town.

\n

The Flying Fijians claimed a third RWC Sevens title, their first since 2005, by beating an All Blacks side that won the last two tournaments with a superb 29-12 victory in the Championship final.

\n
\n

Start as you mean to go on! \"\ud83e\udd29\"

\n

It took only 30 seconds for Joseva Talacolo to get @fijirugby on the board \"\ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddef\"#RWC7s | #HereToSevens pic.twitter.com/j6YEBzcaUw

\n

\u2014 Rugby World Cup 7s 2022 (@WorldRugby7s) September 11, 2022

\n

\n

The Olympic gold medallists battled past HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series champions Australia in the semi-finals before running in five tries in a fiercely physical final against a New Zealand side who overcame Ireland in the last four.

\n

Australia\u2019s women continued their imperious 2022 form by beating New Zealand in a thrilling final to add a World Cup to the World Rugby Sevens Series and Commonwealth Games titles they\u2019ve already claimed this year.

\n

The top seeds edged their old rivals 24-22 as Maddison Levi ran in a hat-trick, ending double defending champions New Zealand\u2019s 13-match winning run in the RWC Sevens and claiming a first Aussie women\u2019s World Cup since 2009 in Dubai.

\n\n

\u201cWe spoke a lot about the 2009 girls today, doing it for them and everyone back home who has left the legacy before us so we can continue it on,\u201d said Aussie 7s star Charlotte Caslick.

\n

History was made as Ireland\u2019s men claimed their first bronze medal since reaching the semi-finals in 1993, coming from behind twice to beat World Series champions Australia.

\n

France took bronze in the women\u2019s event with a commanding 29-7 win over the USA, as Lili Dezou ran in two tries on a dream starting debut for her country.

\n

SEE ALL THE RESULTS OF THE WEEKEND >>>

\n

There were emotional scenes as South Africa coaching great Neil Powell\u2019s nine-year reign came to an end with a big win over Samoa that earned the hosts a seventh-place finish.

\n

Argentina took fifth thanks to a win over France, while Fijiana did the same in the women\u2019s event with a crushing, tournament-best 53-0 victory over Canada.

\n

England won the men\u2019s Challenge bracket, overcoming Uruguay in the final, while Uganda defeated Germany to claim the Bowl.

\n

In the women\u2019s Challenge final, Japan launched a superb second half comeback to beat Poland.

\n

FEROCIOUS FIJI PUT ON SHOW IN FINAL

\n

Fiji flew out of the blocks as Joseva Talacolo went screaming down the left wing and over the try line inside 30 seconds, before Kaminieli Rasaku charged over in the corner to notch his fourth try of the weekend.

\n

Moses Leo finished a nice passing move from the All Blacks to get them back in it, but they were soon pegged back again as Elia Canakaivata carved open the defence and Filipe Sauturaga dummied and went through to give the Olympic champions a 19-point lead at the break.

\n

Akuila Rokolisoa got the All Blacks off to a good start with a try early in the second half, and Fiji\u2019s problems soon piled up as Talacolo was sin-binned for a high tackle and Waisea Nucuqu was forced off with injury.

\n

Rasaku looked set to stream through for his second try until the ball slipped out of his grasp, and the Fijians then received another yellow card as Sevuloni Mocenacagi was sent to the bin just as Talacolo returned to the fray.

\n

But they survived the testing period without conceding, and Rokolisoa then joined Mocenacagi in the bin for obstruction to make it a six-a-side game with three minutes left.

\n

The Fijians defended ferociously, pushing New Zealand all the way back under their own posts, and they sealed a superb victory with the final play through Pilipo Bukayaro.

\n
\n

She is just too strong! \"\ud83d\udcaa\"

\n

Faith Nathan reaps the rewards for @Aussie7s as New Zealand just can’t bring down Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea \"\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\"#RWC7s | #HereToSevens pic.twitter.com/Z5vM6vr3x0

\n

\u2014 Rugby World Cup 7s 2022 (@WorldRugby7s) September 11, 2022

\n

\n

AUSTRALIA WIN KNIFE-EDGE FINAL

\n

Australia underlined their status as the team to beat in women\u2019s rugby sevens with a 24-22 victory over their old rivals New Zealand in a thrilling, breathless gold medal match.

\n

The two finalists had conceded just two tries each going into the final, but that didn\u2019t stop them from going all-out in attack in their bid for glory.

\n

Kelly Brazier stretched over the line to give the Black Ferns an early lead, but Australia hit straight back through Maddison Levi.

\n

Caslick\u2019s quick hands then sent Levi over the try line for a second time, but New Zealand fought back through Stacey Fluhler as the Aussie 7s went in at the break with a slender two-point lead.

\n

A yellow card for Niall Williams early in the second half gave Australia a chance, and they took full advantage as the RWC Sevens 2022 top try scorer Faith Nathan scored her ninth try of the weekend before Levi powered down the wing to complete her hat-trick.

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That quickfire double gave the Aussies a commanding 14-point advantage with three minutes to go, but the Black Ferns would not give up without a fight and narrowed the gap thanks to a super break and finish from Shiray Kaka.

\n

Australia\u2019s performance was plagued by a high penalty count against them, giving New Zealand repeated chances to attack for a game-levelling score, which they eventually found in the final play when Alena Saili crossed.

\n

Tenika Willison needed to nail the conversion to take the game to extra-time but steered it wide, sparking euphoric scenes from the gold-shirted players.

\n

IRELAND CLAIM HISTORIC BRONZE

\n

There were joyous scenes of celebration at the final whistle when Ireland edged a nail-biting battle with Australia 19-14 to claim their first RWC Sevens bronze medal since 1993.

\n

The Irish had a tournament to remember, knocking out top seeds and hosts South Africa in the quarter-finals, and they showed all their class in toppling the World Series champions to take a place on the podium.

\n

Australia flyer Corey Toole lit up the first half with a beautiful switch to send Nathan Lawson under the posts and open the scoring, but Sean Cribbin drew Ireland level before the break with a powerful charge over the try line.

\n

More Toole magic restored the Aussie lead when he weaved past defenders before exploding through a gap to dot down.

\n

But Ireland responded with outstanding individual quality of their own, as Terry Kennedy, the World Series try scorer last season, nudged a grubber kick through a gap and got there first to touch down.

\n

Kennedy\u2019s footwork was again crucial as he somehow kept a passing move going by flicking a leg at a loose ball to shift it out wide, where Harry McNulty was on hand to dive in the corner with the winning score.

\n

DEZOU STARS AS FRANCE TAKE BRONZE

\n

Lili Dezou enjoyed a dream starting debut for France, crossing the try line twice as Les Bleues emphatically claimed bronze with a 29-7 win over USA.

\n

Dezou snaffled up an offload to go over early on, before pouncing again in a clinical, dominant first half where the French scored two tries from two visits to the American 22.

\n

Naya Tapper got the USA back in it with a strong burst over the try line, but she was then sent to the sin bin and France took advantage as Alycia Chrystiaens crossed to extend their lead.

\n

The in-form Joanna Grisez and Ian Jason added further scores to top off a strong performance.

\n

Fiji were in destructive mood in the fifth-place play-off as they crushed Canada 53-0 in the biggest win of the RWC Sevens 2022.

\n

Fijiana roared into a 34-0 lead by half time and barely reduced their intensity after the break as Reapi Uluisau ran in a hat-trick in a nine-try victory.

\n

England and Ireland faced off for seventh place after defeats to Canada (7-22) and (0-24) Fiji respectively earlier in the day, and Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe bagged a brace as the Irish ran out 26-10 winners.

\n
\n

His glittering Sevens career didn’t end with the trophy he wanted but head coach Neil Powell bows out as an all-time @Blitzboks legend \"\ud83d\ude4c\"\"\ud83c\uddff\ud83c\udde6\"\"\ud83d\udc4f\"#RWC7s | #HereToSevens pic.twitter.com/ubC7P3sgYH

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\u2014 Rugby World Cup 7s 2022 (@WorldRugby7s) September 11, 2022

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POWELL BOWS OUT

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Argentina finished off a strong RWC Sevens showing by taking fifth place, beating hosts South Africa 26-19 before coming from behind to edge France 10-7 in the 5/6 placement match. Les Bleus made it there courtesy of a 24-17 win against Samoa.

\n

A place in the 7/8 match wasn\u2019t what the top-seeded Blitzboks had hoped for heading into the weekend, but they at least finished with a flourish, defeating Samoa 35-5 to send coaching great Neil Powell off on a high before he heads into a new role in the 15s game.

\n

Signs were held up by fans in the stadium to pay tribute to the South Africa coach, who is set to step down after leading his country to a host of honours over a nine-year period, including two Commonwealth Games gold medals, an Olympic bronze medal and three World Rugby Sevens Series titles.

\n

Asked what he is most proud of from his time in charge, Powell said: \u201cFor me it was always about the culture of the team, the people in the team.\u201d

\n

\u201cOur young men that have grown into adults and walked out of there mature, disciplined and respectful. It was great to be part of it and I\u2019m so honoured for the time I\u2019ve spent in this system.\u201d

\n

ALL BLACKS EDGE PAST IRELAND

\n

Ireland pushed New Zealand all the way in their semi-final meeting, as the men in green looked to back up their superb quarter-final victory over South Africa with a first-ever win against the All Blacks.

\n

The reigning champions got off to the perfect start when Ngarohi McGarvey-Black scored two tries in the opening two minutes, benefiting from some ferocious work at the breakdown.

\n

But a yellow card for Moses Leo gave the Irish a lifeline and they took full advantage as Jack Kelly and Andrew Smith scored either side of the break to level the match at 10-10.

\n

The All Blacks turned to their star performer in their time of need, though, as McGarvey-Black skipped through two tackles to complete his hat-trick and clinch a 17-10 win.

\n

Fiji showcased their flair and speed as they blew away Australia with a 38-14 semi-final win to reach their first RWC Sevens final since 2005.

\n

The Flying Fijians\u2019 famous offloading game put the World Series winners to the sword as they ran in six mesmerising tries with six different scorers, notching 19 points in each half.

\n

BLACK FERNS CRUISE THROUGH

\n

New Zealand\u2019s women booked their place in the final with a confident and clinical 38-7 win over France.

\n

Black Ferns speedster Michaela Blyde burst through from her own 22-metre line for the opening try, but Grisez soon responded.

\n

However, the reigning champions then turned on the style as Blyde crossed for a second time and Sarah Hirini scored before half time. Shiray Kaka bagged two tries, either side of a Jazmin Felix-Hotham score, after the break.

\n

Australia progressed to their first RWC Sevens final since 2009 with a 17-7 win over the USA that was lit up by their talisman Charlotte Caslick.

\n

The Aussie 7s star cut through the American defence to go under the posts and open the scoring, before striking again early in the second half by finishing a well-executed set piece move.

\n

USA, who managed to survive without conceding points while Jaz Gray was in the sin bin in the first half, pulled one back through Nicole Heavirland, but a show-and-go from Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea ensured an Aussie win in the final minute.

\n
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A final #RWC7s appearance, and still scoring tries

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Perry Baker, one of a kind#HereToSevens pic.twitter.com/ra29bxnBIa

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\u2014 Rugby World Cup 7s 2022 (@WorldRugby7s) September 11, 2022

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ENGLAND TAKE CHALLENGE CROWN

\n

England bowed out on a high by winning the Challenge bracket with a 28-5 victory over Uruguay, in their final match before teaming up with Wales and Scotland to form a Great Britain Sevens team for next season.

\n

Tom Mitchell produced a superb individual try, goose-stepping round one defender before chasing and gathering his own grubber kick to score, while Tom Bowen finished with a flourish by storming down the left wing to notch England\u2019s fourth try in the final play.

\n

USA legend Perry Baker marked his final RWC Sevens appearance in typically clinical fashion, scoring two tries in a 26-19 victory for the Eagles over Kenya that secured 11th\u00a0place.

\n

Canada finished 13th, beating Chile 12-10 in their play-off match in spectacular fashion by coming back from a 10-0 half-time deficit to win.

\n

There was a dramatic ending to the 15/16 placement match between Scotland and Wales; the Scots led at the death, but Kaleem Baretto picked up a late yellow card and Wales profited with a 16th-minute match-winning try from Iestyn Garin Rees.

\n

JAPAN FIGHT BACK IN CHALLENGE FINAL

\n

There was a dramatic conclusion to the women\u2019s Challenge final, as Japan completed a comeback to beat Poland 17-12.

\n

The Poles, who defeated China and Spain for their first RWC Sevens wins on Saturday, raced into a 12-0 half-time lead through Malgorzata Koldej and Anna Klichowska tries.

\n

But the Japanese fought back, led by the in-form speedster Wakaba Hara, who scored two tries and Yume Hirano another to complete an impressive turnaround.

\n

Brazil took 11th\u00a0place with a narrow 19-17 win over Spain, while hosts South Africa fell just short in the 13/14 place match, losing 21-19 to China.

\n

But the story of the Challenge bracket came in the battle for 15th, as debutants Madagascar earned their historic first RWC Sevens victory by beating Colombia 19-12.

\n

UGANDA TAKE BOWL

\n

There were scenes of celebration on the pitch and in the stands when Uganda clinched a 19-12 victory over Germany to win the Men\u2019s Bowl competition thanks to tries from Philip Wokorach, Ian Munyani and Michael Okorach.

\n

In the remaining placement matches, Hong Kong finished strongly by beating Tonga 19-0 to take 19th\u00a0place, Korea edged Portugal 12-10 to finish 21st\u00a0and Zimbabwe avoided the wooden spoon by beating Jamaica 31-17 in the 23/24 place match.

\n

The post Fiji and Australia crowned Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 champions in Cape Town appeared first on Asia Rugby.

\n", "content_text": "Fiji claimed their third men\u2019s Rugby World Cup Sevens title by beating defending champions New Zealand, while Australia\u2019s women took down New Zealand to win the title for the first time since 2009 in Cape Town.\nFiji and Australia were crowned Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 winners in the men\u2019s and women\u2019s events respectively as they both defeated reigning champions New Zealand in two exhilarating finals in Cape Town.\nThe Flying Fijians claimed a third RWC Sevens title, their first since 2005, by beating an All Blacks side that won the last two tournaments with a superb 29-12 victory in the Championship final.\n\nStart as you mean to go on! \nIt took only 30 seconds for Joseva Talacolo to get @fijirugby on the board #RWC7s | #HereToSevens pic.twitter.com/j6YEBzcaUw\n\u2014 Rugby World Cup 7s 2022 (@WorldRugby7s) September 11, 2022\n\nThe Olympic gold medallists battled past HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series champions Australia in the semi-finals before running in five tries in a fiercely physical final against a New Zealand side who overcame Ireland in the last four.\nAustralia\u2019s women continued their imperious 2022 form by beating New Zealand in a thrilling final to add a World Cup to the World Rugby Sevens Series and Commonwealth Games titles they\u2019ve already claimed this year.\nThe top seeds edged their old rivals 24-22 as Maddison Levi ran in a hat-trick, ending double defending champions New Zealand\u2019s 13-match winning run in the RWC Sevens and claiming a first Aussie women\u2019s World Cup since 2009 in Dubai.\n\nRugby World Cup Sevens 2022 semi-finalists confirmed in Cape Town\nWhere to Watch : Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022\nCape Town set for landmark Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022\nAustralia win the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022\n\n\u201cWe spoke a lot about the 2009 girls today, doing it for them and everyone back home who has left the legacy before us so we can continue it on,\u201d said Aussie 7s star Charlotte Caslick.\nHistory was made as Ireland\u2019s men claimed their first bronze medal since reaching the semi-finals in 1993, coming from behind twice to beat World Series champions Australia.\nFrance took bronze in the women\u2019s event with a commanding 29-7 win over the USA, as Lili Dezou ran in two tries on a dream starting debut for her country.\nSEE ALL THE RESULTS OF THE WEEKEND >>>\nThere were emotional scenes as South Africa coaching great Neil Powell\u2019s nine-year reign came to an end with a big win over Samoa that earned the hosts a seventh-place finish.\nArgentina took fifth thanks to a win over France, while Fijiana did the same in the women\u2019s event with a crushing, tournament-best 53-0 victory over Canada.\nEngland won the men\u2019s Challenge bracket, overcoming Uruguay in the final, while Uganda defeated Germany to claim the Bowl.\nIn the women\u2019s Challenge final, Japan launched a superb second half comeback to beat Poland.\nFEROCIOUS FIJI PUT ON SHOW IN FINAL\nFiji flew out of the blocks as Joseva Talacolo went screaming down the left wing and over the try line inside 30 seconds, before Kaminieli Rasaku charged over in the corner to notch his fourth try of the weekend.\nMoses Leo finished a nice passing move from the All Blacks to get them back in it, but they were soon pegged back again as Elia Canakaivata carved open the defence and Filipe Sauturaga dummied and went through to give the Olympic champions a 19-point lead at the break.\nAkuila Rokolisoa got the All Blacks off to a good start with a try early in the second half, and Fiji\u2019s problems soon piled up as Talacolo was sin-binned for a high tackle and Waisea Nucuqu was forced off with injury.\nRasaku looked set to stream through for his second try until the ball slipped out of his grasp, and the Fijians then received another yellow card as Sevuloni Mocenacagi was sent to the bin just as Talacolo returned to the fray.\nBut they survived the testing period without conceding, and Rokolisoa then joined Mocenacagi in the bin for obstruction to make it a six-a-side game with three minutes left.\nThe Fijians defended ferociously, pushing New Zealand all the way back under their own posts, and they sealed a superb victory with the final play through Pilipo Bukayaro.\n\nShe is just too strong! \nFaith Nathan reaps the rewards for @Aussie7s as New Zealand just can’t bring down Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea #RWC7s | #HereToSevens pic.twitter.com/Z5vM6vr3x0\n\u2014 Rugby World Cup 7s 2022 (@WorldRugby7s) September 11, 2022\n\nAUSTRALIA WIN KNIFE-EDGE FINAL\nAustralia underlined their status as the team to beat in women\u2019s rugby sevens with a 24-22 victory over their old rivals New Zealand in a thrilling, breathless gold medal match.\nThe two finalists had conceded just two tries each going into the final, but that didn\u2019t stop them from going all-out in attack in their bid for glory.\nKelly Brazier stretched over the line to give the Black Ferns an early lead, but Australia hit straight back through Maddison Levi.\nCaslick\u2019s quick hands then sent Levi over the try line for a second time, but New Zealand fought back through Stacey Fluhler as the Aussie 7s went in at the break with a slender two-point lead.\nA yellow card for Niall Williams early in the second half gave Australia a chance, and they took full advantage as the RWC Sevens 2022 top try scorer Faith Nathan scored her ninth try of the weekend before Levi powered down the wing to complete her hat-trick.\nThat quickfire double gave the Aussies a commanding 14-point advantage with three minutes to go, but the Black Ferns would not give up without a fight and narrowed the gap thanks to a super break and finish from Shiray Kaka.\nAustralia\u2019s performance was plagued by a high penalty count against them, giving New Zealand repeated chances to attack for a game-levelling score, which they eventually found in the final play when Alena Saili crossed.\nTenika Willison needed to nail the conversion to take the game to extra-time but steered it wide, sparking euphoric scenes from the gold-shirted players.\nIRELAND CLAIM HISTORIC BRONZE\nThere were joyous scenes of celebration at the final whistle when Ireland edged a nail-biting battle with Australia 19-14 to claim their first RWC Sevens bronze medal since 1993.\nThe Irish had a tournament to remember, knocking out top seeds and hosts South Africa in the quarter-finals, and they showed all their class in toppling the World Series champions to take a place on the podium.\nAustralia flyer Corey Toole lit up the first half with a beautiful switch to send Nathan Lawson under the posts and open the scoring, but Sean Cribbin drew Ireland level before the break with a powerful charge over the try line.\nMore Toole magic restored the Aussie lead when he weaved past defenders before exploding through a gap to dot down.\nBut Ireland responded with outstanding individual quality of their own, as Terry Kennedy, the World Series try scorer last season, nudged a grubber kick through a gap and got there first to touch down.\nKennedy\u2019s footwork was again crucial as he somehow kept a passing move going by flicking a leg at a loose ball to shift it out wide, where Harry McNulty was on hand to dive in the corner with the winning score.\nDEZOU STARS AS FRANCE TAKE BRONZE\nLili Dezou enjoyed a dream starting debut for France, crossing the try line twice as Les Bleues emphatically claimed bronze with a 29-7 win over USA.\nDezou snaffled up an offload to go over early on, before pouncing again in a clinical, dominant first half where the French scored two tries from two visits to the American 22.\nNaya Tapper got the USA back in it with a strong burst over the try line, but she was then sent to the sin bin and France took advantage as Alycia Chrystiaens crossed to extend their lead.\nThe in-form Joanna Grisez and Ian Jason added further scores to top off a strong performance.\nFiji were in destructive mood in the fifth-place play-off as they crushed Canada 53-0 in the biggest win of the RWC Sevens 2022.\nFijiana roared into a 34-0 lead by half time and barely reduced their intensity after the break as Reapi Uluisau ran in a hat-trick in a nine-try victory.\nEngland and Ireland faced off for seventh place after defeats to Canada (7-22) and (0-24) Fiji respectively earlier in the day, and Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe bagged a brace as the Irish ran out 26-10 winners.\n\nHis glittering Sevens career didn’t end with the trophy he wanted but head coach Neil Powell bows out as an all-time @Blitzboks legend #RWC7s | #HereToSevens pic.twitter.com/ubC7P3sgYH\n\u2014 Rugby World Cup 7s 2022 (@WorldRugby7s) September 11, 2022\n\nPOWELL BOWS OUT\nArgentina finished off a strong RWC Sevens showing by taking fifth place, beating hosts South Africa 26-19 before coming from behind to edge France 10-7 in the 5/6 placement match. Les Bleus made it there courtesy of a 24-17 win against Samoa.\nA place in the 7/8 match wasn\u2019t what the top-seeded Blitzboks had hoped for heading into the weekend, but they at least finished with a flourish, defeating Samoa 35-5 to send coaching great Neil Powell off on a high before he heads into a new role in the 15s game.\nSigns were held up by fans in the stadium to pay tribute to the South Africa coach, who is set to step down after leading his country to a host of honours over a nine-year period, including two Commonwealth Games gold medals, an Olympic bronze medal and three World Rugby Sevens Series titles.\nAsked what he is most proud of from his time in charge, Powell said: \u201cFor me it was always about the culture of the team, the people in the team.\u201d\n\u201cOur young men that have grown into adults and walked out of there mature, disciplined and respectful. It was great to be part of it and I\u2019m so honoured for the time I\u2019ve spent in this system.\u201d\nALL BLACKS EDGE PAST IRELAND\nIreland pushed New Zealand all the way in their semi-final meeting, as the men in green looked to back up their superb quarter-final victory over South Africa with a first-ever win against the All Blacks.\nThe reigning champions got off to the perfect start when Ngarohi McGarvey-Black scored two tries in the opening two minutes, benefiting from some ferocious work at the breakdown.\nBut a yellow card for Moses Leo gave the Irish a lifeline and they took full advantage as Jack Kelly and Andrew Smith scored either side of the break to level the match at 10-10.\nThe All Blacks turned to their star performer in their time of need, though, as McGarvey-Black skipped through two tackles to complete his hat-trick and clinch a 17-10 win.\nFiji showcased their flair and speed as they blew away Australia with a 38-14 semi-final win to reach their first RWC Sevens final since 2005.\nThe Flying Fijians\u2019 famous offloading game put the World Series winners to the sword as they ran in six mesmerising tries with six different scorers, notching 19 points in each half.\nBLACK FERNS CRUISE THROUGH\nNew Zealand\u2019s women booked their place in the final with a confident and clinical 38-7 win over France.\nBlack Ferns speedster Michaela Blyde burst through from her own 22-metre line for the opening try, but Grisez soon responded.\nHowever, the reigning champions then turned on the style as Blyde crossed for a second time and Sarah Hirini scored before half time. Shiray Kaka bagged two tries, either side of a Jazmin Felix-Hotham score, after the break.\nAustralia progressed to their first RWC Sevens final since 2009 with a 17-7 win over the USA that was lit up by their talisman Charlotte Caslick.\nThe Aussie 7s star cut through the American defence to go under the posts and open the scoring, before striking again early in the second half by finishing a well-executed set piece move.\nUSA, who managed to survive without conceding points while Jaz Gray was in the sin bin in the first half, pulled one back through Nicole Heavirland, but a show-and-go from Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea ensured an Aussie win in the final minute.\n\nA final #RWC7s appearance, and still scoring tries\nPerry Baker, one of a kind#HereToSevens pic.twitter.com/ra29bxnBIa\n\u2014 Rugby World Cup 7s 2022 (@WorldRugby7s) September 11, 2022\n\nENGLAND TAKE CHALLENGE CROWN\nEngland bowed out on a high by winning the Challenge bracket with a 28-5 victory over Uruguay, in their final match before teaming up with Wales and Scotland to form a Great Britain Sevens team for next season.\nTom Mitchell produced a superb individual try, goose-stepping round one defender before chasing and gathering his own grubber kick to score, while Tom Bowen finished with a flourish by storming down the left wing to notch England\u2019s fourth try in the final play.\nUSA legend Perry Baker marked his final RWC Sevens appearance in typically clinical fashion, scoring two tries in a 26-19 victory for the Eagles over Kenya that secured 11th\u00a0place.\nCanada finished 13th, beating Chile 12-10 in their play-off match in spectacular fashion by coming back from a 10-0 half-time deficit to win.\nThere was a dramatic ending to the 15/16 placement match between Scotland and Wales; the Scots led at the death, but Kaleem Baretto picked up a late yellow card and Wales profited with a 16th-minute match-winning try from Iestyn Garin Rees.\nJAPAN FIGHT BACK IN CHALLENGE FINAL\nThere was a dramatic conclusion to the women\u2019s Challenge final, as Japan completed a comeback to beat Poland 17-12.\nThe Poles, who defeated China and Spain for their first RWC Sevens wins on Saturday, raced into a 12-0 half-time lead through Malgorzata Koldej and Anna Klichowska tries.\nBut the Japanese fought back, led by the in-form speedster Wakaba Hara, who scored two tries and Yume Hirano another to complete an impressive turnaround.\nBrazil took 11th\u00a0place with a narrow 19-17 win over Spain, while hosts South Africa fell just short in the 13/14 place match, losing 21-19 to China.\nBut the story of the Challenge bracket came in the battle for 15th, as debutants Madagascar earned their historic first RWC Sevens victory by beating Colombia 19-12.\nUGANDA TAKE BOWL\nThere were scenes of celebration on the pitch and in the stands when Uganda clinched a 19-12 victory over Germany to win the Men\u2019s Bowl competition thanks to tries from Philip Wokorach, Ian Munyani and Michael Okorach.\nIn the remaining placement matches, Hong Kong finished strongly by beating Tonga 19-0 to take 19th\u00a0place, Korea edged Portugal 12-10 to finish 21st\u00a0and Zimbabwe avoided the wooden spoon by beating Jamaica 31-17 in the 23/24 place match.\nThe post Fiji and Australia crowned Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 champions in Cape Town appeared first on Asia Rugby.", "date_published": "2022-09-13T16:30:22+08:00", "date_modified": "2022-09-13T16:30:22+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Asia Rugby", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Asia Rugby", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.asiarugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/JAPAN.jpeg", "tags": [ "Rugby World Cup", "Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022", "Australia Rugby", "New Zealand Rugby", "Fiji Rugby", "Featured", "News" ] }, { "id": "https://www.asiarugby.com/?p=8935", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/2022/08/31/match-schedule-confirmed-for-rwc-2023-final-qualification-tournament/", "title": "Match schedule confirmed for RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament", "content_html": "

World Rugby has today unveiled the match schedule for the Final Qualification Tournament that will determine the 20th and final qualifier for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.

\n

World Rugby has today unveiled the match schedule for the Final Qualification Tournament that will determine the 20th and final qualifier for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.

\n

Played over three match days from 6-18 November at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai, the Final Qualification Tournament for RWC 2023 in France will feature four teams from four different continents. Hong Kong, Kenya, Portugal and USA will face each other in a round-robin format with the team accruing the most competition points securing the last spot at France 2023.

\n\n

The World Rugby Men\u2019s Rankings powered by Capgemini as of 31 July, 2022 have been used to determine the decisive tournament\u2019s match schedule. On the opening day, USA (ranked 19th) will face Kenya (33rd) while Portugal (20th) play against Hong Kong (22nd). The third and final match day will see the two highest-ranked teams USA and Portugal face each other to conclude the qualification process for next year\u2019s Rugby World Cup.

\n

The eventual winner and final team to join the Rugby World Cup 2023 adventure will take their place in Pool C alongside Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia.

\n

\"MatchAll matches will be free entry to the public wishing to attend. Fans interested in travelling to the Final Qualification Tournament and looking to purchase spectator packages can get in touch with local tour operators at\u00a0sports@dnata.com\u00a0(+971 (0)4 389 8389) or contact\u00a0sports.events@thesevens.ae\u00a0for match day and venue information.

\n

Dubai to host decisive Final Qualification Tournament for Rugby World Cup 2023 >>

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The post Match schedule confirmed for RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament appeared first on Asia Rugby.

\n", "content_text": "World Rugby has today unveiled the match schedule for the Final Qualification Tournament that will determine the 20th and final qualifier for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.\nWorld Rugby has today unveiled the match schedule for the Final Qualification Tournament that will determine the 20th and final qualifier for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.\nPlayed over three match days from 6-18 November at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai, the Final Qualification Tournament for RWC 2023 in France will feature four teams from four different continents. Hong Kong, Kenya, Portugal and USA will face each other in a round-robin format with the team accruing the most competition points securing the last spot at France 2023.\n\nDubai to host decisive Final Qualification Tournament for Rugby World Cup 2023\nRWC 2023 Qualification: six spots to fill in 2022, starting in Europe\nTonga qualify for Rugby World Cup 2023 after winning the Asia / Pacific play-off\n\nThe World Rugby Men\u2019s Rankings powered by Capgemini as of 31 July, 2022 have been used to determine the decisive tournament\u2019s match schedule. On the opening day, USA (ranked 19th) will face Kenya (33rd) while Portugal (20th) play against Hong Kong (22nd). The third and final match day will see the two highest-ranked teams USA and Portugal face each other to conclude the qualification process for next year\u2019s Rugby World Cup.\nThe eventual winner and final team to join the Rugby World Cup 2023 adventure will take their place in Pool C alongside Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia.\nAll matches will be free entry to the public wishing to attend. Fans interested in travelling to the Final Qualification Tournament and looking to purchase spectator packages can get in touch with local tour operators at\u00a0sports@dnata.com\u00a0(+971 (0)4 389 8389) or contact\u00a0sports.events@thesevens.ae\u00a0for match day and venue information.\nDubai to host decisive Final Qualification Tournament for Rugby World Cup 2023 >>\nThe post Match schedule confirmed for RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament appeared first on Asia Rugby.", "date_published": "2022-08-31T22:56:07+08:00", "date_modified": "2022-08-31T22:57:09+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Asia Rugby", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Asia Rugby", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.asiarugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Aerial-View-of-The-Sevens.jpg", "tags": [ "RWC 2023", "France Rugby", "Rugby World Cup", "Rugby World Cup 2023", "Featured", "News" ] }, { "id": "https://www.asiarugby.com/?p=8924", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/2022/08/23/everything-you-need-to-know-about-rugby-world-cup-sevens-2022/", "title": "Everything you need to know about Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022", "content_html": "

With only two weeks to go until RWC Sevens 2022 kicks off in Cape Town, we give you the lowdown on what to expect.

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On 9 September, the 40 best men\u2019s and women\u2019s international teams will take to the field in Cape Town determined to leave their mark on\u00a0Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022.

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New Zealand head to South Africa as defending champions in both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s tournaments after the Black Ferns Sevens and All Blacks Sevens made history in San Francisco four years ago.

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Both Kiwi teams will have to be at their best if they are to retain their crowns again, though, with double men\u2019s\u00a0Olympic champions Fiji, women\u2019s\u00a0Rio gold medallists Australia\u00a0and hosts South Africa among those keen to end their respective reigns.

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With only two weeks to go until RWC Sevens 2022 kicks off at Cape Town Stadium, we give you the lowdown on the showpiece tournament and its history.

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WHERE IS RWC SEVENS 2022 BEING PLAYED?

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The iconic Cape Town Stadium will be the host venue for RWC Sevens 2022. Constructed for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, it is the home of the HSBC Cape Town Sevens and has attracted record-breaking crowds to the event.

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Cape Town Stadium also hosted all three tests \u2013 and two tour matches \u2013 during the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021. The Springboks won the series 2-1.

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In February 2020, the stadium welcomed a Guinness World Record crowd for an exhibition tennis match of 51,954 as Roger Feder and Rafael Nadal took part in the Match in Africa.

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HOW MANY TEAMS HAVE QUALIFIED?

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Twelve teams \u2013 four women\u2019s and eight men\u2019s \u2013 pre-qualified for RWC Sevens 2022 thanks to their performance at the previous tournament in San Francisco.

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New Zealand, France, Australia and the USA booked their place in Cape Town by reaching the women\u2019s semi-finals at RWC Sevens 2018. They will be joined in September by hosts South Africa, who were 14th four years ago.

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A further 11 women\u2019s teams have made sure of their place at RWC Sevens 2022 through regional qualifying. Those are Japan, China, Fiji, Brazil, Colombia, Canada, Madagascar, England, Ireland, Poland and Spain.

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Meanwhile, men\u2019s RWC Sevens 2018 quarter-finalists New Zealand, England, South Africa, Fiji, Argentina, the USA, France and Scotland guaranteed their place in the draw.

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The identity of the 16 men\u2019s regional qualifiers is now known. Hong Kong, Korea, Australia, Samoa, Tonga, Uruguay, Chile, Canada, Jamaica, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Germany, Ireland, Portugal and Wales secured their place at this year\u2019s showpiece tournament.

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WHAT IS THE RWC SEVENS 2022 COMPETITION FORMAT?

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Like in San Francisco four years ago, both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s tournament will operate an innovative \u2018winner-takes-all\u2019 knockout format.

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The 24 men\u2019s and 16 women\u2019s teams heading to Cape Town have been seeded based on points accrued across the\u00a0HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series\u00a02020 and 2022.

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Those men\u2019s teams ranked from ninth to 24th will take part in a pre-round of 16, with the winners of those ties going on to play the top eight seeds in the round of 16.

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RWC Sevens 2022 will get underway at 08:45 local time (GMT+2) on 9 September when ninth seeds Ireland take on Portugal for a chance to play England in the round of 16.

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Canada will then face Zimbabwe, with the winner playing France, before Samoa face Uganda for the chance to play the USA and Scotland take on Jamaica with a round-of-16 match against defending champions New Zealand the prize.

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Kenya have been drawn to play Tonga, for a chance to face Argentina, before Wales and Korea meet for the right to take on Australia in the round of 16. Hong Kong will then play Uruguay with the winner facing Fiji before Germany play Chile for the right to face South Africa in the final match of day one.

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The women\u2019s tournament will kick-off at 12.11 local time (GMT+2) when reigning Series champions and top seeds, Australia face Madagascar. USA will then take on\u00a0Rugby Europe Women\u2019s Sevens champions Poland, before Canada play China and Fiji take on Japan.

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Ireland will then play Brazil, while England have been drawn to face Spain. New Zealand will play Colombia at 17:37 local time before the women\u2019s round of 16 concludes when France take on hosts South Africa.

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WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON DAYS TWO AND THREE?

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Day two begins at 08:15 local time (GMT+2) with the men\u2019s Bowl quarter-finals, before the men\u2019s and women\u2019s Challenge quarter-finals take place.

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The women\u2019s and men\u2019s Championship quarter-finals will get underway at 19:07 local time.

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The Bowl and Challenge competitions will be concluded at the beginning of day three, while the Championship Cup fifth-place semi-finals will get underway at 10:18 local time.

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At 12:07 the first women\u2019s Championship semi-final will kick-off followed by the first men\u2019s Championship semi-final.

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The women\u2019s and men\u2019s Championship Bronze finals will be held from 19:01 local time, with the women\u2019s match taking place first.

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Just over an hour later, at 20:17 local time (GMT+2) the women\u2019s Championship final will kick-off, followed by the men\u2019s Championship final at 20:54 local time.

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Full match schedule >>

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WHERE CAN I BUY TICKETS?

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Tickets for RWC Sevens 2022 went on sale on Monday, 28 February via Ticketmaster, priced between R150 ($9.90 / \u20ac8.65 / \u00a37.30) and R1,750 ($115 / \u20ac100 / \u00a385) and are selling fast.

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In order to make sure that you can access Cape Town Stadium all match tickets must only be purchased at\u00a0https://www.rwcsevens.com/tickets.\u00a0There is a ticket limit of 10 per person, per day.

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WHEN AND WHERE WAS THE FIRST RWC SEVENS HELD?

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The inaugural RWC Sevens featured 24 men\u2019s teams and was played at Murrayfield in Edinburgh between 16-18 April, 1993.

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Fiji and Latvia contested the first ever RWC Sevens match as Filimoni Seru scored a hat-trick and Waisale Serevi added 17 points in a 42-0 win for the Pacific Islanders.

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The Fijians, however, were beaten in the semi-finals by England, who went on to lift the Melrose Cup following a 21-17 defeat of Australia in the final.

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England\u2019s tournament squad contained future\u00a0Rugby World Cup 2003\u00a0winners Lawrence Dallaglio and Matt Dawson, the former scoring one of his side\u2019s three tries in the final.

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Andrew Harriman, the England captain, finished the tournament as top try-scorer with 12 in 10 matches, while Seru, Brian Lima and Joost van der Westhuizen each scored nine.

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Women competed at RWC Sevens for the first time at the 2009 tournament in Dubai. Australia pipped rivals New Zealand to the title, as Shelly Matcham\u2019s try in extra-time of the final sealed a 15-10 win.

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WHO WINS IT?

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New Zealand is the most successful nation in both the men\u2019s and the women\u2019s tournaments.

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Having finished seventh and third at the first two events, the All Blacks Sevens lifted the Melrose Cup for the first time in Argentina in 2001.

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They were beaten finalists in Hong Kong four years later and then won back-to-back RWC Sevens in Moscow in 2013 and San Francisco five years later.

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Fiji are one men\u2019s title behind New Zealand on two, having won both RWC Sevens that have been held in Hong Kong, in 1997 and 2005. England and Wales have one title apiece.

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The Black Ferns Sevens recovered from defeat to Australia in the RWC Sevens 2009 final to win the next two tournaments, in 2013 and 2018.

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WHAT HAPPENED IN 2018?

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No team had ever retained the RWC Sevens title, either men\u2019s or women\u2019s, but that changed in San Francisco as New Zealand won both for the second tournament running.

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RWC Sevens 2018 took the game to the west coast of the USA, where more than 100,000 fans flocked to AT&T Park, many of them watching rugby for the very first time.

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They were treated to a thrilling weekend as the restructured straight knockout competition ensured that every match counted.

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For the second men\u2019s RWC Sevens running England and New Zealand were the two teams left standing in the final, and it was the All Blacks Sevens who repeated their victory of five years previously to secure the Melrose Cup for a third time.

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Sione Molia scored twice in the showpiece match before Joe Ravouvou, Akuila Rokolisoa and Trael Joass all crossed the whitewash to confirm a 33-12 win.

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By the time New Zealand\u2019s men had beaten England, though, the Black Ferns Sevens had already become the first team to successfully defend the RWC Sevens title.

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Michaela Blyde scored a hat-trick in the women\u2019s final, while Portia Woodman and Tyla Nathan-Wong also touched down, as France were beaten 29-0.

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WHO WERE THE TOP TRY-SCORERS AND POINT-SCORERS IN 2018?

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The three tries Michaela Blyde scored in the women\u2019s RWC Sevens 2018 final against France took her tally for the tournament to nine, more than any other player. It also meant she ended the competition as its top scorer, with 45 points.

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USA speedster Naya Tapper scored seven tries, while Australia\u2019s Evania Pelite and Blyde\u2019s team-mate Portia Woodman both crossed the whitewash six times.

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Joe Ravouvou, who scored in the men\u2019s final, notched six tries as the All Blacks Sevens won the title campaign, as did South Africa\u2019s Siviwe Soyizwapi.

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Papua New Guinea\u2019s Emmanuel Guise, meanwhile, ended the weekend as the men\u2019s tournament\u2019s top scorer, having notched 37 points via three tries and 11 conversions.

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WHO ARE THE ALL-TIME RWC SEVENS TOP POINTS AND TRY SCORERS?

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Perhaps unsurprisingly, given he played more RWC Sevens matches than any other player,\u00a0World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Waisale Serevi\u00a0is the tournament\u2019s all-time top-scorer.

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Serevi played 31 matches across four RWC Sevens, 12 more than countryman Marika Vunibaka, who appeared at three tournaments.

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\u2018King of Sevens\u2019 Serevi scored 297 points at the tournament, 95 of which came via tries. Vunibaka is all-time leading RWC Sevens try-scorer having touched down 23 times in his 19 appearances.

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Black Ferns Sevens star Portia Woodman is both the all-time leading women\u2019s points and try-scorer having crossed the whitewash an incredible 18 times in just 10 RWC Sevens appearances.

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Woodman has competed at two RWC Sevens, in Moscow and San Francisco and won them both, scoring tries in each final.

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The post Everything you need to know about Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 appeared first on Asia Rugby.

\n", "content_text": "With only two weeks to go until RWC Sevens 2022 kicks off in Cape Town, we give you the lowdown on what to expect.\nOn 9 September, the 40 best men\u2019s and women\u2019s international teams will take to the field in Cape Town determined to leave their mark on\u00a0Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022.\nNew Zealand head to South Africa as defending champions in both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s tournaments after the Black Ferns Sevens and All Blacks Sevens made history in San Francisco four years ago.\nBoth Kiwi teams will have to be at their best if they are to retain their crowns again, though, with double men\u2019s\u00a0Olympic champions Fiji, women\u2019s\u00a0Rio gold medallists Australia\u00a0and hosts South Africa among those keen to end their respective reigns.\nWith only two weeks to go until RWC Sevens 2022 kicks off at Cape Town Stadium, we give you the lowdown on the showpiece tournament and its history.\nWHERE IS RWC SEVENS 2022 BEING PLAYED?\nThe iconic Cape Town Stadium will be the host venue for RWC Sevens 2022. Constructed for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, it is the home of the HSBC Cape Town Sevens and has attracted record-breaking crowds to the event.\nCape Town Stadium also hosted all three tests \u2013 and two tour matches \u2013 during the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021. The Springboks won the series 2-1.\nIn February 2020, the stadium welcomed a Guinness World Record crowd for an exhibition tennis match of 51,954 as Roger Feder and Rafael Nadal took part in the Match in Africa.\nHOW MANY TEAMS HAVE QUALIFIED?\nTwelve teams \u2013 four women\u2019s and eight men\u2019s \u2013 pre-qualified for RWC Sevens 2022 thanks to their performance at the previous tournament in San Francisco.\nNew Zealand, France, Australia and the USA booked their place in Cape Town by reaching the women\u2019s semi-finals at RWC Sevens 2018. They will be joined in September by hosts South Africa, who were 14th four years ago.\nA further 11 women\u2019s teams have made sure of their place at RWC Sevens 2022 through regional qualifying. Those are Japan, China, Fiji, Brazil, Colombia, Canada, Madagascar, England, Ireland, Poland and Spain.\nMeanwhile, men\u2019s RWC Sevens 2018 quarter-finalists New Zealand, England, South Africa, Fiji, Argentina, the USA, France and Scotland guaranteed their place in the draw.\nThe identity of the 16 men\u2019s regional qualifiers is now known. Hong Kong, Korea, Australia, Samoa, Tonga, Uruguay, Chile, Canada, Jamaica, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Germany, Ireland, Portugal and Wales secured their place at this year\u2019s showpiece tournament.\nWHAT IS THE RWC SEVENS 2022 COMPETITION FORMAT?\nLike in San Francisco four years ago, both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s tournament will operate an innovative \u2018winner-takes-all\u2019 knockout format.\nThe 24 men\u2019s and 16 women\u2019s teams heading to Cape Town have been seeded based on points accrued across the\u00a0HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series\u00a02020 and 2022.\nThose men\u2019s teams ranked from ninth to 24th will take part in a pre-round of 16, with the winners of those ties going on to play the top eight seeds in the round of 16.\nRWC Sevens 2022 will get underway at 08:45 local time (GMT+2) on 9 September when ninth seeds Ireland take on Portugal for a chance to play England in the round of 16.\nCanada will then face Zimbabwe, with the winner playing France, before Samoa face Uganda for the chance to play the USA and Scotland take on Jamaica with a round-of-16 match against defending champions New Zealand the prize.\nKenya have been drawn to play Tonga, for a chance to face Argentina, before Wales and Korea meet for the right to take on Australia in the round of 16. Hong Kong will then play Uruguay with the winner facing Fiji before Germany play Chile for the right to face South Africa in the final match of day one.\nThe women\u2019s tournament will kick-off at 12.11 local time (GMT+2) when reigning Series champions and top seeds, Australia face Madagascar. USA will then take on\u00a0Rugby Europe Women\u2019s Sevens champions Poland, before Canada play China and Fiji take on Japan.\nIreland will then play Brazil, while England have been drawn to face Spain. New Zealand will play Colombia at 17:37 local time before the women\u2019s round of 16 concludes when France take on hosts South Africa.\nWHAT WILL HAPPEN ON DAYS TWO AND THREE?\nDay two begins at 08:15 local time (GMT+2) with the men\u2019s Bowl quarter-finals, before the men\u2019s and women\u2019s Challenge quarter-finals take place.\nThe women\u2019s and men\u2019s Championship quarter-finals will get underway at 19:07 local time.\nThe Bowl and Challenge competitions will be concluded at the beginning of day three, while the Championship Cup fifth-place semi-finals will get underway at 10:18 local time.\nAt 12:07 the first women\u2019s Championship semi-final will kick-off followed by the first men\u2019s Championship semi-final.\nThe women\u2019s and men\u2019s Championship Bronze finals will be held from 19:01 local time, with the women\u2019s match taking place first.\nJust over an hour later, at 20:17 local time (GMT+2) the women\u2019s Championship final will kick-off, followed by the men\u2019s Championship final at 20:54 local time.\nFull match schedule >>\nWHERE CAN I BUY TICKETS?\nTickets for RWC Sevens 2022 went on sale on Monday, 28 February via Ticketmaster, priced between R150 ($9.90 / \u20ac8.65 / \u00a37.30) and R1,750 ($115 / \u20ac100 / \u00a385) and are selling fast.\nIn order to make sure that you can access Cape Town Stadium all match tickets must only be purchased at\u00a0https://www.rwcsevens.com/tickets.\u00a0There is a ticket limit of 10 per person, per day.\nWHEN AND WHERE WAS THE FIRST RWC SEVENS HELD?\nThe inaugural RWC Sevens featured 24 men\u2019s teams and was played at Murrayfield in Edinburgh between 16-18 April, 1993.\nFiji and Latvia contested the first ever RWC Sevens match as Filimoni Seru scored a hat-trick and Waisale Serevi added 17 points in a 42-0 win for the Pacific Islanders.\nThe Fijians, however, were beaten in the semi-finals by England, who went on to lift the Melrose Cup following a 21-17 defeat of Australia in the final.\nEngland\u2019s tournament squad contained future\u00a0Rugby World Cup 2003\u00a0winners Lawrence Dallaglio and Matt Dawson, the former scoring one of his side\u2019s three tries in the final.\nAndrew Harriman, the England captain, finished the tournament as top try-scorer with 12 in 10 matches, while Seru, Brian Lima and Joost van der Westhuizen each scored nine.\nWomen competed at RWC Sevens for the first time at the 2009 tournament in Dubai. Australia pipped rivals New Zealand to the title, as Shelly Matcham\u2019s try in extra-time of the final sealed a 15-10 win.\nWHO WINS IT?\nNew Zealand is the most successful nation in both the men\u2019s and the women\u2019s tournaments.\nHaving finished seventh and third at the first two events, the All Blacks Sevens lifted the Melrose Cup for the first time in Argentina in 2001.\nThey were beaten finalists in Hong Kong four years later and then won back-to-back RWC Sevens in Moscow in 2013 and San Francisco five years later.\nFiji are one men\u2019s title behind New Zealand on two, having won both RWC Sevens that have been held in Hong Kong, in 1997 and 2005. England and Wales have one title apiece.\nThe Black Ferns Sevens recovered from defeat to Australia in the RWC Sevens 2009 final to win the next two tournaments, in 2013 and 2018.\nWHAT HAPPENED IN 2018?\nNo team had ever retained the RWC Sevens title, either men\u2019s or women\u2019s, but that changed in San Francisco as New Zealand won both for the second tournament running.\nRWC Sevens 2018 took the game to the west coast of the USA, where more than 100,000 fans flocked to AT&T Park, many of them watching rugby for the very first time.\nThey were treated to a thrilling weekend as the restructured straight knockout competition ensured that every match counted.\nFor the second men\u2019s RWC Sevens running England and New Zealand were the two teams left standing in the final, and it was the All Blacks Sevens who repeated their victory of five years previously to secure the Melrose Cup for a third time.\nSione Molia scored twice in the showpiece match before Joe Ravouvou, Akuila Rokolisoa and Trael Joass all crossed the whitewash to confirm a 33-12 win.\nBy the time New Zealand\u2019s men had beaten England, though, the Black Ferns Sevens had already become the first team to successfully defend the RWC Sevens title.\nMichaela Blyde scored a hat-trick in the women\u2019s final, while Portia Woodman and Tyla Nathan-Wong also touched down, as France were beaten 29-0.\nWHO WERE THE TOP TRY-SCORERS AND POINT-SCORERS IN 2018?\nThe three tries Michaela Blyde scored in the women\u2019s RWC Sevens 2018 final against France took her tally for the tournament to nine, more than any other player. It also meant she ended the competition as its top scorer, with 45 points.\nUSA speedster Naya Tapper scored seven tries, while Australia\u2019s Evania Pelite and Blyde\u2019s team-mate Portia Woodman both crossed the whitewash six times.\nJoe Ravouvou, who scored in the men\u2019s final, notched six tries as the All Blacks Sevens won the title campaign, as did South Africa\u2019s Siviwe Soyizwapi.\nPapua New Guinea\u2019s Emmanuel Guise, meanwhile, ended the weekend as the men\u2019s tournament\u2019s top scorer, having notched 37 points via three tries and 11 conversions.\nWHO ARE THE ALL-TIME RWC SEVENS TOP POINTS AND TRY SCORERS?\nPerhaps unsurprisingly, given he played more RWC Sevens matches than any other player,\u00a0World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Waisale Serevi\u00a0is the tournament\u2019s all-time top-scorer.\nSerevi played 31 matches across four RWC Sevens, 12 more than countryman Marika Vunibaka, who appeared at three tournaments.\n\u2018King of Sevens\u2019 Serevi scored 297 points at the tournament, 95 of which came via tries. Vunibaka is all-time leading RWC Sevens try-scorer having touched down 23 times in his 19 appearances.\nBlack Ferns Sevens star Portia Woodman is both the all-time leading women\u2019s points and try-scorer having crossed the whitewash an incredible 18 times in just 10 RWC Sevens appearances.\nWoodman has competed at two RWC Sevens, in Moscow and San Francisco and won them both, scoring tries in each final.\nThe post Everything you need to know about Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 appeared first on Asia Rugby.", "date_published": "2022-08-23T18:05:37+08:00", "date_modified": "2022-08-23T18:05:37+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Asia Rugby", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Asia Rugby", "url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.asiarugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Everything-you-need-to-know-about-Rugby-World-Cup-Sevens-2022.jpg", "tags": [ "Rugby World Cup", "Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022", "RWC Sevens 2022", "Rugby World Cup Sevens", "Featured", "News" ] } ] }