LATEST RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015 NEWS PLUS FIXTURES AND RESULTS

New Zealand get to work at luxury base on the Thames for the first time as Rugby World Cup champions prepare for title defence

16/09/15 02:17

Rugby World Cup 2015 tickets: How you can still catch England, Wales, Ireland, South Africa, Scotland and New Zealand at RWC

16/09/15 02:13

RWC 2015 organisers are celebrating record ticket sales for the tournament, but with just three sleeps until England's opener against Fiji there are still seats available to see all the top teams in action.

French moaners say Croydon is both sad and dull... so Sportsmail's Jonathan McEvoy set off to discover South London's charms

16/09/15 01:18

JONATHAN MCEVOY: Having never troubled to travel from Fulham to central Croydon in all the years I've lived in London, I make an unlikely spokesman for the town's charms.

Sam Hidalgo-Clyne hoping to take Rugby World Cup chance after Scotland call-up

16/09/15 01:16

Aged just 22, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne is already fulfilling a lifelong dream as he heads to the Rugby World Cup as part of Vern Cotter’s Scotland squad.

Crocked Halfpenny insists Gatland shoulders no blame for knee injury that ended his World Cup dream 

16/09/15 01:15

Leigh Halfpenny had knee reconstruction surgery on Tuesday night, just hours after absolving Wales coach Warren Gatland of any blame for the injury which ruled him out of the World Cup.

Standing on stage with Take That brought home the magnitude of the Rugby World Cup, admits England prop Joe Marler

16/09/15 00:53

Joe Marler insists the moment he stood on stage alongside Take That crystallised the realisation that the home World Cup had finally arrived. The squad were on stage at the O2 last Wednesday.

Wales prop Aaron Jarvis happy to play emergency hooker role at Rugby World Cup 

16/09/15 00:17

Wales prop Aaron Jarvis is comfortable with the situation if he needs to be called upon as a World Cup emergency hooker.

Wales can thrive off their underdog status, insists head coach Warren Gatland

16/09/15 00:06

Warren Gatland believes the injuries to Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb can be turned into a positive. Wing legend Shane Williams claims the nation is already ‘in mourning’.

Rugby World Cup diary: New Zealand have employed two plastic coyotes to help at training as they bid to retain trophy

15/09/15 23:30

Sportsmail's Nik Simon provides his latest diary entry ahead of the Rugby World Cup - which kicks off on Friday when England host Fiji at Twickenham.

England No 10 George Ford is a superstar in waiting who insists he is 'a little bit different' to World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson

15/09/15 23:22

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY JONATHAN McEVOY: All great sporting stories need a superstar. And, if England could win the World Cup, that man is more likely to be George Ford than anyone else.

World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio urges England pack to follow relentless example set by captain Chris Robshaw

15/09/15 22:38

England have been warned that they will have to break a recurring cycle of only peaking in ‘short bursts’, if they are to fulfil their quest to win the World Cup.

Danny Cipriani, Leigh Halfpenny, Israel Dagg... who are the stars missing from Rugby World Cup 2015? 

15/09/15 18:43

Sportsmail picks a XV of those who won't be at the World Cup - with enough talent in this team to challenge any side at the competition.

Wales star Thomas forced to retire after suffering epilepsy blamed on head traumas suffered in matches

15/09/15 18:11

Wales international Jonathan Thomas has been forced to retire from rugby. The 32 year old was diagnosed with epilepsy last year 'which is thought to be from multiple head traumas'.

Ireland back-row forward Peter O'Mahony not intimidated by Canada's Jamie Cudmore

15/09/15 18:05

Peter O'Mahony has vowed Ireland will not let Canada enforcer Jamie Cudmore turn Saturday's World Cup opener into a series of sideshow skirmishes.

Ireland hooker Rory Best ready for Rugby World Cup lift-off despite reduced playing time in warm-up matches

15/09/15 18:03

Rory Best has declared himself ready for World Cup lift-off on Saturday despite his reduced playing time during Ireland’s warm-up series.

Japan Rugby World Cup 2015 preview: How the Brave Blossoms are catching up with the pack before they play hosts in 2019

15/09/15 17:58

MICHAEL GADD: When South Africa face Japan in Brighton for their World Cup opener, Heyneke Meyer's men will know the only Asian side here won't be the push overs they once were.

Canada coach Kieran Crowley plays down giant killing talk ahead of 2015 Rugby World Cup opener against Ireland

15/09/15 17:55

Kieran Crowley has dismissed the notion that Canada could upset Six Nations champions Ireland in their World Cup opener, telling his squad to target third place and future qualification.

Courtney Lawes aims to ride the early storm against Fiji in Rugby World Cup opener

15/09/15 17:42

Courtney Lawes insists England are braced to survive an early onslaught from Fiji out of the expectation they will be vulnerable when Friday's World Cup opener nears its conclusion.

England fans can have their own messages of support projected onto The O2 roof as World Cup opener against Fiji edges closer

15/09/15 17:42

With the Rugby World Cup kicking off at Twickenham on Friday, fans have been given the opportunity to rally the England troops - and have their messages projected onto the roof of The O2.

France soak up the history as Philippe Saint-Andre's team are welcomed in London ahead of Rugby World Cup opener with Italy

15/09/15 17:40

The France rugby squad were officially welcomed to the World Cup on Monday night. Led by coach Philippe Saint-Andre, the players revelled in their surroundings at the Old Naval College.

Warren Gatland believes Ross Moriarty brings X Factor to Wales' World Cup squad

15/09/15 16:52

Wales head coach Warren Gatland believes Ross Moriarty will bring an X factor quality to his World Cup squad after he replaced the injured Ospreys wing Eli Walker on Monday.

Vern Cotter unfazed by Japan coach's dig but Scotland boss can't hide his upset at untimely loss of Stuart McInally

15/09/15 13:33

Sticks and stones from Eddie Jones? Not likely to put so much as a dent in the hardened armour of Vern Cotter, a man with more seriously painful issues to cope with at the moment.

USA Rugby World Cup 2015 preview: Eagles are world rugby's sleeping giants with a rich talent pool starting to find their potential

15/09/15 13:14

RORY KEANE: When the US Eagles ran out onto Soldier Field to take on the All Blacks in Chicago last November, it was a seismic moment for rugby in the land of the free.

Leigh Halfpenny doubt for Six Nations as he has knee surgery in London after being ruled out of 2015 Rugby World Cup 

15/09/15 12:36

CHRIS FOY: Leigh Halfpenny is undergoing knee reconstruction surgery at the Cromwell Hospital in London on Tuesday afternoon and he fears that he may miss the Six Nations as well.

France stars kept awake by rowdy wedding party at Croydon hotel in blow to 2015 Rugby World Cup preparations

15/09/15 11:53

France's World Cup preparations hit an unlikely speed bump in the shape of a Croydon wedding party. Giant prop Uini Atonio has revealed how the noise spoiled his first night's sleep.

SAM WARBURTON: I will not be defined by red card for Wales against France in 2011

15/09/15 11:53

Sam Warburton has accepted the 'what if?' question will haunt him until the day he dies. 'I'll be doing a Q&A session when I'm 60 and someone will ask me about that red card,' he says.

Ireland prop Cian Healy recovers from neck surgery in time to make 2015 Rugby World Cup opener against Canada

15/09/15 11:52

Ireland have received a significant World Cup boost with prop Cian Healy passed fit to start after neck surgery. Conor Murray has also been passed fit , along with Rob Kearney.

Rugby World Cup referee Nigel Owens tells others it's 'safe' to come out after announcing in 2007 that he is gay

15/09/15 11:49

Rugby World Cup referee Nigel Owens has told others within the sport that it is 'safe' to come out after revealing in 2007 that he was gay. Owens is one of 12 officials taking charge at the tournament.

COMPETITION: Win two tickets to see England play Fiji in the Rugby World Cup 2015, courtesy of Dove Men+Care

15/09/15 10:28

MailOnline and Dove Men+Care, an Official Supplier of The Tournament, are offering you the chance to win two premium tickets for you and a friend to watch England take on Fiji.

Stuart Lancaster rallies England troops as head coach attempts to instil belief in squad ahead of Rugby World Cup opener

15/09/15 09:18

Stuart Lancaster called his England squad together on Sunday night for a powerful presentation designed to propel them towards an emotional peak at the start of their home World Cup.

Sam Burgess denies rumours of return to rugby league as England star gears up for Rugby World Cup opener with Fiji 

15/09/15 08:56

Sam Burgess has firmly denied reports that he intends to return to rugby-league after the World Cup - stating there is 'no truth' to rumours his stint in union will be a brief one

Stuart Lancaster had hard decision to make between Ben Morgan and Billy Vunipola but it makes sense to pick winning team again

15/09/15 06:30

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: The phony war is now over. The dress rehearsal and final warm-up game against Ireland went well and I wasn’t expecting any major changes against Fiji.

Kevin Bryce stunned after hooker handed World Cup reprieve by Stuart McInally injury

15/09/15 00:47

Kevin Bryce has spoken of his pride after his shock World Cup call-up to the Scotland squad. The Glasgow Warriors hooker has been brought in as a replacement for injured Stuart McInally.

Gloucester flanker Ross Moriarty brought into the Wales Rugby World Cup squad after Eli Walker withdraws with hamstring injury  

14/09/15 22:10

Wales have called up Gloucester flanker Ross Moriarty to replace winger Eli Walker in their World Cup squad. Walker suffered a hamstring injury prompting Warren Gatland to make the call-up.

Stuart Lancaster names unchanged starting XV for Fiji World Cup opener as Sam Burgess is selected among replacements... and tells his players to prepare for emotional and physical challenge

14/09/15 21:33

Sam Burgess is named on the bench following two highly physical contributions in England’s warm-up matches while right winger Anthony Watson is charged with marking Nemami Nadolo.

Lee Dickson named Northampton Saints captain in another blow to Dylan Hartley after head-butt cost him World Cup place

14/09/15 20:49

Lee Dickson has been named Northampton Saints captain, replacing Dylan Hartley in another blow to the England hooker whose latest ban ended his World Cup hopes.

New thrilling film ‘Building Jerusalem' revisits momentous journey the England World Cup-winning squad went on

14/09/15 20:18

EDGE OF THE BOX: A new DVD release, ‘Building Jerusalem’, tells the story of how England emerged into the new era of professional rugby, and within a few years came out as world champions.

South Africa fly-half Handre Pollard says winning the Rugby World Cup is only focus

14/09/15 17:14

Handre Pollard has vowed South Africa will unite under the common cause of World Cup glory, despite political wrangling over their very presence at the tournament after they arrived in England.

Jonny May and Alex Corbisiero create their own Zizzi pizzas to raise money for Cancer Research UK ahead of Rugby World Cup

14/09/15 16:37

With England Rugby's Jonny May and Alex Corbisiero eagerly awaiting the first match of their home World Cup against Fiji on Friday, they have taken some time off to do their bit for charity.

Rugby World Cup 2015: While the heavyweights battle it out... here's why you should adopt a minnow for the pool stages

14/09/15 15:44

The likes of Uruguay, Romania, Canada and Namibia are expected to be cannon fodder for the Tier 1 nations, but the tournament minnows still have an important role to play at the World Cup.

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