Schedule confirmed for 2022 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand

The Rugby World Cup for women in New Zealand will kick off in October next year after a delay of more than 12 months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The tournament was originally scheduled for September and October this year but in March it was postponed until 2022 due to uncertainties caused by COVID-19.

World Rugby released the new schedule on Wednesday for the 12-team tournament that will be played between October 8 and November 12 next year.

The rescheduled World Cup had its tournament window extended from 35 to 43 days, bringing minimum five-day rest periods between games in line with the men’s World Cup.

The format has been rejigged with all games now at weekends – three on Saturdays and three on Sundays – and no overlap between matches.

The original schedule had seen pool stage games kicking off at the same time and six games per matchday.

“…while the postponement was disappointing for everyone, it has provided the unique opportunity to review every aspect of the event to ensure it is the best it can be for the players, fans around the world and the wonderful and enthusiastic New Zealanders,” World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said.

The tournament will be the first Rugby World Cup for women in the southern hemisphere with matches in Auckland and Whangarei.

The pool phase will be played on October 8-9, 15-16 and 22-23, while the quarter-finals will take place on October 29-30 followed by the semi-finals on November 5.

The final and third-place match will take place on November 12, with Eden Park set to create history by becoming the first stadium to host both the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cup finals.

New Zealand are the holders, having beaten England 41-32 in the final in Belfast in 2017.

Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/05/12/schedule-confirmed-for-2022-rugby-world-cup-in-new-zealand/

https://therugbystore.com.au/schedule-confirmed-for-2022-rugby-world-cup-in-new-zealand/

England fans to return to Twickenham for United States and Canada Tests

Fans will be able to watch England at Twickenham for the first time since December when Eddie Jones' side play the United States and Canada in July.

Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57055193

https://therugbystore.com.au/england-fans-to-return-to-twickenham-for-united-states-and-canada-tests/

Australia and New Zealand agree Super Rugby Trans-Tasman rules

Goal-line drop-outs and red card replacement laws will be retained for the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition, which gets underway on Friday.

The rules have been used in the domestic Australian and New Zealand competitions, and adopted for the six-week series after consultation by the governing bodies.

Captain’s referrals, used in Super Rugby Aotearoa, won’t be used or extra time during the regular season, however golden-point extra time will apply in the final.

Teams will share the points for tied matches during the round robin stage.

Super Rugby AU rules which won’t carry over are the 22/50 and 50/22 laws that rewarded tactical kicking, and golden try extra time.

The competition opens on Friday with a double-header when the Highlanders face the Queensland Reds at Forysth Barr Stadium before the NSW Waratahs square off against the Hurricanes at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

There will be 25 regular season matches before the two top-placed teams on a combined competition ladder meet in the final on June 19.

Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/05/11/australia-and-new-zealand-agree-super-rugby-trans-tasman-rules/

https://therugbystore.com.au/australia-and-new-zealand-agree-super-rugby-trans-tasman-rules/

It’s official: Waratahs chairman Roger Davis heads for the exit

Long-serving NSW Rugby Union chairman Roger Davis will step down from his position at the end of the month, opting not to stand for re-election at the upcoming AGM.

Davis, who joined the board 12 years ago and has been chairman since 2012, has been the subject of much criticism recently. While he oversaw the Waratahs’ Super Rugby title in 2014, he has also been at the helm during the side’s slide down the standings in recent years, culminating in a winless Super Rugby AU campaign this season.

The decision to sack coach Rob Penney at the end of March also drew significant fan anger, and it was widely speculated at the time that Davis would stand down at this month’s AGM.

The NSWRU board has selected Tony Crawford to take over as chairman, and he will be formally elected at the May 31 meeting.

“It is an honour to be elected as Chairman at a time when we are going through so many changes at the Waratahs and I see improving the alignment of rugby in NSW, from the grassroots to the professional level as one of our highest priorities,” Crawford said.

Crawford has been a NSWRU director since 2018, and previously had a seven-year stint as a director at Northern Suburbs.

Outgoing chairman Davis said it was the right time for a new chairman.

“A new CEO is in place, the search is underway for a new head coach, we have a young and talented team showing all the signs of a great future ahead of them and our centre of excellence is about to begin construction,” Davis said.

“As Chairman I’ve been able to oversee all of this and other major milestones at NSW Rugby, including the Waratahs making two semi-finals and winning the Super Rugby Championship in 2014, negotiating the merger of the NSW and Waratah boards and securing the financial future of the organisation.

“While rugby has faced some serious headwinds over the last few years, I think at club and state level, NSW is at the beginning of a new and sustained period of success.”

Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/05/10/its-official-waratahs-chairman-roger-davis-heads-for-the-exit/

https://therugbystore.com.au/its-official-waratahs-chairman-roger-davis-heads-for-the-exit/

Premiership: Harlequins 48-46 Wasps - Marcus Smith stars for Quins in epic

Marcus Smith inspires Harlequins to a thrilling 48-46 win over Wasps, after Mike Brown's red card left them with 14 men.

Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56996921

https://therugbystore.com.au/premiership-harlequins-48-46-wasps-marcus-smith-stars-for-quins-in-epic/

Sarah Hunter says England win against France bit anticlimactic after floodlight failure

England captain Sarah Hunter says she has "never experienced anything like" the moment her side's game in France was called off when floodlights failed.

Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56952822

https://therugbystore.com.au/sarah-hunter-says-england-win-against-france-bit-anticlimactic-after-floodlight-failure/

Force primed to tackle “clunky” Brumbies

The Brumbies are banking on their big-game experience to steer them into the Super Rugby AU grand final, however the Western Force have shown they’re up for the fight of a sudden-death showdown.

The teams meet in the qualifying final in Canberra on Saturday night, with the winner facing the Queensland Reds in Brisbane in a week’s time.

Force coach Tim Sampson isn’t intimidated by the task of downing the defending premiers, on Friday describing the Brumbies’ recent form as “clunky” and saying the home team infringe a lot.

Having won the Super Rugby AU crown last year and reached the semi-finals of the regular 15-team competition in 2019, the Brumbies are well-versed in handling play-off pressure.

It’s the Force’s first taste of finals footy since their inception in 2006.

Brumbies skipper Allan Alaalatoa said that edge in experience would be an advantage.

“I think experience is great – having that pressure feeling that we had in the final last year and that build-up to the final is crucial,” the Wallabies prop said on Friday

(Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

“A lot of our experienced boys have stepped up this week to make sure that everyone does take it up a notch.”

The Force have shown a never-say-die attitude in their past three games, securing last-gasp wins to march into the three-team finals.

That included serving up the Reds’ only loss of the season a week ago, with a 73rd-minute try snatching a 30-27 victory.

Alaalatoa predicted a similar tight finish.

“That’s what finals footy comes down to. We definitely know it will go down to whole 80 minutes so we know our finishers are going to have to do a good job,” he said.

More Rugby

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Rugby

“We know the Force have a lot of momentum from the last three games but we’ve had a good week of prep and we need to take our chances when they come.”

After two heavy losses against the Brumbies this season, Sampson said his team needed to start well to put the home side on the back foot and silence the home crowd at GIO Stadium.

“It’s important to get a good start against the Brumbies; to get in that arm wrestle and not fall behind on the scoreboard early,” he said.

“It’s a big focus for us and we’re going to have to be bloody good at it.”

Sampson said his team continued to set new goals, with their self-belief sky high.

“Last year and the start of this competition we hadn’t beaten any team so we’re ticking boxes and there’s another box to be ticked, and that’s beating the Brumbies at home.

“We’re riding a wave at the moment and the Brumbies in the last couple of games have been a bit clunky.

“We’ve got to maintain possession for long periods; they infringe a lot in all areas of the game so we’ve got to hold on to the ball as much as possible and play in good areas of the field.”

Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/05/01/force-primed-to-tackle-clunky-brumbies/

https://therugbystore.com.au/force-primed-to-tackle-clunky-brumbies/