15 h. ago Wallabies and Springboks in identity swap for clash amid thin air of Highveld | Daniel Gallan

The frenemies meet in this year’s Rugby Championship opener at Ellis Park where they are expected to rip pages out of the other’s playbookOne team boasts some of the most menacing forwards found anywhere in the world. The other is developing a scintillating backline capable of tearing apart any defence. Business as usual, then, for a Wallabies versus Springboks clash. Except this time, like the characters of Freaky Friday, the two sides have switched identities ahead of the first round of the Rugby Championship.Australia might have lost the British & Irish Lions series but they were one referee’s decision at the breakdown away from causing a seismic upset. That the margin was so small was thanks largely to the thundering cameos of Will Skelton, Rob Valetini, Taniela Tupou and a handful of other meaty men who provided the front-foot grunt that was absent in the first Test in Brisbane. Continue reading...

Politics

2 d. 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

3 d. ago Henry Pollock rewarded with England Elite Player contract after breakout year

Pollock was selected for the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia this summer

Sport

7 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

7 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

7 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

Events

1 week 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...

Events

1 week 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

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...

Politics

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

1 week ago Andy Farrell provides update on James Ryan after worrying incident in Lions defeat

The Lions lock was taken off on a stretcher early in the second half

Politics

1 week ago Lions vs Australia LIVE: Third Test result, latest updates and reaction after tourists beaten

Can the tourists complete their sweep?

Society

1 week ago Andy Farrell 'unbelievably proud' of Lions squad as 2025 tour ends in defeat

The tourists won eight of their nine summer outings

Politics

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...

Politics

3 w. ago Australia star Rob Valetini ‘good to go’ for second Test in huge boost for Wallabies

The flanker is in line to return having been sorely missed in the first encounter in Brisbane

Politics

3 w. ago Why Aussie footy fans should be very worried about rugby star turned Royal Mike Tindall's special guest appearance at one of the NRL's biggest games

The former World Cup-winning rugby union star and his wife Zara got the red-carpet treatment at one of the jewels in the NRL's crown recently.

Sport

3 w. ago How Tadhg Beirne responded to selection ‘pressure’ with statement first Test performance

The flanker admitted that he had felt under scrutiny before the Lions’ win against the Wallabies in Brisbane

Politics

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

Politics

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 Three ways the Wallabies can fight back after first Test defeat to Lions

Australia fell 1-0 behind with defeat in Brisbane - but a second half fightback will give Joe Schmidt’s side hope

Politics