Many nations contesting the Rugby World Cup are fielding ‘ring-ins’ from other countries. The rules allowing this reflect the difficulty of balancing national team integrity and development.
A Springbok fan cheers before the Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between South Africa and Australia at the Wellington Regional Stadium in 2011.
Reuters/Mike Hutchings
When South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 1995 the country felt invincible and united. Twenty years later it is going through a tumultuous time which is even affecting its attitude to the Springboks.
New Zealand All Black’s perform the haka.
Reuters/POOL New
Rugby players are starting to glance enviously at the other football’s English Premier League, which is heading for its first £1 billion transfer season with prices for top players rising towards £100m…
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw and coach Graham Henry celebrate their Rugby World Cup victory.
AAP
Few would begrudge New Zealanders revelling in their rugby World Cup success. After two major disasters in the form of the Christchurch earthquake and the Greymouth coal mine explosion, some morale-raising…
New Zealand is celebrating the All Blacks’ victory over France in the Rugby World Cup. Over the course of the tournament The Conversation has brought you stories about all aspects of the game. And with…
The All Blacks’ haka is culturally important for everyone in New Zealand.
AAP/AFP pool/Phil Water
RUGBY WORLD CUP – When New Zealand’s All Blacks take on France in the final tonight, they will be proud to perform a haka. They’ve taken some criticism for it in the past, but, as André Brett of the University…
Bryce Lawrence is one of the Rugby World Cup referees who has won few friends in the tournament.
AFP/Marty Melville
RUGBY WORLD CUP – The Wallabies may have the consolation of winning third place in tournament, but their progress has been far from controversial. The Rugby World Cup has been plagued by accusations of…
Wallabies player Drew Mitchell is taken from the field after an injury during Rugby World Cup match between Australia and Russia.
AAP Image/Dave Hunt
RUGBY WORLD CUP – The Cup has already taken its toll on many players – finalists New Zealand have lost star player, Dan Carter and Australia goes into its battle for third place against Wales four men…
Marketing in the 2011 New Zealand Rugby World Cup will be different to previous years.
Flickr/Sandy Austin
RUGBY WORLD CUP – As the All Blacks and the Wallabies prepare for Sunday’s semi-final showdown, Deakin University’s Adam Karg discusses how to make money from the competition. The Rugby World Cup has returned…
RUGBY WORLD CUP – As New Zealand gets World Cup fever, James Cook University’s Chris Davies discusses where rugby union’s place in the Australian sporting landscape. It’s on again – we’re now four weeks…
All Black Richie McCaw has been accused of routinely cheating in his approach to the game.
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RUGBY WORLD CUP – The athleticism of the players has impressed in this tournament, but is there a whiff of unsportsmanlike behaviour in the air? Brian Stoddart of La Trobe University investigates. A few…
New Zealand defeated Tonga in the opening game of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
AFP Photo/Franck Fife
RUGBY WORLD CUP – In the latest of The Conversation’s series on the Rugby World Cup, former Wallabies player, James Holbeck and Professor of Sport Science at Victoria University, Damian Farrow, discuss…
Big sporting events often make a loss, but the locals still enjoy the party.
AFP/Franck Fife
RUGBY WORLD CUP – In the latest of The Conversation’s series on the Rugby World Cup, Massey University’s Sam Richardson looks at the costs and benefits to the host country New Zealand. New Zealand has…
New Zealand’s 28th Maori Battalion performing a Haka in Egypt in 1941.
AAP Image/Alexander Turnbull Library
RUGBY WORLD CUP – In the first of The Conversation’s series on the Rugby World Cup, Massey University’s Malcolm Mulholland argues for the continuation of a Maori only rugby team. Around half of the All…
Associate Professor in Exercise and Sport Physiology, Director of Research Operations at the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Victoria University