Author: G&GR Media

Wales cunning plan too be the best Tier 2 team in world rugby is bearing fruit. This from: https://www.planetrugby.com/news/italy-v-wales-five-takeaways-as-azzurris-golden-youth-come-of-age-while-warren-gatlands-time-looks-to-be-upThe opening quarter of this match truly represented a Six Nations wooden spoon decider as neither side showed much accuracy or ruthlessness with ball in hand, and the constant downpour didn’t make matters any easier. The game needed a spark with the scores level at three apiece and it was the Azzurri’s hero Paolo Garbisi who provided it as he latched onto a Martin Page-Relo pass, threw a glorious dummy, sprinted into a half gap and put in a perfect grubber that Ange Capouzzo…

This from https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/en/m6n/news/england-v-france-match-report-2025-six-nations-rugbyEngland claimed a remarkable 26-25 win against France in an extraordinary encounter in London. The first half was a scrappy affair, punctuated by moments of brilliance. France fullback Thomas Ramos, possibly the greatest kicker from the tee in the game, surprised the entire Allianz Stadium when he missed a kick at goal 10 minutes in. England would have been delighted if was a sign of things to come for the Toulouse player.Les Bleus had only conceded three penalties in the entire match against Wales in round one, but England were proving to be tougher opposition at the Allianz…

The Blues Women’s team is gearing up for an exciting pre-season clash against the NSW Waratahs Women this Saturday, February 8, 2025. The match is scheduled to kick off at 2:00 PM at Eden Rugby Club, Gribblehirst Park. This encounter offers both teams a valuable opportunity to fine-tune their strategies and assess player combinations ahead of the upcoming season.Event Details:What to Bring:Additional Information:This pre-season fixture promises to deliver an afternoon of high-quality rugby, showcasing the talents of both the Blues and Waratahs Women’s squads. Fans are encouraged to come along, support their teams, and enjoy what is set to be…

Emily Chancellor is set to rejoin her NSW Waratahs teammates for a crucial trial match against the Blues in Auckland this Saturday. This game marks Chancellor’s much-anticipated return after an ACL injury sidelined her in the first round of the 2024 Super Rugby Women’s season. Both teams, having clinched their respective 2024 titles, are gearing up for a heavyweight showdown.The Waratahs, eager to bounce back from a shaky start against the Hurricanes, will rely on Faliki Pohiva to lead the front row, supported by Wallaroo Bridie O’Gorman and Brittany Merlo. Jayjay Taylor and Tahila Morgan will debut as a second-row…

The Santos Festival of Rugby is set to make a vibrant return to Narrabri in 2025, with a fresh date on the calendar promising an even more thrilling two-day rugby extravaganza. This event, one of the largest annual gatherings in regional Australia, has significantly boosted the economies of Narrabri and Roma over its four editions, generating millions in revenue. Scheduled for the weekend of September 20-21, the festival will once again spotlight the fierce rivalry between New South Wales and Queensland, with the coveted Santos Cup up for grabs.The Queensland Rugby Union and NSW Waratahs announced the festival’s latest edition…

The Western Force faced a tough defeat against the ACT Brumbies, who surged in the second half to secure a 45-12 victory at Marist College in Canberra on Friday afternoon.The match was evenly poised at 12-12 by halftime, but the Brumbies unleashed a powerful second-half performance, scoring five tries to clinch a commanding win.For the Force, new recruit Divad Palu and hooker Tom Horton crossed the line, giving the visitors a 12-7 lead in the first half. However, the Brumbies’ relentless attack proved too much to handle.In the sweltering 30-degree heat with a 2pm kickoff, the Force started with strong…

The Western Force is gearing up for an exciting start to the Super Rugby Women’s pre-season with a 27-player squad set to face Rugby Victoria this Sunday at Wanneroo Rugby Club. The team, which made it to the Super W finals for the first time last season, is strengthened by the addition of Wallaroos stars Sera Naiqama and Cecilia Smith, who joined during the off-season.Naiqama and Smith will be key players in the starting lineup, joined by new recruits Grace Freeman and Halley Derera, who will take on the roles of fly-half and full-back, respectively. All three were part of…

Super Rugby Pacific Fantasy is here! Sign up for a chance to win $10,000 with prizes for second and third plus weekly prizes on the line as well!Or use code: 48HM7QJFHow to Play Super Rugby FantasyYou will have a budget of $100m to build a team consisting of 15 players.  Your team will be built from the following position categories:You will be restricted to four players from any one Super Rugby Pacific club in your Fantasy team.You can add players to your team by pressing the + icon next to any available player on the player pool. You can remove players from your…

The Gallagher Chiefs are gearing up for their final pre-season match against Moana Pasifika this Saturday at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe. Head Coach Clayton McMillan has announced that several All Blacks, including Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima, and Tupou Vaa’i, will see game time as the team fine-tunes its preparations ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific season opener.Key Highlights:This fixture serves as the final tune-up before the Chiefs commence their Super Rugby Pacific campaign against the Blues on Saturday, February 15, at Eden Park.Squad Details:First Half Starters:First Half Impact Players:Second Half Starters:Second Half Impact Players:Tickets for the match are available,…

The Western Force is excited to announce that their captain, Jeremy Williams, has extended his contract for another two years with both the Super Rugby Pacific team and Rugby Australia. Standing at 198cm, Williams had an impressive 2024 season, making his international debut for the Wallabies against Wales and playing in 10 out of 13 Tests, starting in seven of them. Before joining the Force in 2023, Williams played for the NSW Waratahs and quickly became one of the top performers in Super Rugby Pacific, particularly excelling in lineouts. His outstanding performance earned him the Club’s Force Man award.Williams, who…

Will he or won’t he has been sorted. This from rugby.com.auBREAKING: Joe Schmidt will extend his tenure as Wallabies head coach through to the end of Australia’s 2025 Rugby Championship campaign.Schmidt had already committed to seeing out the upcoming British & Irish Lions Series, however, the 59-year-old will now continue to hold the reins through to Australia’s final Bledisloe Cup fixture in Perth on October 4.Watch every game of Wallabies, Wallaroos, Sevens and Super Rugby Pacific live and on-demand via Stan Sport.“I am very much enjoying my time with Australian Rugby,” Schmidt said in a statement.”The British and Irish Lions is…

We’ve been saying this for a few years on G&GR. This from https://reds.rugby/news/beauden-barrett-wants-japan-in-expanded-super-rugby-202526All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett wants to see a return to Japanese involvement in Super Rugby Pacific, believing it would strengthen the competition and make it more attractive to players.From a peak of 18 teams across four continents in 2017, including the Japan-based Sunwolves, Super Rugby has contracted this year to 11 teams in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific islands.Watch every game of Super Rugby Pacific live and on-demand via Stan Sport.Barrett has played in several manifestations of the competition, including a New Zealand-only competition enforced by…

A weekend on the Coffs Coast – where do you sign? This from https://nsw.rugby/news/tickets-now-on-sale-for-the-coffs-coast-festival-of-rugby-202524Rugby fans, get ready for an unforgettable weekend of world-class rugby and community celebration as tickets are now on sale for the highly anticipated Coffs Coast Festival of Rugby, running from 3 to 6 April 2025. With an exciting lineup of international, regional and community rugby action, this festival will showcase the very best of the game while raising funds for the NSW Positive Rugby Foundation’s Rugby For Good programs.Headlining the festival is the thrilling Japan U23 v Australian Barbarians exhibition match at C.ex Coffs International Stadium…

The Western Force are thrilled to announce Club captain Jeremy Williams has re-signed for a further two years with the Super Rugby Pacific outfit and Rugby Australia.The 198cm lock had a breakout year in 2024, making his international debut in the Wallabies first match of the season against Wales, going on to feature in 10 out of the 13 Tests – remarkably starting on seven occasions.Prior to the 2023 season, Williams moved from the NSW Waratahs to Perth to join the Force where he excelled as one of Super Rugby Pacific’s top three for lineouts performers while he was also…

Blues lock Sam Darry will miss the entire Super Rugby Pacific season due to a shoulder injury he suffered during training last week. After a thorough assessment, it was determined that surgery is necessary. Fortunately, Darry is expected to recover in time for the All Blacks selection period.Blues Head Coach Vern Cotter expressed his disappointment, saying, “It was just one of those unexpected incidents at training. It’s really unfortunate for Sam. We’ll miss him and wish him a speedy recovery.”Darry, who joined The Blues in 2021, has shown remarkable progress, playing a key role in their 2024 championship victory. His…

Atasi Lafai, a key player for the NSW Waratahs Women and the Australian Wallaroos, faces a tough break as she’s sidelined for the rest of the 2025 season. She suffered a severe injury involving her ACL, MCL, and lateral meniscus during a trial match against NSW Pasifica, a major setback for both her team and supporters.Lafai is no stranger to adversity, having battled through multiple serious injuries in her career. Her past includes two ACL injuries, a broken collarbone, ankle, foot, finger, and a neck issue that once threatened her career.Despite these hurdles, Lafai’s resilience shines through. In April 2024,…

“The Western Force is gearing up for an exciting pre-season trial against the ACT Brumbies in Canberra, unveiling a 29-player roster that features fresh faces and returning talents. The team will travel on Wednesday for the match scheduled at 11 am WST on Friday at Marist College, marking their final preparation before the Super Rugby Pacific opener against Moana Pasifika on February 15 at HBF Park.Key players making a comeback from injuries include Harry Johnson-Holmes (Achilles), Reesjan Pasitoa (shoulder), and Atu Moli (hip). Johnson-Holmes is one of seven new signings set to start, alongside Nic Dolly, Darcy Swain, Nick Champion…

Tickets on sale now for all home tests including the Wallaroos & Wallabies fixtures in Newcastle. Contact Nathan Williamson at RA for exclusive tickets to The Ponderosa Pie & Pub tour prior to said Newcastle games. This from https://wallabies.rugby/news/tickets-on-sale-for-blockbuster-wallaroos-and-wallabies-home-tests-202523Tickets for the Wallaroos and Wallabies 2025 Home Tests are on sale to the public.2025 will see the teams in gold play a total of 13 Tests across seven cities, with the Wallaroos set to play in the nation’s capital for the first time in 17 years – clashing with the USA on May 17.Tickets to the Wallaroos 2025 Home Tests are…

This from https://brumbies.rugby/news/women-team-list-red-trialThe Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies Super Rugby Women’s Head Coach Andy Friend has unveiled his first side for 2025, ahead of their first Trial match against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Saturday. Naming a 24-player squad, Friend has opted to give his Wallaroos contingent a chance to strap on their boots, with all his Australian representative stars in the starting lineup.Additionally, several new signings will get their first opportunity to take the field in Brumbies colours this year in Easter Savelio, Merania Paraone, Ella Hopper, Hannah Stewart and Manua Moleka.Coach Friend says the Trial against the Reds is something his side is very eager for, as they continue a strong lead-in period until…

The Western Force have named a 29-player team list for Friday’s pre-season trial game against the ACT Brumbies in Canberra, headlined by several newcomers and players returning from injury.The Force group will fly on Wednesday to face the Brumbies from 11am WST on Friday at Marist College in Canberra.Last Friday, the Force played an internal trial game, with the Brumbies’ clash representing the side’s final tune-up prior to their Round 1 Super Rugby Pacific encounter with Moana Pasifika at HBF Park on Saturday 15 February.Harry Johnson-Holmes (Achilles), Reesjan Pasitoa (shoulder) and Atu Moli (shoulder) will all return from long-term injuries.Johnson-Holmes…