CHRIS FOY - WORLD OF RUGBY: The Nations League concept is back on the table as a means of galvanising international rugby, but if it is going to make a difference, it can't be half-hearted.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: The decision to bring the curtain down on Premiership rugby for five weeks and postponing European competitions only delays an inevitable shutdown.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: These are difficult times for all sports but I believe such moments create a time for organisations to demonstrate they are in touch with the world around them.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Professional rugby's financial vulnerability has been cruelly exposed and, frankly, it has always been built on shifting sands.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Bill Beaumont and challenger Agustin Pichot are in the final week of their election campaign to become chairman of World Rugby. 

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I wonder if all those voting for the chairmanship of World Rugby on Sunday realise the great gift and opportunity they have - or what a pivotal moment for the game this is.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: There is outcry over the game's governance, smaller nations are sick of being treated like second-class citizens and this crisis is threatening financial meltdown.

WILL KELLEHER IN TOKYO: Josh Adams (left) is the Rugby World Cup's top try-scorer and is now ready to start a semi-final against South Africa as Wales' prime attacking weapon.

Dan Biggar (left) admitted it was 'tough to take' after Wales' World Cup dream ended in Yokohama. Wales' 19-16 semi-final loss to South Africa means they will face New Zealand in the third place play-off.

Warren Gatland questioned whether England might have played their World Cup final a game early as Welsh interest in the Webb Ellis Trophy ended in Yokohama.

Warren Gatland's side were trailing the Springboks 6-9 when the Ospreys player pulled up in the 40th minute with half-time looming.

Retired scrum-half Mike Phillips admits he felt for Wales after they missed out on the Rugby World Cup final with a 19-16 defeat by South Africa.

Eddie Jones went undercover in Yokohoma - disguising himself as a fan of the NFL's Houston Texans as he scouted Rugby World Cup final opponents South Africa against Wales. 

WILL KELLEHER AND NIK SIMON AT THE YOKOHAMA STADIUM: South Africa edged a battling Wales in a tight World Cup semi-final on Sunday to book their spot in the tournament decider.

CHRIS FOY AT THE YOKOHAMA STADIUM: Some time soon, Welsh rugby will realise what it has had and what it has lost. Not this World Cup campaign, but their coach and captain.

WILL KELLEHER IN TOKYO: The Boks might be boring, but their boss Rassie Erasmus does not care. South Africa have faced criticism for their limited, combative style at the World Cup.

WILL KELLEHER IN TOKYO: Warren Gatland joked Wales would rather play a drinking game against New Zealand than play the third-fourth playoff - but says his squad will be motivated to beat them.

WILL KELLEHER IN TOKYO: Tom Curry is England's only representative on the World Rugby Player of the Year shortlist - as Maro Itoje and George Ford were snubbed.

Warren Gatland's Welsh career ended in defeat on Friday as Wales were beaten by the All Blacks in the bronze medal match in Tokyo. Relive the match with JAMES DUTTON.

WILL KELLEHER AT THE AJINOMOTO STADIUM: Tears, beers and cheers for departing stars of the game here in Japan, as several glittering eras all ended at once.

The Welsh Rugby Union announced the news, with Jonathan Davies set to be out for more than six months because of a left knee injury suffered. Rhys Patchell has a shoulder issue.

Williams' Saracens deal runs out in the summer and he faces a stark choice. With 62 caps now he could earn huge sums in France and still play for Wales.

WILL KELLEHER AT THE PRINCIPALITY STADIUM: Warren Gatland bid a final farewell to Wales with a special send-off match with his former flame.

Sportsmail sensationally revealed that Howley had been sent home from Japan on the eve of the World Cup after a bookmaker, Betway, alerted the WRU of a rule breach.

The Wales assistant coach broke his silence on Tuesday after a three-month investigation found he had placed 363 bets over four years, including on his own team.

Watkins, who won 18 caps for Wales between 2003 and 2006, retired in 2011 and was diagnosed with a rare form of pelvic cancer in 2013. He leaves his wife Stacey and sons Siôr and Tal.

INTERVIEW BY STEFFAN THOMAS: Jamie Roberts is far from your average rugby player and the former Wales centre is more qualified than most in sport to articulate his fears over coronavirus.

Eddie Jones has urged Joe Marler not to quit rugby and has scheduled a meeting with the prop once the lockdown is over. Marler was handed a 10-week ban for grabbing Alun Wyn Jones' genitals.

Wales' leading internationals are set for a 25 per cent salary reduction for three months while Premiership Rugby is working on possible scenarios to restart the season.

COMMENT: It is a sad fact that the main barrier to rugby's progress lies here; in the home nations and those other centres of the sport's narrow European landscape - France and Italy.

SPORTS AGENDA BY MIKE KEEGAN: Eddie Jones has included lessons on Japanese history as part of England's World Cup preparations

COMMENT BY MARTIN SAMUEL: It's known as the Brawn Drain. The depressingly predictable exit of the best rugby talent from the Pacific Islands to the biggest, richest nations.

NRL executives have reportedly flown to the United States this week to meet with Amazon, Google and Facebook to discuss screening matches on their platforms.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY NIK SIMON: We should do a normal, cliche-full, politically correct interview for a change,' says Joe Marler in a brief WhatsApp exchange.

Liam Hampson, who plays for a semi-professional rugby league team in the Gold Coast, Australia, was travelling with his teammates in Papua New Guinea for a rugby match.

Australia's Super Rugby competition is planning for an early July return, a spokesman said Saturday, after the coronavirus outbreak derailed the season and sparked turmoil within the sport's cash-strapped governing body. Rugby Australia's board suffered another tumultuous week with new director Peter Wiggs -- who had been tipped to take over the chairman's role -- quitting after just five weeks in the job. His departure followed the resignation last month of chief executive Raelene Castle after pressure from the board and a simmering financial crisis. Clubs are set to begin training in the coming days under strict health regulations aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 among players, a spokesman said on Saturday. "We do not have a confirmed date for the resumption of Super Rugby in Australia, however early July presents a best case scenario," he added. This year's Super Rugby competition saw seven rounds played before the pandemic forced a stop to the season in March. The ...

Social-distancing restrictions are still in place in Australia, so 'normal' full-contact training will not resume for another week at least.

Under New Zealand's four-tier alert system, social distancing protocols are enforced less stringently under level two, allowing contact sports including the national game of rugby union.