Rugby World Cup to expand to 24 teams for 2027
Ireland has already qualified for the tournament, which will be staged in Australia
World Rugby
Matt Williams: Hard to be confident World Rugby will soon grasp nettle of scrum law reform
Matt Williams: The root cause of low ball-in-play time in matches can be traced back to the current scrum laws presided over by rugby’s governing authorities
Sam Berman hat-trick leads Ireland Under-20s to convincing victory over Italy in opener
Willie Faloon’s side run in eight tries against a side that had run them close in the Six Nations
Matt Williams: French Top 14 fast becoming what English Premier League is to soccer
If a solution is not soon found to create a feasible global club calendar, Australian rugby may soon face an era of irreversible decline
Matt Williams: New law proposals are a gross failure of stewardship from World Rugby
If scrums and mauls are what excite you most about rugby, the good times are set to carry on rolling. The rest of us may suffer
The Counter Ruck: Rugby’s new laws explained with Owen Doyle
The Counter Ruck podcast: A number of trials will be run over the summer by World Rugby
Owen Doyle: Let’s stop the law tinkering – safety issues apart
Owen Doyle: World Rugby proposals remain a work in progress but still not strong enough to discourage serious foul play
The Offload: Former props unimpressed by proposed law changes
Former Ireland internationals voice their disapproval at the fact that it will no longer be possible to choose to scrum from a free kick
Matt Williams: Time to refine current red card laws in the interests of rugby justice
World Rugby to consider a proposal to globally trial a new variation of red card laws successfully implemented in Super Rugby
A rugby match where 30 forwards take to the pitch is not a good thing for the game
The 6-2 split has become normalised with forward power from the bench winning over coaches
When it comes to the 20-minute red card replacement, World Rugby should play it safe
The ugly side of rugby has not gone away, and the deterrent of a straight red card should not be diluted
First ever brain health service for rugby players launched in Ireland
Ireland is the first country to launch the service for male and female players who have concerns about their brain and mental health
Proposed changes confronting World Rugby could have transformative impact
Constant revisions of and amendments to the game’s laws are product of coaches finding ways to bend them to their advantage
Owen Doyle: Severe brain damage is the elephant in the room for World Rugby
A fundamental need exists for World Rugby to rid the game of danger
World Rugby reveals radical plans to speed up sport and broaden its appeal
World Rugby considering reducing tackle height at elite level and introducing a trial of the 20-minute red card
Owen Doyle: World Rugby must be aware of unintended consequences in law trials
Antidote to end scourge of kick tennis goes on trial in Super Rugby Pacific
Player welfare the prime motivator behind World Rugby’s tackle height trials
Science tells us to reduce head impacts and that upright tackles with heads in the same airspace pose the greatest risk of concussion
Matt Williams: New tackle line could radically change how rugby is played
World Rugby’s curious lack of action appears to have forced individual national bodies to act, with what has been until now great haste and little thought
Johnny Watterson: Diluting of red card punishment sends out wrong message
Current trial that allows a replacement for a sent off after 20 minutes is wrong-headed and dangerous.
Six Nations: Ireland on cusp of winning first trophy on home soil in 18 years
Prospect of Triple Crown will keep players’ focus on Scotland and not on Paris outcome
Matt Williams: Scrum turkeys won’t vote for Christmas and reform the law
Only two teams benefit from the importance placed on scrums while the rest run the ball
Owen Doyle: Japan win was refreshing but All Blacks will bring the heat
The intensity brought by New Zealand in Saturday’s Test will be off the Richter scaler
Johnny Watterson: Biennial World Cups smack of killing the goose that lays the golden egg
In World Rugby’s case they must also look at the physical burden that players face
Gerry Thornley: Lions brand will survive SA tour – but not many more like it
Few of the legacies of the tour to South Africa will have been the result of the actual rugby played
Johnny Watterson: What a pity UCD do not have access to John McClean records
College responded to Irish Times FOI request saying they have no control over rugby club
Owen Doyle: World Rugby needs to end dangerous clean-outs, and quickly
The laws of the game are not being applied properly and players are at risk of serious injury
Gordon D’Arcy: Joe Schmidt will challenge referees like he previously did players
World Rugby have recruited a special mind to safeguard players and enhance the sport
Dr Éanna Falvey: I expect competitive rugby to resume this year
World Rugby’s chief medical officer on what it will take to get the sport back on track
Wales backing boosts Bill Beaumont’s re-election bid with World Rugby
Ex-England captain expected to receive unanimous support from Six Nations countries
Pro 14 chief Anayi ‘really confident’ that season will finish
Ideal eight-week schedule would initially see derbies being played behind closed doors
World Rugby aiming to outline range of options by end of April
Financial assistance packages and plans for Tests and major competitions top the list
Gerry Thornley: Changes to tackle laws could transform rugby by time of next World Cup
Trials show lowering legal tackle height armpit to waist helps reduce injuries like concussion
IRFU announces player pay deferrals ranging from 10 to 50%
Equitable sliding scale will be used for all international and provincial players
Owen Doyle: Breakdown of law and order in rugby must stop
If referees don’t know or don’t apply the laws of the game correctly then anarchy results
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