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Some of the most celebrated names in rugby are joining The Times and The Sunday Times to create an unrivalled reporting team as England hosts the Rugby World Cup.

A stellar line-up of World Cup winners, coaches and international greats of the game – including Lawrence Dallaglio, Sean Fitzpatrick, Francois Pienaar and Michael Lynagh – are joining our award-winning journalists to cover one of the biggest events in the sporting calendar. The team will provide unmatched reporting, insight and analysis throughout the six week tournament.

A new, dedicated website launched today will feature a series of 26 videos called ‘The Rugby World Cup A-Z’ where the experts share their insights on key rugby topics from the locker room. This will be part of a multi-channel marketing campaign. Visit the website here: thetimes.co.uk/rugbyworldcup/

We’ll also have video highlights of all games available in the tablet editions, including the newest edition in Ireland, for members who want to relive the moments that make history.

The Times’ team of writers will be led by Owen Slot, chief rugby correspondent, alongside Matt Dickinson, chief sports writer, and regular contributor and former player, Stuart Barnes. They will be joined by:

Gareth Thomas: played 100 test matches for Wales and is the 12th highest try scorer in history
Ben Kay: former England international and one of only four players to have started in both the 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cup finals
Francois Pienaar: best known for leading South Africa to victory in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the former Springboks flanker won 29 international caps from 1993 to 1996
Eddie O’Sullivan: the former coach of the US and Irish national teams, he coached Ireland through their 2003 and 2007 World Cup campaigns. He is currently head coach of Biarritz Olympique
Scott Hastings: won 65 caps as centre for Scotland from 1986 to 1997. He played in Scotland’s 1987 World Cup side and was Scotland’s most capped player when he retired
Paul Ackford: a regular columnist for The Times, Ackford is a former England international who played lock forward

The Sunday Times coverage, led by Rugby Correspondent of the Year Stephen Jones alongside Stuart Barnes and renowned sports writer Peter O’Reilly, will be boosted by:

Lawrence Dallaglio: a former England captain, Dallaglio made his debut for England in 1995 and was a key member of the 2003 World Cup-winning side, being the only player to play in every minute of England's World Cup campaign
Sean Fitzpatrick: a former All Blacks captain, Fitzpatrick is regarded as one of New Zealand’s finest players
Michael Lynagh: represented Australia from 1984 to 1995. He was capped 72 times for Australia, and was the world points-scoring record holder when he retired
Tom Shanklin: Wales’ most capped centre, he won 70 caps for Wales and played in the 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups
Shane Horgan: a former Irish international with an esteemed 12-year career, he played wing and centre for Leinster and Ireland

Tim Hallissey, head of sport for The Times, said:

The Rugby World Cup is one of the great sporting occasions, and The Times will be there to capture every exhilarating minute as the event returns to England. Each Friday and Saturday we will produce The Scrum, a 12-page supplement that will be a one-stop shop of news, fixtures, team line-ups and comment pieces to ensure our readers enjoy the finest reporting throughout the tournament.

Alex Butler, sports editor of The Sunday Times, said:

We pride ourselves on being a rugby paper and the Rugby World Cup is an event where our coverage can be second to none. Together with The Times, our team of experts has five World Cup winners and promises to provide the rich, in-depth analysis and commentary that every reader demands. Dallaglio, Lynagh, Fitzpatrick are names known to, and trusted by, every rugby fan throughout the world. It's been hugely exciting assembling such a brilliant team. I can't wait to let them loose!

Chris Duncan, News UK Chief Marketing Officer, said:

As England plays host to one of the biggest sporting events in the world, News UK is committed to giving readers in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales the best and most informative experience of every game across each of our platforms. If you’re as passionate about rugby as we are, our dedicated site is the primary destination for all the action and emotion of what looks set to be an unforgettable World Cup.