England 2015 have revealed their Honorary President Prince Harry will present the Webb Ellis Cup to the winners of the 2015 Rugby World Cup final, which is due to take place on October 31 (Saturday) at Twickenham Stadium.

There was something rather surreal about sitting in the sun in our idyllic excuse for a press tribune at last weekend’s beach volleyball World Tour Finals in Fort Lauderdale, checking our phones every five minutes to be reminded of the misery unfolding four thousand miles away as England crashed out of their own World Cup with a humiliating and resounding defeat to Australia.

“Now I think about it,” chortled one sympathetic American journalist afterwards. “You English really are rather useless at sport.”

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.

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.

Wales produced a sensational performance in the toughest of circumstances to overcome a 10-point deficit to stun hosts England 28-25 at Twickenham in the most eagerly anticipated match of the Rugby World Cup so far.

Argentina stormed away in the second half to beat Georgia 54-9 at the Rugby World Cup in Gloucester today.

It might just be the greatest 12 months rugby has ever known. It will certainly be the most global. The 2015 World Cup will dominate the headlines over the next month and in 2016, rugby returns to the Olympic fold after the small matter of 92 years.

Teams are due to show their support of the “Keep Rugby Clean” anti-doping education programme during the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England, with each side at the tournament set to use September 26 to back the campaign by wearing t-shirts promoting its message.

Team kit choices and changing room allocation for the 40 matches that comprise the pool phase of the 2015 Rugby World Cup have been announced by World Rugby. 

A 2015 Rugby World Cup ball has been launched into space as part of the countdown to the tournament due to start at Twickenham Stadium in England on September 18. 

England 2015 have begun conducting tests in transport, accreditation and spectator experience during eight matches ahead of the Rugby World Cup, due to open on September 18, as preparations for the tournament enter their final stages.

Venues across England and Wales will host welcome ceremonies for teams competing at the 2015 Rugby World Cup ahead of the tournament, due to begin on September 18, it has been announced.

A further 55,000 tickets have been made available for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England with less than 50 days until the tournament is due to get underway on September 18.

World Rugby is set to invest a record £53 million ($83 million/€76 million) in the game this year, excluding World Cup-related spending, following a better-than-expected 2014 financial performance.