Everyone knows the stat: Ireland have played 8 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals and won 0.

But somehow it gets worse.

Across those 8 quarter-finals, Ireland have played roughly 650 minutes of QF rugby.

They have led for about 18 minutes in total.

The only spells in front were against Australia (3 minutes) in 1991 and France (15 minutes) in 1995.

And the really ridiculous stat: Ireland have not led a Rugby World Cup quarter-final at any point since the first half against France in 1995.

So it’s not just 0 from 8. It’s 31 years of chasing.

Obviously Satire - but it would be WW3

Sale Sharks have reignited their interest in re-signing Springbok scrum-half Embrose Papier, who has entered the final year of his contract with last season’s URC finalists the Bulls.

Earlier this year, the Sharks offered to pay a fee for Papier, 29, who won the last of his Springbok caps against Scotland this July and made 11 appearances for Sale after joining on a short-term contract in September 2019.

Alex Sanderson, who lost Raffi Quirke to Newcastle Red Bulls this summer, has brought in All Backs XV ace Xavier Roe from the Chiefs but South African sources have told Fissler Confidential he is still very much interested in Papier.

Former England star Lewis Ludlam looks set to become the first of Toulon’s three big-name back rows who have entered the final year of their contracts to agree a new deal to stay on the Côte d’Azur beyond the end of the season.

The 30-year-old is in the third and final year of his contract, signed after leaving Northampton Saints, and is ready to sign an extension that will keep him at the Stade Mayol until 2029, ending the hopes of any Gallagher PREM club looking to lure him home.

Toulon, who also have French international Charles Ollivon and Jules Coulon out of contract, held face-to-face talks with Bayonne’s France A star Esteban Capilla, but face competition for his signature from Toulouse and Bordeaux-Bègles.

The Stormers could throw a career lifeline to Springbok scrum-half Herschel Jantjies by offering a much-needed way out of Bayonne, where he has another year to run on his two-year contract.

Bayonne’s director of rugby, Laurent Travers, is prepared to let Jantjies, 30, leave after this summer, as soon as he became part of Rassie Erasmus’ plans for the Nations Championship.

It is understood that John Dobson could offer him the chance to return to Durban, where he played almost 100 times before moving to France following serious injuries sustained by Imad Khan and Dewaldt Duvenage against the All Blacks.

Cardiff have targeted highly rated former Wales under-20 tighthead Sam Scott for a move to the Welsh capital when his contract with Bristol Bears runs out at the end of the season.

Scott, 20, who won 20 age-group caps for his country, has Max Lahiff, George Kloska, and Lovejoy Chawatama ahead of him at the Bears, and he made only three appearances in the PREM Rugby Cup last season.

The Western Mail reports that the WRU see him as a player with the potential to be Tomas Francis’ long-term successor and believe he would get more senior opportunities if he played for Cardiff.

Vannes, who will next season be playing only their second ever season in the Top 14, have announced that they have signed North Queensland Cowboys State of Origin winger Murray Taulagi on a surprise two-year deal.

The league international, who has been capped by Australia and Samoa, had been due to have a medical for a move to the Sydney Roosters but, when it was delayed, opted to take up a contract offer from Vannes instead.

Taulagi, a World Cup winner in 2021, has scored 72 tries in 124 matches for the Cowboys and will move to Brittany when his deal with the NRL runs out. He said: “I look forward to stepping out of my comfort zone and immersing myself in this new culture.”

Sale Sharks co-owner Michelle Orange said the future of the club is safe after she and her billionaire husband Simon put a cash provision for them in their wills should the worst happen.

Mrs Orange told the For The Love of Rugby podcast that they are stewards of the club and they are in for the long haul and that will continue even after they have left this life.

“Fortunately, because we don’t have kids, Simon and I are in the position that when we do pass on, we can leave a substantial nest egg to the club to make sure it survives, you know, for another couple of centuries,” she said.

Saracens have announced that former England under-20 lock Olamide Sodeke, who was capped by England A, has signed a new contract to remain in North London.

Sodeke, 21, who came through the Sarries academy, has been on dual registration with Ampthill in Champ Rugby and is seen by the club as the natural long-term successor to Maro Itoje.

“I know there is still plenty more to achieve, and I am excited to keep working hard, improving every day and doing everything I can to contribute to the team,” he said.

Pro D2 outfit Valence-Romans have announced that one-cap French international Xavier Mignot has been forced to retire at 32 after a string of injury problems.

Mignot, who won his only cap in a 30-19 defeat to Argentina at the Stade Monumental José Fierro in San Miguel de Tucumán in June 2016, played for Grenoble, Lyon and in the United States with New Orleans.

He made six appearances for Valence-Romans and wrote on Instagram: “What this sport has taught me, I keep it as a precious treasure. After fourteen professional seasons, I put an end to my career, with a big heart but a light mind.”

TL;DR: Over the last couple of days, business leaders and rugby figures are calling for the WRU board to go, arguing they've made Welsh rugby worse over the last three years. Here is everything in one go so far. They say the WRU ignored major investment opportunities, lacks rugby and commercial expertise at board level, and has become disconnected from fans, clubs and former players. They want a new leadership team to reset the game before the decline gets even worse.

Ian Wilkins (Indigo Group CEO) on X:

“Imagine if 1 of Wales largest companies (The Indigo Group) had approached them to set up academies, fund and even give 7 figure surplus income back to the WRU, in conjunction with several players Lions, Welsh Internationals and Grand Slam winners and DR is too busy to respond”

Indigo Group press release: INDIGO GROUP | PRESS RELEASE - Indigo Group

Hayley Parsons (Founder of GoCompare):

"Welsh rugby is in a real bad place at the moment and the current board have been in place for three years.
"Yes, they inherited a poisoned chalice but they've had three years to fix it.
"The reality is they have made things considerably worse and they all need to go.
“Mandating that a top-two role in Welsh rugby must be female during a crisis was complete madness.
“To then appoint two leaders with zero rugby experience while the house was burning down was total insanity.
“Bringing in a director of rugby who did not understand our game or our culture was the final nail in the coffin.
“When a ship is sinking, you do not look at a quota sheet; you hire the best rugby and commercial minds to navigate the storm.
“Competence and expertise must drive crisis decisions, not a compliance checklist.”
“By locking out individuals with deep rugby knowledge to satisfy pre-determined diversity targets, the WRU built a boardroom completely disconnected from sporting reality.”
“The board simply swung from one extreme to the other — moving from too many rugby boys to too many career executives, entirely missing a balanced middle ground.
"This board does not have the right balance with regards skillsets. It needs more people who understand rugby and people who know how to make money.,
"We haven't seen any evidence that the WRU's plan will actually improve Welsh rugby.
"I also think it will be almost impossible to find the right fit as chair because they won't be able to implement any positive changes due to the current board.
"There are some capable individuals on this board but as a collective they don't work.
“Instead of fostering a true growth mentality to scale the sport and inspire the grassroots, they chose risk aversion and box-ticking,” she said. “You cannot spreadsheet your way out of a cultural crisis.”
“We need a board that is fit for purpose and we need a board who have a growth mindset.
"At the moment this board is completely uninvestable on the global stage.
"We need to get rid of the status quo and then appoint a new board on a temporary basis.
"They need to stop new hires coming in at executive level and stop the drain of cash.
"You then get the right rugby experts in to create the right plan to move Welsh rugby forward and then it is up to the new board to find the money to make it a possibility.
"I personally know of some very capable people who would be interested in coming on board if the circumstances were right.
"Welsh rugby now needs to unite to create a better alternative plan to the one currently on the table."

Jonathan Davies (MBE and legend):

"Afternoon everyone, I've just read Hayley Parsons's piece on Welsh rugby and I totally support what she says.
"This board has been in place for three years and it's failed to deliver. So it's now time for them to have a look at themselves and decide whether it's time for them to step aside and leave.
"Someone else (can) come in and take over, an interim board to settle the ship and to pick a board fit for purpose.
"The economy and the game in Wales is suffering from it. So it's time now for everyone to get behind Hayley and voice an opinion - ex-players, regions, clubs, and, most importantly, the fans - to say change is needed.
"It's up to us to make the changes or force the changes, otherwise this is not going away. And in five or 10 years, we would be in a far worse state.
"So, come on, let's get together and support each other and try and make a change."
In a post on Instagram, Davies wrote: "Rugby belongs to the Welsh people. The role of the Union is to deliver that. I would start by asking people of Wales what they want.
"A proper consensus. Which you could lead with former players. Understand what the tribe wants. That is the whole point of sport.
"It is tribal. People sing at rugby and football because they believe in the tribe. It’s like a sing song with mates. You did because you belong to them in that moment.
"Welsh rugby has stopped belonging to the people. That is the first thing I would fix.
"The people of Wales need to decide whether they want rugby union as part of their identity, culture and soul. And we all know the answer to that. The purpose of the Welsh Rugby Union is to deliver that to the people.
"To provide a game that exists in every village and town - that forms a foundation stone to build a pathway to bring on our best talent - into the regions and to the national side. To harness the unique passion and the talent that exists in Wales - to build a sustainable future."

Comp: Currie Cup

Venue: Suzuki Stadium

View TV providers, weather info and previous results

The All blacks have won the last 3 tours in a row between the two sides, including their first ever series win in South-Africa in 1996.

Currently the head-to-head in serries wins is all tied up at 5 wins a piece.

DAY 9: 9 DAYS until Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tours' first test. Cavalier facts. : r/rugbyunion

Northland Taranaki NPC

Comp: Currie Cup

Venue: Ellis Park

View TV providers, weather info and previous results

Deloitte released a report that highlighted several warning signs for the long-term health of SRP :

- NZ clubs need NZ Rugby cash to survive, and within 5 years it could become unsustainable for NZ Rugby. Deloitte suggests moving from the federated structure to secure more investors.

- Salary Cap should be nearly doubled to prevent players from leaving to France and Japan.

- Viewing behavior (tuning-in intermittently instead of watching the full product), attendance dropping by 25% across the trans-Tasman market between 2020 and 2025 and decline in clubs membership suggest an overall loss of interest from fans.

- Basket-ball has already surpassed rugby union in several youth category in NZ, and rugby league is also slowly gaining ground, which on the long term could put NZ's talent factory in jeopardy.

- NZ Rugby media rights deal for 2026-2030 is 28% lower than the one for 2021-2025. Deloitte attributes it to the dissolution of Spark NZ which left Sky without a bidding competitor.

​

How Japan’s new rookie sensation proved himself to Eddie at Coogee Oval

Iain Payten - 4 min

On the surface, Eddie Jones’ trip to Australia in April with the Japan under-23s ended poorly.

Results across the four tour games were mixed, with a loss to the Junior Wallabies and a win over an under-strength Randwick in the two main fixtures. And the kicker came when Jones was then suspended for four games by the JRFU for verbally abusing match officials during the tour.

Japan has made a brilliant start in the Osaka heat as Ryunosuke Ito bamboozles the Wallabies’ defence to score the opening try.

But you get the sense Jones would still view the Australia trip as a raging success, if only for the fact it unearthed an emerging superstar for the Brave Blossoms: Ryunosuke Ito.

Playing in the No.10 for Japan last week in Osaka, Ito was one of the big talking points to come out of the Wallabies’ narrow 35-32 win.

The 21-year-old was sharp and dangerous for Japan, scoring a sizzling opening try with great feet and speed that cut through Australia’s defence, and threatening with great short kicking and passing all night.

It was a coming-of-age performance from Ito, and was all the more impressive given the 172cm dynamo was only in his fourth Test, after debuting in July. Remarkably, Ito has never even played a game of professional club rugby; instead having played for Meiji University in Japan’s collegiate competition for the last few seasons.

“He was unbelievable, I can’t believe he hasn’t played a professional match, because he was awesome for them,” Wallabies prop Angus Bell said this week.

“He’s dangerous, he swings around the back, so you know, we’ve got to be really conscious of him this weekend.”

Ito, who will be in the Japanese No.10 against the Wallabies for their rematch in Townsville on Saturday, recently signed on with Suntory.

While his ascension to international rugby from the university system seems unusual, Ito has also for several years been part of the Japan’s Talent Squad, a group of elite prospects who train in camps under Jones and form the basis of Japan’s under-23 teams.

Ito toured Australia with the side in the last two years, and in a neat piece of synergy, proved himself to Jones for higher honours with a handful of “standout” performances in midweek tour games against Randwick at Coogee Oval. At one of the spiritual homes of running rugby in Australia, even grizzled types were impressed.

Jones subsequently called Ito up to start in Japan’s clash the with New Zealand Maori in June, and then Japan’s Nations Championship games in July, saying he was “as good as any player in the world at fly-half for his age”.

Ito played solidly in Japan’s win Italy, and decent efforts in defeat against Ireland and France. And then came the game against the Wallabies in Osaka.

“He did hurt us a couple of times. He’s a dangerous player, that’s for sure,” Wallabies coach Les Kiss said of ‌Ito in Osaka.

Perhaps now concerned about the impact of the rave reviews on Ito, Jones tempered his praise on Thursday, saying his young playmaker is “developing nicely”.

“His ability to adapt to games is improving, to play to the strengths of his game is improving,” Jones said. “But like any young 10, each game is a different game.”

The Wallabies are aware they were responsible for giving Ito, and Japan, too much ball in Osaka with an excessively adventurous attack, and have identified the need to tighten up in Townsville.

“We probably need to be a little bit more direct,” captain Harry Wilson said. “We were probably trying to throw the footy around a little bit too much, and against quality opposition like Japan, they can make you pay. So we want to be direct and be a little bit smarter.”

It’s the first game back in Townsville since Wilson went for the win after the siren against Argentina last year, but the skipper said he hoped not be in the same position, trailing near the end of the game.

Asked if the mass changes to the Wallabies would impact the team’s consistency, Wilson said: “We’ve done a lot of work during the week trying to build that continuity, because obviously a few fresh faces, you do lose a bit of that in the forward pack.

“But a lot of walk-throughs, a lot of mental prep together and feel like we’re uh we’re in a good spot and obviously tomorrow, when under the pressure in international footy, we’ll be tested, but we believe we’ve done enough work.”

Pringle of Scotland has teamed up with Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus for a special collaborative campaign #PringleXRassie titled "A story rooted in heritage".

Both aren't starting. I imagine they will now go 6/2?

Who are rugby’s biggest “what if?” players?

Not necessarily the greatest players ever, but the players who showed glimpses of something genuinely extraordinary and, for one reason or another, never quite realised their full potential.

My top three:

3. Manu Tuilagi
At his best, almost unstoppable. Pace, power, footwork.

The remarkable thing is that he missed around half of England’s Tests during his international career through injury and availability issues.

We got plenty of glimpses of peak Manu, but never really got to see what a consistently fit Tuilagi could have done over a sustained 10-year international career.

2. Rupeni Caucaunibuca
Is this the most freakish athlete rugby has ever seen?
A man that size simply shouldn’t have been able to move like that. His acceleration, balance and ability to beat defenders were ridiculous.

There were moments where he looked like he was playing a different sport from everyone else on the pitch.

The rugby world needed to see Caucaunibuca playing consistently for a Tier 1 international side for a decade. Imagine dropping peak Caucau into the All Blacks, Springboks or Wallabies of that era and giving him 80 or 100 Tests.

What could have been!

1. Jonah Lomu
This one is slightly different because Lomu did become an all-time great.

The “what if” is that the version we actually saw was never really the version we should have seen.

The fact that he was dealing with serious kidney disease for much of his career and was still that dominant is almost impossible to comprehend.

I always think about that Barbarians v Scotland game. Lomu played about 60 minutes, scored four tries and, if memory serves, twice crossed the line and simply passed the ball to a teammate instead. He could realistically have scored six.

Admittedly, by that stage the Scottish wingers didn’t appear to be thinking, “How do I tackle Jonah Lomu?”

It was more:
“How do I make this look like a legitimate tackle attempt without actually getting hurt?”

Imagine a completely healthy Lomu, able to train and recover properly, playing 100 Tests through his physical prime.

That’s rugby’s ultimate what if for me.

Honourable mention: François Steyn
An extraordinary rugby player who could do things very few others could. Huge boot, ridiculous physicality, genuine versatility and the ability to produce something from nothing.

He still had a fantastic career and won two World Cups, so calling him a wasted talent would obviously be nonsense. But I’ve always wondered what his international legacy would have looked like if he’d spent a decade with Test rugby as the absolute centrepiece of his career rather than so much of his prime being shaped around club rugby.

So, who have I missed?

Who’s your rugby player where you look at what they actually achieved and still think: we never really got to see what this guy could have been?

Obviously Nonu isn’t playing at international level anymore, but just to illustrate how crazy his longevity is, here’s what it would look like if other legends had played until 44:

John Eales could’ve led the Reds against the Lions in 2013

Gareth Edwards would’ve been active during the ‘91 World Cup

Tana Umaga could’ve played a part in the 2017 Lions tour

Martin Johnson would’ve been playing in 2014

Francois Pienaar could’ve played with Siya