Author: Nick Hartman

Wednesday’s Rugby News has Matt Toomua still recovering from being concussed, Brian O’Driscoll learning the hard way that All Blacks fans, levity and social media don’t mix, Dean Mumm and Leon Power signing for the Tahs, and Ben Ryan getting some pretty sweet job perks in Fiji. [one_half last=”no”] Toomua Out Rugby.com.au is saying that Matt Toomua is likely to miss the entire Rugby Championship as he’s still recovering from concussion and other head knocks. The Toom Raider has a bit of history with concussion, having spent a few months out in 2014 after suffering back-to-back head knocks, where it…

After the kicking shambles on the weekend – highlighted here, here and here – it seems the right time to have a kicking camp for Bernard Foley, based entirely on rugby gifs. Finding Touch Low Trajectory Messi Try Nutties Lineouts & Chip Kicks BOD Bend It Like Larkham Soccer Ring-in

Friday’s Rugby News is jam-packed with misery, with the squads announced for next Bledisloe, a restructure of Super Rugby on the cards, Ben Ryan, Fiji 7s coach, deciding where he wants to go next (probably NZ), and Brett Papworth getting angry (again). [one_half last=”no”] Squads Announced Both nations have announced their squads for Saturday night’s second Bledisloe in Wellington. Big news for the good guys is the return of Quade at flyhalf, with Foley filling in the problem inside centre spot. Next to Bernard Foley, Tevita Kuridrani has been swapped out for Samu Kerevi. At lock and flanker, 5 and 6,…

Thursday’s Rugby News has a thumbs up for Michael Cheika sent with regards by Bill Pulver, worrying stuff about Adam Ashley-Cooper’s contractual obligations with his French club, talks stalling over a global season, and Shipperley signing for the Rebels. [one_half last=”no”] Vote of Confidence ARU CEO Bill Pulver has come out in support of Michael Cheika, telling the press (via the Guardian) that the latter’s position as head coach of the Wallabies isn’t under threat. This is despite Australia not winning a game since the World Cup semi-final against Argentina, 5 tests ago. “Our national coach is hurting and really the…

Wednesday’s Rugby News has people complaining about the Giteau Law and Cheika defending it, Cheika figuring out who’s gonna play at 12, the Western Sydney Rams adding a Midas touch, and more bug news. [one_half last=”no”] Leave Giteau Law Alone Michael Cheika has defended the controversial overseas player rule that he himself got introduced, reports rugby.com.au. The players brought back from overseas to play for the Wallabies – Will Genia, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Drew Mitchell and Matt Giteau – have come under scrutiny for displacing domestic-based talent and then underperforming. In response to this, Cheika said: “Any of the criticism about our…

It’s Bledisloe time!!! And here to celebrate are eight rugby gifs just for you! No Kneed For That Whiteout Last 13 Years In 1 Gif Kefu Snafu Perfect Grace Jones Up the Guts No Kneed For That: Round 2

“Sharing is caring” obviously didn’t get through to the bigwigs at the IOC, so there’s only a few clips here from the Olympics. However, there are a few choice clips of Fijians barging through defences, two funniez from last week’s Super final (remember that?) as well as a clip from the Brisbane club final and another of a lazy Saffer prop. It’s Friday, get some rugby gifs into ya. Raaaa!!!! Make Your Own Luck Fancy Footwork Back Yourself Finisher Move Over, James O’Connor Hypnotic Hand of Lightning Lineout throw

With the men’s rugby 7s’ debut at the Olympic Games right around the corner, GAGR is bringing you fellow rugby fans a two-part guide to the game. The first half was about the different roles within a sevens team. This half will cover how the top four teams approach the game strategically and a bit of insight into how the Aussies plan to stop them thanks to Australian men’s 7s coach Andy Friend. You can hear our full interview with Andy in the podcast below. Who has qualified? First of all: Unlike the common format of the travelling world 7s series, the Olympics tournament will…

And like that, another season comes to a close. Before you see the first Super 18 comp off on the weekend, you have to watch some rugby gifs. That’s just how it works. This week, we have a comparison of four things to look out for: 1) the skills and thrills at flyhalf; 2) the team’s defensive ability; 3) how these teams attacked each other last time they played; 4) last and most importantly, how sweet their lids are. Enjoy! Run Beauden Run Chip Kriel Meal McOutzie Movable Object vs Unstoppable Force Go Behind To Get In Front Dreamboat Shiprock

Rugby 7s is more than just a bunch of superfit superhumans shaming us all with their lung capacity and their back-handed flicks offloads. Yeah, it’s true. There’s actual a fair amount of detail concerning player roles and team tactics, with a few important deviances from standard 15s doctrine too. So buckle up buckaroos, and crack open that cranium to feast on the nutritional informational goo that is GAGR’s Guide to Rugby 7s Tactics (with help from Andy Friend, coach of the Aussie men’s 7s team). The Fundamentals To be any chance of playing 7s at the highest level, you’ve gotta be…

Who would want to be a ref? Even if you have a good game, your history will forever be stained by one little gaffe. Well in that sense I guess, at least Our Angus isn’t a politician. Or a morning tv show host. Or a basketballer. Actually, you know what, being a ref sounds alright. It’s a bit hard getting some sweet gifs together when two of the four games this weekend were blowouts, so there’s a bit of a mish-mash for this rugby gifs Friday. Someone (I wonder who?) has made a brilliant, subtitled gif of the Angus Gardner Gate…

Despite having half the quarter-finals spots in this year’s playoffs, Kiwi fans still manage to find something to whinge about. It’s just not enough to be really really really good at rugby is it? So in honour of our funny-sounding cousins, this week we have eight Super nice tries: two from the Highlanders, one from our boy Folau, one from an American dude, one from the Brumbies-Force game, as well as a try off a grubber, a Sunwolves lineout move that outfoxes the Sharks, as well as James O’Connor’s favourite sort of try, the box-kick chargedown. Enjoy your Friday rugby gifs!…

It’s only July and Australian rugby is having yet another “back to the drawing board” moment. That’s like, the third one this year. The only right thing to do is give Australian rugby a fair shake; that is, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. This week there’s an Australian forward showing some nice ball skills, what happened when the Waratahs played the Blues previously, Will Skelton showing what he’s good for, James O’Connor having an absolute Barry, Nemani Nadolo answering all of Australia’s wing questions…for Fiji, and the Honey Badger making himself a target. It’s Friday, which means it’s…

Friday’s Rugby News has the Sevens squad announced, comings and goings at the Force and Waratahs, SANZAAR defending its bad decisions, and Bill Pulver philosophising. [one_half last=”no”] Olympic Squads Named The squads for the rugby sevens at the Rio Olympics have been announced. Nick Malouf and Melissa Etheridge are surprise inclusions, given that their Jarryd Hayne-esque dream of playing rugby in the Olympics looked all but over when the both of them suffered season-ending injuries early in the season. Fortunately for the both of them, they’ve both returned to full fitness in time for Rio. John Porch is another surprise inclusion…

Thursday’s Rugby News has more Quade news, changes to the Tahs before they play the Blues, Holmes endorsing a 2017 Reds coach, and maybe perhaps a few little changes to the Super format from next year on. [one_half last=”no”] More Quade News AKA more of the good stuff. There’s a few different Quade stories going around today. As the SMH is reporting, if Quade signs on for a Super side to play the 2017 season, that will make him eligible to play for the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship later this year. That fact also corroborates with the rumours that Michael Cheika has been…

Wednesday’s Rugby News has Quade leaving Toulon, officially, Meakes signing for the Force, officially, the Fainga’a brothers meeting all sorts of milestones, and John Connolly ragging on Aussie rugby. [one_half last=”no”] Quade Leaves Toulon Quade Cooper has confirmed he’s left French club Toulon, reports Sky Sports and others. Posting on Twitter in French, Quade told his horde of dedicated fans “Goodbye, thanks everyone, to my brothers and my family in Toulon, I’ll miss you. See you soon.” Interestingly, he also tweeted:”When I get back to Aus I’m going to whoop Jarryd Hayne at Fifa & in return he will join…

Tuesday’s Rugby News has dreams being shattered, the Force gunning for a win, rule changes in France that could benefit us all and Joe Tomane’s crocked himself again. [one_half last=”no”] Tell Him He’s Dreamin’ It’s over. Jarryd Hayne is not gonna go to Rio, as he has missed on a spot in the Fijian rugby sevens squad. Telling the world in a Facebook post yesterday, the Hayne Plane wrote: “As much as I would have loved to go to Rio, I too knew I wasn’t ready yet. During my time with the team, I pushed my body above and beyond. I used all…

For the past couple of weeks,  the GAGR podcast has been rife with talk about the best rugby XV based entirely on sweet lids. As haircuts are a visual thing, so we’ve put together a pictorial accompaniment to the hairdo chat. Make sure you check out Ardie Savea’s wedgetop, Lopeti Tomani’s pitchfork thingy, Angus Ta’avao’s 90s throwback frost tips, Campbell Magnay’s ranga take on Mr. T, as well as whatever Israel Dagg is trying to do with his bonce. Most important, pay your respects to the Sweet Lids captain, ‘Tatafro’ Polota-Nau. Any suggestions? Feel free to pipe up in the…

Monday’s Rugby News has Dave Dennis and the Tahs still hopeful they can make it to the promised land, Ed Jenkins staying put, assurances from Kiwis that being really really really good at Super rugby means little in the Test arena, and a new exciting pre-season rugby tournament that will put the Vegas in Brisvegas. [one_half last=”no”] Waratahs Still Hopeful The Waratahs reckon they still can get into the Super finals, despite digging themselves into a hole with the loss against the Hurricanes on Saturday. This weekend, the Brumbies play the Force in Canberra while the Waratahs travel to Auckland…

Whatever it takes, please, Bill Pulver, bring back our Quade! If he’s not needlessly high tackling someone, he’s pulling out some amazing ball skills. The hate and hype he conjures has been sorely missed during his half-hearted stay over in the south of France of Toulon. Rebels or Reds, just bring him home. This week we’ve got, in honour of Quade, slickness all around. We’ve got slick camera angles, slick hands and slick tries. Back by popular demand, there’s another ripper Japanese try. It’s Friday, so get some rugby GIFs into ya. Slick Vid Slick Hands Awoo~~ga Fijian Flyers Round the…