15 h. 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...

Politics

20 h. ago Shocking Maro Itoje incident that had fans calling for Lions star to be banned

British and Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje will lead the touring team out in their opening test against Australia, and he's under pressure to steer the team clear of controversy this time round

Events

42 h. ago Harry Wilson vows no repeat of Kurtley Beale slip for Australia in Lions Test opener

Infamous last-gasp slip in 2013 First Test in Brisbane cost the Wallabies dramatic win in series they lost 2-1

Politics

63 h. ago ‘Make it happen when it matters’ – Andy Farrell urges Lions to embrace pressure

Powerful Lions side named to face Australia in first TestTom Curry starts in back row, no Welsh player in 23Andy Farrell has urged his British & Irish Lions players to embrace the pressure of their billing as heavy favourites to beat Australia in the series opener on Saturday.The Lions will go into Saturday’s match as odds-on favourites after Farrell named a powerful side featuring Tom Curry at openside flanker and Sione Tuipulotu at inside-centre to face a Wallabies team missing Will Skelton, Rob Valetini and Taniela Tupou. Continue reading...

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2 d. ago Australia’s selectors took a punt on Sam Konstas as Test opener – and he is left with the debt | Geoff Lemon

There was no firm basis to pick the teenager to begin with, but having done so, his only chance of success was to be backed as though there wasSam Konstas had given up. After his duck in Grenada, he looked devastated. After his duck in Jamaica, resigned. On body language, here was a player expecting to make nothing and expecting to be dropped. After his second shot at batting in the third Test proved futile, his second stint of fielding was one of absence: late to move, throwing one hand at the first dropped catch, snatching at the second, misfielding the run that let West Indies escape the lowest Test score. On the tour that might have been his making, nothing had gone right.You had to feel sorry for him, still 19 years old in a team of ancient dads. He had walked into his Test career full of bravura and left it five matches later with an average of 16. In nine innings since his 60 on debut he has averaged 11. The cockiness must have curdled to embarrassment. This is not to pile on...

Politics

3 d. ago 'I was a gang member and spent five years in one of world's toughest jails

Ryan Peake spent five years behind bars for assault which left the victim with a fractured skull and arms, but he has turned his life around since coming out of prison and is now hoping to make a splash at Royal Portrush

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3 d. ago Dan Sheehan says Lions can fire up travelling support if they ‘give them a win’

The Lions are favourites to come out on top in the three-Test series against Australia going into Saturday’s Brisbane opener.

Events

4 d. ago How the Lions can boast three Aussies and All Black trio vs Australia in crunch opener

The British and Irish Lions squad features a host of players who hail from New Zealand and Australia as they prepare for the First Test against the Wallabies this weekend

Politics

5 d. ago Andy Farrell calls up Scotland trio to British and Irish Lions squad as injury cover ahead of tour match

Farrell continues to call in reinforcements ahead of the series-opener against Australia on Saturday

Events

7 d. ago Pressure mounts on Konstas and Khawaja as Australia collapse in third West Indies Test

Third Test, day one: Australia win toss and make 225; West Indies 16-1Australia openers again fail to fire in day-night Test at Sabina ParkIt was a strange way to start. Out of Australia’s last 146 Test matches before taking the field at Sabina Park in Jamaica on Saturday, off spinner Nathan Lyon had missed seven. Four of those were in 2012 and 2013, left out for other configurations of bowlers. Three were after he blew out his calf during the 2023 Ashes. And that was that.Surprisingly, Kingston became the eighth match that Lyon has missed in his 14 years of Tests, and the fifth when fit, after a series in which he has gone for a few sixes but taken nine wickets at 18. Instead Australia opted to include Scott Boland as the fourth fast bowler for a day-night fixture on a surface that they guessed would suit pace. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Pressure mounts on Konstas and Khawaja as Australia collapse against West Indies

Third Test, day one: Australia win toss and make 225; West Indies 16-1Australia openers again fail to fire in day-night Test at Sabina ParkIt was a strange way to start. Out of Australia’s last 146 Test matches before taking the field at Sabina Park in Jamaica on Saturday, off spinner Nathan Lyon had missed seven. Four of those were in 2012 and 2013, left out for other configurations of bowlers. Three were after he blew out his calf during the 2023 Ashes. And that was that.Surprisingly, Kingston became the eighth match that Lyon has missed in his 14 years of Tests, and the fifth when fit, after a series in which he has gone for a few sixes but taken nine wickets at 18. Instead Australia opted to include Scott Boland as the fourth fast bowler for a day-night fixture on a surface that they guessed would suit pace. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Garry Ringrose ruled out as Lions face mounting injury concerns for Australia Test opener

Andy Farrell likely to call up more hooker cover after Luke Cowan-Dickie stretchered off against AUNZ Invitational XV

Events

7 d. ago How to watch Lions vs AUNZ Invitational XV: TV channel and live stream for rugby today

Owen Farrell to make his tour debut in final warm-up fixture ahead of Australia Test series opener

Sport

9 d. ago Lions call up Jamie Osborne with Blair Kinghorn to miss first Lions Test

Full-back’s injury may return later in seriesOwen Farrell on bench against invitational XVBlair Kinghorn is to miss the opening Test of the British & Irish Lions series against Australia but has not yet been ruled out of the entire tour. While scans have suggested Kinghorn’s knee ligament injury is not as serious as initially feared, the full-back is understood to be resigned to missing next week’s first Test in Brisbane and Ireland’s Jamie Osborne has been called up as cover.The 23-year-old Osborne will arrive in Australia on Saturday and is the third injury replacement to link up with the squad. Ben White and Owen Farrell have already filled the gaps left by Tomos Williams and Elliot Daly respectively but the Lions management are being cagey about the precise details of Kinghorn’s injury, which he suffered during the first quarter of the 36-24 win over the Brumbies in Canberra on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Lions reveal new Blair Kinghorn injury update as Jamie Osborne called up as training cover

Scotland full-back limped off early against the ACT Brumbies with opening Australia Test approaching

Events

9 d. ago Blair Kinghorn's scan results revealed as Lions take action ahead of opening Australia Test

Farrell buoyed by full-back’s condition - but another Irishman jets in

Politics

1 week ago Lions vs Brumbies LIVE: Result, match stream and latest rugby updates today

Plenty for Andy Farrell’s side still to work on before Australia Test opener

Sport

1 week ago Teenage opener Sam Konstas backed by Australia skipper Pat Cummins despite West Indies struggles

The 19-year-old has endured a tricky tour of the Caribbean so far but retains his captain’s backing

Events

2 w. ago MAFS Australia's Dave Hand devastated as he reveals dad's cancer has returned

Married At First Sight Australia star Dave Hand has opened up on life after the show, revealing he's focusing all his energy on his father Howard, who is battling cancer.

Politics

2 w. ago Australian rugby’s incendiary attitude towards nationality needs extinguishing | Robert Kitson

Wallabies’ great pleasure in focusing on where a Lions player was born is an inflammatory device masked as banterSo there we were in the bowels of Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday night. The post-game media mixed zone is not always the natural home of relaxed, honest repartee, but Sione Tuipulotu is a friendly guy and the British & Irish Lions had just won their opening tour game in Australia. It was a chance for a couple of ritual enquiries and a spot of gentle breeze-shooting.It was good to see Tuipulotu smiling aside from anything else. He’d missed the entire Six Nations through injury, initially putting his tour participation in doubt. It must have been a particularly tough period given he was Scotland’s captain back in the autumn and also grew up in Melbourne. To say he fancied going on this trip would be an understatement. Continue reading...

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