Category: Australia Rugby

Carter Gordon’s return to rugby union from a failed NRL stint has been confirmed, with the fly-half signing with the Queensland Reds and selected in the Wallabies squad for the upcoming five-Test spring tour.

The national rugby unions of eight of the sport’s major nations released a statement on Tuesday warning players and support staff against joining the rebel R360 competition.

• Fly-half back in UK after facing All Blacks with Australia

• O’Connor may play against Northampton on Saturday

James O’Connor, Leicester’s new Australian recruit, is hoping to bring a touch of sparkle to the East Midlands after finally linking up properly with the Tigers this week. O’Connor’s first spell last month was curtailed when he was swiftly recalled to the Wallabies squad to face New Zealand, but he is now back raring to go before his new club’s derby against Northampton on Saturday.

Having arrived in the UK only on Monday, the 35-year-old played a limited part in his first training session but seems poised to feature in the matchday 23 against the Saints. Leicester’s new director of rugby, Geoff Parling, will not confirm his team until Friday but hinted that O’Connor was in line for some action despite his latest long-haul flight. “He’s an experienced operator who gets up to speed quickly, put it that way,” Parling said. “When you’re in business class you can just put your feet up anyway. I don’t think it was too bad for him.”

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Nick Cummins was with his family at a Melbourne playground on the weekend when disaster struck and he jumped into action.

Wallabies legend Quade Cooper has criticised the Wallabies’ tactics during Saturday night’s Bledisloe Cup loss.

Cobus Reinach and Malcolm Marx scored two tries apiece as South Africa beat Argentina 29-27 at Twickenham to win successive Rugby Championship titles for the first time in their history.

Australia’s Rugby Championship dream is over after the All Blacks sealed a 28-14 victory at Perth Stadium on Saturday evening, whitewashing the two-match Bledisloe Cup.

• Coach Joe Schmidt makes five changes to XV for final Rugby Championship Test

• James Slipper to play 151st and final game after announcing retirement

Lock Will Skelton and scrumhalf Jake Gordon are among five changes to Australia’s starting 15 for the final Rugby Championship Test against New Zealand in Perth on Saturday.

Skelton replaces the dropped Lukhan Salakaia-Loto after returning from club duty in France, while coach Joe Schmidt’s preferred No 9 Gordon returns for his first test since the British & Irish Lions series after recovering from a hamstring strain.

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Wallabies rookie playmaker Tane Edmed will go from onlooker to the main man, elevated from his 80-minute stint on the bench last weekend to starting No.10 for the second Bledisloe Cup clash in Perth.

Veteran prop James Slipper will call time on his record-setting Wallabies career after Australia’s Bledisloe Cup clash against New Zealand on Saturday in Perth.

It was a brave performance from Australia, but once again, they’ve fallen short in a Eden Park Test match against the All Blacks, going down 33-24.

The Wallabies’ Bledisloe Cup drought has extended to 23 years following another loss to the All Blacks at Eden Park, but there was a lot the green and gold will, and should, be proud about.

Wallabies captain Harry Wilson says his team is ready to defy history by beating New Zealand at Eden Park on Saturday.

Veteran prop James Slipper will become the first player to represent the Wallabies in 150 Tests after being selected to start in Australia’s front-row in Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup battle against New Zealand in Auckland.

Flanker Ardie Savea will captain New Zealand against Australia as the All Blacks made four changes to their starting side that suffered a record defeat to South Africa.