World Rugby has signed off sweeping change in the form of 10 optional law variations to the community game with the hope of improving safety and participation challenges.

All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea has signed a four-year deal with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) which will keep him in Aotearoa through to the end of the 2025 season.

British rugby critic Stephen Jones is predicting a swift end to Ian Foster's tenure as All Blacks coach if the side's losing streak extends any further.

England head coach Eddie Jones says his time coaching Beauden Barrett in Japan was one of the most inspiring and rewarding moments in his career.

This morning's (NZT) match between the Barbarians men's team and Samoa at Twickenham was cancelled just 90 minutes before kickoff due to coronavirus cases among the invititational side.

British and Irish golfers and rugby teams were scrambling to return home on Saturday after the UK government announced it was banning flights from South Africa to counter the spread of a new Covid-19 variant.

Former All Black and rugby league star Sonny Bill Williams said his drive to provide for his family as a young man was "almost psychotic", but led to his enormously successful career.

Rassie Erasmus, South Africa's director of rugby, and SA Rugby have withdrawn their appeals over sanctions handed down by World Rugby last week, and apologised to referee Nic Berry and the match officials who took charge of the first Test between South Africa and the British and Irish Lions this summer.

Australia has been given 'preferred candidate status' to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup, World Rugby have announced overnight while the USA is set to hold the event for the first time.

New Zealand's transtasman sporting competitions have been thrown into major doubt following the Government's border announcements for next year.

All Black captain Sam Whitelock, head trainer Nic Gill and assistant coach Brad Mooar are set to ride bikes for 24 hours to raise money for Bowel Cancer Prevention.

England rugby coach Eddie Jones has revealed he used a samurai sword and kiwifruit to inspire his side ahead of their 2019 Rugby World Cup semifinal win over the All Blacks.

In a move that will be seen as a huge success for Pacific Nations, the World Rugby Council has approved an amendment to its international eligibility rules.

Ian Foster has taken criticism on the chin following the All Blacks' back-to-back losses to Ireland and France, but believes there are many positives for his side to take into next year.

New Zealand Rugby are backing the All Blacks coach Ian Foster, despite the team falling to consecutive defeats to end their season.

Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has opted to keep his view on the All Blacks private, but the vast majority of fans believe he should take over from under-fire All Blacks coach Ian Foster, according to a poll.

All 12 competing squads for the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific season have been confirmed today including Australia's five teams and new entrants Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua.

Prop Tomas Francis and wing Josh Adams have passed fitness tests to play for Wales against Australia on Saturday in Principality Stadium.

France must withstand the fury of a wounded New Zealand when they meet in their last rugby test of the year on Sunday, two years before facing off at the same venue in the opening game of the Rugby World Cup.

Marcus Smith kicked a penalty with 20 seconds remaining to give England a 27-26 win over world champion South Africa in a Twickenham classic on Sunday that followed a very different script to their last meeting in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final.

Former All Blacks hooker Nathan Harris has announced his retirement from rugby, following the continued discomfort from an ankle injury.

Jordie Barrett has emerged from the pack.

Over the last few years, the 24-year-old has been something of a Swiss Army Knife in the All Blacks' drawer. Making his debut at the top level of the game in 2017, Barrett has since started on both wings, at first five-eighth and fullback, while has also been used as a versatile option off the bench, able to cover any position from 10 to 15.

Loose forward Kendra Reynolds has shed tears of joy at the prospect of becoming the 233rd Black Fern after being named on the bench as part of an experienced team to face France this weekend.

Aaron Smith has been thrust into the starting side for his first test in three months as the All Blacks inject seven changes for their final match of the year in Paris.

Northland will host a Super Rugby match after a 10-year hiatus, and organisers are promising a family-friendly day with a mid-afternoon kickoff.

The 10-month son of South African rugby star Jannie du Plessis has died in an accidental drowning at the family home near Johannesburg.

Sam Cane says the squad has emerged from a confronting review of the side's loss to Ireland in high spirits and ready to bounce back against France this weekend.

For the first time since 2004, an All Blacks player is missing from the nominations for World Rugby's Player of the Year award.

Super Rugby Pacific will kick off at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland where competition new-comers Moana Pasifika will host the inaugural match of a new era, against the Brumbies, on Friday February 18, 2022.

Is Joe Biden the source of the proverbial 'luck of the Irish'? It's a question both Irish and New Zealand rugby fans will be asking after the United States President played a hand - for the second time - in an Ireland team's defeat of the All Blacks.

Anton Lienert-Brown has been ruled out of the All Blacks final test of the year against France in Paris this weekend. The Chiefs midfielder started at second five-eighth in the 29-20 defeat to Ireland, leaving the field just before half time after suffering a partial dislocated shoulder injury.

The Black Ferns have given yet another reminder how far behind the pace they are from the top teams in world rugby. After back-to-back heavy defeats against England over the past fortnight, this time it was France who dominated New Zealand winning the opening test 38-13 in Pau for their biggest ever win over the Black Ferns.

Tasman have earned the right to defend their NPC premiership title, and they will again have to travel north to do so. After winning away against Auckland to lift the silverware in 2020, the Mako will take on Waikato this year to lock the trophy away once more.

Otago have cruised into the NPC Championship final with a comprehensive 44-16 victory over Manawatu in Palmerston North tonight. The southern side had far too much quality for the Turbos in attack and, after taking 38 minutes to find the line, ran in four second-half tries to book their spot in the decider.

The Northern Hemisphere brand of rugby sits well with Dalton Papalii. A player who prides himself on his physicality, the All Blacks loose forward has found plenty of enjoyment in being exposed to the physical, forward-drive style of play in the north - despite walking away from tests a little worse for wear.

The Black Ferns have made three changes to its starting XV for Sunday morning's test against France. After two record defeats to England over the past two weekends, the side will be looking to bounce back against an unpredictable France team ranked fourth in the world.

Ian Foster has reinstated his first-choice side, featuring a new-look midfield, as the All Blacks prepare to encounter another mighty challenge in Dublin.

All Black great Justin Marshall has blasted Aaron Smith's test recall saying a vital chance to freshen the star halfback up has been lost.

Ian Foster's All Blacks have emerged from the Steve Hansen shadow, with a new style of their own. That's the suggestion from veteran Irish star Johnny Sexton in the lead-up to Sunday morning's test in Dublin.

Aaron Smith will join the All Blacks for the last two games of their Northern Tour after welcoming his second child into the world last week.

James Lowe says he will face some of his "closest friends" if he makes the Irish side to play the All Blacks on Sunday morning. Ireland's coach Andy Farrell praised the improvements in Lowe's game following his recall against Japan.

Former Black Ferns star Honey Hireme-Smiler believes the side's current European tour is exposing the team's bleak chances of retaining the women's Rugby World Cup title on home soil next year.

Scotland defied the odds to upend Australia 15-13 in their rugby test at Murrayfield on Monday. The Scots brought back their Six Nations side after the 60-point romp over Tonga last weekend

The Black Ferns have suffered yet another record defeat at the hands of England, this time going down 56-15 to the world number one side in Northampton. It was an absolutely dominant performance from England against the world champion New Zealanders, just a year out from the World Cup

Taranaki will go into the NPC playoffs unbeaten, claiming a 24-10 win over Southland in Inglewood on Sunday afternoon. Despite missing several key players including captain Teihorangi Walden, the Bulls overcame a dreary start and an early 10-point deficit to take the win

The prankster who invaded the pitch to line up with the All Blacks for the national anthem in Wales last weekend has struck again. Brit Daniel "Jarvo" Jarvis appeared alongside the Japanese side during their national anthem ahead of today's test against Ireland in Dublin before being taken from the field.

Clunky, disjointed, scrappy. The All Blacks saved their worst performance of the season for Rome. Ian Foster made wholesale changes to hand many fringe prospects the chance to impress against Italy. Those hoping to further their cases instead conspired to serve up an error strewn match which will leave Foster much more certain about reinstating many of his starting preferences next week.

Sam Cane returns as captain and rookie lock Josh Lord is thrust into his starting debut as the All Blacks adopt sweeping changes for Italy in Rome. Cane has played 30 minutes off the bench for the All Blacks, in the 104-14 mauling of the USA, and a hit out for King Country since returning from a six-month absence following shoulder and chest surgeries.

Waikato have clinched a home semifinal in the NPC Premiership after a dramatic win over Otago in Rotorua tonight. James Tucker's try 10 minutes from time ended a second half that produced four lead changes and a level of quality that belied the dreadful conditions.

North Harbour Rugby have announced that they will implement a mandatory vaccination policy from next year. The union's board passed in principle a resolution to support the policy at an October meeting, meaning all clubs and schools in the union will need to meet the vaccination requirement.

Waikato Farah Palmer Cup winning coach James Semple has been named as assistant coach for the nib Blues in the 2022 Super Rugby Aupiki competition.

Sam Cane returns as captain and rookie lock Josh Lord is thrust into his starting debut as the All Blacks adopt sweeping changes for Italy in Rome.

Former All Black Malakai Fekitoa has thrown his support behind potential law changes that would allow players to represent more than one country in their careers without having to jump through hoops.

Former All Blacks doctor John Mayhew says more studies need to be done to determine a direct link between concussions and the risk of dementia, but it's a potential problem rugby bodies must be aware of.

Solomone Kata is set to return to the familiar turf of Mt Smart Stadium, signing on to play for Moana Pasifika in the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific competition.

The All Blacks have expressed their sadness in the wake of Carl Hayman's early-onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) diagnosis at the age of 41.

The inaugural season of Super Rugby Aupiki reaches another milestone today with the announcement of player signings across the four teams. 105 players have signed contracts for 2022 and the first season of Super Rugby Aupiki, with only a handful of positions left across the country.

England's players stand to make around £70,000 (NZ$133,000) if they complete an autumn clean sweep under a revised pay deal with the Rugby Football Union. Meanwhile, Saturday's opponents, Tonga, will receive just £500 (NZ$950) for playing at Twickenham this week.

The Blues have pulled off a major coaching coup by recruiting Joe Schmidt to the franchise from next year.Schmidt previously held an assistant coaching role with the Blues from 2005-07 before heading north where he helped Clermont Auvergne claim their first French Top 14 crown

Black Ferns Sevens captain Sarah Hirini has signed with the Hurricanes Women's squad for the upcoming 2022 Super Rugby Aupiki competition. One of the leading Sevens players in the world, Hirini has an impressive list of accolades to her name including captaining the Black Ferns Sevens team to a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

The prankster who invaded the pitch to line up with the All Blacks for the national anthem in Wales says he was originally planning to join the haka - but spotted the perfect moment to move earlier.

Brit Daniel "Jarvo" Jarvis is today back in London, reflecting on his latest sporting prank which saw him join the New Zealand line-up, donned in full All Black gear - and an arm bandage to add authenticity as a fully professional rugby player.