Rugby World Cup

PNGRU seeks funding assistance to commercialize rugby

PNGRU president Paul Siwi, submitted a proposal to Prime Minister James Marape on January 14, 2024, during the announcement of Joanne Butler’s signing with the ACT Brumbies in Australia.

Siwi said: “The 2027 Rugby World Cup is happening in Australia and we want to be part of it. How do we become part of the World Cup Campaign? We need to start organising rugby back home and one way to do it is running inter-city rugby like Rugby League.”

He said the government has shown interest in supporting the PNGRU in this regard to make it a commercialized sport in the country.   

Fiji stuns England in historic 30-22 win to put Wallabies on notice ahead of Rugby World Cup

Key points:

  • Fiji had never previously beaten England at the Test level
  • England captain Courtney Lawes says Fiji made his side "look silly"
  • Fiji will play the Wallabies in the Rugby World Cup pool stage

The result would have been noticed by Eddie Jones and his Wallabies squad, who face Fiji in the men's Rugby World Cup beginning in France next month.

Wallabies captain Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper left out of Rugby World Cup squad

The Wallabies boss sprang a number of surprises in his 33-man squad named on Thursday, no bigger bombshell than Cooper's omission in favour of emerging star Carter Gordon and utility back Ben Donaldson steering the side around the park.

The Wallabies boss sprang a number of surprises in his 33-man squad named on Thursday, no bigger bombshell than Cooper's omission in favour of emerging star Carter Gordon and utility back Ben Donaldson steering the side around the park.

France to host 2023 Rugby World Cup

The Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) board last month unanimously recommended South Africa to host the tournament in six years' time.

Yet World Rugby Council members on Wednesday voted in favour of the France bid, despite South Africa being picked out as a "clear leader" a couple of weeks before decision day.

France presented the tournament solo for the first time in 2007, having played joint-host in 1991 with the UK and Ireland, and they will also stage the 10th edition of the tournament.

VIDEO: Mead confident on Kumuls prospects

Professional PNG rugby league footballer David Mead is confident that Kumuls will be a force to be reckoned with. 

PNG Loop's Breakfast Bites

New Zealand beat Australia to retain Rugby World Cup

http://www.looppng.com/content/new-zealand-beat-australia-retain-rugby-world-cup

New Zealand held off a fierce Australian comeback to win a thrilling World Cup final and become the first team to retain their title.

Sirinumu dam needs continuous rain to buff up stock

New Zealand beat Australia to retain Rugby World Cup

Wonderful tries from Nehe Milner-Skudder and Ma'a Nonu had given the All Blacks a 21-3 lead early in the second half before David Pocock and Tevita Kuridrani struck back.

With 15 minutes to go there were just four points in it, but a nerveless long-distance drop-goal and penalty from Dan Carter snatched back control.

And when replacement Beauden Barrett sprinted away on to Ben Smith's clearing kick at the death history was made, with New Zealand also becoming the first three-time champions of the world.

Boks beat Pumas for bronze

The Pumas were nearly kept tryless for the second straight playoff match, before replacement Juan Pablo Orlandi crashed over with the final play of the game.

The Springboks wing JP Pietersen opened the scoring early on in the right corner and they led 16-3 at half-time, before lock Eben Etsebeth added the Boks' second try in the left corner.

Pumas openside flanker Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe played his final Test match in the fixture, as did South African wing Bryan Habana and lock Victor Matfield - the oldest Springbok ever at 38.

Chuck Norris says the Wallabies will win the World Cup with his ‘spirit’ behind them

In an interview with TVNZ’s Rawdon Christie earlier this week, sports presenter Tim Gilbert claimed the New Zealand All Blacks would need rugby union superstar Jonah Lomu and the legend Chuck Norris to play in order for them to beat Australia.

Upon hearing about the interview from friends in Australia, Norris contacted the TODAY Show to set the record straight.

“The Wallabies are going to have the power of Chuck Norris’ spirit there to help them win the game and they are going to win the World Cup,” Norris told the TODAY Show.

All Blacks keep nerve to beat Springboks

The All Blacks were five points behind at half-time with a man in the sin-bin as four penalties from Handre Pollard cancelled out Jerome Kaino's early try.

A Dan Carter drop-goal and a Beauden Barrett try put the champions ahead.

South Africa replied with two penalties but a Carter effort in between secured victory despite ferocious Bok defence.

It was seldom pretty but once again in this World Cup there was a gripping finale, the All Blacks holding that two-point lead for the last 12 minutes as their opponents finally tired.