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Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup headlines with summaries.
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Hosts Japan draw first blood at Rugby World Cup
21 Sep 2019Winger Kotaro Matsushima scored a hat-trick as Japan overcame a severe case of opening-night nerves to give the host nation a winning start to the tournament.
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Rugby World Cup opens with spectacular ceremony
21 Sep 2019The Rugby World Cup opened with children singing while a brief history of rugby union was projected behind them onto the slopes of a replica of Mt Fuji erected in the middle of the pitch.
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Rugby World Cup: The games to watch
20 Sep 2019The Rugby World Cup kicks off today with hosts Japan taking on Russia in Tokyo, RNZ takes a look at what games are worth watching.
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Rugby World Cup: Australia beat Fiji 39-21
21 Sep 2019Rugby World Cup - Australia have overcome a strong start from Fiji to win their first Rugby World Cup match 39-21. Follow how the game unfolded with a live blog from Matt Chatterton.
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Steve Hansen: World Cup is a marathon, not a sprint
20 Sep 2019A chance for the All Blacks or South Africa to lay down a marker.
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Rugby fans flock to famous dog statue in Tokyo
20 Sep 2019It's not just rugby players that fans are queuing up for photos with at the World Cup in Japan.
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Spark Sport blames overseas network for video quality problems
22 Sep 2019Spark Sport says an overseas network is behind the video quality problems with the All Blacks' first match of the Rugby World Cup last night.
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Excitement builds for punters and pubs ahead of the Rugby World Cup
20 Sep 2019One pub owner is putting a $1000 bar tab on the line over the first All Blacks try scorer.
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Rugby World Cup: All Blacks team named to take on South Africa
19 Sep 2019The All Blacks have named their 23 for their world cup opener against South Africa with Ryan Crotty starting at second five and Sonny Bill Williams on the bench.
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No place for Salakaia-Loto in Wallabies side
19 Sep 2019Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has selected the "Pooper" flanker combination for Australia's Rugby World Cup opener.
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Fiji focussed on basics of the game at World Cup
20 Sep 2019The World Cup will be treated to plenty of their flair, but the Fiji coach says this time it will be allied with a firm focus on the basics of the game.
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Samoan players keep tattoos under wraps
20 Sep 2019Samoan players will wear their hearts on their sleeves - but keep traditional Pacific islander tattoos under wraps with skin suits during the World Cup in Japan to avoid offending their hosts.
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Wales "shocked" by betting allegations
19 Sep 2019Head coach Warren Gatland said the Wales team were "shocked" by the news of Rob Howley's alleged breach of betting and anti-corruption regulations.
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Springboks reveal 23 to face the All Blacks
18 Sep 2019South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has made just one change from the starting side that drew with New Zealand in July for Saturday's crunch Rugby World Cup match with the world champions.
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Brilliant off the field, but game day problems loom for Rugby World Cup
18 Sep 2019All Blacks fans will have a brilliant time outside of the stadiums at this year's World Cup, but there could be more than a few fans frustrated on game day, according to Joe Porter.
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Wales assistant coach sent home from World Cup
18 Sep 2019Wales assistant coach Rob Howley has been sent home six days before the team's opening match at the Rugby World Cup over a possible breach of rules about betting.
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All Blacks happy to be playing Boks first up
20 Sep 2019The All Blacks are focusing all their energy on the World Cup opener against South Africa with coaches happy to have their most challenging pool match first up.
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Rugby World Cup: Mischief, casualties and the 'magnificent' seven
17 Sep 2019The first match of the Rugby World Cup between Japan and Russia can't come soon enough for Hamish Bidwell.
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Sport: Tonga v England match to pay respect to Pohiva
A moment's silence will be observed before the start of Tonga's opening Rugby World Cup match against England on Sunday, in memory of the late Tongan Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva.
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Sport: Flying Fijian Radradra moves to the wing
Fiji dynamo Semi Radradra has been shifted to the wing for his team's opening Rugby World Cup match against Australia.
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Sport: Family first for Kuridranis at Rugby World Cup
The Kuridrani family are proud Fijians but when the Rugby World Cup kicks off this weekend they will be backing Australia against their homeland. Audio
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Springboks want a strong effort from match officials
17 Sep 2019South Africa hoping for a strong performance by the match officials when they take on New Zealand in their RWC opener in Yokohama on Saturday.
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All Blacks out to exploit any chances the Boks give them
17 Sep 2019The All Blacks will be looking to capitalise on any unnecessary risks South Africa choose to take in their World Cup opener on Saturday.
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All Blacks favourites but Rugby World Cup is wide open
16 Sep 2019This year's Rugby World Cup should be the most fiercely fought yet, with half a dozen teams a genuine chance of usurping the All Blacks from their throne.
RNZ's guide to the Rugby World Cup schedule.
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