Rugby World Cup
Irish Times Rugby coverage of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Stay up-to-date with the latest news as Andy Farrell's Ireland side chase glory.
Virgin Media Television narrows losses as digital advertising revenue climbs
Broadcasting group enjoys stronger performance overall in 2023, a year when it reached its highest ever audience
Matt Williams: Rugby’s failure to remain tech-savvy is a blight on the sport
Ball-tracking is just one technology that could help referees and TMOs get key calls right
Rugby World Cup to expand to 24 teams for 2027
Ireland has already qualified for the tournament, which will be staged in Australia
View from South Africa: Boks eye bragging rights in opening Test against Ireland
World Cup champions concede ‘we will have to be on par’ as ‘two-test series promises to be massive’
After a full year on the go, is Irish rugby running on empty?
Irish players went into World Cup camp a year ago this week and they have not stopped playing since
What has David Nucifora ever done for Irish rugby?
As he prepares to end his 10-year stint as IRFU high-performance director, the Australian reflects on guiding changes to Irish structure and mentality even when that caused tensions
The Counter Ruck: Does rugby need the 20-minute red card?
Owen Doyle, a former international referee and an Irish Times columnist, joins Gordon D’Arcy and Nathan Johns to discuss the potential new law
Johnny Watterson: Is this Ireland team in danger of flattering to deceive?
Scotland game provides the ideal opportunity for Farrell’s team to show it is a cut above its predecessors
Rónan Kelleher: ‘The lineout clicked last weekend, but there was no major revamp’
With 13 secured balls from 13 throws by Ireland, France had nothing they could land on Ireland to knock them out of stride
Late Late Toy Show tops most-watched TV list in year dominated by rugby
RTÉ coverage of Dublin riot secures biggest news viewership of 2023, with 9pm bulletin on November 23rd the 11th most-watched programme
Bundee Aki looks back at ‘inspiring’ a nation as he picks up Men’s Player of the Year award
Having signed a new contract until the end of 2025 season, this year was not a last dance for the Connacht player
Kevin Sinfield to step down as England number two after the summer
The 43-year-old will remain in place for the Six Nations and the three Tests arranged for June and July, but in a new role overseeing skills and kicking
Gerry Thornley: Ireland’s system of maximising its resources will continue to be rewarded in 2024
Maintaining competitive provincial and national teams is a balancing act for the IRFU but it has served Irish rugby well
What our experts got right and wrong in sporting predictions for 2023
Based on past experience, we IT sportswriters should probably offer advance apologies to all those we have predicted to have a mighty 2024
Sports Review 2023: Unforgettable fare in Paris as Ireland claim Springboks’ scalp
Sports Review 2023; A great atmosphere, a huge Irish crowd and a magnificent contest made for a truly memorable rugby occasion as Ireland defeated world champions South Africa
Sports Review 2023: Green Army in full voice in Paris as Ireland claim Springboks’ scalp
It was a truly memorable World Cup victory for Irish rugby but though South Africa lost that seismic battle they went on to win the war
What were the most-read articles on irishtimes.com in 2023?
Death of Sinéad O’Connor, Dublin riots and RTÉ pay scandal were just some of the stories to hold readers’ attention this year
David Nucifora dismisses idea that key Ireland players were overplayed in Rugby World Cup
Outgoing IRFU high-performance director admits lineouts weren’t as consistent as hoped for in tournament
Ryan Baird: ‘Initially you can’t deem the World Cup a success, but I learned so much’
Leinster forward says athletic profile of the province’s players mean they can fit in to Jacques Nienaber’s new system
Bar manager in Bordeaux charged over deadly botulism outbreak during Rugby World Cup
Greek woman died and several others were hospitalised, including woman’s Irish husband, after eating homemade sardine preserves
Cian Prendergast: ‘Sometimes I wish Connacht fans were a bit harsher’
Having digested the disappointment of missing the Rugby World Cup, the backrower is looking forward to a mouthwatering series of matches with Connacht, starting with Saturday’s meeting with Leinster - and his brother Sam
Phil Vickery and Gavin Henson among 295 former rugby players in brain injury legal claim
Governing bodies at centre of lawsuit, including World Rugby, criticise players’ solicitors for withholding medical records and delaying the case
Patrick Kielty’s first Late Late Toy Show watched by 1.7m, taking top TV ratings spot for 2023
Presenter’s debut eclipsed audience for Ireland’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final
The door is open for Irish World Cup rugby players to chase an Olympic dream
Following Antoine Dupont’s decision to forgo the Six Nations for Sevens in the Olympics, eyes are turning to other players possibly following suit
Rugby authorities braced for the implications of ticking legal time bomb
Rugby is not in denial to anything like the same level nowadays but the price must still be paid for past failures to adequately protect players’ health
Wayne Barnes: ‘An Irish journalist described me as a deranged Eton headmaster with a ferret down his pants’
The World Cup final referee on how many of the perceptions of him are well wide of the mark
Matt Williams: Rugby is in a bad state but our leadership plays dumb
The spectacle is suffering, and referees are being attacked by morons, because of a broken system
Josh van der Flier eager to return to active service with Leinster
Leinster's Josh van der Flier looking forward to working with new defence coach Jacques Nienaber
Mayo man whose wife died after eating contaminated sardines to sue French wine bar and hospitals
Cathal Meehan crowdfunding to raise money for ‘lengthy and costly’ legal action over wife’s death from botulism
Ireland won the Rugby World Cup, actually. That’s ‘Irish Maths’
Emer McLysaght: Forget ‘Girl Math’, Irish Maths is what matters when it comes to bacon fries and paying rent
Wayne Barnes calls for action against trolls for ‘vile’ abuse
Retired official says he and his family received threats on social media following World Cup final
Bongi Mbonambi: England ‘unprofessional’ over racism allegation
South Africa hooker says ‘misunderstanding’ arose because Tom Curry failed to realise he was speaking Afrikaans
Possibilities of post-Sexton era on show as World Cup hangover lifts
As is customary at the end of a four-year World Cup cycle, the level of change is more acute than at any point over the previous three seasons
Owen Doyle: The scrum has lost its purpose, it’s time World Rugby made some changes
The scrum has moved far from its original purpose and has become, too often, a penalty-generating machine
Munster’s RG Snyman to undergo surgery in South Africa after another injury setback
World Cup-winning lock suffers a third significant injury after missing nearly two years due to ACL ruptures
Sam Cane banned for two games after Rugby World Cup final red card
New Zealand skipper accepts foul play but says his tackle did not deserve a red card
The week severe flooding became depressingly familiar
IT Sunday: Food Month kicking off at The Irish Times and the fallout from the Rugby World Cup final among the events of the week
After debuting at the World Cup, will expected points become more prevalent in rugby?
Rugby World Cup review: France, England and New Zealand all lost to South Africa in the knockouts despite in some cases comfortably outperforming them on xP
All Blacks’ loss meets muted response as New Zealand falls out of love with rugby
All Blacks coach Ian Foster says he is keen to continue to work with former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt
Matt Williams: It’s diabolical that the laws of rugby punish the team in possession
In four World Cup Finals, or 320 minutes of rugby, South Africa have scored only two tries - but won all four games
Rugby World Cup final referee Wayne Barnes retires from officiating
Wayne Barnes's last match after 17-year international career was Saturday’s World Cup final
Gordon D’Arcy: Battle is heating up for Ireland’s number 10 jersey as teams learn lessons from Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup peaked in the quarter-finals for attacking play
With an Rugby World Cup in the US on the distant horizon, can the tournament live long and prosper?
The 2027 showpiece will not break new ground so making the US a rugby hotbed in 2031 is now an unlikely mission
How many Irish players made Gerry Thornley’s team of the Rugby World Cup?
Best try, highs and lows and the most memorable quotes from France 2023
Gerry Thornley: South Africa were worthy World Cup winners, but it’s a shame about aspects of their game
Springboks’ conservative game plan prevailed again and whatever about enjoying watching them, no one can enjoy playing against them
Owen Doyle: Modern trends in use of replacements take rugby beyond original intention. It needs to be fixed
Many players now play about a 60-minute version of the sport, to be replaced by equally huge men who play even less
Whirlwind week sees Dylan Donnellan move from amateur with a day job to the RDS turf
The Offload: Rugby has a problem if attacking is bad for you - Ireland’s resilience pays off with WXV3 title
Polls apart, South Africa and Manchester City are still setting the standards
‘Aristocrats of world rugby’ deliver splendid final, while Premier League champs Manchester City retain derby bragging rights
South Africa’s Jean Kleyn: ‘I’m just glad I’m one of the guys they thought was a warrior’
Handré Pollard replaced the injured Malcolm Marx and steered them home with unerring kicking displays
Rugby World Cup: Five things we learned from the final
Springboks’ remarkable self-belief; Foster won’t forget; defences win World Cups; Pollard’s pivotal call-up; pride in the fall for All Blacks
New Zealand captain Sam Cane feeling ‘so much hurt’ after World Cup final defeat
Cane is the first player to be dismissed in a men’s World Cup final
Eddie Jones quits as Australia coach after World Cup debacle
63-year-old says he had agreed terms with Rugby Australia relating to his exit
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