Rugby Gold
NRL star’s shock Wallaby call-up
TWENTY-SIX days after taking the last tackle of the NRL season, Marieke Koroibete is set to be named in the Wallabies’ Spring Tour squad.
England rugby Eddie Jones’ reign faces biggest challenge yet
ENGLAND boss Eddie Jones has suffered another crushing injury setback after European player of the year Maro Itoje was ruled out of this season’s autumn internationals.
Clowngate Calculated Cheika brings the hate back
MICHAEL Cheika’s post-match outburst was as tactical as it was emotional from a coach who refuses to let his team bow down at the All Blacks altar. Iain Payten analysis.
No try ‘It was a joke’: Bledisloe beef rages on
IT will live on in Bledisloe Cup infamy. And now former Test stars David Lyons, Andrew Mehrtens and George Gregan have had their say on the Henry Speight no-try decision.
Man down Aussies Abroad: More rotten luck for Wallaby
MATT Toomua’s rotten run of bad luck has continued. The former Wallabies playmaker looks set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after being injured for his new club Leicester.
Foul play Wallabies star cops one-match ban for elbow
WALLABIES flanker Dean Mumm has been handed a one-match ban for foul play during Australia’s third Bledisloe Cup Test loss to the All Blacks.
Perfect match Israel Folau engaged to Kiwi netball star
TRANS-Tasman relations may be sour after last weekend’s Bledisloe Cup but love has united Australia’s most famous rugby player with New Zealand’s best known netballer.
Crash Craddock The upside of trans-Tasman bad blood
THE bitter feud between Michael Cheika and the All Blacks is one of the best things to happen to rugby union in years, writes Robert Craddock.
Wallabies woe Mumm citing rubs salt into Bledisloe wounds
WALLABIES flanker Dean Mumm has been cited for alleged foul play during Australia’s third Bledisloe Cup Test loss to the All Blacks on Saturday night.
More Rugby
Genia and Cooper show the way: Slack
WILL Genia and Quade Cooper were essential to Queensland’s 2011 Super Rugby success. Saturday night proved it could work for Australia too.
What Wallabies must do to strike gold
EVERY under-siege Wallaby must channel their inner Chloe Esposito tonight in Wellington (5.35pm AEST) to produce gold medal efforts in five key areas or perish against the All Blacks.
Cooper can’t distract from Wallabies’ woes
THERE will be a queue trying to blame Quade Cooper if things go bad in Wellington but let’s put a bit of heat on the big boppers in gold up front.
When only the wrest will do
ENOUGH of the Bledisloe Cup drought, enough of the excuses, enough of the failure. This must be the year that the Wallabies finally wrest back the trophy, writes Jamie Pandaram.
For proud Pearls, the world is their oyster
THE Pearls went faster, higher and stronger than anyone else at Rio and they got what they deserved for doing so. And it was far from soft, Ric Charlesworth.
Fun factor can spark Reds’ revival
IF new Queensland coach Nick Stiles is to reverse the club’s lean run of form next season, he must ensure the “f” word is a constant throughout his tenure.
Nick has his fingers in all the Pies
A PERSONAL development mission to Collingwood AFL club last season showed that Nick Stiles was ready to lead the Reds into the future.
Line-breakers to instil fear our most wanted
WHILE a team is always going to struggle without a classy five-eighth, a dominant line-breaking forward is the cornerstone of success, writes Andrew Slack.
Australia’s gulf in class exposed by ruthless Kiwis
TWO games into the 2017 “pre-season trials”, the Reds - and other Australian teams - remain the worry that they were in 2016, writes Andrew Slack.
Re-signing Hodgson re-signs, but won’t captain Force
MATT Hodgson has re-signed for the his 12th and final Super Rugby season, but will relinquish the Western Force captaincy.
Shaun Berne Former Waratahs playmaker joins the Force
THE Force have rounded out their Super Rugby backroom staff with the appointment of a former Waratahs playmaker as the attack coach for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
The future Super Rugby to expand to combat Europe
SUPER Rugby “is not broken” and the game’s bosses believe the future lies in expansion despite major concerns about the competition’s structure and crowd numbers.
Force appointment ‘Old bugger’ joins the Force
SELF proclaimed ‘old bugger’ Alan Gaffney has joined the Force as the club’s attack consultant for the 2017 Super Rugby season.
Super Rugby Force’s coaching structure takes shape
DAVE Wessels has made his first appointment since being named Western Force coach, luring Ulster assistant Joe Barakat to the Perth-based Super Rugby franchise.
Young talent Wallabies set to unleash giant rookie
“TONGAN Thor” is to give the struggling Wallabies a startling superhero lift with his formidable 134kg frame set to go on tour to Europe.
Andrew Slack Depth key to Reds’ revival
AFTER a barren few seasons Reds fans are entitled to be seen with something resembling smiles as they peruse the squad for the 2017 season, writes Andrew Slack.
NRC Teenager catches Cheika’s eye
LOOK out Super Rugby, there’s another Izzy in town. Izaia Perese’s tackle-busting runs in the NRC have caught the eye of Wallabies coach Michael Cheika.
Full squad Finals or bust for new look Reds
IF the rejuvenated Reds are to return to the Super Rugby finals they must tackle an element they have not dealt with in years – the weight of public expectation.
Believe Why Reds are genuine Super contenders
THE Queensland Reds will stamp themselves as a genuine Super Rugby threat with the announcement of yet another key signing rounding off their already strong squad.
The future Super Rugby to expand to combat Europe
SUPER Rugby “is not broken” and the game’s bosses believe the future lies in expansion despite major concerns about the competition’s structure and crowd numbers.
Change Gibson on Sunwolves: ‘those poor blokes’
THE Sunwolves face 100,000km of travel and 11 weeks in hotels next year, leading Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson to call for drastic changes.
Every game Draw for 2017 Super Rugby released
THE Rebels will kick off the 2017 Super Rugby season, the Waratahs hit the road early and all Australian teams will take on the Jaguares. FULL DRAW HERE
50th cap Mumm to play milestone Test against Argentina
FOR as long as the Wallabies play Argentina, there will always be a voice from the corner of a rugby club somewhere piping up: “Remember the Dean Mumm try in Mendoza.”
Wallabies Likely Robertson debut just what doctor ordered
AUSTRALIA’S young scrum doctor Tom Robertson appears set for a Test debut in Perth against Argentina after Wallabies guru Mario Ledesma hailed the rookie’s abilities.
Opportunity Wallabies blow won’t floor Matt
MATT Toomua’s last act as a Wallaby may be walking groggily from the field with a head knock and though disappointed, he’s comfortable with that.
The future Super Rugby to expand to combat Europe
SUPER Rugby “is not broken” and the game’s bosses believe the future lies in expansion despite major concerns about the competition’s structure and crowd numbers.
Every game Draw for 2017 Super Rugby released
THE Rebels will kick off the 2017 Super Rugby season, the Waratahs hit the road early and all Australian teams will take on the Jaguares. FULL DRAW HERE
Super Rugby Brumbies snare fringe Wallaby from Force
KYLE Godwin’s two-year deal with the ACT Brumbies was essential to keep the midfield humming at Australia’s best-performed Super Rugby club.
Concussion Toomua could miss rest of series
MATT Toomua’s worrying head knock history could ground him for the rest of The Rugby Championship as the Wallabies wisely protect him from long-term after-effects.
Baa-Baas Storm star now a Baa-Baa
WALLABIES coach Michael Cheika had been scratching his head for ways to get Marika Koroibete started in rugby. It appears he has found one.
The future Super Rugby to expand to combat Europe
SUPER Rugby “is not broken” and the game’s bosses believe the future lies in expansion despite major concerns about the competition’s structure and crowd numbers.
Young gun Why Hodge spurned glamour club Toulon
IT says a lot about Reece Hodge’s character that when offered the choice of a contract with megaclub Toulon or a distant dream, he chose the dream.
Opener Rebels suffer nightmare Super draw
THE start of the Melbourne Rebels’ 2017 Super Rugby draw is the stuff of nightmares with the club facing four Kiwi sides in the opening six rounds.
Every game Draw for 2017 Super Rugby released
THE Rebels will kick off the 2017 Super Rugby season, the Waratahs hit the road early and all Australian teams will take on the Jaguares. FULL DRAW HERE
Wallabies set to unleash giant rookie
“TONGAN Thor” is to give the struggling Wallabies a startling superhero lift with his formidable 134kg frame set to go on tour to Europe.
Wallaroos revamped for second Test
MASS changes have been made to the Wallaroos for their second Test against New Zealand in the wake of their hefty loss to the Black Ferns on the weekend
Wales’ massive boost for Wallabies Test
ALL of Wales’ Aviva Premiership-based players will be made available for the autumn Test opener against Australia in Cardiff on November 6 (AEDT).
NRL star’s shock Wallaby call-up
TWENTY-SIX days after taking the last tackle of the NRL season, Marieke Koroibete is set to be named in the Wallabies’ Spring Tour squad.
Calculated Cheika brings the hate back
MICHAEL Cheika’s post-match outburst was as tactical as it was emotional from a coach who refuses to let his team bow down at the All Blacks altar. Iain Payten analysis.