Author: Hugh Adams

Thursday’s rugby news has Folau ready to take on England, Matt Toomua ruled out for the Brumbies, Goromaru out of favour at the Reds and Ioane brothers called into New Zealand Sevens squad. [one_half last=”no”] Folau Ready for England Israel Folau says he is ready to take on Six Nations Champions England in three test series next month. Folau admitted he was only operating at about 50 percent at last year’s World Cup. “It was frustration, because you are rolling out there and play in a World Cup game when you know you are only about 50 per cent,” he said. Wallabies coach Michael…

Wednesday’s rugby news has Bill Pulver saying the Brumbies are financially secure, Waratahs wanting a home win, Sean McMahon looking to improve and U20’s lose to New Zealand. [one_half last=”no”] Brumbies Secure ARU CEO Bill Pulver says the Brumbies are financially secure following the payout of Michael Jones who left the club this week. Pulver met with the Brumbies on Tuesday following Jones’ departure on Monday. “They (Brumbies) have have just lost a CEO, so that leaves a little bit of hole, and we will support them wherever we can, but there is no urgent need for us to fill any gaps,”…

Tuesday’s rugby news has Beale wanting a starting spot, Stephen Larkham stepping up at the Brumbies, Australian U20’s team named and Toulon lose at home. Also check out last night’s Aussie BEAST OF THE WEEK round 10 from our Facebook Live broadcast last night [one_half last=”no”] Beale Wants to Start Kurtley Beale says he would much rather be starting for the Wallabies than coming off the bench. “I’d like to start … Being involved with the Wallabies is a huge honour. When you are a player hanging around the edges you dream of starting and you always want to be a starting player,”…

Monday’s rugby news has Samu Kerevi injured, Joe Roff looming to replace Michael Jones as CEO of the Brumbies, the Waratahs avoiding becoming complacent and Rebels refresh with a bye. [one_half last=”no”] Kerevi Injured Reds centre Samu Kerevi has broken his hand in the Reds 30-17 win over the Cheetahs at Suncorp Stadium. Kerevi will undergo surgery on Tuesday and is expected to be out for up to four weeks leaving him in a race to be fit for the Wallabies first test against England on June 11. “He’s got a level head on himself,” Reds captain James Slipper said. “We’d be…

Friday’s rugby news has Jones accepting offer, Rebels lose Laurie Weeks to injury, Brumbies make some surprising changes and Welsh international forced to retire. [one_half last=”no”] Jones Accepts Offer Brumbies Chief Executive Michael Jones has accepted an offer of mediation from the Brumbies board. The process is expected to start today. Last week Jones rejected a proposal to mutually part ways after a meeting with Chairman Robert Kennedy. Jones has been awarded temporary protection under the whistleblower laws but Justice Richard Refshauge ruled that the club still had permission to sack Jones as long as it is for an unrelated reason and with…

Thursday’s rugby news has Cheika staying positive, Tahs to be patient, Force make changes and Martin Castrogiovanni caught partying in Las Vegas. [one_half last=”no”] Cheika Staying Positive Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is staying positive about Australia’s Super Rugby performances and has criticised people being too negative about Australian rugby. “I am not concerned at all,’ Cheika said. I only see opportunity all the time I watch the boys play. “I am not going to say it’s all going swimmingly. We would like to have a few more wins as a nation, for sure. But one thing I learned in Super Rugby is that…

Wednesday’s rugby news has Joe Tomane injured, Folau happy at outside centre, South Africa’s bid for the 2023 World Cup in doubt and Nemani Nadolo suspended for four weeks. [one_half last=”no”] Tomane Injured Brumbies winger Joe Tomane could be out for 6 to 10 weeks after damaging his right knee in the Brumbies loss to the Crusaders on Sunday. Head coach Stephen Larkham confirmed the injury. “It’s not looking likely (that Tomane will play this weekend),” Larkham said. “He’s off for another scan right now. “The physios and the doctors had a look at the time and it looks like there’s some significant…

Tuesday’s rugby news has the ARU looking for venues for the Bledisloe, Jason Emery suspended for four weeks, Brumbies approach Fakaosilea and Dan Carter closes in on clean sweep. [one_half last=”no”] Bledisloe to London/NY The ARU have begun seeking a potential venue for Australia’s home Bledisloe Cup matches when ANZ Stadium is refurbished in 2018-2021. Twickenham and New York have emerged as potential options. “We are a global game so global opportunities will present themselves,” said ARU general manager Rob Clarke. “Argentina are playing their home game against us at Twickenham in the Rugby Championship this year, so there is a precedent there.…

Monday’s rugby news has the Waratahs confident going over to South Africa, Michael Foley still has the support of his players, the Sunwolves win their first ever Super Rugby match and Ardie Savea rules out a return to Sevens. [one_half last=”no”] Tahs Confident for SA The Waratahs are hoping to build on their performance against the Western Force as they head to South Africa to take on the Stormers. Head coach Daryl Gibson was pleased with the performance against the Force but is already looking ahead to next week’s challenge. “It was playing smart against a team that would come at…

Friday’s rugby news has Rob Simmons returning for the Reds, Rob Horne and Tatafu Polota-Nau returning from injury, Tim Horan backing Kurtley Beale for the Wallabies 12 jersey and rival Brumbies meeting conducted in Canberra. [one_half last=”no”] Simmons Returns Reds lock Rob Simmons has recovered from a shoulder injury and has been named to start against the Stormers in Cape Town this weekend. “There are a fair few players around Super Rugby who can say they have never won at Newlands,” Simmons said. “I have (in 2011) so I know the level of performance it takes and it would be huge for the young…

Thrusday’s rugby news has the ARU insisting AAMI Park will be in good condition, Israel Folau making Kuridrani a better player, Reds hoping to unlock Sautia and Dave Hewett puts his hand up to be the next Crusaders coach. [one_half last=”no”] AAMI Park Will be Good The ARU has insisted that AAMI park will be in suitable condition for the Wallabies test match against England there in June. AAMI park officials attributed the poor surface to a combination of higher than usual humidity over summer and a heavy workload — 30 games in three months in three codes​. Ground staff have replaced almost…

Wednesday’s rugby news has Dom Shipperly injured for the season, Dave Dennis calling for the Waratahs pack to step up, Sevens star Lewis Holland injured and Danny Cipriani given ‘special treatment’. [one_half last=”no”] Shipperly Out Rebels winger Dom Shipperly has been ruled out for the rest of the Super Rugby season after rupturing his ACL. “We’re shattered for Dom, he’s been a consistent performer during the first-half of the year for the Rebels, but unfortunately a contact injury has prematurely ended his Super Rugby season,” Rebels general manager Baden Stephenson said. “The Rebels will make sure that we support Dom throughout his rehabilitation process…

Tuesday’s rugby news has the Waratahs preparing for the Western Force, Women’s Sevens finish third in Canada, RUPA boss happy with doctors judgement on Folau and Rene Ranger out for the season. [one_half last=”no”] Tahs Ready for Force The Waratahs are already looking to the Western Force this week in a hope to get their season back on track. The Force have been a bogey team for the Waratahs in recent years winning all three of their last encounters. Waratahs assistant coach Chris Malone said that the Waratahs are preparing for a tough battle at the breakdown. “It’s clear some of the patterns…

Monday’s rugby news has Stephen Moore backing Hooper, Waratahs to persist, Brumbies reveal emotional impact of Ita Vaea’s retirement and Mens sevens finish seventh in Singapore. [one_half last=”no”] Moore Backs Hooper Wallabies captain Stephen Moore has defended Michael Hooper after being heavily criticised for his performances. Last week former Wallaby coach Bob Dwyer said “He’s gone from being an absolutely outstanding player to what I think is a total non-event. I do not know what’s happened to him. It’s got me stumped.” “I felt for him and I don’t think he deserves that. I know how much he puts his body on the…

Friday’s rugby news has Israel Folau moving to centre, Rob Simmons ruled out, Brad Thorn backs the Reds new signing and Ritchie McCaw given New Zealand’s highest honour. [one_half last=”no”] Folau to Centre The Waratahs have made several big changes for their match against the Brumbies this weekend including moving Israel Folau to outside centre. Prop Tom Robertson, fullback Andrew Kellaway and Will Skelton have all been promoted to the starting team whilst Angus Ta’avao and Dave Dennis have been dropped to the bench. “Getting him [Folau] the ball a little bit more will be a good opportunity to unleash,” said assistant…

Thursday’s rugby news has Brumbies confident of their back row depth, Walsh announces his squad for the Canada Sevens, former Blues player Kurtis Haiu passes away and Sonny Bill Williams gives away his award. [one_half last=”no”] Brumbies Confident of Depth Brumbies flanker Scott Fardy says the Brumbies are confident they can cover the loss of star backrowers Ita Vaea and David Pocock. “We are confident in the guys we have coming in, whoever comes in with Jordan or Jarrad or Michael Wells. We are really confident they can do the job. They’ve been training and playing well all year and this is their opportunity to get some…

Wednesday’s rugby news has Cheika considering playing three 7’s, Waratahs must win this weekend to keep their season alive, Jesse Parahi re-joins the Sevens setup and Alistair Coetzee named new Springboks coach. [one_half last=”no”] Cheika Considering 3 7’s Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has entertained the possibility of starting three openside flankers against England in June. Following the success of the ‘pooper’ and due to the form of the likes of Sean McMahon and Liam Gill in Super Rugby this season, Cheika said he was open to the idea. “I don’t know about three sevens rotating. I’d think more about three sevens playing…

Tuesday’s rugby news has Ita Vaea retiring, Andy Friend makes three changes for Singapore Sevens, Dennis calling for Waratahs to establish an identity and Stuart Lancaster opens up about England’s World Cup. [one_half last=”no”] Vaea Retires Brumbies Number 8 Ita Vaea has announced his retirement from Rugby, effective immediately, due to ongoing health issues regarding his heart. Vaea left the field in the Brumbies match against the Chiefs, and after doctor’s recommendations, has today ended his career to concentrate on his health. “I am extremely disappointed to be retiring today, under these circumstances,” Vaea said. “It has truly been an honour to represent…

Monday’s rugby news has Men’s Sevens finish 4th, Aussie Women’s win the Atlanta Sevens, Reds confident for their trip to South Africa and Wasps defeat Exeter in the European Champions Cup. [one_half last=”no”] Mens Sevens Finish 4th The Aussie Men’s Sevens team has finished 4th at the Hong Kong Sevens after be outclassed by Fiji 34-5 in the Semi final and then falling to South Africa 12-14 in the 3rd v 4th playoff. Fiji went on to win the tournament after defeating New Zealand 21-7 in the final. Head coach Andy Friend was disappointed the side couldn’t go further. “We had a…

Friday’s rugby news has Cheika’s take on the Waratah’s performances, James Slipper returning for the Reds, Rugby participation down and Welsh player banned for four years. [one_half last=”no”] Cheika’s Take on Tahs Former Waratah’s coach Michael Cheika doesn’t believe there is any cause for concern with the Waratahs despite their shaky start to the season. This season the Waratah’s have had to deal with the loss of Adam Ashley-Cooper, Jacques Potgieter and Skeope Kepu. Cheika said there needed to be more leadership shown amongst the senior players to help the new players coming through. “It’s just about… the more experienced players taking…