Radradra is top rugby player in the world today

Number one in the world right now: Flying Fijian Semi Radradra.

Wales Online veteran rugby commentators Simon Thomas, Mark Orders and Ben James have come up with the 50 best rugby players in the world in 2020.

The panel have placed Somosomo native and Flying Fijian centre Semi Radradra as the top of the 50.

D-Day for Rugby Champs

Decision day has arrived for the Springboks and SANZAAR, as The Rugby Championship hangs in the balance.

SANZAAR are on Wednesday expecting to learn whether or not the Springboks will board a flight bound for Australia this weekend, a decision which will have serious ramifications for all four participating nations.

South Africa celebrate the Webb-Ellis Cup in Japan after beating England in the final. Photo: World Rugby

Peter FitzSimons and James Bracey laud the Wallabies performance in their 16-all draw with the All Blacks.

Motivated to help 2019 edition

The William Webb-Ellis Cup will be up for grabs at the Japanese showcase: Planet Rugby

The 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan is about two months away and Flying Fijians coach John McKee has a plateful deciding who will make the final squad to the Land of the Rising Sun plus the team to face the Maori All Blacks on Saturday in Suva.

Panel announced for IRB conference

With less than two years to go to Rio, experts will discuss the Olympic effect will have on Rugby. Photo: IRB

With just one month to go to the IRB World Rugby Conference and Exhibition 2014 (ConfEx) the IRB has announced speakers for the “Olympic Rugby Sevens – Faster, Higher, Stronger” panel session.

Bringing together experts from the Olympic world and the wider sporting landscape, the panel will discuss how Rugby can make a success of Rio 2016 and become a must-attend event at the Olympic Games.

IOC member Patrick Baumann, who is also Secretary-General of the Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur (FIBA) will join the panel to provide insight and advice on what it takes to be a successful Olympic sport and how Rugby can make the most of the debut of Sevens at Rio 2016.

RWC tickets set to go on sale

Debbie Jevans, CEO of England Rugby 2015. Photo: Skysports

Tickets for next year’s Rugby World Cup in England will go on sale on Friday, with those for popular matches to be distributed via a ballot, according to organisers.

Prices for adults start at £15 ($45) – £7 ($21) for children – and rise to £715 ($2166.67) for the best seats for the final at Twickenham on October 31, 2015. The average ticket costs around £100 ($303).

“We have worked hard to create as many low-priced tickets as we can and prices start at £7 ($21) for children and £15 ($45) for adults,” said a spokeswoman from England Rugby 2015.

McKenzie prepared for All Blacks

McKenzie is better prepared for the challenge against the All Blacks. Photo: Skysports

After a year as Australia coach Ewen McKenzie believes his side will be much better prepared for their Bledisloe Cup opener next weekend.

The former Reds boss replaced Robbie Deans after the Lions series defeat last July, and faced consecutive games with the All Blacks to begin his reign.

The Wallabies lost both matches, as well as a third clash with New Zealand later in the year, but they will have the chance to put that right in their opening two fixtures of the Rugby Championship.

Charles on verge of a dream start

Nathan Charles charges down field for the Force in Super Rugby.

Inspirational Wallabies hooker Nathan Charles says a run-on Test debut against the All Blacks would have only featured in his “wildest dreams” just nine months ago.

As if taking 28 tablets a day to manage his cystic fibrosis wasn’t enough, Charles had to fight just to start this year’s Super Rugby season after undergoing a knee reconstruction for a busted ACL last year.

But a stellar season at the Western Force, combined with knee injuries to Stephen Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau, means Charles is the man most likely to don the No.2 jersey for the Bledisloe Cup opener in Sydney on August 16.

“Nine months ago, I was still coming back from a knee reconstruction. So this is my wildest dreams,” Charles said.

McKenzie eyes All Black scalp

Ewen McKenzie believes the Aussies can beat the All Blacks next month. Photo: Skysports

Australia head coach Ewen McKenzie believes his charges are showing the signs they are ready to defeat New Zealand in the Rugby Championship.

Since losing to the All Blacks the last time they played them, 41-33 in October, the Wallabies have gone on to win seven internationals in a row.

And ahead of the tournament which they are third favourites to win, McKenzie is adamant they are heading in the right direction to claim victory.

Island teams get RWC dress rehearsals in November

Wales play Fiji in an earlier Test. Photo: Skysports

Fiji, Samoa and Tonga will enjoy the best preparation yet for a World Cup after the November Tests were announced by the International Rugby Board.

With some compelling matches, November will see Tier Two teams clash with some of the top sides in world rugby ahead of next year’s RWC.

Fiji, who open Rugby World Cup 2015 against host country England, will benefit from a demanding schedule as they face 2015 pool opponents Wales in Cardiff on November 15, just one week after they play France in Paris.

BOD wants Pacific Island stop

Brian O’Driscoll on the British Lions tour last year. Photo: Planet Rugby

British and Irish Lions legend Brian O’Driscoll believes the 2017 tourists should play a fixture in the Pacific Islands en route to New Zealand.

O’Driscoll, who was part of four tours, said that the game should be played instead of one such as 2013’s against the Barbarians in Hong Kong.

“It’s probably more of a give than take for the Lions [to play in the Pacific Islands] but it would be great for the people there and it would probably take away from that commercial feel that the Lions are this commercial juggernaut,” he told The Times.