In the midst of all the news emerging from the FFA’s annual general meeting, the reiteration from Frank Lowy of Australia’s determination to stage the 2018 bid comes at a time when European powers are lining up to bring the World Cup back to the sports heartland after what will be a twelve year absence. [...]

Australia captain Ricky Ponting has warned his side their 2-0 series win over New Zealand is only a step in the right direction and they will need to be at their “absolute best” to beat South Africa.

If Robbie Deans and John O’Neill had said at the beginning of the season that they would record nine Test wins at season close, both men would have been content.

Less than month after their foiled tour of India, Australia has regained some sort of ascendancy in the build up to the eagerly anticipated Test series against an in-form South African outfit.

With football increasing, or argumentatively starting, its presence on the international stage, and with the AFL looking to grow the game off Australia’s shores, is a team representing the rest of the world the way to go?

In an era where winning the World Cup is everything, the fact the All Blacks go into Saturday’s match against England here at Twickenham on the verge of a grand slam may not seem like a big deal. But don’t tell that to New Zealand captain Richie McCaw.

Eyeing a small slice of rugby history, Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock says defeat in Saturday’s season-ending Test against Wales doesn’t bear thinking about.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry on Friday insisted that Martin Johnson was the right man to turn England into world beaters once more.

It’s every spinner’s nightmare when a batsman comes after you and Nathan Hauritz never knew quite what to do. But he showed on Friday with his 2-63 in New Zealand’s 6-262 on day one of the second Test at Adelaide Oval that he has learned enough to be a factor at the top level.

Australia has secured a quarter-finals berth at the rugby Sevens tournament in Dubai, despite suffering a 33-7 loss to New Zealand.

As they look to close out a third European Grand Slam against England on Saturday, the All Blacks form at the moment is unrivalled, and once again, they have made the Northern Hemisphere look ordinary, bar forty minutes against Wales last week.

All Black coach Graham Henry has warned England’s future success at international level is being harmed by the mass recruitment of New Zealand players into the elite Premiership club competition.

South Africa’s Tim Clark enjoyed the calm after the storm as he produced a late surge to share the opening round lead with Queensland’s Scott Hend in the Australian Masters at Huntingdale.

This is the final international Test for both nations, where a win would cap off very successful years. We could claim it to be a litmus test for the teams, but the reality is that both nations have proven themselves already this season.

A true master in coaching psychology, Robbie Deans has challenged his Wallabies not to let themselves down against Wales on Saturday. Forget England and France, Deans on Tuesday declared Wales as the sternest Test of the Wallabies’ European tour.

Tournament fees for the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups are to be reduced in response to concerns from tender nations worried about cost implications caused by the worldwide credit crunch, the International Rugby Board (IRB) announced on Wednesday.

Former England rugby coach Sir Clive Woodward has renewed his criticism of the current national coaching structure following last weekend’s “humiliating” Test defeat at the hands of world champions South Africa.

Danny Cipriani was dropped to the bench by England manager Martin Johnson in one of three changes to the team to face the All Blacks at Twickenham this Saturday.

The buoyant All Blacks have arrived in London vowing the pursuit of rugby excellence will beat complacency ahead of a grand slam showdown with struggling England.

Another World Championship is decided, with an underdog team claiming the glory against the champion elect. Is it fair? I recall with fond memories the years of 2005 and 2006 as an All Black supporter.