Scotland booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup as they claimed a thrilling 36-33 win over a battling Samoa side at St James’ Park in Newcastle today.

professional players in their side.Related storiesOctober 2015: Nonu marks 100th cap with try as New

Zealand coast past Tonga to win Rugby World Cup Pool COctober 2015: South Africa demolish the United

Football is supposed to be the beautiful game, but the side we have seen of the sport of late has been anything but.Corruption, scandals and crisis are words that have become entwined with the everyday lexicon associated to football at a time where the global reputation of the game has been consistently dragged through the mud by the likes of FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA head Michel Platini.

examples of the beauty sport can possess ©Getty ImagesThis year’s Cricket World Cup, held in Australia and New

Zealand in February and March, also saw a series of decent showings from the so-called minnows, with

Ma'a Nonu marked his 100th cap for New Zealand by scoring the final try of the evening as the defending

seeing neither side score, with ferocious tackling turning the match into a scrappy affair.However New

Zealand were able to cut out mistakes and instead showed superb handling of the ball just minutes

Zealand the competition four years ago, powered over for their second try of the match with Carter

to rest on the closing stages of the first half when they enjoyed a sustained period of pressure by New

Zealand reach Rugby World Cup quarter-finals after overcoming battling Georgia

England’s exit from their home Rugby World Cup was “disappointing” claimed Michael Robichaud, senior vice-president of global sponsorships at Mastercard, but he does not believe that the sponsor's approach to the event will be altered as the tournament progresses.

2015 edition of the tournament, having extended their association with the quadrennial event after New

Zealand 2011, which the hosts went on to win.By contrast England became the first host nation to exit

the tournament throughout the world, especially with established rugby nations such as Australia, New

Zealand, South Africa and Argentina.As a consequence of that work, which included placing countdown

Zealand ©Getty ImagesFollowing that decision, Robichaud feels the sponsor has been able to “earn its

South Africa thrashed the United States 64-0 at the Rugby World Cup in England today to confirm their place in the quarter-finals of the competition.

converted efforts to put his side into a commanding 47-0 lead.His hat-trick saw him draw level with New

2015:England dumped out of home Rugby World Cup as superb Australia prove too goodOctober 2015: New

Zealand reach Rugby World Cup quarter-finals after overcoming battling GeorgiaOctober 2015: Wales

Romania stunned Canada by coming back from 15-0 down to win for the first time at this year's Rugby World Cup today.

2015:England dumped out of home Rugby World Cup as superb Australia prove too goodOctober 2015: New

Zealand reach Rugby World Cup quarter-finals after overcoming battling GeorgiaOctober 2015: Wales

Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby (GBWR) have announced a 12-man squad for the BT World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge, which is due to take place at the Copper Box Arena in London from October 12 to 16.

and France in Group B.North American rivals Canada and the United States are joined in Group A by New

Zealand and South Africa, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the semi-final stage of

further inspire the general public ahead of the tournament, GBWR and their sponsors BT have unveiled a new

“This new, innovative event will see the BT GB team take on many of the best countries in the world

Football legend Diego Maradona performed a celebratory dressing room dance as his Argentina team overcame Tonga 45-16 to boost their Rugby World Cup qualification hopes in Leicester today, while Ireland laboured to victory over Italy.

as their only blemish had come in their opening match against defending champions and group leaders New

the Mexico 1986 FIFA World Cup, has promised to come and watch them again.Tonga, meanwhile, must beat New

Zealand in their final match and hope Argentina fall short to stand any chance of qualifying.In Group

2015: England dumped out of home Rugby World Cup as superb Australia prove too goodOctober 2015: New

Zealand reach Rugby World Cup quarter-finals after overcoming battling GeorgiaOctober 2015: Wales

We’ve seen enough over the last 17 days to suggest England’s premature exit from their home Rugby World Cup at the hands of arch-rivals Australia in brutal fashion at Twickenham Stadium won’t be a terminal blow to the overall momentum of the tournament.

the stadium thought a desperate defeat to France at the quarter-final stage of the 2011 tournament in New

Zealand was the low point for English rugby.How wrong they were.England were outclassed in every department

game against Uruguay on October 10 at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.But those in countries such as New

Zealand and South Africa, where rugby is at the very core of their respective national identities and

England have become the first-ever Rugby World Cup hosts to fail to make it out of the group stages after being outclassed by a ruthless Australia in their much-anticipated showdown today at Twickenham.

United States next week, if either Scotland or South Africa fall short.Related storiesOctober 2015: New

Zealand reach Rugby World Cup quarter-finals after overcoming battling GeorgiaOctober 2015: Wales

Holders New Zealand reached the knock-out phase of the 2015 Rugby World Cup after seeing off the challenge

evening.After fly half Dan Carter had added the conversion the crowd began preparing for another New

Zealand assault on the Georgian try line, however the reverse happened as Naholo spilled the ball under

Zealand a 22-10 half-time advantage.Fierce tackling from the Georgian team put New Zealand's star players

Zealand after their captain Richie McCaw sustained a knock, shortly after Read had added a fifth try

Zealand eventually running out 43-10.Having secured their third straight win New Zealand are assured

Wales took a giant stride towards the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup as they recorded their third straight win by beating Fiji 23-13 in Pool A in front of a raucous home crowd at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

brush aside Georgia at Rugby World Cup after ruthless second half displaySeptember 2015: Holders New

Zealand breeze past Namibia to maintain winning start to Rugby World Cup

Confectionery giants Cadbury have been announced as Paralympic New Zealand’s (PNZ) latest major partner

"In New Zealand, our vision is to make Para-sport events more visible and accessible as we count down

Zealand ahead of Rio 2016 ©Getty ImagesA host of New Zealand’s Paralympians were in attendance for

“Next year I hope to represent New Zealand for the fourth time at a Paralympic Games.

managerDecember 2014: Paralympics New Zealand appoints Governor-General as new PatronNovember 2014

: Paralympics New Zealand appoint first commercial and marketing director

South Africa’s women’s team have become the latest side to book their spot at the Rio 2016 Olymoic Games after they won the Women’s Sevens qualifying event with a comfortable 31-5 victory over Kenya on home soil in Kempton Park.

them to a relatively trouble-free triumph.Their success guarantees them a place at Rio 2016 alongside New

Zealand, Canada, Australia and England, who qualified by virtue of finishing in the top four of the

Tonga gained their first win of the Rugby World Cup today with a bonus-point earning 35-21 victory over Namibia at Exeter's Sandy Park to keep alive their slim hopes of quarter-final qualfication. 

tries.Tonga, meanwhile, face the tough task of needing to beat either Argentina or defending champions New

Zealand to keep alive their chances.Namibia provided plucky opposition but were ultimately beaten over

Argentina brush aside Georgia at Rugby World Cup after ruthless second half displaySeptember 2015: Holders New

Zealand breeze past Namibia to maintain winning start to Rugby World CupSeptember 2015: Japan can't