Latest news with #BritishAndIrishLions
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Leinster skipper Conan frustrated despite Scarlets win
Leinster captain Jack Conan admitted there were "frustrating bits" to his side's performance after they beat Scarlets 33-21 to reach the United Rugby Championship semi-finals. The Irish province, top seeds in the play-offs, scored tries through James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jamie Osborne and Hugo Keenan to set up a last-four match with holders Glasgow at home next week. Advertisement However, Leinster allowed Scarlets back into the game at times, with Conan conceding his side tried to force the issue. "[We were] good in parts," said the British and Irish Lion back row. "Our discipline killed us, we gave them a lot of soft penalties. To be fair to Scarlets they stuck at it and battled hard, they're a team with a lot of passion and they pushed us at times. "We were inaccurate and forced things a little bit. It's good to have another week but there were some frustrating bits there. "Lads want to have big moments They want to feel like they're doing well, but sometimes there's a bit of over-eagerness and over-zealousness. Advertisement "You force things a little bit and get away with things although I thought Hollie [Davidson] was on the money today. I don't think it's anything other than lads trying a bit too hard." Leinster must now prepare for a third game against Glasgow in the space of seven weeks after beating the Scots in the Champions Cup and URC. "It's strange when you've played a team twice in the past six weeks so it helps with the prep because you know what they're going to do to a degree," added Conan. "But it's a little bit different every time you come up against a team. I don't think we were great the last time we played them, we had a good win in Europe, but they had lads coming back in so it'll be a tough test for us."
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Leinster skipper Conan frustrated despite Scarlets win
Leinster captain Jack Conan admitted there were "frustrating bits" to his side's performance after they beat Scarlets 33-21 to reach the United Rugby Championship semi-finals. The Irish province, top seeds in the play-offs, scored tries through James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jamie Osborne and Hugo Keenan to set up a last-four match with holders Glasgow at home next week. However, Leinster allowed Scarlets back into the game at times, with Conan conceding his side tried to force the issue. "[We were] good in parts," said the British and Irish Lion back row. "Our discipline killed us, we gave them a lot of soft penalties. To be fair to Scarlets they stuck at it and battled hard, they're a team with a lot of passion and they pushed us at times."We were inaccurate and forced things a little bit. It's good to have another week but there were some frustrating bits there."Lads want to have big moments They want to feel like they're doing well, but sometimes there's a bit of over-eagerness and over-zealousness."You force things a little bit and get away with things although I thought Hollie [Davidson] was on the money today. I don't think it's anything other than lads trying a bit too hard."Leinster must now prepare for a third game against Glasgow in the space of seven weeks after beating the Scots in the Champions Cup and URC. "It's strange when you've played a team twice in the past six weeks so it helps with the prep because you know what they're going to do to a degree," added Conan."But it's a little bit different every time you come up against a team. I don't think we were great the last time we played them, we had a good win in Europe, but they had lads coming back in so it'll be a tough test for us."
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
A rugby tour 12 years in the making: Australia awaits the British and Irish Lions
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — A huge economic boost, 40,000 British and Irish visitors in a swathe of red supporter gear, and the combined rugby might of four countries set to take on Australia. The 10-match British and Irish Lions tour — a once-every-12-year occasion for Australia — kicks off next month and local organizers are already primed for the influx of rugby-loving visitors from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The first of three test matches is 50 days away, in Brisbane on July 19. The second test is scheduled for July 26 in Melbourne and the third in Sydney on Aug. 2. 'The Lions is something that tends to reach beyond just the rugby union fans,' Australia head coach Joe Schmidt said during a visit Friday to Suncorp Stadium, 'because it's such an infrequent tour, people just get interested and we'd love to earn the support of all those folk by being really competitive. 'I'd love to think we're in the hunt.' Who are the Lions? The first Lions tour in 1888 comprised mostly English players and included matches in Australia and New Zealand. The tradition grew and since 1989, a Lions squad featuring Irish, England, Scottish and Welsh players has toured every four years on a rotational basis to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Andy Farrell is head coach of a 38-man squad for the 2025 tour, with England lock Maro Itoje selected as captain. Recent history Australian rugby has declined since its historic 2001 series victory over the Lions. The 1999 Rugby World Cup champions recovered to clinch that series with back-to-back wins in Melbourne and Sydney after a first-test loss in Brisbane, when the Wallabies were stunned by a crowd overwhelmingly dominated by visiting fans. In 2013, the Lions — coming off a mid-week loss to the Canberra-based Brumbies in a tour game — edged Australia 23-21 in the first test in Brisbane and then, after losing 16-15 in Melbourne, rallied for a comprehensive 41-6 victory in Sydney. Wallabies resurgence After failing to make the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals in 2023, Australia has been in a rebuilding phase under New Zealand-born Schmidt, a former Ireland coach. The Wallabies had six wins in 13 tests in a 2024 season that ended in a 22-19 loss to Ireland in Dublin, but an influx of new players and some improved performances have increased expectations for 2025. Schmidt, who will start assembling his squad next month as domestic teams bow out of the Super Rugby Pacific championship, knows that the Wallabies need to start being more consistent to win back the support of an Australian public which has a vast number of sporting choices. The Wallabies are No. 8 in the World Rugby rankings for men's international teams and need to improve quickly to get a good seeding for the 2027 World Cup, which Australia is hosting. We 'need a series of really good performances and, and it's something that we're aspirational about and we work really hard behind the scenes to try to get into the mix,' Schmidt said. 'I think some of the promising signs, the way the Wallabies finished off last year, the way the Super Rugby teams have competed this year, and so it's our challenge to try to continue that.' Seeing red James Horwill, Australia's captain in the 2013 series, has seen enough red when it comes to Lions tours. His enduring memory of the 2001 series, when he was a teenager watching the first test on TV? 'It felt like a home game for the British and Irish Lions just with just with the red shirts and the crowd,' he said. He said there was more obvious support for Australia 12 years ago with more fans in gold, but the red of the Lions still stood out. 'You walk out of the hotel, there was red everywhere. It's almost like the British and Irish Lions fans don't bring anything else other than red t-shirts,' he said. 'They wear it everywhere, so we need our fans here to step up to the mark because we know they're coming in droves from the U.K.' ___ AP rugby:
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Wales number eight Faletau signs new Cardiff deal
Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau has signed a new deal to stay at 34, was out of contract at the end of the season at the Arms who were taken over by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) in April after temporarily going into administration, have announced Faletau is staying for a fourth has been named in Wales' squad for the two Test tour of Japan in July which is being led by his Cardiff boss Matt Sherratt in his role as interim head number eight will have not given up hope of being called up for a fourth British and Irish Lions tour having not been named in the initial touring party to has played 108 internationals for Wales and five Tests for the Lions. "I'm happy to be staying with Cardiff and continuing to play my rugby here at home," said Faletau."Being part of this group of players has been amazing. There's a good vibe on and off the pitch, and I really enjoy working with Jockey [Matt Sherratt]. His insights and support have challenged me to grow and improve."I'm grateful for the continued opportunity and looking forward to what's shaping up to be an exciting year ahead." 'One of the greatest' Faletau, who started his career with Dragons, has been limited to just 23 appearances for Cardiff in three years since his move from Bath.A broken arm suffered in the 2023 World Cup against Georgia was followed by a fractured shoulder on his club return in April 2024 against has had a run of games in recent months and has been excellent in the second half of the season."We are delighted to be able to keep Taulupe at Cardiff and in Wales," said Sherratt."He is a highly respected member of our squad and has shown recently the quality he brings to the pitch. "He is one of very few players who has real quality in every aspect of the game."He is undoubtedly one of the greatest players to pull on a Cardiff shirt and the red shirt of Wales and we are delighted he is staying with us."Taulupe and his family are settled in Cardiff and this played a big part in him agreeing a new contract."
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Glasgow calm fears over injured Jones' Lions hopes
Glasgow head coach Franco Smith is confident Huw Jones will be fit for this summer's British and Irish Lions tour of Australia despite the recurrence of a niggling Achilles centre will miss Warriors' United Rugby Championship semi-final against the Stormers at Scotstoun on Friday has confirmed it is the same issue that sidelined Jones for two months after Scotland's Six Nations campaign."It flares up every now and then and it's just too close to the game to recover," Smith told BBC Scotland."It was better to make the call earlier in the week, so that we can be best prepared, but at the same time you can be recovered and hopefully as soon as possible."The whole season he needs to be managed. He came back from the Six Nations with that problem, and it's just the same one that's flared up now."Our medical team is on it and they're trying to find solutions to make sure he's back as soon as possible."The Lions play their first warm-up match against Argentina in Dublin on 20 June before departing for Australia and Smith played down fears Jones' participation could be in doubt."Yes, I definitely think so," Smith said when asked if Jones will be available for the tour."I hope we will have him back sooner. Let's see what the medical side of things say. All the anti-inflammatory treatment helps to get him back onto the pitch as soon as possible."
