Category: Rugby League

Darren Lockyer Road, Mal Meninga Drive, Arthur Beetson Way… either the game has really taken off in Juba, or someone’s having a laugh. We launched an investigation to find out

I was on the hunt for Darren Lockyer Road, in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

This incongruous road nomenclature, half a world away from Queensland in Australia, where the rugby league great is a household name, first came to my attention via a tweet. Not just any tweet – an official government tweet.

• Sheffield Eagles coach suspended until April 2026
• Punished for ‘flouting rules’ over player head injuries

The Rugby Football League is ­facing a potential revolt after a number of high-profile professional rugby league coaches signed a letter calling for the Sheffield coach, Mark Aston, to be allowed an independent appeal against his 18-month ban for a breach of head injury protocol.

Aston, who has been involved with the Eagles for almost 40 years as player and coach and was man of the match in their 1998 Challenge Cup final win against Wigan, has been told he will be suspended until April 2026 after a tribunal determined he “deliberately flouted the rules” on head injuries earlier this year.

• Australia claim Pacific Cup with 20-14 victory at CommBank Stadium
• Tom Trbojevic runs in two tries in front of mostly pro-Tongan crowd

Australia have shown a ruthless edge to rise above the sea of red and hold off Tonga in a 20-14 Pacific Cup final win.

In front of a 28,728-strong pro-Tongan crowd at CommBank Stadium on Sunday, the Kangaroos made amends for last year’s final where they suffered the biggest defeat in their history at the hands of New Zealand. Led by an impressive showing from five-eighth Tom Dearden and a two-try haul from Tom Trbojevic, Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos showed a calmness and maturity to capitalise off Tonga’s errors and seal victory.

• Australia beat New Zealand 24-4 to clinch Pacific Cup
• Jillaroos avenge defeat to Kiwi Ferns in last year’s decider

Australia have reasserted their status as the heavyweights of international women’s rugby league, thrashing New Zealand 24-4 in the Pacific Cup final as revenge for last year’s decider.

The pressure was on the Jillaroos this Pacific Championships following that shock loss to the Kiwi Ferns in the 2023 final, and some controversial selection calls since.

• Auckland epic sends Tonga into final with Australia
• ‘We wanted to fight fire with fire,’ says Fonua-Blake

Tonga have reigned supreme in one of the greatest rugby league Test matches of all time, holding on to beat New Zealand 25-24 and qualify for their first ever tier-one final.

In an Auckland epic that sent Tonga through to the Pacific Cup final against Australia, the visitors led 24-0 in the first half before the Kiwis drew level with 13 minutes to play. Isaiya Katoa then nailed a 75th-minute drop goal from 30 metres out to put Tonga ahead again, before the Kiwis missed several chances to win and draw level.

Rugby league can mirror Jacksonville’s London annex as they push to make Las Vegas move make financial sense

By Gavin Willacy for No Helmets Required

Wigan Warriors will not get to defend their world title in a rematch with Penrith Panthers because they are both going to Las Vegas. Yes, the World Club Challenge (WCC) is off because the two teams in it will be in Sin City together … playing against other teams. Very rugby league. But the NRL’s increased interest in the British game should see the WCC soon given a suitable stage.

While it is unfortunate two teams heading to Vegas went and won the NRL and Super League titles (again), it brought an elephant to the room. The WCC has been axed in 2025 because Vegas is a vastly bigger proposition. And it is the club and leagues’ own fault.

• Australian officials revived interest in first tour since 2003
• One of three Tests expected to take place in London

Australia, the reigning world ­cham­pions, are set to tour England in 2025 – the first time in more than 20 years – after late talks were held about switching the location of the next Ashes series.

There has not been a traditional three‑match series since 2003, when Great Britain lost 3-0 at home despite leading with less than five minutes remaining in all the games. That wait looked to have ended after ­confirmation last year England would tour Australia. But the series now appears to be taking place in England.

• Kangaroos run in four tries to the Kiwis’ two in 22-10 victory
• Zac Lomax double lifts visitors into final after heartbreak last year

Australia have exacted revenge on New Zealand for last year’s heartbreaking Pacific Cup final with a 22-10 win that propels the Kangaroos into the decider of this year’s tournament. Nearly a year after the Kiwis handed Australia their biggest loss, a try-scoring double to Zac Lomax saw off the chance of another defeat before a hostile Christchurch crowd on Sunday.

The Kangaroos still appeared below their best, with Angus Crichton notably bombing an early try and new halfback Mitch Moses spraying a kick and then putting a line dropout out on the full. Regardless, the win over an admittedly understrength New Zealand helps vindicate a raft of changes made to the Australian team following last year’s 30-0 debacle in Hamilton.