Lawyers representing Wallabies star Kurtley Beale say CCTV video from the night of an alleged sexual assault is “at odds” with some claims from the alleged victim.
Confirmed: Wallabies reveal Kiwi coach as Eddie Jones replacement
Former Ireland and All Blacks coach Joe Schmidt has been named the next Wallabies coach, finally putting the Eddie Jones saga behind Australian rugby.
Wales rugby star makes shock NFL switch on eve of major tournament
Wales rugby union star Louis Rees-Zammit made the shock decision to leave the sport on Tuesday as he targets the “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity of a career in American football.
Wallabies star Kurtley Beale faces trial over sexual assault allegation
Embattled Wallabies star Kurtley Beale will face court on Monday for the first day of a criminal trial into allegations he assaulted a woman at a Sydney bar.
‘Means the world’: Ireland boss revealed as new Lions coach ahead of epic 2025 Australia tour
Ireland boss Andy Farrell said being named the coach of the British and Irish Lions for the 2025 tour of Australia “means the world”.
Talking Horses: Sunday night races may result in serious jockey burnout
A winning rider saying ‘I wish I wasn’t here’ told its own story about the sport’s latest money-spinning exercise
A winning jockey’s post-race comments after picking up a decent prize rarely stray beyond gratitude to the horse’s owner and trainer, and how much they are looking forward to being aboard next time up. “I wish I wasn’t here” is unusual, to say the least.
But that was the gist of Callum Shepherd’s comments after his win aboard Charlie’s Choice in the 5pm race at Wolverhampton on Sunday, the opener on the first of six “trial” cards over the next few weeks, which will explore the potential of Sunday evening racing to expand the sport’s audience and boost betting turnover.
Continue reading...‘Talent deserves to be seen’: SBW’s bold Manu claim amid Roosters star’s code switch bid
Arguably one of the best cross-code players Sonny Bill Williams has endorsed Joey Manu’s bid for a short-term rugby union switch and believes it can make him an even better NRL player.
The Spin | Men’s Test cricket team of the year: from Joe Root to Mitchell Starc
Our special board of selectors announces the picks for the best men’s Test XI of the past 12 months
After 32 Tests, 33,408 runs, 1,016 wickets, it’s time at last for the Guardian’s tenth annual men’s Test XI of the year. This year’s selectors were Vic Marks, Ali Martin, Rob Smyth, Tanya Aldred, Taha Hashim, Geoff Lemon, Adam Collins, Emma John, Tim de Lisle, Daniel Gallan and Andy Bull. Depressingly, some teams (South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh) played so little this year that it was hard to pick any of their players, which feels like a worrying sign of the way the game is going, but for now …
Continue reading...Super Rugby club’s future under threat as boss hits back with ‘scapegoat’ claim
There are fears for the future of Super Rugby’s Melbourne Rebels after up to $9 million in debt was revealed after a Rugby Australia inspection of the club’s books.
Rugby Australia won’t rule out hiring Michael Cheika for second stint as Wallabies coach
- Cheika quits as Argentina coach after reaching World Cup semis
- Phil Waugh says RA ‘interested in anyone’ to replace Eddie Jones
Rugby Australia chief executive, Phil Waugh, isn’t ruling out going back to the well once more and hiring Michael Cheika as Wallabies coach for a second stint.
Cheika on Tuesday announced he had parted company with Argentina, two months after guiding the Pumas to the Rugby World Cup semi-finals in France.
Continue reading...‘Don’t feel any guilt at all’: Jones still denies Japan interview… despite clear problem with claim
Eddie Jones said Thursday that he did not “feel any guilt at all” about becoming Japan’s head coach, six weeks after he walked out on the Wallabies.
‘What a disgrace’: SBW brands Eddie ‘full of crap’ as rugby reacts to ex-Wallabies boss’ Japan switch
Former Wallabies captain Stephen Moore doubts Eddie Jones was ever truly committed to Australia’s cause during his disastrous second stint as national coach.
So much for those 14 denials: Eddie Jones officially lands Japan job
Eddie Jones was named by Japan as their new head coach on Wednesday, six weeks after the Australian quit the Wallabies following their dismal showing at the Rugby World Cup.
Lions announce historic rugby first with Dublin match against Argentina
- British & Irish Lions have never played in Ireland before
- June 2025 match is warm-up for three-Test tour of Australia
The British & Irish Lions will take on Argentina in Dublin in preparation for their 2025 tour to Australia in what will be their first ever match in Ireland, the team said on Thursday.
The game will be held at the Aviva Stadium on 20 June 2025, and the two teams will play for the Lions 1888 Cup, which marks the first year British teams toured the southern hemisphere.
Continue reading...Rugby Australia trials new tackle height laws to combat concussion
- Trial law designed to reduce head-to-head contact in tackles
- Research shows concussion risks far higher in tackles above sternum
Rugby Australia has confirmed that it will implement a new trial that will see the legal height of tackles in the game lowered to below the sternum from February.
The trial is designed to reduce the risk of head-to-head and head-to-shoulder contact between ball carriers and tacklers. World Rugby research has shown the risk of concussion is more than four times higher when the tackler’s head is above the ball carrier’s sternum.
The new 9.13 law will see match officials place greater emphasis on preventing a ball carrier “dipping” into a tackle and placing themselves, and potentially the defender, in an unsafe position for contact. However, it will not change the ability for an attacking player to “pick-and-go” when starting and continuing at a low body height.
The two-year trial comes after Rugby Australia announced its support for World Rugby’s global research initiative last March, and will apply to all levels of Rugby below Super Rugby level when introduced in February. It follows more than six years of research that has already seen trials of lower tackle heights undertaken in nations including France, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
Preliminary data in South Africa has shown a 30 per cent reduction in concussions, while France recorded a 64 per cent reduction in head-on-head contact – as well as a 14 per cent increase in participation on pre-COVID levels.
This change in law will apply to all Australian rugby union competitions below Super Rugby that commence on or after 10 February, 2024, through till the end of 2025, and includes school and pathway competitions to protect the code’s young players.
Since their abysmal 2023 World Cup, in which the Wallabies failed to make the finals for the first time in 36 years, Australian Rugby has reeled from crisis to crisis, with coach Eddie Jones quitting in October and CEO Hamish McLennan rolled from the leadership in a boardroom coup last month.