Nic White has gone from starting No.9 to out of the Wallabies squad completely for the second Bledisloe Cup clash in Wellington as Dylan Pietsch earnt his maiden start in a gold jersey, replacing injured winger Marika Koroibete.
Seven Premiership clubs are balance sheet insolvent, finance report warns
- James Haskell fears rugby ‘heading for precipice’
- Ten clubs collectively lost around £30.5m in 2022-23
Seven of the 10 English Premiership clubs are balance sheet insolvent, according to an independent financial industry report which has prompted a stark warning that unless the sport embraces change it is “heading for a precipice”.
A comprehensive study analysing the financial sustainability of all the Premiership sides, unveiled by the leading UK corporate recovery and insolvency firm Leonard Curtis, concluded that only three clubs – Leicester, Northampton and Gloucester – would be viable without the backing of wealthy owners and said they must face “some harsh realities”.
Continue reading...Super League playoffs: can anyone topple serial champions Wigan?
Warriors have hit form at an ominous time but Hull KR, Warrington and Salford have grounds for optimism
The Super League playoffs begin on Friday but there is a very different feel this time around. Four of the six sides vying to reach Old Trafford on 12 October have yet to win a Grand Final – though to do so they will have to get past the reigning champions and undoubted favourites, Wigan Warriors.
Wigan Warriors (1st)
Continue reading...Dan Biggar: ‘I quite enjoyed taking flak and proving people wrong the next week’
The former Wales fly-half on breaking the mould to survive in the No 10 jersey, disappointment over concessions from players’ strike threats and life by the beach in Toulon
“I’m certainly not your stereotypical Welsh fly‑half and I don’t apologise for being different,” Dan Biggar says with a wry smile at a little restaurant on the beach front in Toulon. “I quite like the fact that I was different and did it my way.”
Storm clouds are rolling in from the sea and the atmospheric setting adds to a compelling conversation with Biggar, who, in contrast to his feisty image on the rugby pitch, is a friendly and thoughtful man. The darkening sky reminds us of Wales, which, for Biggar, “has always been a land of poets and dreamers”.
Continue reading...NRL legend’s son with Roosters, Blues links signs with rival code
NRL legend Brad Fittler’s son Zach has signed up with the Waratahs and committed to playing the 15-a-side code.
Argentina stun South Africa to keep Rugby Championship hopes alive
- Argentina shock South Africa in 29-28 win
- Pumas aiming for unlikely first Rugby Championship title
Flyhalf Tomas Albornoz kicked a penalty 11 minutes from the end to hand Argentina a thrilling 29-28 victory over South Africa and keep their hopes of winning the Rugby Championship alive in a blisteringly hot Santiago del Estero on Saturday.
The world champion Springboks, who had the chance to win the game with a late penalty from flyhalf Manie Libbok that was missed, lead the table with 19 points from second-placed Argentina on 14 points ahead of a final meeting between the sides in Nelspruit next Saturday where the title will be decided.
Continue reading...Springboks stunned in big upset as giant-killing Pumas keep unthinkable dream alive
Argentina have ended South Africa’s unbeaten run with a thrilling 29-28 win in their Rugby Championship match at Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades.
Wigan close in on history as Super League reaches thrilling climax
Warriors are two wins away from becoming first side to win a major quadruple but unpredictable season could continue
After 27 engrossing rounds, it all came down to Frantic Friday: the night Super League’s playoff picture would be thrillingly resolved. That was how it played out too, with the lineup set after Leigh’s dramatic victory over St Helens.
But to water it all down into one night would be doing a disservice to a season full of twists and turns. For months, the suspicion was many of the big narratives would go to the wire. Now, the top six are fixed and the business end of the season begins with plenty to ponder.
Continue reading...Wallabies’ fresh Bledisloe pain as All Blacks deny epic comeback; Slipper’s all-time record: Wrap
The All Blacks have retained the Bledisloe Cup with a 31-28 win over the Wallabies, with Australia falling just short of a stunning comeback victory at Accor Stadium.
‘The point of no return’: no capital gains for Broncos as exit looms
‘So much progress but we are going to lose it all,’ says coach Mike Eccles as the London club feel IMG’s cold shoulder
The sun is setting on the Super League season as next month’s Grand Final approaches and, while all 12 teams wind down for the winter, one club is facing a potentially serious situation.
With IMG’s controversial gradings system going live next month to replace conventional promotion and relegation from 2025, only the 12 highest-scoring clubs in a variety of on and off-field metrics will qualify for Super League status.
Continue reading...Coach Joe Schmidt makes just two changes to his squad for showdown with All Blacks
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has held firm and refused to panic despite a record loss to Argentina, making just two changes to the squad for the Bledisloe Cup showdown with New Zealand.
French rugby federation blames ‘poorly managed’ supervision for youth player drowning
The French Rugby Federation (FFR) said on Thursday it questioned the role of administrative supervisors from the ministry of sport following the death of France under-18 player Medhi Narjissi last month.
Wallabies’ worst ever defeat: Australia capitulate in embarrassing 40-point loss to Argentina
The Wallabies have been humbled by Argentina in a 67-27 thrashing in Santa Fe on Sunday morning AEST, the biggest margin of defeat Australia has suffered in a Test match.
Argentina 67-27 Australia: men’s rugby union international – as it happened
The Wallabies surged to an early lead before conceding their most points ever in a men’s rugby Test as Los Pumas piled on the pain
Time for the anthems. As far as I can tell everyone is singing.
[If you know, you know]
Continue reading...Warrington close on Super League top two with emphatic win over St Helens
- Warrington 16-2 St Helens
- Wolves have top-two finish in their sights with victory
Warrington Wolves and St Helens are no strangers to competing at the right end of Super League but as we approach the final fortnight of a compelling season, this contest underlined that we are witnessing two sides heading in different directions at the business end of the year.
For Warrington and Sam Burgess, this was a relatively straightforward afternoon’s work to keep their hopes alive of a top-two finish going into the playoffs. First is out of reach given Wigan’s win on Friday night against Hull KR, but the Wolves are just two points adrift of the Robins with two rounds remaining.
Continue reading...