The wasteful Wallaroos were left to rue disciplinary errors after a dramatic 31-31 draw against the USA in the Women’s Rugby World Cup on Sunday morning AEST.
Sports quiz of the week: hair, historic results, hammerings and a new home
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Continue reading...A bigger Super League is not the only change coming rugby league’s way | Gavin Willacy
The Challenge Cup, Magic Weekend, international calendar and women’s game will look different next year
Super League is going to look different next season. The big news is that the division is likely to expand to 14 teams, but that’s not the only change coming for fans. A review into the sport led by Nigel Wood has suggested various new ideas, with Magic Weekend, the Challenge Cup, international fixtures, the Championship, women’s and wheelchair games all affected. Now that the report has been digested, we have a fuller picture of how the sport will shape up in 2026.
Continue reading...Wallabies exile returns as brutal tour sparks Aussie reshuffle
Andrew Kellaway looms as a likely replacement for star Tom Wright, who suffered a devastating ACL injury in an “attritional” tour of South Africa after coach Joe Schmidt opted against drafting in another fullback for two Tests against Argentina.
NRL player Brandon Smith hit with drug supply and betting charges
South Sydney star issued with summons by Queensland Police
29-year-old hooker set to appear in court on 18 September
NRL star Brandon Smith has been charged with drug supply and using inside knowledge for betting.
The South Sydney hooker was questioned by police when he arrived in Queensland ahead of their 10 August clash with Gold Coast, but released without charge.
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Continue reading...‘We were outclassed’: All Blacks stunned by Argentina in historic Rugby Championship Test upset
An inspired Argentina played with greater discipline to upset New Zealand 29-23 in a bruising Rugby Championship Test on Sunday and record their first ever home win over the All Blacks.
Handré Pollard scowls at the uprights as if he owns them. Australia could do with a ruthless winner like him
It would be simplistic to say South Africa won this slugfest solely because of Pollard. But he did kick all six of his shots at goal
Handré Pollard doesn’t simply point to the poles. The South African metronome, his face stuck in a perpetual scowl, thrusts a meaty finger towards the uprights as if he owns them. “You’re mine,” he growls, with the promise that in just a few short seconds an oval ball will be spiralling through them courtesy of his swinging right boot.
If there’s such a thing as a Test match animal then it is Pollard, the only fly-half present at the final whistle of two victorious World Cup campaigns. And Test match animals win Test matches. Whatever transpires across 80 minutes is almost immaterial. All that matters is the result.
Continue reading...Springboks’ title hopes alive in Wallabies revenge after injury drama, star blows clutch plays
South Africa kept its title hopes alive after bouncing back from defeat a week ago with fly-half Handre Pollard producing a masterly kicking performance in a 30-22 win over Australia in their Rugby Championship match at the Cape Town Stadium on Sunday morning.
South Africa 30-22 Australia: 2025 Rugby Championship Test – live
Handre Pollard kicks 15 points as South Africa edge the arm wrestle in Cape Town.
Australia haven’t beaten South Africa in back-to-back games since 2015.
Tell you what, I think they’ll do it.
Pollard shines as South Africa bounce back to beat Australia in Rugby Championship
South Africa 30-22 Australia
Springboks avenge shock loss to Wallabies
Handré Pollard put in a commanding performance at fly-half as a more pragmatic South Africa beat Australia in their second Rugby Championship Test in Cape Town to reignite the defence of their title.
Australia stunned the world champions 38-22 in their competition opener in Johannesburg last Saturday as the hosts tried to play an expansive gameplan with ball in hand and were picked off. This time round they turned it into an aerial contest, marshalled superbly by Pollard, who kicked 15 points to go with tries by the wing Canan Moodie, the No 8 Kwagga Smith and the lock Eben Etzebeth.
Continue reading...Salford stumble on in crisis with their future on the line and fans demanding answers
Troubled club at least manage to fulfil a fixture before losing 38-6 at Leigh, but Super League status is looking desperate
The notion of Salford walking out on Friday night to play their game against Leigh may seem to casual observers like a positive step, given they failed to fulfil their recent fixture against Wakefield and seem engulfed in a perma-crisis.
In hindsight, the Salford warning signs were there last winter when the club requested an advance of £500,000 on their central distribution to survive the off-season. “We should have seen the wolves were at the door then,” one Super League chief executive said this week.
Continue reading...Your Guardian sport weekend: Women’s Rugby World Cup, US Open tennis and more
Here’s how to follow live rugby union, Premier League buildup and action with our writers and live reporters
Continue reading...Corey Toole given debut as Wallabies try for back-to-back wins against Springboks
Winger starts as Australia bid for historic win in Cape Town
Rob Valetini and Tom Robertson also come in
Corey Toole will make his Test debut in one of three changes to the Wallabies starting side as they attempt to go back-to-back against the Springboks in South Africa for the first time since 1963.
The 25-year-old Paris Olympics sevens star will replace injured winger Dylan Pietsch for their Rugby Championship clash in Cape Town on Saturday night local time (Sunday 1.10am AEST).
Continue reading...Wallabies name 91st captain as fastest man in Aussie rugby to be unleashed on Springboks
Queensland Reds flanker Fraser McReight will become the Wallabies’ 91st captain this weekend, leading an Australian side in Cape Town that will include debutant winger Corey Toole.
‘People will be hurting’: WRU recognises anger at plans for two men’s regional sides
Welsh union’s plan could see two teams cease to exist
Abi Tierney: ‘Change is hard and this is hard for fans’
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has recognised the “hurt and anger” caused by its proposal to reduce the number of professional men’s sides in Wales from four to two, but insisted maintaining the status quo would be a mistake.
Welsh rugby’s governing body has produced a radical plan to turn around the game at club and international level, outlining its ambitions in a 90-page consultation document entitled The Future of Elite Rugby in Wales. There will be a six-week consultation period before the WRU makes a final decision on the plans, and its chief executive, Abi Tierney, has urged people to “improve on the proposals” and provide “something fit for purpose for Welsh rugby”.
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