Reds training with new coaches

O’Connor paid $2500 a week to not coach

THE cash-strapped QRU has improved its financial position by $1.39 million even while continuing to pay former coach Matt O’Connor more than $2500 a week.

How Izzy evolved from shy kid to superstar

How Izzy evolved from shy kid to superstar
Iain Payten ​​ISRAEL Folau has come a long way from the quietly-spoken youngster who landed in the NRL 10 years ago, and is now happy to impart wisdom to others, Iain Payten writes.

Chemistry key to giving Reds Super edge

Chemistry key to giving Reds Super edge
Jim Tucker - @hulabulajim THE Reds have signed some big names as they try to rebuild their Super Rugby status. But George Smith warns that names alone won’t bring success, writes Jim Tucker.

Lealiifano is cancer free after leukaemia battle

Lealiifano is cancer free after leukaemia battle
AAP ACT Brumbies co-captain Christian Lealiifano has vowed to return to the field after reportedly going into remission, six months after being diagnosed with leukaemia.

‘He can beat anyone in the country at 90kg’

‘He can beat anyone in the country at 90kg’
Grantlee Kieza QUADE Cooper can clean out Australia’s cruiserweight division if he focused solely on boxing for a year, according to his trainer Shaggy King.

Enlightened philosophy can deliver Tahs title

Enlightened philosophy can deliver Tahs title
Jamie Pandaram A SIGNING blunder last season has forced Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson to rethink his recruitment philosophy and he believes his new squad can deliver a second premiership.

Full-time Rebels hope extras pay off

Full-time Rebels hope extras pay off
Matt Windley THE Melbourne Rebels used to arrive early for training, do some extras and then head home. But the coach has decided to mix things up this summer in a search for success.

Traditional women’s rugby in sevens shadow

Traditional women’s rugby in sevens shadow
Fiona Bollen FORMER women’s rugby sevens player Amy Turner has lamented the success of the short-form of the game, saying it’s drawn funds and attention from the traditional 15-a-side.

Irae, Israel get started on attack

Irae, Israel get started on attack
JAMIE PANDARAM ANDREW Kellaway, Rob Horne and Cameron Clark are expected to be fit for the Waratahs’ round one clash against Western Force next Saturday.

Lions can help Australia’s Bledisloe hunt

Lions can help Australia’s Bledisloe hunt
JAMIE PANDARAM THERE is a major series the All Blacks are gearing up for in 2017 and it’s not the Bledisloe Cup.

Rebels will look to cash in on Marika

Rebels will look to cash in on Marika
Matt Windley CODE-HOPPER Marika Koroibete is gunning for a Round 1 Super Rugby debut with the Melbourne Rebels next week after overcoming a minor knee injury.

Valuable lesson for Reds’ Thor

Valuable lesson for Reds’ Thor
Jim Tucker QUEENSLAND Reds prop Taniela Tupou came off second best when he tangled with Chiefs legend Liam Messam at the Tens.

Dan Carter’s ‘massive error of judgment’

Dan Carter’s ‘massive error of judgment’
Daniel Gilhooly NEW Zealand rugby great Dan Carter says he is prepared to face the legal consequences after admitting to drink driving.

All Blacks star ‘arrested’ in Paris

All Blacks star ‘arrested’ in Paris
FORMER All Black star and rugby record holder Dan Carter has reportedly been arrested in France.

Wallaby to fight police assault charges

Wallaby to fight police assault charges
Iain Payten and Jamie Pandaram PAYTO & PANDA: Scott Higginbotham expected to plead not guilty to charges of assaulting police, Tahs stars show their true colours, another Wallaby jumps ship.

Waratahs bench saves superstars’ blushes

Waratahs bench saves superstars’ blushes
Iain Payten THE Waratahs have gone down to the Highlanders in a match that was only settled after the siren but coach Daryl Gibson was under no illusion about his side’s poor start.

Reds re-sign Wallaby halfback

Reds re-sign Wallaby halfback
Jim Tucker - @hulabulajim A FRESH two-year contract for Nick Frisby is worthy security for a Wallaby halfback who can launch his game to a new level just as the Reds must.

Hodge locks in future with Rebels

Hodge locks in future with Rebels
Matt Windley RE-SIGNED Melbourne Rebels star Reece Hodge will enter the new Super Rugby season fresh from penning a three-year contract extension. Now he’ll try to counter the second-year blues.

Hunt primed to repay Reds’ $1m investment

Hunt primed to repay Reds’ $1m investment
By Jim Tucker - @hulabulajim KARMICHAEL Hunt has scored just one try in 19 games for the Reds, but his sparkle in this week’s trial suggested the Reds will finally get their belated windfall.

‘You can’t shrink your way to success’

‘You can’t shrink your way to success’
IAIN PAYTEN PLAYERS have voiced strong opposition to the ARU “voluntarily going backwards” by sacrificing one of its five franchises as part of any Super Rugby revamp.

Waratahs bench saves superstars’ blushes

Waratahs bench saves superstars’ blushes
Iain Payten THE Waratahs have gone down to the Highlanders in a match that was only settled after the siren but coach Daryl Gibson was under no illusion about his side’s poor start.

Reds re-sign Wallaby halfback

Reds re-sign Wallaby halfback
Jim Tucker - @hulabulajim A FRESH two-year contract for Nick Frisby is worthy security for a Wallaby halfback who can launch his game to a new level just as the Reds must.

Hodge locks in future with Rebels

Hodge locks in future with Rebels
Matt Windley RE-SIGNED Melbourne Rebels star Reece Hodge will enter the new Super Rugby season fresh from penning a three-year contract extension. Now he’ll try to counter the second-year blues.

Hunt primed to repay Reds’ $1m investment

Hunt primed to repay Reds’ $1m investment
By Jim Tucker - @hulabulajim KARMICHAEL Hunt has scored just one try in 19 games for the Reds, but his sparkle in this week’s trial suggested the Reds will finally get their belated windfall.

‘You can’t shrink your way to success’

‘You can’t shrink your way to success’
IAIN PAYTEN PLAYERS have voiced strong opposition to the ARU “voluntarily going backwards” by sacrificing one of its five franchises as part of any Super Rugby revamp.

The unknown Kiwi set to wear Brumbies’ No 10

The unknown Kiwi set to wear Brumbies’ No 10
Vince Rugari BRUMBIES coach Stephen Larkham has lamented Australian rugby’s lack of depth, but it may have helped him uncover a gem in Kiwi five-eighth Wharenui Hawera.

Australia could lose Super Rugby franchise

Australia could lose Super Rugby franchise
Iain Payten BERNARD Foley has implored the ARU not to sacrifice a Super Rugby franchise as the prospect of Australia losing a Super Rugby team re-emerged.

Tens staying in Brisbane

Tens staying in Brisbane
GREG DAVIS @GregDavis_cmail DUCO Events say they are highly unlikely to relocate the fledgling Global Tens rugby tournament to bring the NRL Nines to Brisbane.

Tahs young gun threatening to displace Phipps

Tahs young gun threatening to displace Phipps
Iain Payten NICK Phipps is under pressure to hold onto his NSW halfback jersey for next week’s Super Rugby opener, with Jake Gordon starting in the Tahs’ final trial.

Five things we learned from Reds’ trial win

Five things we learned from Reds’ trial win
Jim Tucker QUADE Cooper earned plenty of plaudits but there was a lot more to be taken away from the Reds’ trial win over the Rebels — here’s five things we learned.

Quade’s quality sparks hopes of Reds resurgence

Quade’s quality sparks hopes of Reds resurgence
Jim Tucker QUADE Cooper’s first outing in a Reds jersey in 20 months has ignited hopes of a Super Rugby revival — and he wasn’t the only player to impress.

Walker embraces Super Rugby return at 43

Walker embraces Super Rugby return at 43
ANDREW Walker, who last played professional rugby nine years ago, says he’s ready to return to Super Rugby if required.

Skelton promises Tahs an ‘hour of power’

Skelton promises Tahs an ‘hour of power’
Iain Payten HE has come home from London in career-best shape and with an 80-minute engine. But Will Skelton says the best time frame to extract his most dominant form is 50 or 60 minutes.

Tahs tipped to hit jackpot with Izzy’s partner

Tahs tipped to hit jackpot with Izzy’s partner
Iain Payten LOTTOLAND will provide the first sighting of an exciting new centre pairing many are tipping to be a prize-winning ticket for the Waratahs in Super Rugby this year.

Rugby legend’s son’s heartbreaking note

Rugby legend’s son’s heartbreaking note
Tyson Otto JOOST van der Westhuizen was a rugby legend and a national hero, but to his son, Jordan, he was simply his dad — as this emotional tribute makes clear.