Latest news with #NicWhite
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lions warn Joe Schmidt over Wallabies player release for tour matches
Joe Schmidt will be expected to make players such as Nic White (right) available for his club side Western Force to face the Lions. Joe Schmidt will be expected to make players such as Nic White (right) available for his club side Western Force to face the Lions. Photograph: James Gourley/AAP Every 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. Advertisement 'The agreement is very clear; it says that Test players have to be released to play in fixtures leading into that series,' Calveley said at the Lions' official welcome overlooking the Swan River. 'That is our expectation. It's really important that these games are competitive. Related: Andy Farrell's Lions land in Australia aiming to revive the spirit of Sydney 'It's not just for a performance standpoint – the players do want to test themselves and build towards the Test series – but it's also right for the fans, partners and broadcasters who are all expecting competitive fixtures, and for the rugby-loving public. That would be their expectation as well.' The opening game against Western Force should fulfil that criteria with Nic White, Darcy Swain and Nick Champion de Crespigny all potentially available to face the Lions on Saturday. But another couple of Wallaby squad members, Carlo Tizzano and Ben Donaldson, have been retained in camp by Schmidt before Australia's warm-up Test against Fiji next week and it remains unclear how many will represent the Lions' next clutch of opponents. Advertisement 'We'll see a competitive fixture at the weekend and that's what we're looking for,' Calveley said. 'We want to make sure our guys are battle-hardened when it comes to that Test series against the Wallabies.' Following the Western Force game, the next three fixtures are against the Reds, the Waratahs and the Brumbies, and Lions tour manager, Ieuan Evans, is similarly keen to encounter the strongest possible opposition. 'I think what's clear is that we are an elite sporting touring team and we need to be challenged and tested in our preparations towards the Tests,' Evans said. Discussions, accordingly, will continue with Australian officials, although the requirements of the Australia-Fiji game in Newcastle will clearly complicate the situation. The Lions, meanwhile, insist there are no plans to divert from their traditional tour rota but Calveley did say he was potentially open to the idea of the Lions touring other countries such as France in future. 'You can certainly understand why people would get excited about that sort of concept. We would as well. 'What's not to like about some of those wonderful clubs you could play against and some of those wonderful venues? I think what's encouraging for us is that whatever country you speak to they are interested in having a relationship with the Lions, whether that's in their country or on UK or Irish soil.'
CNA
10-06-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Schmidt backs Gordon's skills but no hints on Wallabies captaincy
SYDNEY :Australia coach Joe Schmidt has given a glowing review of Jake Gordon's importance to the Wallabies as a player but offered no clue to where the experienced scrumhalf fits in his leadership plans for the British & Irish Lions series. Schmidt, who will name his squad over the next two weeks, has not yet confirmed who will captain the Wallabies against the Lions but an Australian media report said last week it would be Gordon. The New South Wales Waratahs skipper was left out of the squad for the last World Cup by Eddie Jones but his test career was revived by Schmidt and he started all nine tests last year ahead of Tate McDermott and Nic White. "Jake, he's one of the leaders in the group, but so is Nic White ... and Tate McDermott has been a former captain," Schmidt told reporters in Perth. "Jake has a really good skill-set, mature player, very nice kicking game, one of the sharper passes around and he is utterly committed when he's on the grass. "His ability to cover corners and make tackles, involved in the physical stuff he's a multi-purpose sort of player, but at the sharp edge of his game is really his pass-kick, which were very helpful to us last year." The Lions play Argentina in Dublin next week before heading to Australia for seven tour matches and the three-test series in late July and early August. Schmidt said he knew from his time as Ireland coach just how special the Lions jersey was to the players who wore it and warned the Wallabies would really need to roll their sleeves up to be ready for the tests. "They can play in so many different ways," he said of the tourists. "They can be really physical, they can be square and coming at you. They can get you on the edges. They have got the likes of Tommy Freeman and Hugo Keenan, who are so good in the air that you're going to have to be good there. "We can just try to work as hard as we can, to be as well prepared to understand the threats they're going to bring, and be ready to combat them and also to try to put our stamp on the game a little bit, and take the initiative when we can."
West Australian
03-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force scrum-half Nic White re-signs on a one-year deal
Nic White has re-committed to Western Force, with the experienced scrum-half signing on for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season. The Wallabies veteran enjoyed a strong campaign in his second year with the Force as he targets a spot in the Australian side to face the British and Irish Lions. White started nine of the 11 games he appeared in this year and produced some impressive performances with his range of passing and command of ruck tempo. He has played 23 times for the Force since his move from the Brumbies after the 2023 World Cup, and is within range of 150 Super Rugby caps. White's good from should have him well-placed to add to his 71 Test caps when the British and Irish Lions tour in July and August, after he missed out against the Lions in 2013 due to a shoulder injury. White said he was thrilled to sign on to remain in the west, with his wife Melissa and three boys feeling at home in WA. 'The big factors for me were family and the club's direction. My young family love it here in Perth and we really wanted to stay,' he said. 'As a club, I genuinely believe we're going somewhere here. This season didn't finish the way we'd like but the promise we showed at the start was really encouraging. 'The job is now to build on that and that project is really motivating. 'There were opportunities to go elsewhere but my family and I wanted to stay here and I'm really excited about the prospect of being part of the first Force side to make Super Rugby finals. That's a major goal and driver of mine.' Force coach Simon Cron was thrilled to have White re-sign with the Club, praising his rugby knowledge, leadership and high standards. 'Whitey feels strongly about his ability to still add an enormous amount of value next year and we agree as an organisation,' he said. 'He brings high standards and high expectations to everyone around him which is a really important part of high performance sport. 'His rugby brains will not only help develop other nines, but also drive the team forward to where we want to go. 'He's a unique and important part of the rugby landscape in Australia and we're lucky to have to him.'
West Australian
21-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force make eight changes to starting line-up for season-ending Waratahs clash
Western Force's finals hopes may be over, but they are determined to finish the season on a high against the Waratahs as seven crucial players return to the starting 15. Carlo Tizzano, Nic White, Harry Potter, Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Nick Champion de Crespigny and Hamish Stewart have all returned to the line-up to take on the Waratahs at HBF Park on Saturday evening. Tizzano, Pietsch and Champion de Crespigny return after pectoral, quad and head injuries respectively, while White, Potter and Stewart were all rested to clear up minor niggles for the Force's loss against the Drua. Donaldson came off the bench in the demoralising defeat in Fiji, and has regained the fly-half jersey with Alex Harford dropping to the bench. With Ryan Coxon and Sio Tomkinson injured last week, adding two more bodies to the Force's lengthy injury list, Fatongia Paea has been given a starting debut at loosehead prop, while Stewart will partner Bayley Kuenzle in midfield. Pietsch's addition means Mac Grealy drops into full-back while Kurtley Beale will start on the bench. The Force needs a win over the Waratahs to boost their hopes of not just avoiding being the lowest-placed Australian side, but also to strengthen their chances of avoiding the wooden spoon. Western Force vs Waratahs (5.35pm Saturday HBF Park) Fatongia Paea, Nic Dolly, Tom Robertson Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain Will Harris, Carlo Tizzano, Nick Champion de Crespigny Nic White, Ben Donaldson Hamish Stewart, Bayley Kuenzle, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Mac Grealy Reserves: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Ryan Coxon, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Reed Prinsep, Titi Nofoagatotoa, Henry Robertson, Alex Harford, Kurtley Beale.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Super season over for tired Force after Drua thumping
The Western Force's finals hopes are over for another year after their understrength side was crushed 38-7 by Fijian Drua. The Force struck early in Fiji via outside centre Sio Tomkinson to take a 7-0 lead in Saturday's Super Rugby Pacific match played in hot and humid conditions. But Drua piled on the next 38 points in the five-tries-to-one romp to make it nine consecutive victories at their home fortress of Churchill Park. Vadeitaka ☝🏿 Lautoka ⛵️ Finishing our final home game on a high. Vinaka @westernforce #TosoDrua #PacificAusSports — Fijian Drua (@Fijian_Drua) May 17, 2025 The result left the Force (22 points) in ninth spot, meaning even if they beat the NSW Waratahs in their final match of the season next week, it won't be enough to secure a top-six berth. Drua (20) got off the bottom of the ladder with the bonus-point win, with the wooden spoon battle now between the Drua, Force and Highlanders (19). The Force's hectic travel schedule meant they entered the match without rested Wallabies trio Nic White, Hamish Stewart and Harry Potter. With Nick Champion de Crespigny (concussion) and try-scoring machine Carlo Tizzano (pectoral) also unavailable - and star flyhalf Ben Donaldson starting on the bench to manage his minutes - the Force were missing more than a third of their best starting XV. Fijian Drua capitalised on the Force's numerous handling errors and missed tackles, with Elia Canakaivata crossing for two tries in the second half as the visitors tired. The fatigue was no surprise for a Force outfit that will have travelled a whopping 49,050km for the season by the time they return to Perth this weekend. Coach Simon Cron hit out at the criss-cross nature of the Force's fixture, with their tired display in Fiji further evidence of the toll it has taken. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Super Rugby Pacific (@superrugby) The Force haven't won outside of Australia since round 15, 2022, and their latest defeat was another demoralising reminder about the gap that still needs to be breached to become a genuine finals threat. "I thought we started really well and then they gained the momentum and we couldn't get it back," Force captain Jeremy Williams told Stan Sport. "(We had) poor discipline and we turned the ball over too easily. "It's the second week in a row we've done those things. Against a quality side like the Drua, you're going to pay." A wayward pass from the Drua gifted the Force the opening try in the third minute, with scrumhalf Henry Robertson breaking a tackle in the counter-attack before offloading for Tomkinson to go over. That was as good as it got for the visitors. The Force held firm for the 10-minute period Robertson was off the ground for a yellow card. Force strike early through Sio Tomkinson 👊#SuperRugbyPacific | #DRUvFOR — Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) May 17, 2025 But the Drua were able to strike in the 29th minute when a brilliant pass while being tackled to the ground by Iosefo Masi helped gift Philip Baselala a try. And when the Force failed to deal with a short chip over the top in the 36th minute, Masi pounced for a try to help extend the margin to 17-7 by halftime. The second half was all one-way traffic. No.8 Canakaivata twice busted through the Force wall on the line to crash over. And the bonus point was safe when Selestino Ravutaumada chased a long kick down the field and got the ball from a frenetic breakdown to touch down in the 72nd minute.
