Hooker William Servat and scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili were named in France's XV for their opening World Cup clash with Japan in North Harbour on Saturday despite Servat not having played since June 4.
James O'Connor paid the price on Tuesday for missing an official team function when he failed to regain his starting place for the Wallabies' World Cup opener against Italy this weekend.
The All Blacks suffered a fresh injury scare Tuesday with loosehead prop Tony Woodcock becoming the third member of the squad to be sidelined before the World Cup begins.
On a beautiful Labor Day weekend in Hanover, Dartmouth kicked off their fall season with a pair of tough tests against top Canadian sides Queen’s University and McGill University as part of the Dartmouth Rugby Classic presented by Rockwood and Royall Rugby.
New Zealand has welcomed Canada to the 2011 RUgby World Cup with a heart-warming ceremony at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands.
France coach Marc Lievremont has named a powerful line-up for Les Bleus' World Cup Pool A opener against Japan in Auckland on Saturday.
England manager Martin Johnson is confident his injured captain Lewis Moody still has a significant role to play in the Rugby World Cup.
Agustin Pichot's head tells him that England should beat Argentina by 30 points in Saturday's opening Rugby World Cup showdown in Dunedin.
Ronan O'Gara won't make any predictions on Ireland's World Cup chances, saying "anything can happen".
Luke Charteris faces a tall order to separate Wales' established second-row pairing at the World Cup - but he would have it no other way.
Matt Stevens is relishing the prospect of locking horns with Argentina's revered pack, as they 'set the standards of modern-day scrummaging'.
Canada winger Taylor Paris is poised to become the youngest player to appear at a Rugby World Cup.
Bryan Habana insists South Africa are "here for business" as they begin their final preparations before launching their World Cup defence.
On the eve of the team announcement for their opening World Cup match against Japan on Saturday, September 10 at North Harbour Stadium, France's players unwinded by playing basketball.
Wales team manager Alan Phillips has declared that while his team respects South Africa the Springboks hold no fear for them as opponents.
