Just eight hours before kickoff in their opening Rugby World Cup match against Ireland, the U.S. Eagles attended an emotional memorial service to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

Australia withstood a torrid defensive effort from Italy before scoring four unanswered second-half tries to open its Rugby World Cup campaign with a belatedly emphatic 32-6 win on Sunday.

International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman Bernard Lapasset declared New Zealand ready Sunday to host an “extraordinary” Rugby World Cup despite questions about the tournament makeup and unsold tickets.

New Zealand rugby fans have overwhelmingly rejected a campaign urging them to give up sex as a way of supporting the All Blacks during this year's Rugby World Cup.

The All Blacks emphatic win over Australia at the weekend sparked an NZ$1 million rush in ticket sales, suggesting New Zealanders are growing more confident that their beloved national team can win the Rugby World Cup on home soil to end two decades of disappointment.

The All Blacks emphatic win over Australia at the weekend sparked an NZ$1 million dollar rush in ticket sales, suggesting New Zealanders are growing more confident that their beloved national team can win the Rugby World Cup on home soil to end two decades of disappointment.

Scrumhalf Luke Burgess and lock Dan Vickerman have returned to Australia's rugby squad for Saturday's Bledisloe Cup opener against New Zealand while 95-test veteran Nathan Sharpe has been left out.

Powerful All Blacks center Sonny Bill Williams says he will ignore lucrative offers to play overseas and sign a one-year extension with the New Zealand Rugby Union when his contract expires after this year's World Cup.

Injured lock Flip van der Merwe and flanker Heinrich Brussow have been ruled out of the Springboks squad for Saturday's Tri-Nations test against New Zealand.

Former Rugby Football Union (RFU) chief executive Francis Baron has slammed the English game's governing body after the muddle over Sir Clive Woodward's aborted return to the still vacant post of performance director position.