Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s only conversation when he met Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt on the weekend was about family, but the rugby convert has declared he’s “ready” to suit up in a gold jersey as soon as he’s called on.
‘It’s been an incredible ride’: Wales and Lions centre Jonathan Davies retires
- Davies won 96 caps and two grand slams for Wales
- Centre played six Tests for British and Irish Lions
The former Wales, British and Irish Lions and Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies has announced his retirement from professional rugby.
The 36-year-old, who won 96 caps for Wales, left Scarlets at the end of the 2023-24 season having scored 55 tries in 209 appearances across two spells for the Welsh region.
Continue reading...Now one of rugby league’s greatest sides, what next for Wigan Warriors? | Aaron Bower
This all-conquering team have cemented a place in the game’s folklore, but there will be no resting on their clean sweep this season
If there is one man who knows a thing or two about building a sporting dynasty, it is Sir Alex Ferguson. To that end, had we known the legendary Manchester United manager was the one to deliver Wigan Warriors’ motivational speech on the eve of the Super League Grand Final, the result would have felt like a formality before a ball had been kicked.
After all, it is not like this most outstanding of rugby league sides needs any additional help. Matt Peet’s team completed a historic quadruple with victory against Hull KR at Old Trafford on Saturday night. The first clean sweep of the Super League era and only the second in nearly a century.
Continue reading...Katie Archibald: ‘My job satisfaction is a 10. The rest of my life is definitely not’
Katie Archibald, who returns to racing for GB at the worlds in Denmark, is eyeing the LA Olympics despite being upended by the death of her partner and a horrific injury
Katie Archibald reflects on the differences between sport, life and death with such moving insight that I have to look away. So much raw feeling is etched into her face, as her eyes fill with tears, that it seems intrusive to just sit and see such pain. I touch her arm lightly in attempted reassurance and then try to turn discreetly to the gleaming pine track where the GB men’s team pursuit squad race past at blurring speed.
The soft hiss of their bikes makes an eerie sound at the Manchester Velodrome as they prepare for the track world championships, which begin in Ballerup, Denmark on Wednesday. Archibald, a five-time world champion who won gold at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics, will compete in the women’s team pursuit and Madison. Even being on the track will be an incredible achievement.
Continue reading...Wigan v Hull KR: Super League Grand Final 2024 – as it happened
A touch of French class secured an historic Wigan win at Old Trafford
Harry Smith whomps the ball deep into Hull KR territory and we’re away!
The teams are strutting onto the field serenaded by The Lathums, an indie outfit from Wigan.
Continue reading...The Ineos Effect: hit and miss as Jim Ratcliffe’s tentacles have gone global
Ratcliffe has built an empire of assets across different sports but his teams have enjoyed varying degrees of success
Should Sir Ben Ainslie’s crew achieve the seemingly impossible and bring home the America’s Cup it will be the biggest sporting triumph yet for Ineos, whose tentacles now lie across the elite landscape in six disciplines. Despite heavy investment and the oversight of Sir Dave Brailsford it has been a mixed bag so far for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s petrochemicals company; they have struggled to make their mark in Formula One and cycling, while it may take a superhuman effort to restore Manchester United to greatness.
They have encountered accusations of using sport to airbrush environmental concerns around their business. Ending Britain’s 136-year wait for sailing’s most vaunted prize would, in the short term at least, guarantee favourable headlines.
Continue reading...International arrest warrant issued for former Wallabies captain
An international arrest warrant was issued on Friday against former Australia rugby captain Rocky Elsom, who was sentenced in his absence to five years in prison by a French court for misuse of corporate assets, a lawyer in the case told AFP.
Fairytale meets formidable: Hull KR and Wigan face off in Grand Final for the ages
Wigan’s last trophy was 22 days ago, Hull KR’s, over 14,000 days. Yet the Robins may still be the ones to beat the Warriors
Masters versus apprentices. History breakers versus history makers. The club that reign supreme over rugby league against the team aiming for the ultimate coup d’etat. However you dress it up, Saturday evening’s Super League Grand Final has all the makings of a classic and more subplots than you could ever imagine.
In the red corner, there is Wigan Warriors. Defending champions and so much more. They currently hold all four major trophies available to win: the World Club Challenge, the Challenge Cup, the League Leader’s Shield and the one they are aiming to defend on Saturday, the Super League title.
Continue reading...Jurgen Klopp joins Red Bull, MLS reveals their top 22 under 22 & Rápido Reactions
Christian and David react to Jurgen Klopp joining Red Bull & the Chicago Fire hiring Gregg Berhalter. Then, the guys react to MLS 22 under 22. Later, Christian and David bring back Rápido Reactions.
Sanderson v Diamond friendship on sidelines in battle of the north | Robert Kitson
Newcastle head to Sale on the back of a 24-game losing streak with a pressing need to attract a fresh audience
It is supposed to be a snarling northern “derby” but, in reality, Sale’s Friday night date with Newcastle is a case of friends reunited. The Sharks’ Alex Sanderson and the Falcons’ Steve Diamond take their respective eight-year-olds to the same swimming class every week and have been mates for so long they know pretty much exactly what the other is plotting.
Sanderson, in particular, has been warning his squad they will need to be up for the fight against their bottom placed, winless opponents: “They’re already talking survival, food on plates and roofs over heads; we’ve got to match their emotional levels.” Diamond, for his part, has been busy stripping down his side’s tactics to the barest essentials to counter Sale’s big pack and territory based game. “We’re not even competitive at the moment,” he says. “There’s still players here who don’t understand what we’re trying to do on game day.”
Continue reading...Hull KR’s Ryan Hall: ‘It was the human pull of this club that got me’
Veteran of six Grand Final wins with Leeds seeks a fairytale finale as his current club chase a first trophy since 1985
There have been few stories in recent years quite like the rise of Hull KR from the doldrums of Super League to the sport’s biggest domestic game in only four seasons. And there are few players as eloquent, experienced and in such an ideal position to tell it quite like Ryan Hall.
Hall is not your average rugby league player. He is a qualified accountant, having completed a degree while playing at the highest level. He can solve a Rubik’s Cube in under a minute and is capable of playing several musical instruments. Plus, there is the fact that Hall has played an integral role in one of the most incredible transformations any club have seen for some time.
Continue reading...‘Only thing that’s missing’: Penrith co-captain disappointed to abandon World Club Challenge
- Panthers tell NRL they will not be able to face Super League winner
- Four-time premiers to meet Sharks in 2025 season-opener in Las Vegas
Isaah Yeo has admitted his disappointment that Penrith will skip the World Club Challenge, after the Panthers officially told the NRL they could not contest the only major trophy they are missing.
By defeating Melbourne in last Sunday’s grand final, the Panthers clinched both a historic fourth consecutive premiership and a date with the winner of the Super League decider between Wigan and Hull KR on Sunday (AEDT). But Penrith’s trip to Las Vegas for round one of the 2025 season has complicated matters, given the clash of premiers usually takes place in either England or Australia just before the NRL regular season begins.
Continue reading...‘No trust and confidence’: Rebels launch $30m lawsuit against Rugby Australia
Axed Super Rugby club the Melbourne Rebels have kicked off a $30 million course case against Rugby Australia in the Federal Court of Australia to try get themselves back into the Pacific competition.
Suaalii’s $9m Rugby Australia secret revealed as controversial agent strikes again
It may be at least five years until we see Joseph Suaalii back in the NRL again amid the report that his rich deal with Rugby Australia includes a secret contract clause.
Sergio García could make Ryder Cup return after talks with Luke Donald
- Spaniard would have to rejoin DP World Tour
- García has had strong season in LIV Golf
Sergio García could be in line for a sensational Ryder Cup return at Bethpage next year after Luke Donald revealed he has held recent talks with the Spaniard about rejoining the DP World Tour.
García resigned from the Tour in 2023 after a sports arbitration panel ruled sanctions imposed on the former Masters champion and others who joined LIV Golf were appropriate. That appeared the end of the Ryder Cup road for García, the event’s record points scorer, given only DP World Tour members can play for Europe. García had an impressive 2024 season on LIV, finishing third on the overall individual standings.
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