Latest news with #ShuteShield
Sydney Morning Herald
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Impeccable pedigree, but Nick Champion de Crespigny will bring mongrel against Lions
Arriving at Sydney University as an economics student in 2015, Champion de Crespigny had to make a choice and plumped for the rugby club. His decision was vindicated two years later when he won the Shute Shield playing alongside Wallabies Harry Potter and Jake Gordon. After graduating, Champion de Crespigny found work in property development while trying and ultimately failing to nail down a spot with the Waratahs. An offer to play as a full-time professional in France with Castres eventually followed, and the back-rower moved to the country of his forefathers. Castres is home to just over 40,000 people, and most of them are well-acquainted with the town's rugby team. Champion de Crespigny embraced life in France, helping his new side defeat an Antoine Dupont-led Toulouse in the Top 14 semi-finals in 2022 before playing in front of 78,245 fans at the Stade de France in the final against eventual champions Montpellier. In front of a packed Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday, Champion de Crespigny will face the toughest challenge of his professional career when the Force go head-to-head with the Lions in the tourists' first match on Australian soil. 'I actually reflect most days. I had the privilege of not having the most linear path to professional rugby and I really appreciate it,' Champion de Crespigny said. ' I remember labouring during the day, training at night, and studying, and then getting up at 6am to get to the gym before having to go work in the city for another day. 'I've seen the other side of life where you're trying to balance it all, so I think every single day, wow, this is amazing. This week's been a bit of a whirlwind with everything going on. But I'm starting to really get excited and sit back and go, what a journey it's been.' One of Champion de Crespigny's possible opponents on Saturday, Pierre Schoeman, is reflecting on his own unique journey to the Lions series. The prop moved from South Africa to Scotland seven years ago and qualified for his adopted country three years later. Schoeman played for South Africa's under-20s, but has now fully embraced life as part of the British and Irish Lions squad. 'Scotland is home for us, my wife and myself, I know other players as well, like Mack Hansen has made Ireland home, you embrace that, you fully take that on,' Schoeman said. Loading 'It's like the movie Outlander, you move to a different country, and now that's your house, you live there. If you work for one of the big four in finance, you get the opportunity, you're going to go for them and you can really make that home. 'But this is much different. You buy into the culture and now to represent the British and Irish Lions, you fully buy into that, you fully submerge into that, nothing else matters.'
The Age
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
Impeccable pedigree, but Nick Champion de Crespigny will bring mongrel against Lions
Arriving at Sydney University as an economics student in 2015, Champion de Crespigny had to make a choice and plumped for the rugby club. His decision was vindicated two years later when he won the Shute Shield playing alongside Wallabies Harry Potter and Jake Gordon. After graduating, Champion de Crespigny found work in property development while trying and ultimately failing to nail down a spot with the Waratahs. An offer to play as a full-time professional in France with Castres eventually followed, and the back-rower moved to the country of his forefathers. Castres is home to just over 40,000 people, and most of them are well-acquainted with the town's rugby team. Champion de Crespigny embraced life in France, helping his new side defeat an Antoine Dupont-led Toulouse in the Top 14 semi-finals in 2022 before playing in front of 78,245 fans at the Stade de France in the final against eventual champions Montpellier. In front of a packed Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday, Champion de Crespigny will face the toughest challenge of his professional career when the Force go head-to-head with the Lions in the tourists' first match on Australian soil. 'I actually reflect most days. I had the privilege of not having the most linear path to professional rugby and I really appreciate it,' Champion de Crespigny said. ' I remember labouring during the day, training at night, and studying, and then getting up at 6am to get to the gym before having to go work in the city for another day. 'I've seen the other side of life where you're trying to balance it all, so I think every single day, wow, this is amazing. This week's been a bit of a whirlwind with everything going on. But I'm starting to really get excited and sit back and go, what a journey it's been.' One of Champion de Crespigny's possible opponents on Saturday, Pierre Schoeman, is reflecting on his own unique journey to the Lions series. The prop moved from South Africa to Scotland seven years ago and qualified for his adopted country three years later. Schoeman played for South Africa's under-20s, but has now fully embraced life as part of the British and Irish Lions squad. 'Scotland is home for us, my wife and myself, I know other players as well, like Mack Hansen has made Ireland home, you embrace that, you fully take that on,' Schoeman said. Loading 'It's like the movie Outlander, you move to a different country, and now that's your house, you live there. If you work for one of the big four in finance, you get the opportunity, you're going to go for them and you can really make that home. 'But this is much different. You buy into the culture and now to represent the British and Irish Lions, you fully buy into that, you fully submerge into that, nothing else matters.'
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Footy star put knocked out teeth in his sock and kept playing before surgery
There's no doubt rugby union star Sione Taufui can inspire his teammates. The Newcastle Willdfires player had dental surgery on Tuesday after having three teeth knocked out in his team's 31-6 loss. Incredibly, the centre played on before he was eventually convinced to come from the field by the Wildfires' physiotherapist. "Sione went into a jackal and got cleaned out," his coach Scott Coleman said. "The Gordon player's shoulder went straight into his face as Sione looked up. "Sione picked up two of the three teeth - he couldn't find the other one - and played on. "Initially, he held the teeth in his hand and when the ball went to the other side of the field, he put them in his sock. "We got a turnover and kicked down field and he was the first chaser down there. "When he was walking back, our physio noticed the blood around his mouth and went out to treat him. "When Sione smiled, the physio freaked out and asked where are you teeth? He replied: in my sock. "The physio had to drag him from the field. He didn't want to be replaced." Taufui went to hospital where he was cleared of a broken jaw and had two teeth reinserted. "He had dental surgery on Tuesday and has two more lots of surgery to come," Coleman said. "He wants to play this weekend, but we have ruled him out." Coleman was confident the courage and commitment Taufui showed would rub off on his teammates after a poor display against Gordon. "We highlighted Sione's effort in our match review on Monday," Colemand said. "It was an example of someone not giving up and working for his teammates. That is the toughness and commitment we want." The loss to Gordon was the Wildfires' second straight and dropped them to third place on the Shute Shield ladder. Coleman hopes to have fly-half Connor Winchester and fullback Peta Alofipo (groin) available against the Galloping Greens. Both face fitness tests on Thursday. Winchester hasn't played since the 40-20 win over Norths on May 17 after succumbing to bone bruising in his left leg. "Connor had scans on his leg last week. The bone bruising is healing but is not completely right," Coleman said. "He did modified training on Tuesday and has pulled up well. If he gets through a full session on Thursday and has no complaints on Friday, he will play. "We have missed him. His calmness and ability to understand and execute a game plan is exceptional." Randwick are fresh from a 33-31 win over Warrighah and have a host on NSW Waratahs back on deck. "Halback Michael McDonald played against Warringah and they are expected to have Lawson Creighton, Triston Reilly and possibly Max Jorgensen back this week," Coleman said. There's no doubt rugby union star Sione Taufui can inspire his teammates. The Newcastle Willdfires player had dental surgery on Tuesday after having three teeth knocked out in his team's 31-6 loss. Incredibly, the centre played on before he was eventually convinced to come from the field by the Wildfires' physiotherapist. "Sione went into a jackal and got cleaned out," his coach Scott Coleman said. "The Gordon player's shoulder went straight into his face as Sione looked up. "Sione picked up two of the three teeth - he couldn't find the other one - and played on. "Initially, he held the teeth in his hand and when the ball went to the other side of the field, he put them in his sock. "We got a turnover and kicked down field and he was the first chaser down there. "When he was walking back, our physio noticed the blood around his mouth and went out to treat him. "When Sione smiled, the physio freaked out and asked where are you teeth? He replied: in my sock. "The physio had to drag him from the field. He didn't want to be replaced." Taufui went to hospital where he was cleared of a broken jaw and had two teeth reinserted. "He had dental surgery on Tuesday and has two more lots of surgery to come," Coleman said. "He wants to play this weekend, but we have ruled him out." Coleman was confident the courage and commitment Taufui showed would rub off on his teammates after a poor display against Gordon. "We highlighted Sione's effort in our match review on Monday," Colemand said. "It was an example of someone not giving up and working for his teammates. That is the toughness and commitment we want." The loss to Gordon was the Wildfires' second straight and dropped them to third place on the Shute Shield ladder. Coleman hopes to have fly-half Connor Winchester and fullback Peta Alofipo (groin) available against the Galloping Greens. Both face fitness tests on Thursday. Winchester hasn't played since the 40-20 win over Norths on May 17 after succumbing to bone bruising in his left leg. "Connor had scans on his leg last week. The bone bruising is healing but is not completely right," Coleman said. "He did modified training on Tuesday and has pulled up well. If he gets through a full session on Thursday and has no complaints on Friday, he will play. "We have missed him. His calmness and ability to understand and execute a game plan is exceptional." Randwick are fresh from a 33-31 win over Warrighah and have a host on NSW Waratahs back on deck. "Halback Michael McDonald played against Warringah and they are expected to have Lawson Creighton, Triston Reilly and possibly Max Jorgensen back this week," Coleman said. There's no doubt rugby union star Sione Taufui can inspire his teammates. The Newcastle Willdfires player had dental surgery on Tuesday after having three teeth knocked out in his team's 31-6 loss. Incredibly, the centre played on before he was eventually convinced to come from the field by the Wildfires' physiotherapist. "Sione went into a jackal and got cleaned out," his coach Scott Coleman said. "The Gordon player's shoulder went straight into his face as Sione looked up. "Sione picked up two of the three teeth - he couldn't find the other one - and played on. "Initially, he held the teeth in his hand and when the ball went to the other side of the field, he put them in his sock. "We got a turnover and kicked down field and he was the first chaser down there. "When he was walking back, our physio noticed the blood around his mouth and went out to treat him. "When Sione smiled, the physio freaked out and asked where are you teeth? He replied: in my sock. "The physio had to drag him from the field. He didn't want to be replaced." Taufui went to hospital where he was cleared of a broken jaw and had two teeth reinserted. "He had dental surgery on Tuesday and has two more lots of surgery to come," Coleman said. "He wants to play this weekend, but we have ruled him out." Coleman was confident the courage and commitment Taufui showed would rub off on his teammates after a poor display against Gordon. "We highlighted Sione's effort in our match review on Monday," Colemand said. "It was an example of someone not giving up and working for his teammates. That is the toughness and commitment we want." The loss to Gordon was the Wildfires' second straight and dropped them to third place on the Shute Shield ladder. Coleman hopes to have fly-half Connor Winchester and fullback Peta Alofipo (groin) available against the Galloping Greens. Both face fitness tests on Thursday. Winchester hasn't played since the 40-20 win over Norths on May 17 after succumbing to bone bruising in his left leg. "Connor had scans on his leg last week. The bone bruising is healing but is not completely right," Coleman said. "He did modified training on Tuesday and has pulled up well. If he gets through a full session on Thursday and has no complaints on Friday, he will play. "We have missed him. His calmness and ability to understand and execute a game plan is exceptional." Randwick are fresh from a 33-31 win over Warrighah and have a host on NSW Waratahs back on deck. "Halback Michael McDonald played against Warringah and they are expected to have Lawson Creighton, Triston Reilly and possibly Max Jorgensen back this week," Coleman said. There's no doubt rugby union star Sione Taufui can inspire his teammates. The Newcastle Willdfires player had dental surgery on Tuesday after having three teeth knocked out in his team's 31-6 loss. Incredibly, the centre played on before he was eventually convinced to come from the field by the Wildfires' physiotherapist. "Sione went into a jackal and got cleaned out," his coach Scott Coleman said. "The Gordon player's shoulder went straight into his face as Sione looked up. "Sione picked up two of the three teeth - he couldn't find the other one - and played on. "Initially, he held the teeth in his hand and when the ball went to the other side of the field, he put them in his sock. "We got a turnover and kicked down field and he was the first chaser down there. "When he was walking back, our physio noticed the blood around his mouth and went out to treat him. "When Sione smiled, the physio freaked out and asked where are you teeth? He replied: in my sock. "The physio had to drag him from the field. He didn't want to be replaced." Taufui went to hospital where he was cleared of a broken jaw and had two teeth reinserted. "He had dental surgery on Tuesday and has two more lots of surgery to come," Coleman said. "He wants to play this weekend, but we have ruled him out." Coleman was confident the courage and commitment Taufui showed would rub off on his teammates after a poor display against Gordon. "We highlighted Sione's effort in our match review on Monday," Colemand said. "It was an example of someone not giving up and working for his teammates. That is the toughness and commitment we want." The loss to Gordon was the Wildfires' second straight and dropped them to third place on the Shute Shield ladder. Coleman hopes to have fly-half Connor Winchester and fullback Peta Alofipo (groin) available against the Galloping Greens. Both face fitness tests on Thursday. Winchester hasn't played since the 40-20 win over Norths on May 17 after succumbing to bone bruising in his left leg. "Connor had scans on his leg last week. The bone bruising is healing but is not completely right," Coleman said. "He did modified training on Tuesday and has pulled up well. If he gets through a full session on Thursday and has no complaints on Friday, he will play. "We have missed him. His calmness and ability to understand and execute a game plan is exceptional." Randwick are fresh from a 33-31 win over Warrighah and have a host on NSW Waratahs back on deck. "Halback Michael McDonald played against Warringah and they are expected to have Lawson Creighton, Triston Reilly and possibly Max Jorgensen back this week," Coleman said.
