Latest news with #TestRugby
The Herald
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald
Carlos Spencer tips Boks as clear favourites for Rugby Championship
As the dust settles on the global midyear Test window, rugby fans shift their focus to the 2025 Rugby Championship and former All Blacks flyhalf Carlos Spencer believes there's one clear favourite heading into the tournament: South Africa. The four southern hemisphere giants go into the championship with varied preparations after a series of incoming Tests. Spencer weighed in on each side's recent performances and the road ahead. Argentina: unpredictable but unpolished Los Pumas stunned the rugby world by beating a new-look British and Irish Lions team 28-24 in Dublin, marking a historic win on northern soil. However, they followed that up with a 2-0 series defeat at home to a weakened England, raising concerns about consistency. 'You never know with Argentina,' Spencer said. 'They're like the French from 10 or 15 years ago. On their day, they can beat anyone, but they'll struggle away from home.' Australia: building but dangerous The Wallabies were centre stage during the Lions tour of Australia, which they narrowly lost 2-1. Under outgoing coach Joe Schmidt, the Aussies showed serious fight, particularly in their dominant third Test win. Now, with Les Kiss preparing to take over as coach they seem poised for a resurgence. 'The Wallabies looked sharp, especially in the past two Tests [against the B&I Lions],' Spencer said. 'Their prep coming into the Rugby Championship has been solid. They'll be dangerous.'
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Questions over AB's team selection following Mo'unga return
It has been an interesting last 24 hours for the All Blacks, as confirmation came through that Richie Mo'unga will be returning next season. Mo'unga will be eligible for test rugby in time for the end of year tour and the 2027 Rugby World Cup. However, the news effects more than just team selection, with the rebel R360 competition trying to get off the ground at around about the same time. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Reuters
29-07-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
World Rugby chief says franchise leagues need to allow test availability
SYDNEY, July 29 (Reuters) - Test rugby remains the pinnacle of the game and any franchise league that does not offer players the chance to play it is unlikely to attract top talent, World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin warned on Tuesday. The R360 global franchise league, which is fronted by former England centre Mike Tindall, is scheduled to launch in 2026 and media reports have linked it with big-money offers for top rugby union and league players. Gilpin said he was open to dialogue with R360 and that World Rugby welcomed any investment into the sport as long as it created a more financially sustainable game for players and the "wider ecosystem". "Our position is whatever competitions arise, we know players want to play international rugby," he told reporters at the launch of the ticketing programme for the 2027 World Cup. "It's not true of every sport, but in our sport, the international game is the pinnacle of the game. "We've got a really quite tricky calendar in global rugby, so it's really important that whatever is getting endorsed and invested in gives players that opportunity. "And I think anything that doesn't give players that opportunity, players will vote with their feet on it." World Rugby's Regulation 9 enforces the release of players for test rugby from any recognised competition and Gilpin said the governing body would continue to insist on their availability for all international windows. That would include men's and women's British & Irish Lions tours, both Rugby World Cups and the Sevens competition at the Olympic Games. "Whatever new concepts, whether it's R360 or otherwise, that are being discussed with players ... that whole concept of player release for defined international windows in our sport is key," he said. "We've got to make sure that whatever competitions players are going to go and play in, they can play in those big moments because they want to. And the fans ... want that."
CNA
29-07-2025
- Sport
- CNA
World Rugby chief says franchise leagues need to allow test availability
SYDNEY :Test rugby remains the pinnacle of the game and any franchise league that does not offer players the chance to play it is unlikely to attract top talent, World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin warned on Tuesday. The R360 global franchise league, which is fronted by former England centre Mike Tindall, is scheduled to launch in 2026 and media reports have linked it with big-money offers for top rugby union and league players. Gilpin said he was open to dialogue with R360 and that World Rugby welcomed any investment into the sport as long as it created a more financially sustainable game for players and the "wider ecosystem". "Our position is whatever competitions arise, we know players want to play international rugby," he told reporters at the launch of the ticketing programme for the 2027 World Cup. "It's not true of every sport, but in our sport, the international game is the pinnacle of the game. "We've got a really quite tricky calendar in global rugby, so it's really important that whatever is getting endorsed and invested in gives players that opportunity. "And I think anything that doesn't give players that opportunity, players will vote with their feet on it." World Rugby's Regulation 9 enforces the release of players for test rugby from any recognised competition and Gilpin said the governing body would continue to insist on their availability for all international windows. That would include men's and women's British & Irish Lions tours, both Rugby World Cups and the Sevens competition at the Olympic Games. "Whatever new concepts, whether it's R360 or otherwise, that are being discussed with players ... that whole concept of player release for defined international windows in our sport is key," he said. "We've got to make sure that whatever competitions players are going to go and play in, they can play in those big moments because they want to. And the fans ... want that."
The Guardian
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Owen Farrell opens door to England return after sidestepping social media ‘poison'
Owen Farrell is considering making himself available for England again despite the social media 'poison' that contributed to him stepping back from Test rugby last year. Farrell, who has been picked as captain of the British & Irish Lions in their final midweek tour game, now says he would love to emulate Johnny Sexton and keep playing at the highest level for as long as possible. Farrell, who will turn 34 in September, has not played for England since the 2023 World Cup but has loved his involvement on the current Lions tour of Australia and sounds more open to the idea, if selected, of rejoining the England fold than at any stage since announcing his intention to take a break from international rugby 'to prioritise his and his family's mental wellbeing.' Several of Farrell's Lions colleagues, having seen him slot seamlessly back into a leadership role since replacing the injured Elliot Daly this month, have asked the former England captain about his future plans and he freely admits to being inspired by the example of Sexton, who was still playing for Ireland at the age of 38. 'I'm determined to enjoy what I'm doing and love every minute of however long that I've got left,' said Farrell, who will start at 12 for the Lions against a First Nations & Pasifika XV at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday. 'I'm not old yet. Johnny played forever and I'm obviously a half-back as well. There's loads left in us and I'm just determined to enjoy it. I've come back to make the most of what I am doing. We'll see what happens.' Farrell, sounding as upbeat in public as he has done in many years, has now returned to Saracens after an ill-starred and injury-hit spell at Racing 92 and is clearly relishing his fourth Lions tour since being called up by his father, Andy. His selection prompted a significant reaction on social media, however, and Farrell Jr admits he has not always found the attention easy to cope with. 'There's times where people can say this, that and the other and it just goes over your head. And there's times where you're not in the best place of all time and you're almost waiting for something to set you off. 'I understand that it's different now. I understand that times are different … sometimes [social media] catches fire and just takes a life of its own. It goes wherever it goes and there's momentum behind it. But I don't always understand it, no. If you go and knock on someone's door and ask them their opinion of how you played at the weekend, you wouldn't really listen to their answer. Both [good and bad reactions on social media] are a poison. That's not to say it's all bad but the things that should matter to me and to us as players are the people that matter to us. 'The people I think we should listen to are proper rugby people. Your mates … they'll give you a real answer. If you're in a good place yourself then you can deal with it. There's obviously a lot of external factors that can creep in but ultimately it's up to me how I am. Making sure I'm looking after myself, making sure I'm giving myself a break at times. I'm not someone who needs revving up too much. It's normally the other way, of coming back down and relaxing. So having some perspective and making sure I look after myself in that way will, I think, lead to me being more myself.' If Farrell does return to the England fold it will further increase the options available to the head coach, Steve Borthwick. Fly-halves Fin Smith and Marcus Smith are both on tour alongside Farrell in Australia while George Ford has just reached 100 caps while steering his country to victories against Argentina and the United States. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion For now, though, Farrell is more intent on serving the Lions than fixating on his own prospects of featuring in the last two Tests. 'I think the most important thing is that I come here, be myself and then see where that goes,' said Farrell, chosen as midweek captain by his father ahead of the Wales captain Jac Morgan and England's Jamie George. 'And I mean that genuinely. I'm not saying that but don't mean it. We'll see what happens.' The Lions are also collectively keen to extend their winning momentum ahead of Saturday's second Test against the Wallabies following their 27-19 victory in Brisbane. 'Obviously there is going to be a reaction from the weekend,' said Farrell. 'We need to be ready for that and more.' Those who know Farrell best of all, however, are convinced the Lions have a 'Test match animal' at their disposal if needed. 'The better we train as a non-23 team, the better prepared the Test team are going to be and he has driven that massively,' said George, delighted to be back in the same dressing room as his Saracens teammate. 'He's unbelievably impressive. You don't play with him for a year and it still takes your breath away.'
