45 h. ago Future British & Irish Lions tour of France on the agenda at Melbourne summit

French federation puts forward hosting 2027 warm-upMeeting before second Test over new Lions modelA British & Irish Lions tour of France could move a step closer next week when executives hold talks over “a new business model” in Melbourne before the second Test of the series against Australia.Abdel Benazzi, the vice-president of the French federation (FFR), held informal discussions with Lions executives in Dublin before the warm-up match against Argentina, and he will travel to Australia next week to further press his nation’s claims of facing the touring side again, having previously done so in 1989. France have emerged as leading contenders to face the Lions in a warm-up match before the tour of New Zealand in 2029 and, according to Benazzi, could also fulfil the same role before the inaugural women’s tour in 2027, also to New Zealand. Continue reading...

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 SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: The British & Irish Lions' Test back line will have a heavily Scottish feel

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: The centre pairing of Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones was the biggest positive of the British & Irish Lions' latest victory.

Events

2 w. ago Stars return to Royal Box as Wimbledon welcomes back the sunshine

Sir Clive Woodward, Bear Grylls and Feargal Sharkey among day four guests as play resumes in warm conditions.

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 Lions v Argentina Live: Updates and latest score from first match

The British and Irish Lions kick off a busy summer with a warm-up clash against Argentina in Dublin on Friday night

Politics

3 w. ago Lions v Argentina Live: Latest score updates as Bundee Aki crosses

The British and Irish Lions kick off a busy summer with a warm-up clash against Argentina in Dublin on Friday night

Politics

3 w. ago Lions v Argentina Live: Latest score and updates from thriller

The British and Irish Lions kick off a busy summer with a warm-up clash against Argentina in Dublin on Friday night

Politics

4 w. ago Maro Itoje to captain British & Irish Lions for first time in Argentina warm

XV features Marcus Smith, Alex Mitchell and Fin SmithTadhg Furlong also has the chance to prove his fitnessMaro Itoje will captain the British & Irish Lions for the first time in their non-cap international against Argentina in Dublin on Friday.The England skipper Itoje leads a starting XV that features Marcus Smith at full-back and will be directed by England half-backs Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith.This story will update Continue reading...

Events