Rugby League – Worldwide Sports News

November 16, 2024

Smartball has revolutionised data in rugby and refereeing could be next | Gavin Willacy

New technology can tell how much a kick is swirling but not whether a pass is forward or a try has been scored – yet

By Gavin Willacy for No Helmets Required

While Twickenham debated why England can’t hold on to a lead at home and whether the southern hemisphere is pulling away from the north in rugby union now as well as league, those watching the Autumn Nations Series on TV saw a new toy being played with.

Viewers as well as match officials, broadcasters and coaches could now see exactly how much spin was on a pass, how high a kick went and how much it was spiralling. But however impressive the smartball technology, two of rugby’s thorniest questions – did that pass go forward? And did the player ground the ball for a try? – remain unsolved.

November 15, 2024

Mark Aston row grows as rugby league faces potential coaching revolt

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.

November 13, 2024

‘I couldn’t be bullied’: Danny Cipriani joins criticism of Eddie Jones’s style

Cipriani feels he was dropped for standing up to coach
Former fly-half returns for cross-code MND charity match

Danny Cipriani has become the latest former England star to weigh in with criticism of Eddie Jones, insisting he felt the Australian refused to select him at Test level because he “couldn’t be bullied” by Jones.

Cipriani will return to a rugby field this weekend when he takes part in the inaugural 745 Game, a cross-code hybrid match featuring some of rugby union’s and league’s biggest names to raise money for those living with motor neurone disease. The event, which will be held at Headingley, was devised by Rob Burrow and Ed Slater before Burrow died earlier this year.

November 10, 2024

Ruthless Kangaroos hold off Tonga to win men’s Pacific Championships final

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.

November 10, 2024

Australia’s Jillaroos thrash New Zealand to win women’s Pacific Championship final

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.

November 7, 2024

Gareth Thomas: ‘Rugby broke me down but I managed to rebuild myself’

The dual code rugby international on stigma, sexual health and inspiring the next generation

By Gavin Willacy for No Helmets Required

Gareth Thomas played 100 times for Wales at rugby union and four at rugby league. He spent the last few years of his career hoping to illuminate the subject of sexuality. He retired in 2011 after his club – Wrexham-based Crusaders – withdrew from Super League and injury ruled out leading Wales against England, New Zealand and Australia in the Four Nations. He was the only “out” gay male player from around 3,500 first team professionals at nearly 150 British rugby, football and cricket clubs. That figure still remains at one. Progress is glacial.

The former Bridgend, Cardiff and Toulouse centre first spoke publicly about having HIV five years ago. Now 50, and physically well, Thomas was taken to court by a former partner who accused him of infecting him with HIV. Thomas settled in early 2023 but maintained his innocence and said he settled without any admission of liability due to the costs involved of fully defending himself.

November 2, 2024

Tonga hold on to beat New Zealand 25-24 in ‘unforgettable’ Pacific Cup classic

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.

November 1, 2024

NRL and Super League can look and learn from NFL’s global expansion | Gavin Willacy

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.

October 31, 2024

Canterbury sack Josh Addo-Carr over failed drugs test

15-time NSW State of Origin representative failed roadside test
29-year-old was pulled over by police in September

Josh Addo-Carr has been sacked by NRL club Canterbury with immediate effect after failing a roadside drugs test in September.

Addo-Carr’s fate was sealed on Thursday when the Australian Test winger was forced to front the Bulldogs board of directors and explain why he should not have his contract torn up.