Trans-Tasman relations under more duress
Whenever there has been tension between the New Zealand and Australia unions, it hasn’t ended well.
The nation best placed for southern dominance
With different build-ups faced by the competing nations, who are favourites for the Rugby Championship?
Features
The race for Lions selection
Warren Gatland has never been afraid to take the tough calls in the pursuit of victory
David Havili proving All Blacks dream is alive and real
More often than not, it can take a little bit of time before players really embed themselves into test rugby.
Great Duane’s absence a glaring issue for Springboks
Analysis: There’s one man who’s absence was keenly felt by the Springboks in their loss to the Lions.
The Lions’ Biggar gambit paved the way
The Lions fly-half was instrumental in orchestrating the second-half comeback to defeat the Springboks
Marika Koroibete’s rescinded red card a lesson for World Rugby
World Rugby need to seriously rethink 20-minute red cards.
Star Columns
Knowing when to call it quits
When rugby is so intertwined with who you are as a person, how do you ever call time on the game?
How rugby is addressing the tackle height
The England World Cup winner believes great strides have been made in making tackles safer but there is more to do
The referee’s our saviour
Officials are often hit by a barrage of abuse when they should have our eternal gratitude
Analysis
Fiji’s major France-honed advantage over the All Blacks
Analysis: The All Blacks were absolutely demolished at the breakdown in their first test with Fiji.
Breaking the Springboks defensive line
The defensive system adopted by South Africa in Japan was impregnable, so how do the Lions unlock it?
Cohesion key in Canterbury’s ongoing success
Analysis: All signs point to Canterbury marching on in the Farah Palmer Cup.
Interviews
Jerome Kaino’s final bow
Four years on from his departure from New Zealand, Jerome Kaino is enjoying his final days as a player.
Bigger isn’t always better
LIons need to learn lessons of 2009, when Heinrich Brüssow bossed the breakdown for the Boks
Dalton Papalii’s battle to usurp the All Blacks’ best
After spending three years’ in the shadows of Sam Cane and Ardie Savea, Dalton Papalii is set to break free.
Editor’s Choice
Japan’s progress must not cost the Pacific nations
The Rugby Championship can’t simply keep absorbing new teams when they reach tier-one status.
Against-the-odds win breathes life into Wallabies
The Wallabies will have taken some massive lessons and belief out of their series-win over France.
The XV Video
Audio Articles
Opportunity Knocks
Struggling to read all of the great content on The XV?
Listen on the go with audio articles.
Scroll down this page and download from our Audio Articles tab today.
Stats and Snapshots:
The Highlanders’ Crusade
Rob Vickerman and Andy Clarke take an in-depth look at the Highlanders’ stunning victory over the Crusaders in Christchurch.
Podcasts
The XV – Rugby History
A podcast about the history of rugby and it’s roots in different countries, narrated by historian Tony Collins.
Rugby Centurions
Rugby Centurions celebrates players who have won 100 International Test Caps or more for their country, making it the world’s toughest membership.
The XV – Audio Articles
Each month, we produce a selection of audio narrated versions of some of The XV’s most popular editorial articles so you can enjoy the best of The XV on the go, in the gym or on your commute to work.
The XV Contributors
More Stories
The arms race
How do you keep top players in Scotland? And how do you replace the ones who leave? Recruitment supremo Jan McGinity lifts the lid on contracting.
Striving for perfection
England’s attack has been a work-in-progress since the heroics of 2019, so can they re-find their mojo?
Making a head start
Progressive Rugby want to help the sport deal with the head injury crisis but will anyone listen?
Intellectual poverty
Fluid movement of players and coaches means intellectual property is always going to be tough to lock down.
Unburdened and unbowed
Liam Squire sets the record straight on the media storm that was his 2019 season.
Iron men of rugby
There are self-styled enforcers everywhere but South Africa produces the hardest men.
Border crossing
The IRFU’s willingness to transfer players between provinces offers a lifeline to some but pain to others.
Loyalty in question
Clubs need to make player welfare a priority, not an afterthought
The mythical beast
Chris Robshaw knows all about the agony of narrowly missing out on a Lions tour but he recognises its uniqueness
Final push
Rugged All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick is eyeing the 2023 World Cup as his international swansong.
Silver bullet or silver medal?
A probable $465m cash injection is going to change New Zealand rugby forever.
Push the pass
The All Blacks’ offloading game has faded dramatically since Wayne Smith left the coaching fold.
For a full list of our stories
click here