On-field communication in the bear pit of the Stade de France for Saturday’s [NZT] Rugby World Cup opening game against France will be crucial for the All Blacks.

The All Blacks may have been dealt yet another injury blow, with second-five Jordie Barrett in doubt for the World Cup opener against France.

Only days before the Rugby World Cup starts in France, the home team’s preparations for the tournament have been disrupted by calls to remove one of its players because of a historic racism charge.

Barely on the radar in Australian rugby a few weeks ago, scrumhalf Issak Fines-Leleiwasa will have the chance to put his name up in lights at the World Cup after his shock selection in Eddie Jones’s squad.

Australia are not thinking about their five-match losing streak as they head into their Rugby World Cup Pool C opener against Georgia in Paris on Saturday, with hooker Dave Porecki declaring that the squad environment “feels like a winning one”.

Scotland will not be daunted when they face defending champions South Africa in their opening Pool B fixture at the Rugby World Cup and know exactly what to expect from the Springboks in Marseille on Sunday, lock Scott Cummings said.

Italy are renowned for passionately singing their national anthem on international sporting occasions and their Rugby World Cup players proved that they can hold a tune no matter where they are – like they did at Lyon airport on Sunday.

France has learned its lessons from the 2022 Champions League soccer final fiasco as the country gears up for the Rugby World Cup kickoff between Les Bleus and New Zealand on Friday, Sports Minister Amelie Oudea Castera said.

Former Fiji 7s coach Gareth Baber and Mick Byrne, mentor of Swire Shipping Fijian Drua, are proud of the progress made by the players in the Fiji Water Flying Fijians Rugby World Cup team.

The Fiji Water Flying Fijians were officially welcomed to the 2023 Rugby World Cup in Lomont, Bordeaux, France last night.

Ireland’s head coach, Andy Farrell, has unpacked his squad’s mindset heading into the Rugby World Cup as one of the favorites.

Eight weeks ago, it was a different story when the Fiji Water Flying Fijians marched into camp at Welagi village in Taveuni.