10:49 AM BST Wasps have granted Marcus Watson permission to fly out to Japan to watch his brother Anthony play for England in the World Cup final this weekend. The winger has started in the opening two Premiership matches for his club this season, but has been allowed to travel to see England face South
Rugby
10:34 AM BST World Rugby has announced the nominees for the Coach of the Year award, with Japan’s Jamie Joseph joining the four World Cup semifinalists’ coaches in the running for the prize. New Zealand-born Joseph led the World Cup hosts to their first ever quarterfinal in the competition earlier this month, overseeing a flawless
2:30 AM BST England have named an unchanged starting line-up for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final against South Africa. The only change comes on the bench where Ben Spencer replaces the injured Willi Heinz. Scrum-half Spencer only arrived in Japan Monday but has now been fast-tracked into the matchday squad as England seek to win
12:59 PM BST Huw Richards Close • FT’s rugby writer from 1995 to 2009• Also writes for the International Herald Tribune and the Sunday Herald This Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa will be the culmination of a four-year cycle that began as the All Blacks toted the trophy around Twickenham in 2015.
11:36 AM BST TOKYO — England’s scintillating performance in blowing apart the seemingly invincible All Blacks last weekend has installed them, in many people’s minds, as firm favourites for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final against the Springboks. England were sublime in their 19-7 crushing of New Zealand, but the title showdown will be an entirely
3:07 AM BST Captain Kieran Read will lead the All Blacks in his final Test alongside other departing veterans Ben Smith, Ryan Crotty and Sonny Bill Williams in the Rugby World Cup third-place match against Wales in Tokyo on Friday. Read, who turned 34 on Saturday, will effectively finish his 127-Test career with the All
10:10 AM BST Jerome Garces will referee the Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa, organisers said Tuesday. He will become the first Frenchman to receive the honour when the two teams meet in Yokohama on Saturday. Garces will be joined by Romain Poite [France] and Ben O’Keeffe [New Zealand] as assistant referees
11:08 AM BST Sale flanker Ben Curry will be in Yokohama to watch twin brother Tom play for England in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final after his club agreed to release him for the weekend. While Tom packs down against South Africa in England’s first final since 2007, Ben was preparing to play Bristol in
8:42 AM BST Eddie Jones sent tongue-in-cheek best wishes to Warren Gatland for Wales’ bronze medal match after the New Zealander queried whether England had played their World Cup final a match early. Gatland’s Wales side were knocked out of the World Cup on Sunday, losing 19-16 to South Africa. They now face New Zealand
2:43 AM BST New Zealand Rugby (NZR) boss Steve Tew has poured cold water on the prospect of Warren Gatland coaching the All Blacks due to his commitment to the British & Irish Lions. Gatland, who will step down as Wales coach after the Rugby World Cup, has signed to coach the Lions in South