Lions vs Australia: Second Test kick-off time, TV channel, live stream, team news, lineups, h2h, odds today
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Wales Online
4 hours ago
- Wales Online
Welsh players who could be on the 2029 Lions tour including rising star who has real X-factor
Welsh players who could be on the 2029 Lions tour including rising star who has real X-factor There were only two Welsh players on the 2025 Lions tour Louis Rees-Zammit won't be short of suitors after his return to rugby (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency) In the aftermath of the British & Irish Lions' defeat in the third Test against Australia last weekend, chairman Ieuan Evans was asked about the lack of Welsh representation on tour. "That needs to drive players to say 'OK, I want a piece of the action. I want to be playing in four years' time in New Zealand," said the former Wales and Lions wing. That Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams were the only two Welshmen on this summer's tour should be a cause of embarrassment for the Welsh Rugby Union. The next Lions tour to New Zealand is four years away and a significant amount can change in such a period of time. But, as it stands, who would be the leading contenders from Wales and are there any players who have not yet broken through that are capable of reaching the heights? Jac Morgan Let's get the obvious one out of the way to begin with. The Wales star was superb in Australia, with his controversial clearout on Wallabies openside Carlo Tizzano at the death in Melbourne playing a pivotal role in the Lions snatching victory in the second Test. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Article continues below Morgan will be 29 by the time the Lions get set to face the All Blacks so, injury permitting, he should be on that plane in four years' time. Louis Rees-Zammit The 24-year-old is heading back to rugby union after an 18-month spell in the NFL and you can bet your bottom dollar on the Welsh speedster making an instant impact in the game in which he made his name. Rees-Zammit should be applauded for trying his hand at American football but one significant consequence was the fact he missed out on this summer's Lions tour having been involved in 2021. Tommy Freeman, James Lowe and Blair Kinghorn are all fine players but none of them possess the electric speed and finishing ability of Rees-Zammit. As of yet, the Welshman has not announced what club he will be signing for but according to reports he is keen to sign up to rugby's new rebel competition R360. But Rees-Zammit will undoubtedly break back into the Wales side and should be a strong contender to tour in 2029. Dewi Lake The 26-year-old hooker was perhaps a bit unlucky not to get called up to the recent tour after England's Luke Cowan-Dickie suffered an injury. Lake was spoken of as a serious contender in the two years leading up to the tour, but an injury during the Six Nations, along with Matt Sherratt opting to select Elliot Dee to start, probably put paid to his hopes. But the Ospreys star is more than capable of making an impact at that level with his powerful carrying game, set-piece prowess along with his dynamism standing out. Lake will be 30 in 2029 and the Lions will no doubt be a goal of his over the next four years. Morgan Morse Morse is still only 20 and hasn't even established himself as first choice for the Ospreys yet - but this guy is a serious talent. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free Ask anyone working in Welsh rugby's pathways or within the professional game who the biggest prospect in Wales is and it would be a big surprise if they did not go for Morse. The rising Ospreys star can play across the entire backrow and is pure X-factor. Morse has a lovely blend of athleticism and raw physicality while he is also an explosive carrier who is equally as comfortable in the tight as the wide channels. It is a matter of when not if he makes his mark with Wales and Morse certainly has the potential to become a future Lion. Dafydd Jenkins The 22-year-old has had a rough time of it for Wales over the past couple of years but despite the losing run he has been one of the better players. Jenkins is highly regarded within rugby circles and certainly has the potential to become a Lion in the future. The Exeter Chiefs lock is a physical specimen who gets through a huge amount of the unseen dirty work which provides the platform for others to claim the glory. Article continues below He is also a natural leader of men having captained Wales throughout a Six Nations campaign at the age of 20. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. In four years time the likes of Maro Itoje, Joe McCarthy and James Ryan could still be around while the likes of Irish second-row Cormac Izuchukwu and England U20s lock Junior Kpoku, among others, could also be contenders by then. But Jenkins certainly has the ability to be in the mix depending on the state of Welsh rugby at the time.
Scotsman
8 hours ago
- Scotsman
What International manager has said about latest Hibs signing as ex Birmingham City and Newcastle United man arrives
What Scotland boss said about Hibs' latest signing as ex Birmingham City and Newcastle United ace arrives Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scotland manager, Steve Clarke has heaped praise on Hibs' latest signing in the past and has always had faith in him when playing for his country. Hibs sign the defender following the departure of Australian right back, Lewis Miller, who went to Blackburn Rovers for a fee of around £1.5m. Hibernian got their domestic season off to a flyer, with victory at Dens Park following a Kieron Bowie brace. The Hibees bounced back well after the disappointment of the previous match, agonisingly losing out to FC Midtjylland in extra time to end their Europa League dream. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As David Gray keeps bolstering his squad over the window, Hibs' latest new signing has had some very high praise in the past. Clarke labels Hanley 'big credit' Hibs have just completed the signing of veteran Scotland defender, Grant Hanley following his contract terminating at English League One winners, Birmingham in the summer. It will be the first time Hanley has played first team club football this side of the border, with his only other clubs being Norwich City, Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers. Since Steve Clarke took over as Scotland manager in 2019, Hanley has been an ever present in the side, showing the gaffer clearly has a lot of trust in the 33 year old. In fact, in Scotland's last competitive victory, a 1-0 win over Greece in Athens, Clarke singled out Hanley as being a standout performer. Speaking to the BBC, Clarke said: 'two of the defenders don't play regularly at their club which is a big credit to them and how they prepare themselves, Tony Ralston and Grant Hanley. They did a great job.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Clarke has also gone on record saying that Hanley has always turned up for Scotland, no matter what his situation was at club level. According to The Sun, Clarke said: 'Grant's got all the experience in the world. He's obviously shown it all his career. Even when he's not starting regularly at Birmingham, he knows how to train, he knows how to work, he keeps himself in shape.' With 62 caps for his country, it's clear that Clarke still sees something in Grant Hanley as a dependable figure who he can rely on. Hibs fans will be hoping he can bring the same attributes he's shown at International level to Easter Road. Gray happy to acquire 'real leader' Hibs boss, David Gray appears to be very happy with the Hanley signing, particularly with the defenders experience of playing in a back three. According to The Daily Record, Gray said: 'It's great to be able to bring Grant to the club. He's performed at a top-level throughout his career and has a real desire to compete at the highest level in his home nation. 'He's a strong, robust defender that can play in any role across our back three. He's a real leader both on and off the pitch and a player of his experience will add a lot to the team. I look forward to working with him.'
Wales Online
8 hours ago
- Wales Online
Lions star in brutal response to Jac Morgan's cheeky dig as team-mates left roaring
Lions star in brutal response to Jac Morgan's cheeky dig as team-mates left roaring Josh van der Flier did not earn a Test cap on the 2025 Lions tour, with Tom Curry and Jac Morgan keeping him out of the team. The players reacted emphatically after Josh van der Flier's response. (Image: British and Irish Lions on YouTube) Josh van der Flier's brutal response to Jac Morgan's text left the whole squad roaring in laughter on the British and Irish Lions team bus. The Lions tour ended with a defeat to Australia, but a series win. Along with this, came the end of 'The Ultimate Test' docu-series which has taken fans behind the curtain on the 2025 tour. As part of the final episode, viewers were able to see what was happening on the team coach to the stadium ahead of the last game. Reading out suggestions for the 'Barry Crocker' (shocker) award, Van der Flier read out Morgan's message. The Wales captain's text read: "Alright Josh, boy? You should do yourself for Barry Crocker for being the only Leinster player in the original squad not to get named in the Test team!" As Van der Flier mouthed "Ooo", the players laughed in response, with Jamie George and James Lowe lapping up the sledging. However, the Irish flanker had a very sharp and witty retort. "That's very rich from a man who's won more games for the Lions than he has for club and country this year!" he hit back. Article continues below There was a massive roar from the players, with Ellis Genge's fist flying in the air, exchanging a smile with buddy Morgan, who was sat right next to Van der Flier. Content cannot be displayed without consent However, this wasn't the only bit of banter dished out by Morgan, who quipped via text: "Alright Josh, boy? Any ideas for the Barry Crocker? I was thinking we do Bundee Aki for being 37 years old and his highest academic achievement is the World Rugby Anti-Doping module." Cue another big roar from the players. Also on the coach trip, social secretary Ben Earl had a great idea for the collective, suggesting each player puts away £20 a month for the next 12 years, so the players can reconvene for the 2037 Australia tour with a kitty of £118,000 to cover their flights and accommodation. The Lions wrapped up the series against Australia after the second Test, winning with a game to spare for the first time since 1997 against South Africa. With Tomos Williams sustaining an unfortunate injury against Western Force in the warm-up games, Morgan was the only Welshman in the entire squad. Speaking about the tour itself, boss Andy Farrell said: 'It's been the time of our lives. I know it sounds a bit dramatic, but it's the truth. "We got to create a special memory together. I'm unbelievably proud to be associated with this group. This has been a long time in the planning - the best eight weeks of our lives. Article continues below "Lions Tours are tough, and to do what we did last week and put the series in the bag, upon reflection after tonight, I'm sure we'll be super proud of the achievement."
