Rugby Gold
Quade in serious doubt for France Test
MICHAEL Cheika may be forced to make yet another change to his new-look Wallabies side, with Quade Cooper to have a fitness test on his injured ankle before kick-off.
Bolter Wallabies rookies ready to rule France
WALLABIES fullback Luke Morahan does not lack for confidence heading into this weekend’s Test against France in Paris saying Australia’s rookies are ready to dominate.
Debut Zim brothers finally united in Wallaby gold
KYLE Godwin says he couldn’t be happier to be making his Test debut alongside fellow Zimbabwe-born Wallaby David Pocock.
Wallabies It’s all going to plan for Cheika
THERE was always a plan to rest star players during the spring tour, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said after naming a team of rookies to play France this weekend.
Young guns Rookie Wallaby props are world class
SCRUM coach Mario Ledesma says Wallaby rookies Allan Alaalatoa and Tom Robertson are among the best young props in the world.
Second chance Cheika backflips as Morahan called up
IT was one of the most controversial calls of Michael Cheika’s career, leaving out Luke Morahan in favour of untried NRL recruit Marika Koroibete.
Blooded Rookies get their chance against France
KYLE Godwin will make his Test debut against France this weekend, with Michael Cheika making a raft of changes to his team for the mid-tour clash.
Commitment French stint fortified Kepu’s Wallaby desire
WALLABIES prop Sekope Kepu says he only realised the true extent of his desire to play for Australia when he left to play in France earlier this year.
Code hopper The Izzy chat that sparked Te’o code switch
BEN Te’o has revealed it was a conversation with former flatmate and Wallabies star Israel Folau that gave him the belief to cross codes and pursue an international career with England.
More Rugby
Zim brothers finally united in Wallaby gold
KYLE Godwin says he couldn’t be happier to be making his Test debut alongside fellow Zimbabwe-born Wallaby David Pocock.
Listen: Cheika opens up on all things Aus rugby
THE exclusive Michael Cheika interview you have to hear as the Wallabies coach gives his view on all things Australian rugby. LISTEN TO THE FULL PODCAST HERE.
Rugby needs its own State of Origin
ON the back of a lacklustre mid-season Test schedule, should rugby have its own State of Origin series in 2017? Iain Payten explains how it could work.
Koroibete’s Spring Tour gift stinks
WENDELL Sailor, Lote Tuqiri, Mat Rogers. Three defectors with higher profiles than Marika Koroibete that never received a gold pass. So why the ex-Storm star, Cheik?
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.
Gone West Polota-Nau signs with Western Force
WALLABIES hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau is so convinced rugby has a future in Western Australia he has signed up to play for the Force.
Full Force Force sign 2.08m giant Arnold twin
THE rebuilding Force franchise have signed two locks — including 2.08m giant Richie Arnold — for the 2017 Super Rugby season.
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.
Global Tens Is Hunt’s Wallaby dream dead and buried?
KARMICHAEL Hunt is unsure whether the Wallabies’ bold punt on “Generation Next” even includes him anymore after being grounded since May with groin problems.
Global Tens Reds target wildcard Latham
AN exciting wildcard provision is tempting the Queensland Reds to woo former trump Chris Latham for a one-off comeback at rugby’s Brisbane Global Tens.
Tom Banks Brumbies sign promising Reds back
THE Brumbies have signed young Reds outside back Tom Banks for the 2017 Super Rugby season. “We are delighted to sign a player of the quality of Tom,” said Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham.
Rookie Tupou’s trip from Tonga to the tour
TANIELA Tupou was halfway on a trip to Tonga before he was whisked away on a Wallabies adventure that the 20-year old still can’t quite believe.
Bolter Another Izzy on Wallaby tour
WING bolter Izzy Perese is the answer to the Reds’ prayers as the new Digby Ioane and can start rehearsing his killer plays off Quade Cooper on the Wallabies tour.
Controversy Williams loan not from indigenous funds: NSWRU
THE New South Wales Rugby Union say a loan made to former employee Jim Williams to help pay his mortgage did not come from a taxpayer-funded indigenous education program.
Top gong Second gong puts Hooper in elite company
HE was labelled the worst No.7 in Super Rugby early in the year but Michael Hooper has had the last laugh by claiming the top prize in Australian rugby, the John Eales medal.
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
Tom Banks Brumbies sign promising Reds back
THE Brumbies have signed young Reds outside back Tom Banks for the 2017 Super Rugby season. “We are delighted to sign a player of the quality of Tom,” said Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham.
Twin trouble Fainga’a twins reunite at Brumbies
ANTHONY Fainga’a is to reunite with twin Saia at the ACT Brumbies in a move that adds the joint experience of more than 200 Super Rugby games.
Wallabies Larkham shapes as next in line
STEPHEN Larkham has been positioned as the man to succeed Michael Cheika as Australia’s Test coach after signing a three-year deal with the Wallabies.
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.
Rebellious mood Rebels 100 days to destiny
THE Melbourne Rebels are back on the training track and coach Tony McGahan says his side is in far better shape than it was this time last year.
Wallabies Fit-again McMahon aiming to crack side
MELBOURNE Rebels backrower Sean McMahon is back to full fitness after an ankle injury with the aim of cracking the Wallabies team on the spring tour.
New faces Koroibete headlines new Rebel faces
MARIKA Koroibete headlines the Melbourne Rebels’ final Super Rugby squad for 2017, but there’s 10 newcomers — including one of New Zealand’s brightest young talents.
Rebel yell All Black’s son rounds out Rebels’ 2017 squad
THE Rebels have signed the son of an All Black to round out their Super Rugby squad for 2017. “We have been very impressed with his temperament, consistency of core skills and hunger to compete.”
Spring Tour Koroibete: Cheika promised me nothing
MARIKA Koroibete says he wasn’t promised a Wallabies spot by Michael Cheika when recruited from the NRL but now he’s got one, the flying Fijian doesn’t expect to play on the Spring Tour.
Quade in serious doubt for France Test
MICHAEL Cheika may be forced to make yet another change to his new-look Wallabies side, with Quade Cooper to have a fitness test on his injured ankle before kick-off.
Wallabies rookies ready to rule France
WALLABIES fullback Luke Morahan does not lack for confidence heading into this weekend’s Test against France in Paris saying Australia’s rookies are ready to dominate.
Zim brothers finally united in Wallaby gold
KYLE Godwin says he couldn’t be happier to be making his Test debut alongside fellow Zimbabwe-born Wallaby David Pocock.
Grand Slam or bust — Did Cheika get it right?
BURNING QUESTIONS: Michael Cheika has stirred up a hornets nest by fielding a second-string line-up against France. Our experts tackle that and more.
Latu ‘one of best hookers in world rugby’
MICHAEL Cheika’s sweeping changes to the Wallabies’ side the Test against France clearly shows the coach is prioritising a tilt at the grand slam, according to Phil Waugh.