Author: Jack O'Rourke

Monday’s Rugby news sees the Brumbies get their first win in the Super Rugby trans-Tasman, while the Springboks announce the squad to take on the British & Irish Lions, and in clubland, we cover off some major upsets in the Shute Shield and Hospital Challenge Cup. Green And Gold Rugby · The Dropped Kick-Off 23 – Sugar High (Q&A VI) [one_half last=”no”] Brumbies on the board Another week, another win for an Australian side in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman. On a frosty night in Canberra, the Brumbies held on for a 12-10 victory over the Hurricanes. Two missed penalty kicks in the final two minutes by Jordie…

Monday’s Rugby news sees the Reds get the first win for Aussie teams in the Super Rugby trans-Tasman, as Razor Robertson has his say on the future while more news comes out of the Australian Sevens Teams set-up for the Olympics, and the schedule for the 2021 Rugby World Cup is released. Green And Gold Rugby · The Dropped Kick-Off 23 – Sugar High (Q&A VI) [one_half last=”no”] Super Rugby supremacy Headlines around the world this morning: Woeful New Zealand Super Rugby teams couldn’t keep their winning streak alive as the Champion Queensland Reds dispatch the Chiefs. In all seriousness the Reds and the Chiefs played out…

Monday’s Rugby news runs the rule through another in week in Super Rugby trans-Tasman, while we take a look at the Australian Sevens Teams preparations for the Olympics, cover the results of some other competitions, as Rugby Australia announces plans for constitutional reform. Green And Gold Rugby · The Dropped Kick-Off 23 – Sugar High (Q&A VI) [one_half last=”no”] Woeful weekend For the Australian Super Rugby fans still hurting from this weekend’s results, I will keep this round up of Trans-Tasman action mercifully short, and leave it to the comments section to puzzle out where it all went wrong…

Thursday’s Rugby news see the Brumbies host the Force at The Fortress on Friday, and the Waratahs take on the high-flying Reds on Saturday, while planning ramps-up for Trans-Tasman rugby and the Rugby Champs, and the Aon Uni 7s kicks off on the weekend. Green And Gold Rugby · Rugby Report Card 117 – Strike Up the Band [one_half last=”no”] Bucking Brumbies The first game in Round 6 of Super Rugby AU sees the ACT Brumbies welcome the Western Force to GIO Stadium on Friday night. The Brumbies have not lost to the Force since 2013 in round 20 of Super Rugby. Nic…

Thursday’s Rugby news see the Rebels finally return home, as the Reds welcome the Force to Suncorp, while the Australian Club Championship sees Easts and Gordon clash on Saturday, and the Waratahs go shopping for new recruits to bolster their squad. Green And Gold Rugby · Rugby Report Card 117 – Strike Up the Band [one_half last=”no”] Home-coming kings Super Rugby AU continues to roll on, with round 5 kicking off on Friday between the Melbourne Rebels and the winless NSW Waratahs. The Rebels will play their first match at AAMI Park in 377 days when they host the Waratahs.…

Thursday’s Rugby news looks at the All Blacks on the war path, as the Wallabies look to bounce back after a disapointing draw, while Moana Pasifika names a strong side for their NZ Maori clash and some major changes for the Rugby World Cup. Green And Gold Rugby · Rugby Report Card 113 – Toma Los Tres Puntos [one_half last=”no”] Wounded All Blacks The All Blacks are out for redemption at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium for their rematch against the Pumas. The Argentinians beat the All Blacks for the first time ever two weeks ago in Sydney, handing the All…

Thursday’s Rugby news looks at the draw for the 2021 Super Rugby AU season, as the Western Force bolster their squad with some home-grown talent, while SANZAAR hands down its ban for All Black Ofa Tuungafasi and signing rumours emerge from Waratahs camp. [one_half last=”no”] Super Rugby AU is back Rugby Australia has confirmed the draw for the Super Rugby AU 2021 season. All 22 matches in the tournament will now be shown live through Stan Sports, set to launch next year with Rugby Union as their flagship offering. The Western Force will return to the five-team tournament, with the competition to run for…

Thursday’s Rugby news previews Bledisloe IV as the Wallabies seek redemption at Suncorp, and the team’s new scrum coach gets to work bringing the pack up to speed, while South Africa re-comits to the Rugby Championship and preparations for Super W gets underway at the Reds. [one_half last=”no”] Bledisloe IV: Playing for pride Wallabies coach Dave Rennie will yet again make a number of changes as he experiments with his squad ahead of their final game against the All Blacks in Brisbane. In the forward pack, Waratahs back-rower Lachie Swinton is set to make his debut, starting at blindside flanker. Hanigan…

Friday’s Rugby news sees Dave Rennie name his side for Bledisloe III, as they look to beat the All Blacks, and we preview the Shute Shield Grand Final, as Eastwood’s young playmaker gets a call up to Super Rugby. [one_half last=”no”] Ready for battle Dave Rennie has made some huge selection calls in an attempt win Bledisloe III in Sydney this weekend. With injury ruling out James O’Connor, the Wallabies will start young gun Noah Lolesio in the No.10 jersey. While he was named on the bench for the Wallabies test against the All Black in Wellington, Lolesio has not yet played…

Thursday’s Rugby news previews Bledisloe III, with some hints at selection changes for the Wallabies, and club rugby gears up for finals times, as the Hospital Cup and Shute Shield get set for Grand Finals this weekend. [one_half last=”no”] Bledisloe III: Redemption The Wallabies are set for some changes after that loss to New Zealand in Eden Park, with coach Dave Rennie considering a re-shuffle in the backline for Bledisloe III. According to some reports, Tom Banks will make way for returning veteran Dane Haylett-Petty, following Dane’s recovery from an adductor injury. While Banks played both matches against the All Blacks this series, it…

Thursday’s Rugby news sees the Wallabies reveal the new First Nations jersey, meanwhile club rugby continues their finals series, with the Hospital Cup and Shute Shield gearing up for semi-finals. [one_half last=”no”] Good luck charm The Wallabies have revealed the new Indigenous jersey for this test season. The Jersey was revealed yesterday at a special ceremony, with indigenous Wallaby Kurtley Beale dropping in to say he “can’t wait to see it again on the world stage.” It has been a good luck charm against the All Blacks, as it was famously first worn in 2017 against the All Blacks in Brisbane when the Wallabies won 23-18.…

Thursday’s Rugby news sees the Wallabies return to Eden Park, as they look to get their hands on the Bledisloe Cup, meanwhile the Springboks are yet to make a decision on the Rugby Championship, and the Shute Shield gears up for preliminary finals. [one_half last=”no”] Breaking the hoodoo On Sunday the Wallabies will face one of their biggest challenges in the modern era when they attempt to beat the All Blacks in Eden Park for the first time in 34 years. The Wallabies haven’t won since 1986, but are buoyed by last weekend’s thrilling 16-16 draw in the first Bledisloe Cup Test in…

Thursday’s Rugby news see international rugby make a return with the 2020 Bledisloe Cup, as the Wallabies steel themselves for battle against the All Blacks, while its being reported that Brad Thorn will re-sign with the Queensland Reds, and the Shute Shield plays out their final round. Green And Gold Rugby · GAGR Podcast 325 – “Off-The-Ball Work” [one_half last=”no”] Bledisloe time Its Bledisloe Week, and the Wallabies are preparing for their clash against the All Blacks in Christchurch. New Wallabies coach Dave Rennie will select in his maiden Wallabies side on Friday, the make-up of the starting side remains as much…

Thursday’s Rugby news reports on the structure of Australian rugby in the future, as the Shute Shield ramps up heading into finals, while the Western Force announce a marquee signing, and South Africa looks to get out of Super Rugby. Green And Gold Rugby · GAGR Podcast 325 – “Off-The-Ball Work” [one_half last=”no”] Domestic landscape A second edition of an all-Australian Super Rugby competition in 2021 looks to be on the cards as the future of Super Rugby continues to be shrouded in a Covid-cloud, with tensions between SANZAAR partners at an all-time high. Despite the potential for a travel bubble between Australia…

Thursday’s Rugby news reports on Hooper continuing as Wallabies skipper, as Dave Rennie’s squad prepares to travel to New Zealand, while Rugby Australia look for a new sponsor for the national team, and more rumours out of South Africa. Green And Gold Rugby · GAGR Podcast 325 – “Off-The-Ball Work” [one_half last=”no”] Captain Hooper After weeks of speculation, Dave Rennie has officially confirmed Michael Hooper as the Wallabies skipper for the upcoming test season. The incumbent captain did enough to impress the new Wallabies coach during training camp in the Hunter Vallley, with Rennie getting his first chance to get his hands on…

Friday’s Rugby news buys into the hype leading into the Super Rugby AU Grand Final between the Brumbies and the Reds, and previews this weekend’s club rugby action, as a potential broadcaster enters the fray for the rugby rights, and a Springboks trial highlights South Africa’s return to rugby. Green And Gold Rugby · GAGR Podcast 325 – “Off-The-Ball Work” [one_half last=”no”] Everything on the line Teams are in for Saturday night’s Super Rugby AU Grand Final, as the the ACT Brumbies and the Queensland Reds prepare to do battle at a ‘sold-out’ GIO Stadium. “Grand Final week – this is what it’s all about,”…

Thursday’s Rugby news looks at the Super Rugby AU decider between the Brumbies and the Reds, as Souths player Harry McLellan recovers from neck surgery, Rennie ponders his skipper selection, and Toomua is appointed President of RUPA. Green And Gold Rugby · GAGR Podcast 325 – “Off-The-Ball Work” [one_half last=”no”] Ultimate showdown On Saturday night, rugby fans across Australia will be tuning into the first ever Super Rugby AU Grand Final. The match between the ACT Brumbies and the Queensland Reds at GIO Stadium is set to be a scintillating contest, one that will put Australian rugby under the spotlight. The Reds blew…

Thursday’s Rugby news looks at the Super Rugby AU playoff between the Rebels and the Reds, proposes a return of the Probables V Possibles trial, as a beloved Tah moves West, and fans are left in the dark about the Rugby Championship. Green And Gold Rugby · GAGR Podcast 324 – On The Clock [one_half last=”no”] Paying-off potential Two teams with plenty of potential will be looking to cash in when the Melbourne Rebels travel to travel Suncorp Stadium to take on the Queensland Reds in the first ever Super Rugby AU playoff on Saturday night. For the Rebels, they will…

Thursday’s Rugby news casts an eye over the final round of the Super Rugby AU regular season, as rugby fans across the country prepare for a veritable feast of rugby on Super Saturday. Green And Gold Rugby · GAGR Podcast 324 – On The Clock [one_half last=”no”] Last chance Saturday’s final round of the Super Rugby regular season sees the first game shaping as a finals decider, with the Melbourne Rebels desperate to get a win over the Western Force to have a chance of sneaking into the playoffs. A win of four or more points for the Rebels would see them…

Thursday’s Rugby news sees the Force travel to Canberra for their match against the Brumbies, and the Waratahs battle it out with the Rebels for an all-important finals spot, while Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper takes a sabbatical and the North V South match is set to go ahead in Wellington. Green And Gold Rugby · GAGR Podcast 324 – On The Clock [one_half last=”no”] Pride on the line Friday night’s game of Super Rugby AU see the Western Force travel to Canberra to take on the table-topping ACT Brumbies at GIO Stadium. The venue will welcome an additional 1,500 spectators, raising the capacity to 3,000. The Canberra side are…