Almost half the players who started the World Cup final, including All Blacks captain Sam Cane, will be in action when Japan's club rugby season kicks off this weekend. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/12/07/more-sports/rugby-league-one-raised-profile/?utm_content=buffer27b16&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #moresports #allblacks #japanrugbyleagueone #samcane #springboks #2023rugbyworldcup

Ecstatic South Africans celebrated well into Sunday after the Springboks claimed a record fourth title by defeating New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup final in Paris. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/10/29/more-sports/south-africans-celebrate/?utm_content=buffera2e81&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #moresports #southafrica #springboks #2023rugbyworldcup

South Africa produced a magnificent defensive display to edge 14-man New Zealand 12-11 in an arm-wrestle of a Rugby World Cup final on Saturday and win the Webb Ellis Cup for a record fourth time. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/10/29/more-sports/south-africa-champions/?utm_content=buffercd9e9&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #moresports #southafrica #newzealand #allblacks #springboks #2023rugbyworldcup

For New Zealand and South Africa there is no bigger challenge than what both consider rugby’s greatest rivalry, and the World Cup final on Saturday will be among their most significant clashes. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/10/25/more-sports/spingboks-all-blacks-rich-rivalry/?utm_content=bufferf5d98&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #moresports #springboks #southafrica #allblacks #newzealand #2023rugbyworldcup

The two meetings between the All Blacks and Springboks this year have been characterized by fast starts, and they could once again be the key to Saturday's Rugby World Cup final. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/10/24/more-sports/rwc-final-early-scores-secret/?utm_content=bufferd5800&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #moresports #allblacks #springboks #2023rugbyworldcup

World Rugby is formally reviewing the allegation that South Africa's Bongi Mbonambi directed a racial slur at England’s Tom Curry during Saturday’s Rugby World Cup semifinal. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/10/24/more-sports/rwc-south-africa-abuse-allegations/?utm_content=buffera1b66&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #moresports #bongimbonambi #springboks #2023rugbyworldcup #worldrugby #tomcurry

Springboks flyhalf Handre Polland said his team will "have to come up with a plan" before meeting New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup final. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/10/23/more-sports/springboks-all-blacks-homework/?utm_content=bufferc10d8&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #moresports #2023rugbyworldcup #southafrica #newzealand

The Springboks found a way to get past a dominant England and into the 2023 Rugby World Cup final against fellow three-time champion New Zealand. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/10/22/more-sports/rwc-springboks-england-semifinal/?utm_content=buffer7a587&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #moresports #springboks #england #2023rugbyworldcup #handrepollard

The All Blacks are being driven by the pain of losing in the semifinal round during the previous World Cup. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/10/19/more-sports/all-blacks-argentina-world-cup-prepare/?utm_content=bufferf351c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #moresports #argentina #newzealand #2023rugbyworldcup #ianfoster #aaronsmith #michaelcheika

In his first public appearance since returning to Australia, Eddie Jones said he had not spoken to "anyone" about the Brave Blossoms head coaching role and that he's committed to the Wallabies. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/10/17/more-sports/jones-committed-wallabies/?utm_content=buffer6d1f5&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #moresports #eddiejones #wallabies #2023rugbyworldcup

England coach Steve Borthwick says he had no doubt his players will be written off for the Rugby World Cup semifinals, but backs them to rise to the occasion. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/10/16/more-sports/england-rugby-world-cup-borthwick/?utm_content=buffer30688&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #moresports #england #2023rugbyworldcup

Johnny Sexton hangs up his boots as Ireland's record scorer, the Six Nations overall points record holder, a pivotal figure in two Six Nations Grand Slams and the 2018 World Player of the Year. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/10/15/more-sports/ireland-sexton-storied-career-ends/?utm_content=buffer3b15d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #moresports #2023rugbyworldcup #ireland #johnnysexton

Carried on a wave of incredible support, Argentina overcame a deficit to eventually overwhelm Wales 29-17, as late tries by replacements Joel Sclavi and Nicolas Sanchez took them into the World Cup semifinals for the third time on Saturday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/10/15/more-sports/rwc-argentina-wale-quarterfinal/?utm_content=bufferdd4bb&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #moresports #pumas #argentina #wales #2023rugbyworldcup

The All Blacks avenged a historic home series defeat at the hands of Ireland last year, taking their chances when they had them in clinical fashion at Stade de France in the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/10/15/more-sports/rwc-quarterfinal-allblacks-ireland-sexton/?utm_content=bufferb61e6&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #moresports #newzealand #allblacks #ireland #johnnysexton #2023rugbyworldcup

Across many factors behind the Brave Blossoms' lack of progress at the Rugby World Cup, one thing is clear: Japanese rugby needs to get its house in order. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/10/10/more-sports/rwc-brave-blossoms-future/?utm_content=bufferc1c15&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #moresports #2023rugbyworldcup #braveblossoms #jamiejoseph #japanrugbyfootballunion

Closing the gap between rugby's traditional powers and its Tier 2 nations has long been an avowed aim of a game that is strong and healthy in its heartlands but has struggled to expand that territory. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/10/10/more-sports/tier-2-nations-more-fixtures/?utm_content=bufferb7cda&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #moresports #2023rugbyworldcup #tonga #portugal

The Brave Blossoms were unable to repeat their 2019 heroics as they failed to progress to the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup with a defeat to Pool D rival Argentina on Sunday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/10/08/more-sports/rwc-japan-argentina-report/?utm_content=buffer47591&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #moresports #braveblossoms #pumas #2023rugbyworldcup

The Irish will now face three-time champion New Zealand in the last eight next Saturday, seeking to reach the semifinals of a Rugby World Cup for the first time in their history. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/10/08/more-sports/rwc-ireland-england/?utm_content=buffera9d15&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #moresports #2023rugbyworldcup

Retired lock Luke Thompson believes Argentina will be a similar opponent to Samoa, who the Brave Blossoms beat last week to stay in contention for a spot in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/10/04/more-sports/rwc-brave-blossoms-thompson-hopeful/?utm_content=buffer6508c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #moresports #lukethompson #braveblossoms #2023rugbyworldcup #pumas

The Brave Blossoms' self-belief, according to fellow prop Craig Millar, comes from the way head coach Jamie Joseph allows the team to relax off the field. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/10/03/more-sports/rwc-brave-blossoms-brotherhood/?utm_content=buffer5cd47&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #moresports #2023rugbyworldcup #braveblossoms #craigmillar #asaeliaivalu