Latest news with #JuniorWallabies
RTÉ News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Australian prop Angus Bell to join Ulster in December
Australian international prop Angus Bell will join Ulster next season on a short-term deal from New South Wales Waratahs. The 24-year-old loosehead prop has exercised an option to play overseas on a sabbatical and will link up with Richie Murphy's side in early December. Bell made his Australian Test debut just after his 20th birthday against New Zealand. He was captain of the Junior Wallabies team that were narrowly defeated by France in the 2019 World Rugby U20s Championship Final in Argentina, going on to become a mainstay of the Waratahs side in Super Rugby. He made his 50th appearance for them in April. Bell has made 36 appearances for his country, featuring in the Rugby Championship and the 2023 Rugby World Cup. "I'm very excited to be joining Ulster Rugby later this year and experiencing the game in a different hemisphere," he said. "A big motivation for me was wanting to develop my game in a brand-new environment and be out of my comfort zone. "I've heard a lot about the supporters and their passion in following the team both home and away. I'm looking forward to linking up with the players, coaches and staff and can't wait to meet you all as an Ulster player."
Reuters
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Former Australia under-20 international retires at 22 after concussion
SYDNEY, May 14 (Reuters) - Former Australia under-20 international Mason Gordon has retired from rugby at the age of 22 after experiencing continuing symptoms of a concussion sustained in pre-season training at the Queensland Reds. Fullback Gordon, a Junior Wallaby in 2022 and 2023, said in an open letter released by Queensland Rugby on Wednesday that this was not the way he had envisaged his career ending. "After sustaining a concussion during pre-season training from which I continue to have symptoms, and with the support of medical advice, I have made the difficult decision to retire from rugby on medical grounds," he wrote. "This is an unfortunate injury, however I am grateful for the memories I have of my professional rugby career and will cherish the friendships I have made forever." Gordon, whose brother Carter played for Australia at the last World Cup before defecting to rugby league, played four Super Rugby matches for the now defunct Melbourne Rebels before moving to the Reds for this season. Concussion has become a major issue for rugby union and new protocols have been introduced at all levels of the game to try to mitigate the impact of serious head knocks. World Rugby is one of the targets of a long-running class action lawsuit filed by former rugby union and league players who say they are still suffering health consequences after sustaining repeated concussions while playing.
Daily Maverick
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Lessons learned: Junior Springboks eye redemption following narrow losses in Rugby Championship U20
The South Africa under-20 rugby side have failed at the annual southern hemisphere tournament again, this time on home soil. The Junior Springboks' tightly contested and highly entertaining 48-45 loss to the Baby Blacks on Sunday means they ended the Rugby Championship U20 in third place, behind Champions New Zealand and Australia. It's the second consecutive loss the Junior Boks suffered, having lost 29-24 to the Junior Wallabies five days earlier. In the opening round they had to come from behind to beat Argentina 36-25 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, where all the matches in the competition took place. Last year the Junior Boks finished second, when the inaugural tournament was held in the Sunshine Coast in Australia. They were also beaten by Australia then while drawing with New Zealand and beating Argentina. Both of South Africa's defeats this year came after initially opening up a substantial lead and then allowing the Australasian sides back into the contest. Against Australia, the Junior Boks held a 17-0 lead shortly after halftime before the Junior Wallabies clawed their way back. Similarly, South Africa scored three tries in the first 15 minutes to take a 19-0 lead against New Zealand only to see the deficit reduced to two points by halftime as the home team led 26-24. While the Junior Springboks' results have disappointed home supporters who have seen this edition of the team run out for the first time over the past two weeks, head coach Kevin Foote has said the Rugby Championship U20 was just part of the journey. The destination is the Under-20 World Championship, which gets under way at the end of June in Italy. 'There are a lot of positives to take from that performance,' Foote said. 'We are on a massive journey together and I only met (captain) Riley Norton and the guys back in November, so we are definitely working hard on our game model and principles, which everyone understands now. 'From a character and leadership perspective, we are in a good place, and the lessons we learnt will be of huge benefit as we approach the U20 Championship next month in Italy.' High scoring The Junior Springboks were entertaining with ball in hand, scoring 14 tries across the three matches with Foote crediting young attack coach Melusi Mthethwa. South Africa's set piece got better as the tournament went on, but soft shoulders in defence let in more points than scored. 'I think Melusi [Mthethwa] has done a great job in terms of our attack, and I really feel that the players have clarity on how we want to play,' Foote said. 'We played some exciting and brilliant attacking rugby during the tournament, and just to hear the crowd get behind us when we started to light it up was exceptional. 'We know we are not the finished product, and we know we have a lot of work to do, but I do think our attack has come a long way and the guys are loving the way we are attacking.' Enforcer lock and captain of the junior side Riley Norton, like Foote, sees the tournament as a stepping-stone for the Under-20 World Championships. 'To have played these high-pressure games against such quality opposition before the World Champs is going to be vital for us,' he said. 'The lessons we learnt, the connections and relationships we have managed to build, not only on the field but off-field as well, and the trust we managed to create, are extremely important to us.' In order to ensure the players remain sharp and in top condition in the 50 days before the World Championship kicks off, Foote will be sending a number of players back to their unions to play in the ongoing Under-21 Cup competition. 'We will take it case by case, but some players will go back to their provinces to play in the U21 competition,' he said. 'It's a strong competition and the players are well coached there, and we are keen for them to keep going. There will be some whose load we will have to manage, but we will do our medicals and take it case by case.' The last time South Africa won the Junior World Championship was more than a decade ago in 2014, and they have only made the final four twice in the 11 years since. Last year, a strong Junior Boks side finished fifth overall. With a new coaching structure this year and the second year of the Under-20 Rugby Championship, more is expected from the national junior side. DM
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Australia U20s win but miss out on Rugby Championship
Australia's under 20s have fallen agonisingly just shy of winning their first ever Rugby Championship title despite finishing the junior tournament on a high with their thrilling 40-36 win over Argentina in South Africa. Despite the junior Wallabies having been undefeated through the tournament with two wins and a draw, New Zealand lifted the title, relegating them to second place, after the Kiwis beat hosts South Africa in the final game at the same Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha later on Sunday. The Australians had earlier prevailed against Los Pumitas with six tries in total despite a fluctuating second half when the lead changed four times. Australia U20 finish #TRCU20 2025 with a good victory over Argentina at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. — TheRugbyChampionship (@SanzarTRC) May 11, 2025 "Super proud of the boys," captain Eamon Doyle said afterwards. "Coming in after last year finishing bottom of the table, with a draw and two wins, couldn't be happier or prouder." Chris Whitaker's side scored after only three minutes as halfback James Martens reached out to score on the back of a rolling maul, and they increased the lead to 12-0 when winger Xavier Rubens went over in the left corner. Argentine winger Aquiles Vieyra crashed over for their first score but after home flanker Pampa Storey got a yellow card for a dangerous tackle, No.8 Toby Brial scored to push the Australian lead out to 19-5. Australia then conceded a penalty try and a yellow card to flyhalf Joe Dillon while attempting to stop a rolling maul and the Argentines were soon level as back-rower Agustin Garcia Campos dived over. Soon after halftime, winger Shane Wilcox's try was answered by Vieyra's second but hooker Lipina Ata's pick-and-go put them back in front with 15 minutes left to play. Victory was effectively sealed six minutes from time when the Aussies' sustained attack was eventually rewarded by a penalty try when their rolling maul was pulled down illegally. Argentina grabbed a consolation try after the siren before the young Australians had to sit and watch in frustration as New Zealand overcame South Africa 48-45 to successfully defend their TRC U20 title. But the Australians have laid down their marker before the Under 20 world championship in Italy in June and July.
The Herald
11-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Junior All Blacks retain title after thrilling win over Boks
The All Blacks staged a stunning fightback to edge the Junior Boks 48-45 and successfully defend their U20 Rugby Championship title at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Sunday. After trailing 19-0 after 13 minutes, the Baby Blacks had to dig deep before they were able to subdue SA and send out a warning that they will be the team to beat at the Junior World Cup, which kicks off in Italy on June 29. The New Zealanders hung onto their slender lead with grim determination when they ended the game with 13 men after Caleb Woodley was red-carded and Randall Baker was shown yellow. The Boks threw everything they had at the All Blacks in the final moments, but they were unable to crack open New Zealand's brick wall defence. SA's hopes of lifting the title were dashed even before they started their game against New Zealand. Hopes of glory on home soil for the Junior Boks ended when Australia beat Argentina 40-36 in the early game of a double header. That result meant that even if the Boks had beaten New Zealand with a bonus point and drawn level with Australia on the log, the Junior Wallabies were still ahead on the table because they beat the Boks in a second-round fixture. Despite being out of the running before a ball had been kicked, the Boks drew on their resilience to produce a courageous performance. It had been billed as brutal warfare in the trenches, and the battle lived up to prematch hype in front of 15,000 fans. There were scenes of uncontained joy at the end when New Zealand coach Milton Haig joined his players on the field to lift the trophy in front of an appreciative crowd who were treated to an absorbing double header. SA made a perfect start when powerful centre Albie Bester crashed over the New Zealand try line in the second minute after a period of sustained pressure from the men in green and gold. The action was fast and furious in the opening minutes, and the Junior Boks had a second try when powerful prop Simphiwe Ngobese bulldozed his way over the New Zealand try line. New Zealand were reeling after 13 minutes when Bok hooker Siphosethu Mnebelele touched down after a driving maul to which SA put SA into a commanding 15-0 lead. The Baby Blacks hit back after SA's electrifying start when elusive wing Harlyn Saunoa somehow managed to squeeze over in the corner to reduce the deficit to 19-5. In a sudden momentum shift, the All Blacks were back in the fight when the dangerous Saunoa went over for his second try, which left the Boks with a 19-12 advantage. The try feast continued in the 29th minute when hard-running wing Gino Cupido crossed the Boks' fourth try. New Zealand hit back with tries from skipper Manumaua Letiu and a third five-pointer from Saunoa to leave the Boks with a slender 26-24 halftime lead. The All Blacks took the lead for the first time in the game when express pace wing Maloni Kunawave won a foot race to touch down and to put his side ahead 29-26 after 42 minutes. Clever play by Bok No 8 Wandile Mlaba resulted in SA's fifth try as the game continued at a frenetic pace. Kunawave put the All Blacks into a 48-38 lead after 19 minutes left when he scored an acrobatic try in the corner. Scorers: Junior Boks 45: Tries: Albie Bester, Simphiwe Ngobese, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Gino Cupido, Wandile Mlaba (2), Penalty Try. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (4). New Zealand 48: Tries: Harlyn Saunoa (3), Manumaua Letiu, Maloni Kunawave (2), Sika Pole, Stanley Solomon. Conversions: Will Cole (4). The Herald
