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Al Arabiya
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Kurtley Beale Among First 5 Selected for Indigenous Squad to Play the British and Irish Lions
The Wallaby veteran Kurtley Beale will face the British and Irish Lions on their Australian tour, though later than planned. The 95-test backline utility was slated to play for the Perth-based Western Force against the Lions in the tour opener Saturday but was sidelined with a hamstring injury and replaced by current Wallaby squad member Ben Donaldson. Instead, Beale was named Thursday as one of the first five players for the First Nations and Pasifika XV team set to play against the Lions in Melbourne on July 22. The Lions are in Australia for nine games, including tests on July 19, 26, and August 2. Beale, who hit form for the Force this year after returning from a long-term Achilles injury, played in Australia's 2–1 series loss to the Lions in 2013. For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. Rob Leota, who has played 21 tests for the Wallabies, most recently at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, was also named to the Indigenous team along with Fiji-born back rower Seru Uru. Also named were Charlie Gamble, a flanker for the New South Wales Waratahs, and Andy Muirhead, who has scored 180 points in 108 games for the ACT Brumbies since 2017. Former Australia backrower Toutai Kefu, who helped the Wallabies win the 1999 World Cup and the 2001 series against the British and Irish Lions and has been head coach of Tonga's national team, will coach the First Nations and Pasifika team. The remainder of the squad is yet to be confirmed. Lions utility back Elliot Daly knows Beale better than most of his teammates. Beale played with Daly at English club Wasps in 2016–17, and they formed a strong friendship. 'If he didn't get injured in that semifinal against Leicester in 2017, I think we would have won the title,' Daly said. 'He came at a time when we were playing attacking rugby, and he slotted in really well.' The Lions, made up of players from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England, lost 28–24 to Argentina last week in a warmup for the tour. They will play the Wallabies in tests on July 19 in Brisbane, July 26 in Melbourne, and August 2 in Sydney. The Australian section of the tour kicks off this weekend on the west coast, where Donaldson will join five other current Wallabies in the Force lineup. 'Any chance you get to play against the Lions, you probably take it with both hands,' Donaldson said.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kurtley Beale among first 5 selected for Indigenous squad to play the British and Irish Lions
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The British and Irish Lions will see the familiar face of Wallaby veteran Kurtley Beale on their Australian tour, albeit later than expected. The 95-test backline utility had been set to play for the Perth-based Western Force against the Lions in the tour-opening match Saturday but was ruled out with hamstring injury and replaced by current Wallaby squad member Ben Donaldson. Advertisement Instead, Beale was named Thursday as one of the first five players for the First Nations and Pasifika XV team set to play against the Lions in Melbourne on July 22. The Lions are in Australia for nine games including tests on July 19, 26 and Aug. 2. Beale, who hit form for the Force this year after returning from a long-term Achilles injury, played in Australia's 2-1 series loss to the Lions in 2013. Rob Leota, who has played 21 tests for the Wallabies, most recently at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, was also named to the Indigenous team along with Fiji-born back rower Seru Uru. Also named were Charlie Gamble, a flanker for the New South Wales Waratahs, and Andy Muirhead, who has scored 180 points in 108 games for the ACT Brumbies since 2017. Former Australia backrower Toutai Kefu, who helped the Wallabies win the 1999 World Cup and the 2001 series against the British and Irish Lions and has been head coach of Tonga's national team, will coach the First Nations and Pasifika team. The remainder of the squad is yet to be confirmed. Advertisement Lions utility back Elliot Daly knows Beale better than most of his teammates. Beale played with Daly at English club Wasps in 2016-17 and they formed a strong friendship. 'If he didn't get injured in that semifinal against Leicester in 2017 I think we would have won the title,' Daly said. 'He came at a time when we were playing attacking rugby and he slotted in really well." The Lions, made up of players from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England, lost 28-24 to Argentina last week in a warmup for the tour. They will play the Wallabies in tests on July 19 in Brisbane, July 26 in Melbourne and Aug. 2 in Sydney. The Australian section of the tour kicks off this weekend on the west coast, where Donaldson will join five other current Wallabies in the Force lineup. 'Any chance you get to play against the Lions, you probably take it with both hands," Donaldson said. ___ AP rugby:
Associated Press
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Kurtley Beale among first 5 selected for Indigenous squad to play the British and Irish Lions
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The British and Irish Lions will see the familiar face of Wallaby veteran Kurtley Beale on their Australian tour, albeit later than expected. The 95-test backline utility had been set to play for the Perth-based Western Force against the Lions in the tour-opening match Saturday but was ruled out with hamstring injury and replaced by current Wallaby squad member Ben Donaldson. Instead, Beale was named Thursday as one of the first five players for the First Nations and Pasifika XV team set to play against the Lions in Melbourne on July 22. The Lions are in Australia for nine games including tests on July 19, 26 and Aug. 2. Beale, who hit form for the Force this year after returning from a long-term Achilles injury, played in Australia's 2-1 series loss to the Lions in 2013. Rob Leota, who has played 21 tests for the Wallabies, most recently at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, was also named to the Indigenous team along with Fiji-born back rower Seru Uru. Also named were Charlie Gamble, a flanker for the New South Wales Waratahs, and Andy Muirhead, who has scored 180 points in 108 games for the ACT Brumbies since 2017. Former Australia backrower Toutai Kefu, who helped the Wallabies win the 1999 World Cup and the 2001 series against the British and Irish Lions and has been head coach of Tonga's national team, will coach the First Nations and Pasifika team. The remainder of the squad is yet to be confirmed. Lions utility back Elliot Daly knows Beale better than most of his teammates. Beale played with Daly at English club Wasps in 2016-17 and they formed a strong friendship. 'If he didn't get injured in that semifinal against Leicester in 2017 I think we would have won the title,' Daly said. 'He came at a time when we were playing attacking rugby and he slotted in really well.' The Lions, made up of players from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England, lost 28-24 to Argentina last week in a warmup for the tour. They will play the Wallabies in tests on July 19 in Brisbane, July 26 in Melbourne and Aug. 2 in Sydney. The Australian section of the tour kicks off this weekend on the west coast, where Donaldson will join five other current Wallabies in the Force lineup. 'Any chance you get to play against the Lions, you probably take it with both hands,' Donaldson said. ___ AP rugby:
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Waratahs hungry for first win in Wellington in a decade
The NSW Waratahs have parked their drought-breaking victory over the ACT Brumbies as they chase an even more hoodoo-busting win in Wellington. The Waratahs fly to New Zealand on Wednesday hunting a first away win over the Hurricanes in a decade. History shows toppling the Canes at Sky Stadium is one of Super Rugby Pacific's tallest orders for the Tahs, who have leaked an average of 35 points a game during a run of five straight defeats at the dreaded venue since a rare victory in 2015. Little wonder the Waratahs' focus has shifted quickly from a first win over the Brumbies in seven years to upsetting the Hurricanes on home turf to continue their heady start to 2025. "Playing away games are always tough, and then trying to get a win in New Zealand is another level," in-form back-rower Rob Leota said of Friday night's challenge. "We've had a great start to the season and for us it's about being consistent, so we don't want to change too much. "We just want to not go away from what's been working for us. "The only thing that changes is we're just in New Zealand now so it's just focusing on what we can control and come game day we've just got to be prepped to go and we're going to get a victory over there in New Zealand for sure." A refreshed Leota has been instrumental in the Waratahs winning four of their first five games this campaign, all the wins at home in Sydney. After three years blighted by multiple leg injuries, the bruising flanker opted out of contention for the spring tour of the UK last November to try to finally get his body right. As he put it, Leota "attacked rehab" head on and the Tahs are prospering with the former Wallaby crossing for tries and causing havoc playing in a wider role than usual. "If I had the chance to get over there (to the UK), it was a possibility, but, no, I think we were pretty set on just staying and just getting my body right," he said. "Once I had that clear coms to be able to do that, it just made everything easy for me. "In previous years I was probably thinking too far ahead, but I just simplified it for myself and it was just to focus on Waratahs, playing trials before the season started and then getting picked for round one and now it's just about applying myself every week. "I'm just trying to play as good a footy as I can for the team and get wins." In a huge boost to the Tahs' chances, marquee signing Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was on Wednesday named at outside centre for his long-awaited comeback from a toe injury.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tahs hold off Brumbies, end long Super losing streak
The opportunistic NSW Waratahs have snapped a 13-match losing streak to the Brumbies with a dramatic 25-23 Super Rugby Pacific home win. The Tahs scored 21 unanswered points to lead by 15 at halftime. But the resilient Brumbies, who played with 14 men for a quarter of the game, got within three with just over 12 minutes left on Satuday night. Max Jorgensen soothed the nerves of the home supporters in the 20,572 crowd, when he chipped ahead and then toed the ball forward, with centre Joey Walton winning the chase. The anxiety returned within three minutes, as the never-say-die visitors hit back, with winger Andy Muirhead catching a crossfield kick from Jack Debreczeni following great work from Wallabies centre Len Ikitau. The conversion cut the deficit to three, but the Waratahs held on to record their first victory over the Brumbies since 2018 and first over them at Allianz Stadium since 2015. The win lifted the Sydney-based team above the side from the capital up to fourth on the ladder. Brumbies five-eighth Noah Lolesio kicked two early penalties and the visitors enjoyed a barely believable 97 per cent of territory after 14 minutes. But things unravelled from that time after a break in play caused by an injury to hooker Mahe Vailani, who was a late inclusion the starting side after Dave Porecki pulled out. Shortly after play resumed the Waratahs scored a couple of long distance tries off turnovers against the run of play to tilt the match in their favour. Halfback Teddy Wilson crossed after the Tahs moved the ball quickly down the left. However, it appeared NSW fullback Andrew Kellaway might have touched the sideline early in the buildup, one of a few decisions that appeared to irk the Brumbies. The visitors were punished for another turnover, when winger Triston Reilly kicked the ball forward from close to halfway and regathered after a friendly bounce to score. The Waratahs added a third try through flanker Rob Leota, who scooped up a bounce pass from Jorgensen and pushed off winger Andy Muirhead. Rob Leota pulling out all the tricks 🪄#SuperRugbyPacific #WARvBRU — Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) March 22, 2025 The Brumbies were down to 14 at the time with hooker Billy Pollard in the bin for a high tackle. They started the second half well and appeared to have got five points back when fullback Tom Wright crossed after a 20-phase move. But the score was rubbed out upon review with Lolesio judged to have knocked on in the leadup. Undaunted by another setback the away side produced another multi-phase move with captain and prop Allan Alaalatoa barging over from close range. They suffered another blow with flanker Tom Hooper binned for a dangerous lifting tackle in the 55th minute. Flanker Luke Reimer crashed over from a trademark Brumbies drive from a lineout to keep them in touch and set up a thrilling finish.
