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Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Making of James Lowe
Though this summer's Tour to Australia will be James Lowe's first in Lions red, he knows full well what to expect. The Leinster star had actually played against The British & Irish Lions in 2017, lining up for the Maori All Blacks as they were felled 32-10 by Warren Gatland's tourists. Eight years later, Lowe stands at the peak of his powers, his blend of pace, power and an unerring left boot marking him out as one of the most electrifying wingers in world rugby. As he prepares to make history as one of the select few to have played for and against the Lions, we examine how he came to cross the divide. High and Lowe Lowe was born in Nelson in New Zealand's South Island and it was soon apparent that he was destined to star in sport. He excelled in athletics and even represented the New Zealand Under-15 basketball team before deciding to focus on his rugby, but not before a bout with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis left him bedridden as a teenager. 'I was very active as a kid, and the one thing I was really good at was sports. Sport was good for me. It kept me out of trouble, and that kept my parents happy,' revealed Lowe to mental wellbeing campaign Tackle Your Feelings. 'The arthritis happened so quickly that my dad reckoned I was joking. 'He thought I was over sport and tried to scare me out of that mindset by threatening me with moving schools and stuff!' To be honest, I was kind of happy that I could stay at home and play the PlayStation all day, things like that. But looking back now, I can remember nights sitting by the fire because the warmth would help me to move. I remember being carried to the toilet, showered, and bathed. It was a weird stage of life. 'When the diagnosis finally came, I went through a pretty tough patch. It was something that presented me with a real physical and mental challenge. It took almost two years before medication began to fix it. 'Coming through that, I realised how lucky I was to be able to play rugby. To be able to get through it, develop resilience and stay true to myself. Man, I'm pretty lucky to be here now.' An Unexpected Journey After his recovery, Lowe quickly set about making up for lost time, earning a place with Super Rugby outfit the Chiefs after a string of sensational performances for provincial side Tasman. In 2017, the very same year he lined up against the Lions, the seeds for his conversion to red were sown as he travelled halfway across the globe to link up with Leinster. The decision to leave home was not an easy one to make but it quickly paid dividends, yielding a host of honours with the Dublin side including four league titles and a Champions Cup crown. Selection to Ireland's squad followed almost immediately upon the completion of the three-year residency period in November 2020 and Lowe hit the ground running, scoring on his debut against Wales. He later broke the deadlock against the country of his birth in a home victory over New Zealand and later helped deliver an historic Test series win away to the All Blacks in 2022, along with back-to-back Six Nations successes, including a Grand Slam in 2023. As you can tell, this meant a lot. My @druidsglen Moment of the Year is beating New Zealand in front of an awesome crowd.#rugbyawards22 #druidsmoment22 — James Lowe (@JamesLowe_03) May 16, 2022 Earlier this year, Lowe became a fully-fledged Irish citizen, following in the footsteps of his national teammates and fellow Lions Jamison Gibson-Park and Bundee Aki. Chest swelling with pride, Lowe told Irish Rugby TV: 'We've had two beautiful children (Nico and Renn) here, and we see our future in Ireland. 'I remember when I first arrived here by myself, it was pitch black at 4.25 in the afternoon in November! It has gone by so, so quick. 'We've loved our time here, we've loved what rugby has given us. The opportunities that it has presented, and then to represent Ireland in rugby has been one of the best experiences of our lives. 'It's something that we cherish every day and hopefully, moving forward, a couple more kids will be able to play for Ireland. 'Moving to the other side of the world is tough. You leave the safety net of family and friends, but landing here, playing rugby with Leinster, I already had 40 friends as it was. 'All the partners, past and present, have helped that transition. The staff made all of the little bits that you don't think about moving to the other side of the world so much easier. I'll forever be grateful of that. 'What the Irish people have done for us has just filled us with confidence and joy, feeling accepted, and we're just able to go out there and be ourselves and play good rugby and try to be good people. 'We've absolutely loved it. We've loved Ireland and loved the Irish people and how accepting everyone's been of us. We'll forever be grateful.' There and Back Again Eight years on from lining up against the Lions, Lowe's journey has now come full circle. 🛫 🦁Congratulations to the four Leinster Rugby backs who have named in the 2025 @lionsofficial squad. 💪James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park, Hugo Keenan and Garry Ringrose. 🔵#NeverLessThanEverything — Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) May 8, 2025 Reflecting on that fateful day in the pouring rain at Rotorua, he told RTE: 'I played full-back that evening and I'm pretty sure I had Rieko Ioane on one wing and Nehe Milner-Skudder on the other – so I was the dud at the back compared to those two!' I think everyone would admit that was their first actual Test match, the first one they properly turned up for. They blew us off the park in terms of intensity, the basics of the game, the ferocity at the breakdown. 'We were beaten off the park that day, and we went into the game with a boatload of confidence. Conor Murray was putting up box kicks on me, Sexto [Johnny Sexton] was screaming, 'go at his left foot!' and all that sort of stuff. It was an introduction into what it actually meant to the boys playing for the Lions and a level of intensity that was unmatched.' Selection to a Tour is the pinnacle for any player representing the home unions but Lowe knows they face a tough task against the Wallabies. He added: 'I know Joe Schmidt at the helm and he coached Ireland for a long time. 'I hate hearing people writing teams off and Australia are definitely going up. They've got some freakish athletes coming through. 'The team that you scout Monday-Friday can be completely different than the team you play on a Saturday. 'If you're off your game away from home with a crowd that's baying for blood and a ref that can be influenced by a crowd, it's only natural that it's going be tough.' Lowe has never been one to shy from a challenge, however, and he will relish the chance to make his mark when he heads Down Under.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Making of Zander Fagerson
By Laura Howard As Zander Fagerson waited to hear if he had made the cut for The British & Irish Lions squad, son Hamish reassured the Scottish prop that he would love him either way. But red is the colour of love and for Fagerson there was only one outcome that would have left him truly content as he chased a second call-up to represent a jersey of the same colour. When confirmation came, it was a feeling that proved even sweeter the second time round for the Glasgow Warriors stalwart and he will travel with unfinished business, having not made a Test start in South Africa. The 29-year-old burst onto the rugby scene in 2014 with a statement debut against Benetton Treviso and has continued his rise ever since, accruing 75 international appearances to become Scotland's most capped prop ever. It was a trajectory that earned a call-up to the 2021 Lions squad and he played four times in the Rainbow Nation on a Tour that only left him hungrier for more. IT WASN'T ALWAYS RUGBY If Andy Farrell wanted to ensure his team were all singing from the same hymn sheet, then he has picked the right man in Fagerson. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Glasgow Warriors (@glasgowwarriors) The tighthead prop, who hails from Perth, was a member of the National Boys Choir of Scotland in 2008, a skill he found not entirely redundant in rugby. Fagerson admitted he 'had a few numbers to choose from' for his initiation song prior to a first international call-up, as his teammates looked forward to a rendition unusually kind on the ears. But where there had been music sheets, there were soon dirt tracks as a 14-year-old Fagerson raced to the Scottish Youth Downhill Mountain Bike Championship title in 2010. Had his gran had her way, Fagerson would have stayed on two wheels but despite also squeezing in a lifeguard qualification along the way, it was rugby that would win his full attention. The decision was ultimately unsurprising with the question of nature versus nurture procuring the same answer for the Scot. His paternal Swedish connections saw him carry the traits of a rugby player in his name since birth, his middle name Ragnar literally means 'warrior', while he grew up spending weekends watching the game. 'I'd come back from rugby on a Saturday morning and then we'd have it on for three days. Mum would be furious because we'd sit in front of the TV watching rugby all day,' he said. A BAPTISM OF FIRE Fagerson's zealous approach to the game led to notable early success as a prop, while also earning him the nickname of 'Zandbags'. Having impressed with Glasgow Hawks and in the Warriors A team, he was handed a call-up to Glasgow Warriors away in Italy at Benetton Treviso. Sat on the bench with his side reduced to 13 men by two yellow cards, it would have been understandable to see an 18-year-old shrink in the circumstances but Fagerson stood up and stepped up. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cahonas Paul (@checkonetwopodcast) His second-half entry into the front row helped Warriors hold on to a 40-23 away win, as coach Gregor Townsend hailed his contribution 'outstanding'. It was a statement of intent that Fagerson backed up as he became the youngest player to reach 50 caps for Glasgow Warriors at just 21 years old - no mean feat for a prop. Though he now has 162 appearances under his belt, becoming just the 15th player to reach the 150 milestone for the Scottish side, that trajectory was not always clear. "There was a point in my career when I thought I wasn't getting a look in," Fagerson told BBC Sport after his Warriors debut. "I was in a terrible place and was depressed and not happy at all. My mum said, 'Why are you depressed? You're giving in; you're letting the people that put you down win'. "So I strive by proving people wrong. If you work hard, change your lifestyle and get determined, they've got nothing to come back at you with.' And, just as on that fateful day in northern Italy, Fagerson has continued to show exactly why he must not be overlooked. SCOTLAND AND LIONS COME CALLING Fagerson's meteoric rise meant a call from the Scotland head coach was only a matter of time after bursting onto the scene in Italy. Scott Cummings, Zander Fagerson, Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu react to being named in the British and Irish Lions squad 🦁 — Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) May 9, 2025 Having represented in the blue shirt at under-16, under-18 and under-20 level he got the nod for the senior squad at the 2016 Six Nations, entering the field as a replacement against England at Murrayfield. His club form at Warriors, that saw him reach the Guinness PRO14 semi-finals in 2018 and the final in 2019, kept his spot in the Scotland squad secure as he earnt a place in Townsend's 2019 World Cup squad. Three appearances in Japan and further standout displays domestically booked Fagerson a plane ticket to South Africa for his first Lions Tour, though Covid-19 injury dampened the full magic of the occasion. Having been due to start in a send-off match against Japan at Murrayfield a back spasm put paid to that ambition, while Tadhg Furlong and Kyle Sinckler played each of rhe Test matches. 'I feel like I didn't really give a great account of myself. I went into it in great shape. Then I had a little bit of a niggle with that back spasm,' Fagerson reflected. 'I always felt, what if? There were so many good players on that tour as well. I just supported the boys wherever I could. 'The sea of red is one of the key parts of a Lions series. It's going to be absolutely incredible to experience that for the first time with the full-capacity stadiums. 'We had a sneak peek at Murrayfield [in 2021]. That was restricted numbers and everyone was spaced out. I couldn't play that day. I was absolutely torn up about it.' A FAMILY AFFAIR Zander is not the only Fagerson to make an impact in the rugby world with younger brother Matt also representing Warriors and Scotland. When Matt made his debut in blue in 2018, they became the 48th set of brothers to represent Scotland but must now accompany each other in the treatment room. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zander Fagerson (@zanderfagerson) Fagerson is facing a race to be back to full fitness after suffering a calf injury in training and will join his brother on trips to the physio as Matt recovers from ankle ligament damage. 'I feel for the physios with two Fagersons in the physio department. He's working really hard to come back as soon as he can,' said Fagerson, following his selection. 'There are so many good players just now playing so well. To be picked is even more special and it gives me a bit of fire in the belly to make sure I do all I can to get back quicker. 'No more cheat meals for me! Will I play for Glasgow again this season? I can't say yes or no.' And the trip to Australia will not only be more special for the presence of crowds, but who will be in them. The Fagerson clan strengthened in number in February 2025 during what has been a year of highs for the tighthead prop with the arrival of twins Fia and Hector. It makes the second call-up all the more sweet for Fagerson who will aim to run out in red in front of the twins, and more experienced Fagerson squad members Hamish, Iona and wife Yasmin. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zander Fagerson (@zanderfagerson) 'Is it as special to be selected a second time? Yeah, even more so. To have friends and family and all the fans back in the stands will be absolutely incredible. We're looking forward to that aspect of it too,' he said. 'I think I'll probably be on Skyscanner [looking for flights for the family] and the price is going to make me wince! 'I have four kids so we'll see. We'll go home and make a plan. My hand will be forced, I suspect.'
CNA
28-04-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Blackett and McGuigan join England coaching group for summer tour
LONDON :Lee Blackett and Byron McGuigan will join Steve Borthwick's England coaching team for the upcoming summer tour to Argentina and the United States, the Rugby Football Union said on Monday. Blackett, currently the attack coach of Premiership leaders Bath, will step in to replace Richard Wigglesworth while he is on duty as an assistant coach with The British & Irish Lions in Australia. Former Scotland winger McGuigan, currently defence coach at Sale Sharks, will work alongside Joe El-Abd as assistant defence coach. England, without an expected-to-be sizeable Lions contingent, face Argentina in La Plata on July 5 and in San Juan on July 12 and the United States in Washington on July 19. At the conclusion of the tour, Blackett and McGuigan will return to their respective clubs. "England have traditionally travelled to Argentina when the British & Irish Lions play," Borthwick said. "It is a summer series that has always provided a fantastic opportunity for Premiership coaches to work in the Test environment. I am delighted that we are able to do just that once again. "Lee and Byron both have a mindset and approach to their coaching that very much align with how we want to continue to play. "Lee has a proven track record of developing teams that play smart and effective attacking rugby. Byron brings an energy and strong understanding of the game that underpins an aggressive defence."
