The 2015 Rugby World Cup is less than a month away and the teams are now going through the final stages of their preparations, with competitive and friendly build-up fixtures taking place across the globe.
The tournament is taking place in England and Wales from 18th September to 31st October and ticketbis.net have produced an in-depth guide to every teamֳ preparations before the final playing squads for the competition are named on 31st August.
The guide includes every teamֳ pre-World Cup fixtures, every team base, each nationֳ best results from previous World Cups, bookmakerֳ odds and a short profile on every teamֳ chance of glory, as well as the official Twitter account for each participating federation.
Get all the key build-up information for every team courtesy of ticketbis.net
New Zealand
Profile: The reigning champions and clear favourites start their title defence against Argentina at Wembley.
Bookmakersՠodds: 5/4
Head coach: Steve Hansen
Best World Cup results: Champions 1987, 2011
World Cup base camps: Darlington Mowden Park RFC, Sport Wales National Centre, The Lensbury & St Mary’s University
Official Twitter handle: @AllBlacks
Opening World Cup fixture: vs Argentina, 20th September, Wembley Stadium, Pool C.
England
Profile: The hosts go into the tournament knowing that in the seven previous editions of the Rugby World Cup the home side have reached the final on five occasions.
Bookmakersՠodds: 4/1
Head coach: Stuart Lancaster
Best World Cup result: Champions 2003
World Cup base camps: Pennyhill Park in Surrey & Salford
Official Twitter handle: @EnglandRugby
Pre tournament fixtures:
vs France, 22nd August, Paris, QBE Internationals
vs Ireland, 5th September, Twickenham, QBE Internationals
Opening World Cup fixture: vs Fiji, 18th September, Twickenham, Pool A
South Africa
Profile: Two time winners South Africa may not be at their very strongest but having beaten the All Blacks last year they are a threat.
Bookmakersՠodds: 5/1
Head coach: Heyneke Meyer
Best World Cup results: Champions 1995, 2007
World Cup base camps: Eastbourne College & University of Brighton, Gateshead, The Lensbury & St Mary’s University, University of Birmingham
Official Twitter handle: @Springboks
Opening World Cup fixture: vs Japan, 19th September, Brighton, Pool B.
Ireland
Profile: The winners of the Six Nations for the last two years Ireland will have great support all the way through the competition.
Bookmakersՠodds: 9/1
Head coach: Josef Schmidt
Best World Cup results: Quarter-Finals, 1987, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2011.
World Cup base camps: Celtic Manor & Newport, Sport Wales National Centre, St George’s Park, Surrey Sports Park
Official Twitter handle: @IrishRugby
Pre tournament fixtures:
vs Wales, 29th August, Dublin
vs England, 5th September, Twickenham
Opening World Cup fixture: vs Canada, 19th September, Cardiff, Pool D
Australia
Profile: The Aussies are in a tricky group with England and Wales but will hope they can recreate the glory days of their 1990s triumphs.
Bookmakersՠodds: 10/1
Head coach: Michael Cheika
Best World Cup results: Champions 1991, 1999
World Cup base camps: Dulwich College, University of Bath
Official Twitter handle: @Wallabies
Pre tournament fixtures:
vs USA, 5th September, Chicago, USA Test
Opening World Cup fixture: vs Fiji, 23rd September, Cardiff, Pool A.
Wales
Profile: For Wales being drawn in the same pool as England and Australia provides an exciting challenge and they play their other two games in the group at home.
Bookmakersՠodds: 14/1
Head coach: Warren Gatland
Best World Cup result: Third, 1987
World Cup base camps: London Irish RFC, The Vale Resort (Glamorgan)
Official Twitter handle: @WelshRugbyUnion
Pre tournament fixtures:
vs Ireland, 29th August, Dublin
vs Italy, 5th September, Cardiff
Opening World Cup fixture: vs Uruguay, 20th September, Cardiff, Pool A.
France
Profile: Finalists on three occasions the French would love to cause an upset in England, but first the challenge is to beat Ireland in Pool D.
Bookmakersՠodds: 20/1
Head coach: Phillipe Saint-Andre
Best World Cup results: Runners up, 1987, 1999, 2011
World Cup base camps: The Vale Resort (Glamorgan), Trinity School Croydon
Official Twitter handle: @FFRugby
Pre tournament fixtures:
vs England, 22nd August, Paris
vs Scotland, 5th September, Paris
Opening World Cup fixture: vs Italy, 19th September, Twickenham, Pool D.
Argentina
Profile: Not the force they were back in 2007, the Pumas will be fighting for the runner-up spot in their group behind the All Blacks.
Bookmakersՠodds: 50/1
Head coach: Daniel Hourcade
Best World Cup results: Third, 2007
World Cup base camps: Cheltenham RFC, Haileybury School, St George’s Park
Official Twitter handle: @unionargentina
Pre tournament fixtures: vs Leicester Tigers, 5th September, Leicester
Opening World Cup fixture: vs New Zealand, 20th September, Wembley, Pool C.
Scotland
Profile: Coach Vern Cotter will demand more from the Scots after a poor Six Nations and they could face England early in the knockout stages if they advance.
Bookmakersՠodds: 200/1
Head coach: Vern Cotter
Best World Cup result: 4th, 1991
World Cup base camps: Hartpury College, Leeds Beckett University & University of Leeds, Newcastle Royal Grammar School
Official Twitter handle: @Scotlandteam
Pre tournament fixtures:
vs Italy, 22nd August, Turin &
vs Italy, 29th August, Edinburgh
vs France, 5th September, Paris
Opening World Cup fixture: vs Japan, 23rd September, Gloucester, Pool B.
Italy
Profile: Italy avoided the wooden spoon at the Six Nations but they lost to Japan, Samoa and Fiji last summer, so an upturn in form is required.
Bookmakersՠodds: 1000/1
Head coach: Jacques Brunel
Best World Cup results: Two wins during pool stages, 2003, 2007 and 2011
World Cup base camps: Cobham RFC, Surrey Sports Park
Official Twitter handle: @Federugby
Pre tournament fixtures:
vs Scotland, 22nd August, Turin
vs Scotland, 29th August, Edinburgh
vs Wales, 5th September, Cardiff
Opening World Cup fixture: vs France, 19th September, Twickenham, Pool D.
Samoa
Profile: Arguably the strongest of the Pacific Island nations Samoa have some fearsome attacking players and will be fun to watch as always.
Bookmakersՠodds: 200/1
Head coach: Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua
Best World Cup results: Quarter Finals, 1991, 1995
World Cup base camps: Gateshead, Milton Keynes & MK Dons, Sutton Coldfield RFC, University of Brighton
Official Twitter handle: @manusamoa
Pre tournament fixtures:
vs Barbarians, 29th August, London
vs Wasps, 5th September, Coventry
Opening World Cup fixture: vs USA, 20th September, Brighton, Pool B.
Fiji
Profile: A tough draw has put the Fijians in the same group as England, Australia and Wales and they will enjoy themselves on the big stage.
Bookmakersՠodds: 1000/1
Head coach: John McKee
Best World Cup results: Quarter-finals, 1987, 2007
World Cup base camps: London Irish RFC, Milton Keynes & MK Dons, Swansea University
Official Twitter handle: @fijirugby
Pre tournament fixtures:
vs Canada, 6th September, London
Opening World Cup fixture: vs England, 18th September, Twickenham, Pool A.
Tonga
Profile: Tonga have plenty of experience in their squad and have improved with every World Cup appearance, even beating eventual finalists France last time around.
Bookmakersՠodds: 1000/1
Head coach: Mana Otai
Best World Cup results: First round, third in pool 1995, 2007 & 2011
World Cup base camps: Loughborough University, University of Exeter, University of Northumbria
Official Twitter handle: @officialTongaRU
Opening World Cup fixture: vs Georgia, 19th September, Gloucester, Pool C.
Canada
Profile: Canada lost all their games last year, but they will battle hard for whatever they can get against France, Ireland, Italy and Romania in Pool D.
Bookmakersՠodds: 2000/1
Head coach: Kieran Crowley
Best World Cup results: Quarter Finals, 1991
World Cup base camps: Cardiff Metropolitan University, Leicester Grammar School, Swansea University, West Park Leeds RUFC
Official Twitter handle: @RugbyCanada
Pre tournament fixtures:
vs USA, 22nd August, Ottawa
vs Glasgow Warriors, 29th August, Halifax
vs Georgia, 2nd September, Esher
vs Fiji, 6th September, London
Opening World Cup fixture: vs Ireland, 19th September, Cardiff, Pool D.
Georgia
Profile: Ranked 14th in the World the Georgians have never got beyond the group stage and it would be a surprise for them to do so in 2015.
Bookmakersՠodds: 2500/1
Head coach: Milton Haig
Best World Cup results: Single first round victories in 2007, 2011
World Cup base camps: Bristol & SGS WISE, Celtic Manor & Newport, Woodbury Park & Bicton College (Devon)
Official Twitter handle: @GeorgianRugby
Pre tournament fixtures:
vs Newcastle Falcons, 28th August, Newcastle upon Tyne
vs Canada, 2nd September, Esher
vs Japan, 5th September, Gloucester
Opening World Cup fixture: vs Tonga, 19th September, Gloucester, Pool C.
Japan
Profile: Japan are preparing to host the 2019 World Cup and they briefly made it into the Worldֳ top ten last year. Progressing from their group would be a success.
Bookmakersՠodds: 2500/1
Head coach: Eddie Jones
Best World Cup results: First round, third in pool 1991
World Cup base camps: Brighton College, Warwick School
Official Twitter handle: @JRFURugby
Pre tournament fixtures:
vs Uruguay, 22nd August, Fukuoka
vs Uruguay, 29th August, Tokyo
vs Georgia, 5th September, Gloucester
Opening World Cup fixture: vs South Africa, 19th September, Brighton, Pool B.
Usa
Profile: The USA team are unlikely to trouble the Springboks but they will hope to avoid finishing bottom of a group which also features Japan, Scotland and Samoa.
Bookmakersՠodds: 2500/1
Head coach: Mike Tolkin
Best World Cup results: Single first round victories in 1987, 2003 and 2011
World Cup base camps: Haileybury School, Hartpury College, Leeds Trinity University. Portsmouth Royal Navy Rugby Union
Official Twitter handle: @USARugby
Pre tournament fixtures:
vs Canada, 22nd August, Ottawa
vs Harlequins, 30th August, Chester
vs Australia, 5th September, Chicago
Opening World Cup fixture: vs Samoa, 20th September, Brighton, Pool B.
Namibia
Profile: The African side have lost every game they have ever played at the World Cup and they face the All Blacks in their first game this time aroundʜnBookmakersՠodds: 5000/1
Head coach: Phil Davies
Best World Cup results: Bottom of pool, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011
World Cup base camps: Cobham RFC, Loughborough University, Plymouth
Official Twitter handle: @RugbyNamibia
Opening World Cup fixture: vs New Zealand, 24th September, London Olympic Stadium, Pool C.
Romania
Profile: Romania have been present at every World Cup and have won group games on previous occasions so that will be the target once more.
Bookmakersՠodds: 5000/1
Head coach: Lynn Howells
Best World Cup results: Single first round victories in 1987, 1991, 1999, 2003 and 2007
World Cup base camps: Dulwich College, Sutton Coldfield RFC, Woodbury Park & Bicton College (Devon)
Official Twitter handle: @rugbyromania
Pre tournament fixtures:
vs Tonga, date TBC, Bucharest
vs Edinburgh, date TBC
vs Glasgow Warriors, date TBC
Opening World Cup fixture: vs France, 23rd September, London Olympic Stadium, Pool D.
Uruguay
Profile: Their first World Cup since 2003 and Los Teros face four tricky games against England, Australia, Wales and Fiji.
Bookmakersՠodds: 5000/1
Head coach: Pablo Lemoine
Best World Cup results: Third in pool, 1999
World Cup base camps: Loughborough University, Celtic Manor & Newport, Manchester, Moulton College
Official Twitter handle: @RugbyUruguay
Pre tournament fixtures:
vs Japan, 22nd August, Fukuoka
vs Japan, 29th August, Tokyo
vs Basque Selection, 6th September, TBC
Opening World Cup fixture: vs Wales, 20th September, Cardiff, Pool A.
And to help you out even more, Ticketbis have made this cool infographic to help you keep all the info in one place. Copy it to your desktop so you can look really cool and impress your mates with your knowledge of the RWC contenders! #winning
So there you have it, your Essential Rugby World Cup Build-Up Guide.
Enjoy the countdown to the 2015 Rugby World Cup and good luck to all the teams that are hoping to raise the Webb Ellis trophy aloft on October 31st.
Bring on the Rugger!