rugby
SportAustralian Associated PressSA teams tackle European rugby elite
Sporting history will be made this weekend when South African clubs enter European Rugby's Champions Cup for the first time, another sign of the country's push into more lucrative markets and the increasing shift away from the global south.The Durban-based Sharks will make South Africa's bow when they host English side Harlequins on Saturday afternoon (Sunday AEDT), while in the evening the Bulls from Pretoria welcome French club Lyon.
SportAustralian Associated Press'Quadzilla' Trae Williams in rugby recall
Trae Williams will play for Australia's rugby sevens team for the first time in two years when the World Series continues in Cape Town.The world champions won the season-opener in Hong Kong but were sixth in Dubai, coach John Manenti forced into two changes with captain Nick Malouf and rookie Kye Oates injured.
SportAustralian Associated PressWilson to fight out of Wallaby wilderness
Out-of-favour Queensland backrower Harry Wilson will cling onto hope of winning a World Cup recall, despite another frustrating season in the Wallabies wilderness.The talented 23-year-old played every Test in Dave Rennie's first season in charge but has spent the next two on the outer behind Rob Valetini and Pete Samu.
SportAustralian Associated PressEngland sack rugby coach Eddie Jones
England coach Eddie Jones has been fired less than a year out from the Rugby World Cup.Jones was fired after seven years in charge of the national team.
SportAustralian Associated PressAchilles recovery 'worse than knee': Welch
After losing his own race to return early from a ruptured achilles tendon, Christian Welch fears for the four Wallabies chasing next year's Rugby World Cup after suffering a similar injury.Going down in round one, the 2022 Melbourne co-captain targeted a comeback in time for the Storm's NRL finals campaign some six months later.
SportAustralian Associated PressWales axe Pivac, Gatland returns as coach
Wayne Pivac has left his role as Wales head coach and been replaced by Warren Gatland, the man he took over from three years ago.The Welsh Rugby Union confirmed Pivac's departure following their review of Wales' Autumn Nations Series campaign that included a home defeat against Georgia.
SportAustralian Associated PressAussie women beat NZ in Dubai Sevens final
Australia's all-conquering rugby sevens women have crowned themselves "queens of the desert" after winning the Dubai Sevens for the third year in succession.The world champions began their new season on Saturday in the same grand manner they ended the last - with another trophy-winning display against old rivals New Zealand.
SportAustralian Associated PressAussie Levi's seven tries in Dubai Sevens
Maddison Levi has proved the opening-day star for Australia's world champions at the Dubai Sevens, shooting over for seven tries in three games as they swept into the women's quarter-finals.But Australia's men, fresh from their Hong Kong Sevens triumph, didn't have things their own way as they scraped into the last eight of their tournament on Friday on points difference, despite a last-match loss to South Africa.
SportAustralian Associated PressEddie Jones learns England fate next week
Eddie Jones will learn if he is to continue as England head coach next week with the Rugby Football Union's review into a dismal autumn set to conclude on Tuesday.Jones is fighting for his future after presiding over England's worst year since 2008, comprising six defeats, a draw and five wins and ending with Saturday's chastening loss to world champions South Africa.
NewsAustralian Associated PressSuper Rugby Pacific forges ahead to 2030
Super Rugby Pacific will continue as a united front until at least 2030 after Rugby Australia and its New Zealand counterpart resolved a financial dispute that threatened to tear the competition apart.As part of the new agreement, Super Rugby Pacific will implement a nine-person board that is set to explore the possibility of merging the Australian and New Zealand women's competitions into an integrated league that could play its first games as early as next year.
NewsAustralian Associated PressEddie Jones hits back at 'sad' Woodward
Eddie Jones has hit back at "sad" critic Sir Clive Woodward and insists he will leave England in a good shape when he eventually departs.Coach Jones is under pressure after he watched his England side conclude a dismal autumn series with Saturday's 27-13 loss to South Africa, who were without their European-based players but still inflicted a sixth defeat of 2022 on the hosts at Twickenham.
SportAustralian Associated PressRugby body defends concussed White playing
Rugby officials have defended the manner in which Australia halfback Nic White was allowed to play on after he was concussed against Ireland this month.White took a blow to the head in the second half at Lansdowne Road on November 19.
SportAustralian Associated PressWallabies believe after epic comeback win
Dave Rennie has hailed the Wallabies' rollercoaster spring tour a success after watching his brave, makeshift outfit complete an epic 39-34 comeback win over Wales.The Wallabies rallied from 21 points down with 23 minutes remaining to finish the five-game tour on an incredible high in Cardiff.
SportAustralian Associated PressWallabies not into World Cup mind games
Wallabies captain James Slipper doesn't think a win over Wales this weekend will give his team a psychological edge ahead of their World Cup showdown in 10 months' time.Wales and Australia have been placed in the same group at the 2023 World Cup in France, and both sides are in desperate need of a win following a run of harrowing losses.
SportAustralian Associated PressWallabies to blame for lean tour: Ikitau
Wallabies centre Len Ikitau insists coach Dave Rennie is not to blame for the team's lean spring tour, saying the players must take responsibility.Since opening the tour with a 16-15 win over Scotland, the Wallabies have lost to France (30-29), Italy (28-27) and Ireland (13-10).
SportAustralian Associated PressWallabies No.10 Donaldson gets Test start
After a difficult Test debut from the bench Ben Donaldson has earnt his first start, named as five-eighth in the injury-hit Wallabies side to take on Wales.Facing a selection crisis, coach Dave Rennie only had 25 available players to choose his match-day squad from for Sunday's (AEDT) Test in Cardiff, with lock Darcy Swain and prop Matt Gibbon the two overlooked.
SportAustralian Associated PressInjury-hit Wallabies look for final hurrah
The disappointment of three tight losses is driving the decimated Wallabies to finish their marathon spring tour on a high as they prepare to take on Wales.The Wallabies fell 13-10 to world No.
SportAustralian Associated PressCaslick claims top world rugby gong
Charlotte Caslick has claimed her third World Rugby sevens player of the year award beating two of her Australian teammates to the top gong.Underlining her status as the world's best sevens player Caslick took home back-to-back titles while she also won the award in 2016.
SportAustralian Associated PressWallabies send six injured players home
Taniela Tupou is returning to Australia for further scans on his suspected ruptured Achilles tendon, among six Wallabies players departing before their final Test against Wales.With a minimum nine-month recovery from surgery, confirmation of the injury would put Tupou's participation at next year's World Cup in France in grave doubt in a massive blow to Australia's chances of success.
SportAustralian Associated PressSlipper upbeat despite Wallabies defeat
Skipper James Slipper has boldly declared the Wallabies are heading in the right direction despite a third successive spring tour loss that has put them in danger of finishing 2022 as the worst-performing Australian team in more than 60 years.The Wallabies rebounded from a humiliating loss to Italy with a gritty showing in Dublin against world No.
SportAustralian Associated PressEngland snatch draw with All Blacks
The All Blacks were left feeling flat while England denied bottling the chance for a famous win after the hosts conjured a remarkable three-try finale to secure a 25-25 draw at Twickenham.The All Blacks were a class above in building a 25-6 lead with 10 minutes to go.
SportAustralian Associated PressGeorgia stun Wales with Cardiff triumph
Wales have been left in disarray a week before facing the Wallabies after a humiliating home defeat to Georgia in Cardiff.It was only the Lelos second win against a tier one nation with the first coming in July, against Italy at home.
SportAustralian Associated PressWallabies to lift for Ireland: Slipper
Skipper James Slipper is adamant the Wallabies will rise to challenge world No.1 Ireland, with his claims supported by their rollercoaster form line this year.
SportAustralian Associated PressAll Blacks fired up for England RU clash
Dan Carter has warned England that New Zealand will be fuelled by revenge when the nations clash for the first time since their dramatic 2019 World Cup semi-final.England stunned the holders by emerging 19-7 winners in one of the great victories in their rugby history and Carter insists that wound will have festered over the last three years.
SportAustralian Associated PressFarrell and Retallick duel in 100th Tests
New Zealand lock Brodie Retallick and England captain Owen Farrell will play their 100th Tests for the teams when they meet for the first time in three years at Twickenham.Retallick was recalled for Saturday's clash as soon as his suspension from the Japan Test last month was completed.
