Source: Phil Mingo/Pinnacle/RFU

The World Cup – who’d be a referee?

The officials tend to be the people overlooked, until they stand accused of making an ‘obvious’ error. The fact is, they have been training assiduously, mostly at Faro in Portugal. The skills they need vary widely. Take for example what the onfield assessment involves: application of the laws; match control; fitness, agility, positioning and work-rate;

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Ioan Cunningham presents his Fijiana squad

First some excellent news: the Fiji Sports Commission has allocated $1.5m to support the national team. We just have to hope these moneys came through early enough to make their presence felt. The squad Forwards: JADE COATES NUNIA DAUNIMOALA MANUOALA KOMAITAI ALFREDA FISHER (captain) KELENI NARAWA VIKA MATARUGU MEREONI NAKESA SELAI NALIVA RUSILA NAGASAU KARLAINI

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Source: ©INPHO/Tom Maher

Ireland set their stall out

The world knows – the Irish have come on in leaps and bounds in the past two years. The central question is whether they can overcome a series of injury doubts and setbacks to do themselves justice. (full list below) Their recent record at the RWC is none too promising. Their performance in their own

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Source: FIR

Roselli picks an experienced squad

Here are the 32 Azzurre to represent Italy at the World Cup this month: Forwards: ILLARIA ARRIGHETTI GIORDANA BUSO VALERIA FEDRIGHI ALESSANDRA FRANGIPANI ELISA GIORDANO (captain) LAURA GURIOLI GAIA MARIS ISABELLA LOCATELLI GAIA MARIS ALESSIA PILANI ALISSA RANUCCINI SARA SEYE FRANCESCA SGORBINI DESIREE SPINELLI EMANUELA STECCA SARA TOUNESI SILVIA TURANI VITTORIA VECCHINI BEATRICE VERONESE (18)

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Scotland’s path to the World Cup

There is lovely and ugly news in the selection of the 32 to represent Scotland at the RWC. First the squad: Forwards LEAH BARTLETT, BECKY BOYD, SARAH BONAR, ELLIANN CLARKE, LISA COCKBURN, EVA DONALDSON, ADELLE FERRIE, EVIE GALLAGHER, JADE KONKEL, RACHEL MALCOLM (captain), ELIS MARTIN, RACHEL McLACHLAN, MOLLY POOLMAN, LANA SKELDON, ALEX STEWART, EMMA WASSELL,

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Source: WXV

The Wallaroos on the warpath

The Wallaroos become the latest nation (4 August) to announce their squad for the 2025 RWC (full list below). For Jo Yapp it marks a last fling in charge. We wish her and the squad all the best for the tournament. Then comes the question: what next for the head coach? She couldn’t possibly become

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