The ninth Rugby World Cup, and the first ever in Asia, starts when hosts Japan play Russia in Tokyo on Friday, September 20.
The competition involves 20 sides, and comprises 48 matches, played in 12 venues across three islands in Japan.
New Zealand will be bidding to make it three World Cup titles in a row, after winning on home soil eight years ago, then again in England in 2015.
The All Blacks were recently toppled from the No 1 spot in the world rankings by Wales, who will be looking to become just the second side from the northern hemisphere – after England in 2003 – to win the Webb Ellis Cup.
South Africa will be hoping to continue their sequence of winning every third World Cup, while Ireland, England, France and Australia will all consider themselves contenders, too.
Pools
- Pool A – Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Russia, Samoa
- Pool B – New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Namibia, Canada
- Pool C – England, France, Argentina, United States, Tonga
- Pool D – Australia, Wales, Georgia, Fiji, Uruguay
TV
All matches will be broadcast in the Mena region by BeIN Sports
Fixtures (all kick offs are UAE times)
Friday, September 20
2.45pm – Japan v Russia
Saturday, September 21
8.45am – Australia v Fiji
11.15am – France v Argentina
1.45pm – New Zealand v South Africa
Sunday, September 22
9.15am – Italy v Namibia
11.45am – Ireland v Scotland
2.15pm – England v Tonga
Monday, September 23
2.15pm – Wales v Georgia
Tuesday, September 24
2.15pm – Russia v Samoa
Wednesday, September 25
9.15am – Fiji v Uruguay
Thursday, September 26
11.45am – Italy v Canada
2.45pm – England v United States
Saturday, September 28
8.45am – Argentina v Tonga
11.15am – Japan v Ireland
1.45pm – South Africa v Namibia
Sunday, September 29
9.15am – Georgia v Uruguay
11.45am – Australia v Wales
Monday, September 30
2.15pm – Scotland v Samoa
Wednesday, October 2
11.45am – France v United States
2.15pm – New Zealand v Canada
Thursday, October 3
9.15am – Georgia v Fiji
2.15pm – Ireland v Russia
Friday, October 4
1.45pm – South Africa v Italy
Saturday, October 5
9.15am – Australia v Uruguay
12pm – England v Argentina
2.30pm – Japan v Samoa
Sunday, October 6
8.45am – New Zealand v Namibia
11.45am – France v Tonga
Tuesday, October 8
2.15pm – South Africa v Canada
Wednesday, October 9
8.45am – Argentina v United States
11.15am – Scotland v Russia
1.45pm – Wales v Fiji
Friday, October 11
2.15pm – Australia v Georgia
Saturday, October 12
8.45am – New Zealand v Italy
12.15pm – England v France
2.45pm – Ireland v Samoa
Sunday, October 13
7.15am – Namibia v Canada
9.45am – United States v Tonga
12.15pm – Wales v Uruguay
2.45pm – Japan v Scotland
Saturday, October 19
11.15am – Quarterfinal 1: Winner Pool C v Runner up Pool D
2.15pm – Quarterfinal 2: Winner Pool B v Runner up Pool A
Sunday, October 20
11.15am – Quarterfinal 3: Winner Pool D v Runner up Pool C
2.15pm – Quarterfinal 4: Winner Pool A v Runner up Pool B
Saturday, October 26
12pm – Semifinal 1: Winner quarterfinal 1 v Winner quarterfinal 2
Sunday, October 27
1pm – Semifinal 2: Winner quarterfinal 3 v Winner quarterfinal 4
Friday, November 1
1pm – Bronze final
Saturday, November 2
1pm - Final
Past winners (Host country in brackets)
1987 – New Zealand (New Zealand)
1991 – Australia (England)
1995 – South Africa (South Africa)
1999 – Australia (Wales)
2003 – England (Australia)
2007 – South Africa (France)
2011 – New Zealand (New Zealand)
2015 – New Zealand (England)
MATCH INFO
Osasuna 1 Real Madrid 4
Osasuna: García (14')
Real Madrid: Isco (33'), Ramos (38'), Vázquez (84'), Jovic (90' 2)
TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Elina Svitolina (UKR) [3] v Jennifer Brady (USA)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) v Belinda Bencic (SUI [4]
Not before 7pm:
Sofia Kenin (USA) [5] v Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
Maria Sakkari (GRE) v Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) [7]
Court One
Starting at midday:
Karolina Muchova (CZE) v Katerina Siniakova (CZE)
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) v Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR)
Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) v Dayana Yastermska (UKR)
Petra Martic (CRO) [8] v Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE)
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) v Anett Kontaveit (EST)
Specs
Engine: 3.0L twin-turbo V6
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 405hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 562Nm at 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.2L/100km
Price: From Dh292,845 (Reserve); from Dh320,145 (Presidential)
On sale: Now
MORE ON THE US DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm
Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: L/100km
Price: Dh306,495
On sale: now
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Tuesday (UAE kick-off times)
Leicester City v Brighton (9pm)
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United (11.15pm)
Wednesday
Manchester United v Sheffield United (9pm)
Newcastle United v Aston Villa (9pm)
Norwich City v Everton (9pm)
Wolves v Bournemouth (9pm)
Liverpool v Crystal Palace (11.15pm)
Thursday
Burnley v Watford (9pm)
Southampton v Arsenal (9pm)
Chelsea v Manchester City (11.15pm)
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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What is safeguarding?
“Safeguarding, not just in sport, but in all walks of life, is making sure that policies are put in place that make sure your child is safe; when they attend a football club, a tennis club, that there are welfare officers at clubs who are qualified to a standard to make sure your child is safe in that environment,” Derek Bell explains.
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
