33 h. ago The Breakdown | Jac Morgan’s pivotal Lions moment reignites jackling debate in rugby

Some people consider it sacrosanct but has World Rugby extended too much latitude to the jackler or ‘stealer’?Another Lions tour added to the annals, and everyone is more or less happy. The British & Irish Lions take a series win, just about, and Australia have a pivotal moment at the end of the second Test to whinge about, or console themselves over, depending on your viewpoint.Certainly, these days, it is difficult to know what disciplinary outcome may pertain to each incident in the cut and thrust of elite rugby. Most people with eyes can appreciate there was no head contact when Jac Morgan tried to clear out the jackling Carlo Tizzano in the buildup to Hugo Keenan’s winning try, but there is no doubt, either, that Tizzano was in an exposed position, just as that particular split-second represented an impossible situation for Morgan. Had he gone any lower he would have made contact with the head, higher and he would have missed the clearout altogether. Continue read...

Politics

5 d. ago Gerwyn Price reveals his exact stunning weight loss and real motivation for darts prizes

Welsh ace looking sleak and performing superbly as he chases more success in Australia at World Series

Economics

6 d. ago The ultimate test: watching this glorious sporting summer has given me a headache

Euros final, Lions tour of Australia and a riveting Test series forced social engagements on to the back burnerThere is a crick in my neck, a rick in my back, and a permanent ache behind my eyes. A friend refuses to offer sympathy. “You did this to yourself,” she says as I pop paracetamol. Thousands of hours of medical research are ploughed into elite sport, but where are the studies into the physical and mental demands of keeping up with it?While winter may be fiercely programmed, it’s the multi-disciplinary bunfight of summer that is the ultimate test of a sports fan. Right when our diaries demand we’re at our most sociable, our most available, our most outdoors, the calendar loses all sense of perspective and dumps events on us like it’s trying to save them from a burning building. We stand below, arms hopelessly full, desperately trying not to drop anything. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago The ultimate test: watching this glorious sporting summer has given me a headache | Emma John

Euros final, Lions tour of Australia and a riveting Test series forced social engagements on to the back burnerThere is a crick in my neck, a rick in my back, and a permanent ache behind my eyes. A friend refuses to offer sympathy. “You did this to yourself,” she says as I pop paracetamol. Thousands of hours of medical research are ploughed into elite sport, but where are the studies into the physical and mental demands of keeping up with it?While winter may be fiercely programmed, it’s the multi-disciplinary bunfight of summer that is the ultimate test of a sports fan. Right when our diaries demand we’re at our most sociable, our most available, our most outdoors, the calendar loses all sense of perspective and dumps events on us like it’s trying to save them from a burning building. We stand below, arms hopelessly full, desperately trying not to drop anything. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Ashes 2025/26 UK TV broadcaster confirmed as announcement is made

Ben Stokes' England side take on Australia Down Under in a five-Test series beginning in November and concluding in January.

Politics

8 d. ago NHS warns serious virus 'rampant in Australia' is coming to UK as cases surge

The NHS has warned that people should be on the lookout for a serious virus with the most vulnerable getting vaccinations

Events

8 d. ago England’s Ashes series in Australia to be shown by TNT Sports

Ben Stokes’ side will try to win back the urn, starting with the first Test in Perth in November, with TNT Sports now set to show the five-Test series after a thrilling 2-2 draw with India concluded England’s Test cricket summer

Culture

8 d. ago TNT Sports secures live rights to England’s Ashes series in Australia

Broadcaster will now show all of men’s winter tourTests added to white-ball deals in NZ and Sri LankaEngland’s attempt to regain the Ashes this winter will be broadcast live in the UK by TNT Sports. After agreeing a one-year deal with Cricket Australia over the weekend TNT now has the rights for all of England’s winter tours, as the broadcaster had deals in place to cover white-ball series in New Zealand and Sri Lanka either side of the Ashes.TNT’s predecessor, BT Sport, bought the rights for the past two Ashes tours so the new deal may be inauspicious for Ben Stokes’s side as their viewers have not seen England win a single game. England have lost 13 of the past 15 Tests they have played in Australia, which shows the size of the task for the touring side this winter. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago UK warning issued over 'serious' virus after winter surge in Australia

RSV is a leading cause of infant mortality around the world and a main cause of child hospitalisations every year

Events

9 d. ago Lions had special moments but lacked consistency needed to be ranked among greats | Robert Kitson

Andy Farrell’s team deserve place in history after a 2-1 series win but return from Australia nursing nagging regretsHow best to describe the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour? Even before the final Test was interrupted by lightning, it was a strange old series. To the Lions the spoils but it was Australia who led for all but 60 seconds of the last two Tests. Just a solitary point divided the teams over three games and it was only courtesy of Will Stuart’s late consolation that the visitors collected 10 tries compared to the Wallabies’ nine.What would have happened had Joe Schmidt’s side had an extra warmup fixture or made a faster start in Brisbane? Had Will Skelton been fit for the pivotal opening game, or Rob Valetini and Taniela Tupou featured for more than 40 and 60 minutes in the series respectively? If Australia had not lost their first-choice fly-half on the eve of the series, or protected their 23-5 lead in Melbourne? Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Mitch Owen shines on debut to power Australia to T20 victory over West Indies

First T20I: WI 189-8, Aus 190-7; Australia win by 3 wktsDebutant blasts six sixes in match-turning half-centuryMitch Owen has dazzled on his international debut with a power-hitting masterclass that helped rescue Australia on the way to a three-wicket victory over the West Indies. With Australia using the five-match series in the Caribbean as an opportunity to test the next generation and build depth for the longer term, Owen wasted no time in showing that he could be part of the future with a gamechanging half-century.Australia still had to call on the more experienced Ben Dwarshuis and Sean Abbott to guide them home at the death, as the tourists reached 190 to win with seven balls to spare in the first T20I at Sabina Park. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Woman speared in head airlifted to hospital as NT police search for alleged attacker

The 18-year-old is in a serious but stable condition at Royal Darwin hospitalFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA woman with a spear embedded in her head has been airlifted to hospital from a remote Northern Territory community, with police searching for her alleged attacker.On Sunday police received a report alleging that an 18-year-old woman had been stabbed in the head by a male known to her at Angurugu on the west coast of Groote Eylandt, an island in the Gulf of Carpentaria.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Tuipulotu believes ‘stars have aligned’ for him as Lions arrive in Melbourne

The Scotland centre has the opportunity to seal a series win against Australia with victory in the second Test in the city where he was bornSione Tuipulotu has to raise his game this week. By his own admission he has not been up to scratch. He has been surprised by just how off the pace he has been, but he is confident he will deliver in the buildup to the second Test between the British & Irish Lions and Australia.Tuipulotu is, of course, referring to his role as the Lions’ tour guide, having grown up in Australia, as Andy Farrell’s players arrive in his home city of Melbourne hoping to wrap up the series. “I haven’t actually been that good at it,” he says. “It’s surprising, I don’t actually know that much about Australia having lived here that long. I know a bit about Melbourne so I’ll point the boys to some good spots.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Lions one win from ending wait – 5 things we learned from first Test

The British and Irish Lions beat Australia 27-19 in Brisbane as they eye a first series win since 2013.

Politics

3 w. ago How the Lions’ half backs seized control of Test series against Australia

Half backs Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell controlled proceedings well as the Lions took a first Test lead

Politics

3 w. ago Lions hold off Australia fightback in worrying start to series

Australia 19-27 British and Irish Lions: The Lions survived a second-half stumble to go 1-0 against an at-times overmatched Australia

Politics

3 w. ago Andy Farrell sings praises of 'absolutely immense' Lions duo as team selection is justified in Australia win

The British and Irish Lions are 1-0 up in the three-Test series against Australia

Politics

3 w. ago 'Honest conversations': Maro Itoje reacts after Lions dominate Australia in First Test to take series lead

Itoje brought up his 100th international cap in Lions’ win over Australia

Politics

3 w. ago British and Irish Lions withstand late Australia pressure to take lead in Test series

Lions make early dominance count to take lead in series

Events

3 w. ago Lions lay down series marker and ease to victory over Australia in first Test

First Test: Australia 19-27 British & Irish LionsOne-sided opener only came alive in the second halfWinning the first Test does not guarantee a series victory but Australia are already hanging on by their fingernails. On the evidence of this contest it is going to take something remarkable to stop the Lions from finishing the job in Melbourne next Saturday and, with thousands of travelling fans cheering them on, Andy Farrell’s side have firm control of their own destiny.There were moments in the first half when the Lions were so dominant it felt akin to watching a juggernaut thundering through the outback, scattering everything in sight like skittles. They were unable to sustain it but the visitors’ dominance in the opening 50 minutes was such that the winning margin should have been wider. From Finn Russell’s insouciant brilliance to Tom Curry’s relentless tackling, the Lions were a cut above in the areas that mattered most. Continue reading...

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