38 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...

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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...

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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...

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6 d. ago Nic White immediately reverses Australia retirement after impressive Lions performance

White retired from Wallabies duty after the Lions series but has answered an SOS call from Joe Schmidt

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8 d. ago The Breakdown | The Lions will endure but who can we expect in the squad for 2029?

Ben Earl’s unambiguous backing shows how the tourists’ future could work even in a new world of rebel leaguesThe average worker bee, in the busiest months of the year, generally lives for up to seven weeks. Talk about a short and sweet existence. It is not dissimilar with British & Irish Lions tours. One moment players are winning a major series, the next their team abruptly ceases to exist. That’s all, folks, unless you can make the next trip in four years.That is a lifetime for many professional athletes, particularly those who routinely operate on a week-to-week basis and are about to enjoy a long-awaited summer break. So you would expect someone like England’s Ben Earl to roll his eyes and change the subject when asked if he would like to be involved in the scheduled next men’s tour to New Zealand in 2029. Continue reading...

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8 d. ago Today's rugby news as star announces shock retirement after Lions series and All Black makes damning claim

The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world

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9 d. ago Lions writer awards: man of the series, unsung hero and where tourists should go next

Main man Finn Russell was at the heart of everything the Lions did, but Australian duo Tom Wright and Charlie Gamble also win praiseMan of series Finn Russell was at the heart of everything the Lions did well. Calm, assured, skilful and accurate from the tee. Chapeau. Continue reading...

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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...

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1 week ago British & Irish Lions star's baby born in car before first match of series

British and Irish Lions centre Bundee Aki missed the birth of his fifth child with the Irishman preparing for the First Test in Australia and has revealed his wife gave birth in the car

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1 week ago Bundee Aki reveals wife gave birth in car on same day as first Lions Test win

Aki’s wife had their fifth child in New ZealandCentre looking forward to seeing daughter for first timeBundee Aki has revealed his wife gave birth to their daughter in the back of a car in New Zealand on the same day as the first Lions Test victory against Australia in Brisbane. Aki is yet to meet his fifth child, Aine, and said reuniting with his family is his top priority after helping the Lions to wrap up the series.Aki was a second-half replacement in the first Test, coming off the bench after 57 minutes and all the while ­coping with the drama unfolding in Auckland. Aine is Aki’s fifth child – all five have names beginning with A – and Aki’s remarkable revelation details the sacrifices made by the touring side, who first got together for a training camp in Portugal in early June. Continue reading...

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1 week ago Lions chief executive says Andy Farrell in ‘strong position’ to return as coach

Farrell has steered the Lions to their first series triumph since 2013.

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1 week ago Successful series shows why the Lions are here to stay — but new threats provoke tough questions for the future

A 2-1 win in Australia displayed both the joys of the touring side and the challenges they face in the modern era

Events

3 w. ago James Slipper urges Wallabies to ignore ‘losing mentality’ jibe with Lions series on the line

Veteran calls for history to repeat after being part of fightback in 2013Australia boosted by return of Rob Valetini and Will Skelton from injurySteely Wallabies veteran James Slipper is urging his battered troops to block out the “noise” as they look to stop the Lions juggernaut in their do-or-die second Test in Melbourne.The series is on the line at the MCG on Saturday night with Slipper offering a unique perspective in the current Australian line-up as the only player to have taken part in two series. Continue reading...

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3 w. ago Sione Tuipulotu: ‘It’s crazy that the Lions can close out the series in my hometown’

Interview: After setting the Lions on their way to first Test victory, Tuipulotu will enjoy an emotional homecoming in a week full of meaning for the Melbourne-born centre

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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

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3 w. ago Andy Farrell says Lions in ‘a fantastic place’ to clinch Test series with a week to spare

Tourists will be harder to beat in Melbourne, says coachFarrell: ‘We’re delighted – but we can be better again’Andy Farrell believes the Lions can push on and clinch the series with a week to spare after their first Test win over Australia in Brisbane. It is the head coach’s view that the pressure is now firmly on the Wallabies and that his team also have plenty of improvement still in them.While the Lions lost some momentum in the second half of their 27-19 victory at Suncorp Stadium, they were 24-5 ahead after 41 minutes and Farrell says they will be even harder to beat in Melbourne next Saturday. “There is so much more in us,” said Farrell, suggesting the Lions were now in “a fantastic place” in terms of the series. Continue reading...

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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

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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

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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

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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

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