World Rugby
Owen Doyle: Someone needs to have a word with some of these referees – and their critics
The great official Francis Palmade showed how it should be done, with help from Marcel Marceau
Owen Doyle: Oscar Jegou incident shows why World Rugby needs to look at disciplinary protocols
French flanker’s four-match ban for eye gouging shows up many of the shortcomings of the system
Inside rugby’s law battles: How politics shapes the game
How minor law changes are caught in a geopolitical tug-of-war
Georgia rugby caught in doping scandal as players allegedly swapped urine samples
Joint probe by Wada and World Rugby finds five instances of alleged urine swapping
Owen Doyle: Positive vibes from World Rugby summit could be spoiled by a fly in the ointment
Decision to leave laws unchanged is good for the sport, but what will Super Rugby Pacific make of it all?
‘Worse than trying to get Taylor Swift tickets’: Fans’ fury at Rugby World Cup seat presale
Supporters faced long waits to buy for tickets online for tournament or were kicked out the system
Owen Doyle: Changes to rugby’s laws need widespread buy-in, not more haste
Plenty of on-the-pitch examples should be giving World Rugby pause for thought
The slow march to lower tackle heights in rugby appears unlikely to stop
In Ireland, amateur rugby is already at this stage and looks here to stay
Why rugby’s darkest ‘dog acts’ like eye-gouging must be punished severely
Eben Etzebeth’s actions serve as a warning of the consequences that await any player who gouges a fellow player’s eyes
Eben Etzebeth’s suspension is lenient for such a repugnant offence
Question marks on whether 12 weeks is enough for eye-gouging on Alex Mann
Rugby World Cup draw: Ireland get Scotland, Uruguay and Portugal – As it happened
Hosts Australia are drawn with three time champions, New Zealand
Gordon D’Arcy: Reactionary thinking threatens to force rugby to be something it’s not
European competitions offer a chance for fresh faces to put their names in the hat for Six Nations selection
Conor Murray: The game of rugby is in trouble. Genuinely, serious trouble
Referee Matthew Carley rolls with decisions made in the opening minutes, even if they don’t apply by the hour mark
‘Fight, problem-solving, guts’: Johnny Sexton hails Ireland’s response in Springboks clash
Loss of players and chaotic first half on Saturday made for severe test of team and coaches
Gerry Thornley: It’s hard to warm to idea of Nations Championship on any level
Dubbed the Jet Lag Cup, player welfare looks like being an issue as old-style tours become a thing of the past
Why is South African rugby’s doping rap sheet much longer than everyone else’s?
How can the IRFU know the extent of any use of banned substances in Irish schools?
Five things we learned from the rugby weekend: Crafty Jamison Gibson-Park had Ireland purring
World Rugby is now facing an escalating officiating crisis; both Irish outhalves impress
Ireland are receiving more cards than before – is it a problem and why is it happening?
Some may blame coaching or rule changes, but evidence suggests team behaviour is a factor, too
Owen Doyle: Modern lineouts are a nonsense – here’s why they need to change
England’s skill in 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning manoeuvre a far cry from what we see today
Elite rugby players face 30-game season limit under new World Rugby guidelines
World Rugby guidelines agreed following recommendations from expert group
Breakaway R360 league launch dealt blow after World Rugby application withdrawn
Planned launch next September now appears unrealistic
Matt Williams: Ireland and others are taking advantage of residency rules – this must stop
All countries should aspire to emulating South Africa and Argentina
Jac Morgan’s pivotal Lions moment reignites jackling debate in rugby
Some people consider it sacrosanct but has World Rugby extended too much latitude to the jackler or ‘stealer’?
Owen Doyle: French determination to ensure a straight throw-in to the scrum a bold, welcome initiative
It’s not simply about the scrum-half delivering a straight ball. The mechanics of the scrum must also change to ensure the hooker can strike safely
‘Bigger, bolder, more accessible’: Tickets schedule for Rugby World Cup 2027 announced
February 2026 presale is available for fans who register before the end of January 2026, with further tickets sold in May 2026
World Rugby says it backs officials over final-play decision in Lions win but fails to say if call correct
CEO Alan Gilpin disappointed with some of the post-Second Test comments from Australia coach Joe Schmidt
Four changes to Ireland Under-20s side for vital meeting with Junior All Blacks
Neil Doak’s side need to beat New Zealand in their final pool game to have a chance to make the semi-finals
Owen Doyle: Let’s hope the Lions’ penalty try is a sign of things to come
And let’s hope recent changes don’t mean something horrific will have to happen before a referee shows a red card
LIV Golf shows what happens when a niche sport goes to war with itself – rugby should take note
Professional rugby probably needs to change to stay viable, but the R360 breakaway league proposal seems a fanciful solution
Owen Doyle: World Rugby session will have big focus on 20-minute replacement red card
There will be huge interest in the outcomes of the World Rugby’s specialist group studying the breakdown
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