Author: Hoss

Both a problem that’d give Yowie a nose bleed, and great news for the Wallaroos, nine of our women’s 7s side have been confirmed as participating in the 2025 SRW competition.rugby.com.au reports: Nine of the best Sevens stars in Australia have committed their intentions to play Super Rugby Women’s in 2025 in a quest to potentially play at the Rugby World Cup next year. World Rugby Player of the Year Maddison Levi, Sevens captain Bella Nasser and superstar playmaker Charlotte Caslick are among the group who will go between the two formats next year. The trio have committed to the…

In a first for G&GR, welcome to current and quality news on a Wednesday.Yesterday, RA released its 5 year plan titled ‘From Green to Gold Strategy’. In this plan RA has nailed its colours to the mast for its 5 year vision, including some lofty and ambitious goals. And I say, ‘why the hell not?’.Have not fans decried for a decade or more on the state of the game, the leadership, structures, pathways et al? Is it not well past due for RA to say:In one fell swoop, RA has finally delivered much overdue clarity and a vision to the…

For the last time in 2024, greetings one and greetings all. Welcome to Friday’s Rugby News, or what’s left of it after Allyoz went full Putin and posted all yesterday’s late breaking rugby news. Today we kick off the Friday farewell with ‘Fat Boy Fanfare’. Look at free money, except for all the strings attached, in ‘Tell him he’s dreamin’!’. Crank up a final Friday tradition for ‘The Wallabies night before Christmas’. And we bid 2024 adieu with ‘Friday’s Goss with Hoss’, now in talks with Dutto about putting a nuke at the Ponderosa.Fat Boy Fanfare.I like a player that…

Well, trust Scotland to make people depressed! But never fear people, Friday’s Rugby News is here to resurrect hope in the darkness, to turn fiction into fact and to help you find a way through the mundane quagmire at the end of your working week.Today we kickoff with a quick recap of last week’s abomination with ‘Grand Sham’. Dive deeper into the subtext of this week’s test in ‘Pluck off the Oirish?’. Preview the actual match in ‘He’s our Joe, too!’ Watch from a distance as the Poxy Isles implodes with ‘A Fraction too much Friction?’. Before signing off on…

Greetings earthlings and welcome to another Friday’s Rugby News. How good is it to be a Wallaby fan and say it out loud for a change? It’s fun and actually kinda cool again.But no time for idle chatter. Greatness beckons, so let’s strut right in first up with ‘Imagine’. Quickly revisit the Wallabies previous outing in ‘Beached Wales’. Enjoy a favourite rugby daytime soap with ‘Youngs & The Restless’. Make a bid to keep a loved one in our warm embrace as we say ‘Don’t Go St Joe’. Get ready for a big weekend of rugby viewing with ‘Square Eyes’…

Wallabies team to play Wales at Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday November 17 at 4:10pm GMT/3:10am AEDT (Monday)1.⁠ ⁠Angus Bell (33 Tests) – Hunters Hill Rugby2.⁠ ⁠Matt Faessler (13 Tests) – USQ Saints3.⁠ ⁠Allan Alaalatoa (c) (77 Tests) – West Harbour Juniors4.⁠ ⁠Nick Frost (22 Tests) – Hornsby Lions5.⁠ ⁠Will Skelton (30 Tests) – The Hills Sports High School6.⁠ ⁠Seru Uru (1 Test) – Wests Bulldogs7.⁠ ⁠Fraser McReight (23 Tests) – Albany Creek Brumbies8.⁠ ⁠ Rob Valetini* (49 Tests) – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club9.⁠ ⁠Nic White (70 Tests) – Maitland Blacks10.⁠ ⁠Noah Lolesio (26 Tests) – Tuggeranong Vikings11.⁠ Max…

Well howdy there rugby lovers and welcome to another bursting Friday’s Rugby News. This week we keep a lid on the excitement and emotion of last week’s stunning success and kick off with ‘Grand Slam Here We Come!’. Look nervously into the Wallaby rear view mirror in ‘The Good. The Bad. The Wallabies?’ Drop in at RA HQ for ‘Show me the money!’ Finally celebrate some good rugby news out of Mexico via ‘History Rolls On’, before hiring Elon Musk as head of culture, ethical and editorial standards for this week’s ‘Friday’s Goss with Hoss’, now only available to those…

G’day, greetings, salutations and welcome! Test rugby is back baby, wall-to-wall-to-wall rugby this weekend. The southern titans take on the northern imposters. There’s drama, excitement, scandal and hope, all in this Friday’s Rugby News palooza.With our side to face Ol’ Blighty named last night, let’s dive straight in to the golden ooze in ‘Land of Hope & Glory’. Dare to dream with ‘History Never Repeats. Does It?’ Check in on our Contiki tourists at ‘Drinking Interrupted by Rugby Match’. Preview the blockbuster Oirish v Minstrels match with ‘Paddy Whack’? Take a look at the Dutch Dirt Farmers and the Braveheart…

A brief story from our Facebook followers. In a sure sign that Southern Hemisphere rugby powers are shifting, our Australian Police rugby side have rolled the visiting Kiwi Police side, for the first time ever.The message went on to say, ‘Australian Police Rugby Union come away with their first win against the New Zealand Police. In a tough fought test match, with New Zealand having the majority of the possession in the first half, APRU were able to change the momentum in the second half. Two tries from the forwards, a lineout maul and an overthrow. The boot of VC…

Greetings one, greetings all from the Ponderosa. Today’s news has very much a northern flavour to it, which I believe means sculling a pint of Guinness sprinkled with coal dust on top. So, what you are you waiting for? All aboard the Friday’s Rugby News Express for ‘The North Remembers’. Embrace the global nature of our sport in ‘McWhat?’ Encourage turgidity in ‘Harden Up’. Look at travel advice with ‘France Sucks’. Enjoy yet another FRN exclusive interview* with our Wallaby coach ‘Toe to Toe, with St Joe’. Before laying back in bed spent and lighting a gasper for this week’s…

The squad of 64 has been announced. Below are those selected for the pending Grand Slam tour and Australia XV fixtures, plus warm beer tasting, Sodoku events and photos of boring old churches. Courtesy of rugby.com.auWallabies Squad Grand Slam TourForwards (19)Allan Alaalatoa (#896, West Harbour Juniors)Angus Bell (#940, Hunters Hill Rugby Club)Matt Faessler (#969, USQ Saints)Nick Frost (#953, Hornsby Lions)Langi Gleeson (#960, Harbord Harlequins)Isaac Kailea (#975, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)Fraser McReight (#937, Albany Creek Brumbies)Brandon Paenga-Amosa (#918, Southern Districts)Billy Pollard (#958, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club)Tom Robertson (#898, Dubbo Kangaroos)Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (#914, Randwick)Will Skelton (#883, Wentworthville Magpies)James Slipper (#843, Bond Pirates)Carlo…

I’m back baby! Embrace the sunshine and feel that inner glow. Friday’s Rugby News, the real FRN is here again. Thanks to Shrek and Donkey for stepping up to the plate during my absence. Their efforts once again prove just how good I am.Today we kick off with a problem that affects one in four rugby fans, ‘Premature Jubilation’. Skip up north for ‘Rocky Road’. Look into northern obstacles with ‘Reds Dead Baby?’ Then have a look at what lays ahead for our Wallaroos in ‘Finals Countdown’ before wrapping up with ‘Friday’s Goss with Hoss’, the royal tour edition, celebrating…

Greetings all and welcome to Friday’s Rugby News. Another fantabulous rugby news day awaits, so off we go.First up a quick review of last week’s game in ‘Confused Am I’. Take a look into our chances across the dutch tomorrow, with ‘The Duke, at Wellington’. Pack your bags as we head to Argentina and preview their clash with The Dutch Dirt Farmers in ‘Viva Los Pumas’. Look at our ladies chances next up for ‘Wallaroos v Wales: The Sequel’. We then look to put a G&GR candidate into the corridors of rugby power in Oz with ‘#yourcodeneedsyouNutta’. Before putting the…

This is the team charged with that taskWallabies team to play New Zealand at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Saturday September 28 at 5:05pm AEST1. Angus Bell (32 Tests) – Hunters Hill Rugby2. Matt Faessler (11 Tests) – USQ Saints3. Taniela Tupou (55 Tests) – Brothers Rugby4. Nick Frost (20 Tests) – Hornsby Lions5. Jeremy Williams (7 Tests) – Wahroonga Tigers6. Rob Valetini (47 Tests) – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club7. Fraser McReight (21 Tests) – Albany Creek Brumbies8. Harry Wilson (c) (18 Tests) – Gunnedah Red Devils9. Jake Gordon (26 Tests) – Canterbury Juniors10. Noah Lolesio (24 Tests) – Tuggeranong…

Greetings Gaggers. You’re stuck with me for the game review and I intend to be three sheets to the leeward side at that point. So I thought, ‘Why not open the article now for a combined live blog/autopsy (review later).’What stands out for me so far is our lot are yet to drop a ball or concede a point. We are right in this at present… See you in the comments section.The Game.First HalfWhat can I say? The first half, especially the first 20 minutes was every Wallaby fans worst nightmare. The Kiwis found yards up the middle at will…

Greetings, salutations, and welcome one, welcome all to another Friday’s Rugby News. And not just any ol’ Friday but the Friday before a Bledisloe!First up today let’s all take a knee for ‘The Forwards Prayer’. Preview the big game in ‘Nobody beats my team 22 years in a row. Do they?’ Then concentrate on solutions rather than problems with ‘Giteau’s Gotta Go!’ Pay G&GR homage to an absolute Australian rugby legend in ‘Golden Slipper’. Get the inside word from Kiwi rugby royalty for ‘Shag on a Ruck’. Drop in on our golden girls up north for ‘Wales Awaits Walloped Wallaroos’…

Wallabies team to play New Zealand at Accor Stadium in Sydney on Saturday September 21 at 3:45pm AEST1. Angus Bell (31 Tests) – Hunters Hill Rugby2. Matt Faessler (10 Tests) – USQ Saint3. Taniela Tupou (54 Tests) – Brothers Rugby4. Nick Frost (19 Tests) – Hornsby Lions5. Jeremy Williams (6 Tests) – Wahroonga Tigers6. Rob Valetini (46 Tests) – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club7. Fraser McReight (20 Tests) – Albany Creek Brumbies8. Harry Wilson (c) (17 Tests) – Gunnedah Red Devils9. Nic White (69 Tests) – Maitland Blacks10. Noah Lolesio (23 Tests) – Tuggeranong Vikings11. Marika Koroibete (62 Tests) – Nasinu…

Wallabies squad for Bledisloe Cup series (Wallaby number, first Australian rugby club)Forwards (19)Allan Alaalatoa (#896, West Harbour Juniors)Angus Bell (#940, Hunters Hill Rugby Club)Josh Canham (#987, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)Matt Faessler (#969, USQ Saints)Nick Frost (#953, Hornsby Lions)Langi Gleeson (#960, Harbord Harlequins)Tom Hooper (#964, Bathurst Bulldogs)Isaac Kailea (#975, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)Fraser McReight (#937, Albany Creek Brumbies)Josh Nasser (#979, Easts Rugby (Brisbane))Brandon Paenga-Amosa (#918, Southern Districts)Tom Robertson (#898, Dubbo Kangaroos)Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (#914, Randwick)James Slipper (#843, Bond Pirates)Carlo Tizzano (#982, University of Western Australia)Taniela Tupou (#917, Brothers Rugby)Rob Valetini (#929, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)Jeremy Williams (#973, Wahroonga Tigers)Harry Wilson (#933, Gunnedah…

Never fear, (black) Friday is here!Greetings rugby lovers and welcome to another Friday’s Rugby News. Far too much balance and rational discussion on G&GR this week, so it’s time to tip the scales back to mayhem. Today we take a look at the case ‘for’ the Wallabies and life under St Joe with ‘As Good As New Zealand’. Before looking at the case ‘against’ in ‘WTF Was That?’. Take a gander at some British opinions in ‘The Lions Are Coming’. Roll out the welcome mat with ‘Crouching Rooster, Waiting Wallaby’. Preview the upcoming Ireland v Wallaroos match in ‘Paddy Whack!’…

G’day Gaggers and welcome to another bursting Friday’s Rugby News.Today we cover more ground than my first wife’s shadow, so first up, let’s hook in with ‘Spankfest’. Enjoy another FRN exclusive with ‘Sorry, Black Kant’. Revisit painful memories in ‘Faking It’? Look what’s happening at planet Wallaroo with ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’. Check out the latest news for our wheelchair rugby athletes in ‘Bronzed Aussies’ before a look into the near future with ‘More Than Biscuits’. And finally, limp exhausted into a mammoth ‘Friday’s Goss with Hoss’, much like its author, so big, so bulging, with more chins than…