13 h. ago Joe Schmidt insists injuries will not affect Australia ahead of first Lions Test

Tourists face first real Test in Brisbane on Saturday

Events

14 h. ago Joe Schmidt provides update on Rob Valetini and Will Skelton after huge double Australia injury blow

The pair have been ruled out of the opening Test in Brisbane in a huge injury blow

Events

16 h. ago Who is Tom Lynagh? Son of Australian great Michael given surprise start for Wallabies against British and Irish Lions

The 22-year-old fly half has been handed the first Test reins by Joe Schmidt in a shock selection call

Politics

19 h. ago Fire destroys main stage at Belgium’s Tomorrowland festival on eve of opening

Blaze came a day before thousands of electronic dance music fans were set to descend on the Belgian eventThe main stage of the Tomorrowland music festival near Antwerp was totally destroyed by fire on Wednesday, a day before thousands of electronic dance music lovers were due to arrive at the Belgian event.There were no injuries, organisers said, insisting they would still go ahead with the festival over the next two weekends. Continue reading...

Events

57 h. ago The Breakdown | Five areas where the Australia v Lions Test series will be won and lost

Selection, discipline, kicking, aerial dominance and individual brilliance will all be key in the next few weeksSelection It may sound obvious but both sides need their key chess pieces to be in the correct places. Neither team are due to declare their hands officially until Thursday but the Lions will be well aware of Joe Schmidt’s ability to produce a tactical surprise or two. The big name to look out from an Australian perspective will be Rob Valetini, such an important cog in the Wallaby pack but injured for the recent Fiji game. If Valetini is ruled out it will be a blow to home morale; the Wallabies are going to need their main men on the field. The Lions have had their own injury problems but their back-row and centre selections will be instructive. They will be tempted to start with their most physical flanker, Tom Curry, and send out Ben Earl and/or Henry Pollock to up the tempo later. But Jac Morgan, the only Welshman left in the squad and a specialist jackler, would offer...

Politics

4 d. ago Andy Farrell is warned not to count Australia out as Lions focus on first Test

Ian Foster backs Wallabies’ Joe Schmidt to ‘build belief’Henry Pollock says Lions ‘believe 3-0 is on the table’Andy Farrell has been warned against underestimating his opposite number, Joe Schmidt, as the buildup to the British & Irish Lions series intensifies. Farrell is about to sit down with his assistants to finalise his selection plans for Saturday’s first Test against Australia, but those familiar with the wily Schmidt insist the Lions could yet be unexpectedly outflanked.While Farrell and Schmidt know each other extremely well from their time working together with Ireland, the former All Black coach Ian Foster believes the forthcoming series is not a foregone conclusion. Foster says the Lions’ first Test selection will need to be spot on if the touring team are to see off the Wallabies in Brisbane. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Veteran James O’Connor answers fly half SOS as Wallabies confirm squad for Lions series

O’Connor and prop James Slipper could both feature in a Test against the tourists for a second time

Politics

6 d. ago James O’Connor earns Wallabies recall as squad named for Lions Test series

35-year-old veteran selected after last playing for Australia in 2022James Slipper included in 36-player squad to face British & Irish LionsWallabies coach Joe Schmidt has made an eleventh-hour call to James O’Connor to include the forgotten fly-half in Australia’s 36-player squad for the Test series against the British & Irish Lions, which begins next week in Brisbane.The former Reds No 10 last played for the Wallabies in 2022, but helped the Crusaders to a Super Rugby Pacific title this year in a role coming off the bench. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Joe Schmidt throws serious doubt on Australia’s chances of beating Lions after narrow Fiji escape

Schmidt insists ‘there’s not real confidence’ after his Wallabies side needed a 78th-minute try from Harry Wilson to sneak past a valiant Fiji side

Politics

1 week ago Wallabies score late to snatch win against surging Fiji as Lions await

Captain Harry Wilson scores in 79th minute to secure 21-18 victory for AustraliaResult warns world that Joe Schmidt’s rebuilding side are again a dangerous forceThe Wallabies have got their 2025 season off to a victorious start and struck a crucial blow in the quest to win the 2027 World Cup at home with a tense 21-18 triumph over Fiji in Newcastle.The 79th minute shading of their fierce south Pacific rivals ignites Australia’s hopes ahead of the first Test against the British & Irish Lions in Brisbane on 19 July. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Don’t know how funny that gag is – Sione Tuipulotu laughs off ‘Aussie’ dig

Western Force’s stadium announcer introduced the British and Irish Lions’ four southern hemisphere-raised players by the countries of their birth.

Politics

3 w. ago Australia issues robust Lions response as demand to release star players for tour games rejected

Joe Schmidt hits back over claims he is contractually obliged to release players

Sport

3 w. ago Joe Schmidt hits back at British and Irish Lions over demands to release Australia stars for tour games

Wallabies coach standing his ground after Lions CEO Ben Calveley warning as war of words escalates before first tour match

Events

3 w. ago The Breakdown | Next Gen Wallabies sense Farrell’s Lions are there for the taking

Australia coach Joe Schmidt has lifted team from lowest ebb and made a country feel it can win againAustralian rugby liked what it saw – and didn’t see – last week, as the British & Irish Lions got their 2025 tour off to a losing start against Argentina. Sure, it was the opening game of a 10-match odyssey and Andy Farrell’s men were lacking cohesion after only two weeks in camp. But for a young Wallabies side rising fast under their head coach, Joe Schmidt, it put blood in the water and proved the tourists are very beatable.Schmidt’s 6-7 record in his first season in charge of the Wallabies might not cost Lions fans much sleep but Farrell, his former second‑in‑command at Ireland, will sniff the seeds of ambush. In their last start in November, the Wallabies led Ireland 13-5 only to lose 22-19. Schmidt won’t let that happen again. The 2025 Wallabies these Lions face are light years from the lambs Eddie Jones led to slaughter at the 2023 World Cup in France. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Joe Schmidt rejects Lions demands to release Australia stars for tour games

Wallabies coach says agreement is not to release all playersSchmidt highlights clash between Waratahs and Fiji gamesThe Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has hit back at the British and Irish Lions management, insisting Australia are adhering to the tour agreement regarding the release of international players for pre-Test games and that his front-line home players were only unavailable because they were preparing to face Fiji on Sunday week.The issue has flared up again this week after the Lions chief executive, Ben Calveley, said he expected Schmidt to release Wallaby players back to their Super Rugby franchises for their respective games against the touring team. Some fringe Wallabies are due to feature for Western Force this Saturday but it is set to be a different story for the subsequent games against the Reds, the Waratahs and the Brumbies. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt rejects Lions’ demands as player release row rumbles on

The Lions have demanded that the Australia coach release more of his squad to feature in the tour games ahead of the three-Test series

Economics

3 w. ago SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Australia head coach Joe Schmidt is playing mind games... but this is why it would be a huge mistake to keep his Wallaby stars out of the Lions warm

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: No one wins if Australia choose not to release their best players to feature in the warm-up matches of the British & Irish Lions tour.

Sport

3 w. ago Lions warn Joe Schmidt over Wallabies player release for tour matches

Ben Calveley expects competitive Force side to face LionsTour could open up to other countries such as FranceEvery big tour is a hectic learning curve as the 2025 British & Irish Lions are already finding. The squad had to call off their post-arrival recovery dip in the Pacific Ocean – a letdown both for local news crews and the lurking sharks off Cottesloe beach – because of inclement weather and the first media squall of the trip has also blown in.The Lions chief executive, Ben Calveley, has made clear the touring side expect the Wallabies head coach, Joe Schmidt, to make his national players available for their Super Rugby teams before the Test series commencing next month and the host nation has been gently reminded of that contractual detail following the Lions’ arrival in Australia. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago British and Irish Lions send 'very clear' Australia warning over releasing Test stars for tour matches

Chief executive Ben Calveley reminds Wallabies and Joe Schmidt of contractual obligations ahead of games against Super Rugby opposition

Events

3 w. ago Andy Farrell issued major warning ahead of Australia reunion with Joe Schmidt

Former Australia captain James Horwill believes the Wallabies can spring a surprise this summer when they meet the challenge of the British and Irish Lions

Events