Plans for a new lakeside stadium in the centre of Canberra have emerged this month, with ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr calling for the proposed rectangular venue to also be configured for AFL and cricket matches.
England stunned as Tonga tonking leaves Rugby League World Cup hopes in shreds
Pool B + C: England 12-30 Tonga
England Women thump Wales 70-6
The Rugby League World Cup began with a sense of mission improbable for England, but after one game, it already represents something more like mission impossible.
The talk pre-tournament from Brian McDermott had been about being different. Going against the grain of how the national team has played against the world’s best and falling short; having a creative spark that would be significant in crucial moments. For all the talk of change, the most important thing of all remained the same in Perth on Saturday: the result.
Continue reading...Australia 21-43 New Zealand: Bledisloe Cup rugby union international – as it happened
All Blacks secure 13th straight win against Wallabies
Barrett and Moorby score two tries each at Accor Stadium
It’s skipper Codie Taylor that is out onto the field first though, leading his players past Nathan Charles, allowing every All Black to shake the former Wallaby hooker by the hand.
Damien McKenzie is responsible for the final prematch rev-up. Vision of his address appears to show every member of the New Zealand squad wearing bright coral pink boots to sign off their otherwise entirely black outfit. It’s a very strong look.
Continue reading...‘Worst halves ever’: Wallabies humiliated after All Blacks deliver six-try first-half blitz
The New Zealand All Blacks came close to rewriting the record books with a scintillating, one-sided performance in their thirteenth straight win over the Wallabies
‘Brilliant guy’: South African rugby player tragically found dead hours before match
South African rugby player Hyron Andrews has died in a tragic accident on a French island.
England’s World Cup test against Tonga will show where power really lies in rugby league
England begin their tournament on Saturday with a must-win fixture in Perth that can inject some optimism into the European game
Two games into the men’s World Cup and the tournament is already overflowing with colour. As if the biggest Test crowd in Sydney for more than 50 years was not enough cause for celebration, Australia and New Zealand served up one of the great international games of modern times, with the Kangaroos edging a thriller on the opening night.
But the stories do not end there. Samoa’s rise as a league powerhouse continued with a record win against France on Friday, with their passionate and united Pasifika fanbase fuelling the energy for a tilt at a second consecutive final. Tonga and Papua New Guinea will continue the theme of national pride and unforgettable noise this weekend.
Continue reading...‘We want the best league in the world’: Bath’s Bruce Craig on 16 years at the Rec
Bath’s co-owner and ‘wily old fox’ on the need for Champions Cup change and the future of the Prem
It doesn’t feel like 16 years since Bruce Craig first shared his vision for Bath Rugby with the Guardian. Back then there were plenty wondering if his extravagant ambitions would be realised and even he describes it as “a long haul” at times. “It has been a lot more difficult than I anticipated. Anyone would have wanted it to happen a lot quicker than it actually has. But anything worthwhile is difficult and takes a long time.”
It has also taught him loads about the inner workings of professional rugby. “I’m not the new young buck on the block I was a few years ago, I’m the old wily fox now.” These days he compares it to a “four-dimensional” puzzle, even for the wealthiest owners. “When you come from business into rugby you probably think there would be a lot of crossovers. But it’s different. In business … it’s a lot easier to get the outcomes.”
Continue reading...Sports quiz of the week: love, songs, speedy skating and celebrations
Have you followed the big stories in football, rugby, tennis, boxing, basketball, skateboarding, F1 and the NFL?
Continue reading...New Zealand cling to hope of Kalyn Ponga playing at World Cup despite broken arm
Kiwis fullback sustained injury in second half in defeat to Kangaroos
Ponga was a standout in his first Test since a switch of allegiance
Kalyn Ponga will undergo surgery on his broken arm but will remain in camp with New Zealand not giving up on the superstar fullback playing again in the Rugby League World Cup.
Ponga failed to finish his long-awaited Test debut for the Kiwis, departing in the 70th minute of the 24-22 loss after suffering the injury earlier in the second half.
Continue reading...‘Keep him on board’: Star’s shock allegiance call emerges in Wallabies’ worst nightmare
Wallabies coach Les Kiss is adamant that Mark Nawaqanitawase’s desire is to play for Australia at next year’s Rugby World Cup despite the code-crossing star reportedly considering representing Fiji or Italy at the tournament.
The one that got away: Tom Willis back to show what England are missing
Bordeaux No 8 takes on Gloucester in Champions Cup to underline hole he will leave Borthwick for the World Cup
Swines are swirling above Twickenham, the cows have returned to their roots and hell is an icy sub-zero. Steve Borthwick has been given a free pass to pick one player based outside England. The consensus is that Jack Willis – Toulouse captain and two‑time Top 14 player of the season – would be the obvious choice. The smart money, however, would be on Borthwick picking brother Tom in a flash.
For clarity, this is not going to happen. It is not World Cup season without a cause celebre but the reality is that you, dear reader, have more chance of selection. Still, the story of the younger Willis warrants re-examining. Firstly because his decision to head for France after receiving an enhanced contract was unprecedented. Secondly because for Bordeaux he is pulling up trees, forests and anything else in his way this season. England’s No 8 depth is shallow and Willis is the type of player Borthwick would give his right arm for. After Bordeaux have begun their Champions Cup defence at Gloucester on Friday, chances are his left too.
Continue reading...Australia 24-22 New Zealand: men’s Rugby League World Cup – as it happened
Kangaroos snatch victory from Kiwis in opener at Allianz Stadium
Jack Bostock scores hat-trick of tries on debut for Australia
Tonight’s referee is Adam Gee, the man in the middle of the recent NRL grand final. He excelled quietly on that occasion and the big match rewards keep flowing his direction.
The 2026 men’s RLWC features ten teams. Eight of these qualified via their performances at the last world cup, back in 2022. That is: Australia, New Zealand, England, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, PNG, and Lebanon. The first seven countries in that list also happen to be the top seven on the IRL rankings; Lebanon are a lowly 23rd.
The remaining qualifiers, France and Cook Islands, won regional playoffs. Cook Islands are ranked eighth in the world, by the way, France recently held that position but have slipped to 11th. In other words, the cream of the crop will be on display.
The tournament will be played under NRL rules, including six players on the interchange bench with up to four to be used.
The ten teams have been distributed into three pools.
Pool A contains Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Cook Islands. The top two from this group qualify for the semi-finals.
The teams in Pool B (England, Samoa, Lebanon) play the teams in Pool C (Tonga, PNG, France) with the top two on a combined group table qualifying for the semi-finals.
The winner of Pool A takes on the runner-up from Pool B&C in Sydney.
The winner of Pool B&C takes on the runner-up from Pool A in Newcastle.
The world cup final is in Brisbane on 15 November.
The group phase will take place over the following three weekends. After tonight, remaining matches will be staged only on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
The fourth weekend will feature the semi-finals, with the final wrapping up proceedings the following Sunday.
10 locations will host matches. Eight of these are in Australia: Sydney (Allianz Arena), Sydney (Commbank Arena), Brisbane, Newcastle, Gold Coast, Townsville, Wollongong, and Perth; while Port Moresby will host two Papua New Guinea matches, and Christchurch will stage one New Zealand fixture.
Continue reading...Injuries force Wallabies into No 10 change for second Bledisloe Test against All Blacks
Declan Meredith plays with Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson out
New Zealand make three changes to starting XV for Sydney clash
Australia coach Les Kiss has named Declan Meredith as starting flyhalf and uncapped playmaker Harry McLaughlin-Phillips as back-up for Saturday’s second Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand in Sydney.
Kiss suffered the first defeat of his reign as coach in the thumping 50-19 loss last week in Auckland that ensured the All Blacks would retain the Bledisloe Cup for the 24th straight year.
Continue reading...England boosted with Feyi-Waboso on track for Nations Championship
Tweaked hamstring to keep Exeter wing out at Toulouse
Genge and Lawes want England restrictions lifted
England’s game-breaking winger Manny Feyi-Waboso should be fit for international duty next month despite tweaking a hamstring playing for Exeter against Newcastle on Sunday. Initial scans have not revealed any major damage and Rob Baxter, the Chiefs’ director of rugby, is hopeful the 23-year-old will be back in action before too long.
Medical staff from Exeter and England have looked at Feyi-Waboso’s scan and the player will be unavailable for his club’s opening Champions Cup pool fixture at Toulouse on Saturday. The early indications are said to be positive, however, and he is on track to feature in England’s opening Nations Championship Test against Australia on 8 November.
Continue reading...Louis Rees-Zammit demands end to artificial Prem pitches after leg burns at Saracens
Bristol wing: ‘Someone do something about it!’
Pat Lam left three players out because of the pitch
Louis Rees-Zammit has called for an end to artificial pitches in the Prem after posting a graphic image of the wounds he sustained during Bristol’s defeat at Saracens’ StoneX Stadium on Saturday.
The Wales wing revealed the extent of the friction burns caused to his right leg after running out for the Bears on Saracens’ artificial pitch with the caption: “Can we please stop playing on these AstroTurf pitches!! Someone do something about it!!”
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