World Rugby

Andy Farrell lands coach of the year despite Ireland quarter final exit

Farrell, who was not in Paris to accept the award, saw off competition from South Africa’s Jacques Nienaber, New Zealand’s Ian Foster and Fiji’s Simon Raiwalui.

The 48-year-old Englishman guided Ireland to a Six Nations Grand Slam earlier this year, but his side were knocked out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals by New Zealand, who went on to lose to South Africa in the final.

New Zealand’s Ardie Savea was named men’s 15s player of the year ahead of Ireland’s Bundee Aki, France’s Antoine Dupont and South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth.

France and Ireland dominate World Rugby Men’s 15s Dream Team of the Year

All Blacks No. 8 Ardie Savea was crowned Player of the Year and rightly takes his place in the team after missing out a year ago to France’s mighty Grégory Alldritt.

Savea is one of four New Zealanders to feature in the team, while their Rugby World Cup final opponents South Africa claim just one representative.

World Rugby unveils global calendar overhaul

It is a major reform of a sport that is struggling to provide meaningful opportunities to smaller unions, and comes at a time when the likes of Portugal and Fiji have shown the promise of Tier Two sides at the World Cup in France.

The 2027 World Cup in Australia will expand from the current 20 to 24 teams, split into six first round groups each containing four sides.

There will be a round of 16 added and, despite more competing sides, will be shortened from seven weeks to six.

World Rugby gives Fiji union until January to get house in order

This follows World Rugby's decision to suspend the Fijian rugby union from its council membership.

FRU acting administration officer Sale Sorovaki told local media at the weekend that the governing body has taken the decision following the Fijian government's intervention through the Justice Minister Siromi Turaga a fortnight ago.

Turaga revealed in a meeting with then members of the FRU Board in Suva that Fiji rugby's national management body was operating illegally since 1918 because the registration of the FRU Charitable Trust was not in order.

World Rugby adjusts uniform policy to be more inclusive

To accommodate for more than 300 million people worldwide with colour vision deficiency or colour blindness, World Rugby is asking international teams to wear either light or dark playing strips from 2025.

But South African Rugby has written to the sport's governing body indicating it does not feel comfortable swapping its bottle green jersey for white in games against the All Blacks.

World Rugby take next step in introducing 'TMO bunker'

World Rugby believe the technology has the potential to revolutionize the game, reducing lengthy stoppages and promoting accurate decision-making for foul play involving head contact.

The TMO Bunker has already been trialled in Super Rugby Pacific, and World Rugby is keen to explore its potential further. The organization has been seeking out innovations that can enhance game flow and improve player welfare, and the TMO Bunker promises to do just that.

World Rugby wants unions to join tackle height trial for community game

It pointed to trials conducted in France and South Africa, saying they had delivered positive advancements in terms of player safety, while also enhancing overall game experience.

"World Rugby continues to be guided by science and research as part of a relentless focus on reducing injury risk via education, sanction and law change," it said in a statement.

"A reduction in the legal tackle height to below the sternum demonstrates increased safety outcomes while retaining the unique characteristics of the game."

World Rugby asks officials to apply laws that speed up the game

The guidelines have been designed by the global governing body to help match officials, players and coaches, and to improve fan experience following a meeting of stakeholders in November. The World Cup will be held in France next year.

"World Rugby, member unions and competitions will work with broadcasters and match hosts to implement on-screen (stadia and broadcast) shot clocks for penalties and conversions to ensure referees, players and fans can view the countdown," World Rugby director of rugby Phil Davies said in a statement.

Dementia sufferers start legal proceedings

London-based law firm Rylands Legal is representing the claimants, which include England's World Cup-winning hooker Steve Thompson, former All Black Carl Hayman and ex-Wales captain Ryan Jones.

Many players in the group of more than 180 professional and semi-professional players have also been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and motor neurone disease.

Rylands said the class action is being issued on behalf of the majority of those players, with the rest taking legal action soon.

Fijiana set new world record win

It's the biggest ever win by points in a rugby match between two national representative teams, breaking the former record held by the Wallabies in their 142-0 win over Namibia in 2003 in the men's Rugby World Cup.

Papua New Guinea next play Samoa, who come off the back of a 25-17 win over Tonga.

Fiji have already qualified for the Rugby World Cup next year while Samoa seek to qualify in a repecharge tournament later this year.