World Cup

The Olympic Stadium is set to be confirmed as a venue for the 2015 World Cup - but retractable seating may not be in place.

Top sides will not play all their 2015 World Cup pool matches on weekends, giving smaller nations a more balanced programme.

The US is not ready to host a rugby World Cup and needs to establish a sustainable professional league, says the IRB.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has had his contract extended until after the 2015 World Cup.

Sonny Bill Williams is more than welcome to rejoin the New Zealand rugby fold though there was no guarantee he will make 2015.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has said some players who won the Webb Ellis trophy in 2011 may not be in England to defend it.

Minnows Georgia and Uruguay will play in the inaugural Tbilisi Cup in June as the IRB aims to improve second-tier nations.

Manchester United have pulled Old Trafford out of the running to be a venue for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Irish rugby's governing body won the backing of the Gaelic Athletic Association to use their stadia in a World Cup bid.

Versatile Wallabies back Adam Ashley-Cooper has turned down offers from abroad and signed a new deal.

Rugby World Cup organisers have added the Exeter Chiefs to the list of possible venues for the 2015 tournament in England.

England will play France home and away and take on Ireland at Twickenham in their warm-up matches for the 2015 World Cup.

Organisers of the 2015 Rugby World Cup have again turned to a former Olympics official to fill a key role.

The 2011 Rugby World Cup brought over 133,000 international visitors to New Zealand and had a short-term economic impact of $1.73 billion NZ.

London Olympics chief executive Paul Deighton has been appointed to the board of England Rugby 2015.