Ireland justify their status with an eight-try win 59-16 against Tonga

James Lowe of Ireland holds off Solomone Kata of Tonga during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Ireland and Tonga at Stade de la Beaujoire on September 16, 2023 in Nantes, France

- 16/09/202305/10/2023

NANTES - Driven on by record-breaking fly-half Johnny Sexton, Ireland justified their status as the world No.1 ranked side with a brilliant bonus-point win over a physical, if disjointed Tonga side. Photo by David Ramos - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images Andy Farrell's team did a lot of the hard work

Anscombe ready to put dark thoughts behind him in Nice

Louis Rees-Zammit of Wales scores his team's first try during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Wales and Portugal at Stade de Nice on September 16, 2023 in Nice, France

- 16/09/202305/10/2023

Gareth Anscombe has admitted he had some dark thoughts when he injured his thumb at the Wales training camp in Turkey and feared he may miss out on a second successive World Cup through injury. His 2019 dream was wrecked when he badly damaged his knee at Twickenham in a

Portuguese hoping to ‘surprise the world’

A fan of Portugal holds a scarfduring the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Wales and Portugal at Stade de Nice on September 16, 2023 in Nice, France

- 16/09/202305/10/2023

After tackling themselves to a virtual standstill against the full time Fijians last Sunday night, Wales will now turn their attention to beating the part-time, Pool C minnows of Portugal. The last time the two teams met was in 1994 when the current interim CEO at the Welsh Rugby Union

Wales’ World Cup dreams very much alive Gatland said

- 15/09/202305/10/2023

After suffering semi-final heartbreak in 2011 and 2019, Warren Gatland is still dreaming of one day taking Wales to a World Cup final. He saw his side get off to a winning start against Fiji last weekend and has made 13 changes from the starting XV in Bordeaux for the

France defeat spirited Uruguay 27-12 in Pool A at Stade Pierre-Mauroy

Arthur Vincent of France runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Felipe Aliaga of Uruguay during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between France and Uruguay at Stade Pierre Mauroy on September 14, 2023 in Lille, France

- 14/09/202305/10/2023

LILLE - France pushed hard by Uruguay made it two wins from two at Rugby World Cup 2023 with a 27-12 victory. Photo by David Ramos - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images The hosts were chastened when Uruguay fly-half Felipe Etcheverry's cushioned cross-field pass was collected by Nicolas Freitas who hared

Dan’s the century man for Wales at World Cup

A general view of the inside of the stadium on occasion of the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Pool A opener between France and New Zealand at Stade de France on September 08, 2023 in Paris, France

- 13/09/202305/10/2023

Dan Biggar became Wales leading points scorer at Rugby World Cup when he landed his second minute penalty against Fiji in Bordeaux. That kick took him past Neil Jenkins and made him the first Welshman to score a century of points at the tournament. France 2023 is his third campaign

Fiji done and dusted – now on to Portugal

Ryan Elias of Wales is tackled whilst running with the ball during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Wales and Fiji at Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux on September 10, 2023 in Bordeaux, France

- 13/09/202305/10/2023

Wales forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys was happy to admit there was relief in the camp at getting over the line against Fiji, but says everyone has now switched on to this weekend’s game against Portugal. Jac Morgan’s men had to dig deeper than ever before, pulling off a World Cup