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BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Leinster beat Scarlets to reach URC semi-finals
United Rugby Championship quarter-finalLeinster (15) 33Tries: Lowe, Gibson-Park, Osborne, Keenan Pens: Prendergast 3 Con: Prendergast 2Scarlets (14) 21Tries Rogers, Murray, Williams Cons: Costelow 3 Leinster set up a United Rugby Championship semi-final against Glasgow with victory over Scarlets at Aviva Stadium. The Irish province, who finished the regular season top of the table, opened up an early lead thanks to James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park tries. However, eighth seeds Scarlets hit back through Tom Rogers and Blair Murray before half-time to keep alive hopes of a shock Osborne and Hugo Keenan stretched Leinster's lead in the second half before Johnny Williams' try breathed new life into Scarlets' challenge. However, the home side were allowed to eased their way through the closing stages after Vaea Fifita's yellow card for a high tackle on Keenan took the wind out of the Scarlets' sails. While Scarlets' season comes to an end, they can look forward to a return to the Investec Champions Cup next term. Leinster, meanwhile, will face Glasgow - who they have beaten twice this season - at home next weekend for a place in the final on 14 June as they chase a first trophy since will, however, be concerns over British and Irish Lions flanker Josh van der Flier, who was injured and forced off in the first half. Coming into the game, Leinster had enough ammunition to guard against complacency, having fallen to the Scarlets in the URC last month before their European dreams were shattered by Northampton on this ground. However, despite racing into a 12-0 lead inside the opening 10 minutes, the firm favourites still made tough work of the first and Irish Lions squad members Lowe and Gibson-Park both crossed early to put the hosts in cruise control, but Scarlets were undeterred and hit back to cut the arrears to a point before the break. First, Rogers finished off a fine move in Scarlets' first visit to the Leinster 22 before a chaotic sequence to the opening half ended in Murray bringing the visitors back to within striking distance. In the last play before the interval, Leinster pushed for third try, but after Sam Prendergast spilled a pass in front of the Scarlets posts, Ellis Mee broke clear before Murray beat Jordie Barrett in a footrace to dot down, with the try standing after a television match official check on the full-back's grounding. With momentum on the side of a spirited Scarlets, Leinster rose to the challenge and responded strongly. Five minutes after the restart, Prendergast atoned for his part in Murray's to send Osborne through with a well-judged chip for another try which stood after a TMO check for grounding. Having stretched their lead, Leinster showcased their impressive squad depth by introducing Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan and South Africa's two-time World Cup winner RG Snyman. And after Scarlets prop Alec Hepburn was sin-binned for playing the ball on the ground at a ruck, it was Sheehan who charged down a kick and gave Barrett the opportunity to send Keenan through for Leinster's fourth Scarlets boss Dwayne Peel having replaced fly-half Sam Costelow with Ioan Lloyd, Williams briefly revived Scarlets' dream of toppling the hosts. However, after Fifita was sent to the bin, the game petered out, allowing Leinster to wrap up the win and set up a rematch with Glasgow. Line-ups Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Jimmy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Jordie Barrett, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan (capt).Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Luke McGrath, Ciaran Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Ellis Mee; Sam Costelow, Archie Hughes; Alec Hepburn, Ryan Elias, Henry Thomas, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (capt), Taine Marnus van der Merwe, Kemsley Mathias, Sam Wainwright, Dan Davis, Jarrod Taylor, Efan Jones, Ioan Lloyd, Macs Hepburn '55, Fifita '72Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)Assistant referees: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR), Federico Vedovelli (FIR)TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
A rugby tour 12 years in the making: Australia awaits the British and Irish Lions
The Captain of the British & Irish Lions, Maro Itoje, left, with head coach Andy Farrell during the British and Irish Lions Squad Announcement in the AmEx Lounge at The O2, London, Thursday May 8, 2025. ( John Walton/PA via AP) The Captain of the British & Irish Lions, Maro Itoje, left, with head coach Andy Farrell during the British and Irish Lions Squad Announcement in the AmEx Lounge at The O2, London, Thursday May 8, 2025. ( John Walton/PA via AP) 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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:
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Tana Umaga to coach against British and Irish Lions in Australia
Moana Pasifika head coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga , 2025. Photo: Brett Phibbs / Moana Pasifika mentor Tana Umaga will coach against the British and Irish Lions in Australia in July. Umaga will be one of Toutai Kefu's assistants for the historic First Nations & Pasifika Invitational XV match against the Lions in Melbourne on 22 July. Former Wallaby forward and Tonga coach Kefu was confirmed as Head Coach last week. His coaching staff will include leaders representing Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and First Nations communities. The son of Samoan parents, Umaga represented the All Blacks in 74 Tests before embarking on a successful 16-year career as coach across teams in France, New Zealand and the Pacific. Wallabies stalwart and Shimizu Blue Sharks coach Sekope Kepu will also serve as an Assistant Coach. Kepu was born in Sydney to Tongan parents and went on to represent the Wallabies in 110 Tests between 2008 and 2019 in addition to provincial stints in France, the UK, New Zealand and Australia. Former Fiji Test forward and coach Simon Raiwalui is also included along with Wallaby No. 621 Glen Ella, a Yuin and Bidjigal man representing the First Nations community. Ella, one of three brothers to have represented the Wallabies, has previously held down mentor roles with Australia and Canada. Les Kiss was named as the AUNZ Invitational XV head coach and will be assisted by former All Blacks boss Ian Foster. Kiss, the Queensland Reds coach, will take over the Wallabies coaching role from Joe Schmidt in 2026. British and Irish Lions 2025 Tour of Australia 28 June - Western Force v British & Irish Lions, Optus Stadium, Perth 2 July -Queensland Reds v British & Irish Lions, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 5 July - New South Wales Waratahs v British & Irish Lions, Allianz Stadium, Sydney 9 July - ACT Brumbies v British & Irish Lions, GIO Stadium, Canberra 12 July - AUNZ Invitational XV v British & Irish Lions, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide 19 July Wallabies v British & Irish Lions, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 22 July - First Nations & Pasifika XV v British & Irish Lions, Marvel Stadium, Melbourne 26 July - Wallabies v British & Irish Lions, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne 2 August - Wallabies v British & Irish Lions, Accor Stadium, Sydney
Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso returns in England squad with 13 uncapped players
Such youth is counteracted by the experience of Jamie George, George Ford and Henry Slade. Fin Baxter, Joe Heyes, Tom Willis, Ben Curry, Harry Randall and Tom Roebuck are among the cohort to win caps for England already this year. George Martin and Chandler Cunningham-South have been named in a separate rehabilitation group, though Feyi-Waboso is another welcome presence. The 22-year-old has not played since suffering his injury on December 21 while in action for Exeter Chiefs against Sale. An operation was initially delayed in the hope of having Feyi-Waboso fit for the end of the Six Nations. However, those ambitions were subsequently dashed. England internationals to have been called up to the British and Irish Lions squad, which was confirmed by Andy Farrell earlier this month, have also been omitted. A two-day training camp at Pennyhill Park will begin preparations for the one-off fixture between an England XV and a France XV at Twickenham on June 21 as well as the subsequent trip to Argentina, where England take on the Pumas in a two-Test series, and the USA. England training squad Forwards Joe Batley (Bristol Bears) Fin Baxter (Harlequins) Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs) Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby) Ben Curry (Sale Sharks) Theo Dan (Saracens) Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins) Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester Rugby) Jamie George (Saracens) Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers) Emeka Ilione (Leicester Tigers) Nick Isiekwe (Saracens) Jack Kenningham (Harlequins) Gabriel Oghre (Bristol Bears) Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Shark) Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks) Tom Willis (Saracens) Backs Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby) Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby) Oscar Beard (Harlequins) Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks) Tobias Elliott (Saracens) Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs) George Ford (Sale Sharks) Rekeiti Ma'asi-White (Sale Sharks) Cadan Murley (Harlequins) Luke Northmore (Harlequins) Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks) Harry Randall (Bristol Bears) Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks) Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers) Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)
RNZ News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Rugby: First Nations and Pasifika coach keen on Ardie Savea to play British and Irish Lions
Ardie Savea. Photo: PHOTOSPORT All Blacks star Ardie Savea is in career-best form, and could be unleashed against the British and Irish Lions on their tour of Australia this year. The Moana Pasifika captain, who was named Super Rugby Pacific player of the year on Monday, is on the wishlist of one coach. Ardie Savea scores a try for Moana Pasifika. Photo: Brett Phibbs / Wallabies great Toutai Kefu has been named as the First Nations and Pasifika XV coach and has revealed some players he's keen on. The match will be played in Melbourne on 22 July. The All Blacks play three tests against France in July, the last being in Hamilton on 19 July, so it seems unlikely that Savea would be available. Toutai Kefu. Photo: PHOTOSPORT However, Kefu said he is hopeful. "Geez, I'd love to have a crack at him," Kefu told Rugby Australia. "He might be available to the [AUNZ Invitational XV], but he'd be great to have for our team." Kefu is still to finalise the rest of his coaching staff, but Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga's name has been mentioned. "We've known each other for a while now so I'm sure [Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt] probably had something to do with it. Maybe it was him that mentioned my name. "Tana's name got mentioned earlier in the piece, but because the British and Irish Lions are visiting Australia, we're probably going to focus on the Australians who have coached in Australia or overseas, they probably deserve the first right of reply." Meanwhile, Les Kiss has been named as the AUNZ Invitational XV head coach and will be assisted by former All Blacks boss Ian Foster. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
