Wednesday’s rugby news has more Beale, the Lions on their way, advice for Mogg & a new Rebels prop
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Beale ends his Rebel ways
It is being reported that Kurtley Beale’s tumultuous stint with the Melbourne Rebels is coming to a close. After it was reported earlier this week that Beale would be returning to the game via club rugby with Randwick, it now appears that Beale will not be returning to Melbourne at all. Instead, he will continue his off-field rehabilitation process closer to his network of family and friends. On the field, he will be a handy addition for the Galloping Greens as he attempts to make a last ditch claim to a Wallabies jersey to face the Lions.
In a good early sign of his commitment, Beale was sighted training with Randwick second-grade last night, whilst the first-grade squad undertook a recovery session. Check out who turned up to say hello in the picture above!
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You gotta be tough to be a Wallaby
Toughness is the new buzzword for Wallaby aspirants. According to Robbie Deans, ACT Brumbies fullback Jesse Mogg does not have enough of it. Left out of the initial squad for the visit of the Lions, Mogg has revealed that Deans has concerns about “the physicality of test rugby” and the ability of the Brumbies’ young fullback to handle it.
Meanwhile, according to his Super Rugby coach Damien Hill, James O’Connor has no such issues. Responding to some Ewen McKenzie jibes aimed at O’Connor following his run-in with Rene Ranger, Hill pointed to O’Connor’s past success at test level, saying any questions of O’Connor’s toughness were “unfounded given his history at that level and the way he’s competed physically in Test matches in the past”.
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Lions on their Way
The British and Irish Lions have landed in Hong Kong on the first leg of their long and winding road to the first Test against the Wallabies on 22 June in Brisbane. Making a little history, the Lions will be facing off against the Barbarians while in Hong Kong, playing their first tour match on Asian soil in their 125-year history. The Barbarians were routed by England over the weekend, going down 40-12, so will be looking for a stronger showing against the imposing Lions.
The Lions appear to be relatively injury free at this stage of the tour. Prop Gethin Jenkins will miss the Barbarians game, with a minor calf concern, but all other players in the 37 man squad are available for selection.
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Toby Smith looking to do a Crowded House
Australia has a long and illustrious history of claiming anything remotely successful that comes out of New Zealand as our own – pavlova, Crowded House and Russell Crowe (when winning Oscars, not when throwing phones or wearing Rabbitohs tracksuits in public) to name just three.
Chiefs prop Toby Smith is hoping to add his name to that list, after signing with the Melbourne Rebels. Smith, who was born in Townsville but played for the New Zealand under 20s side, stated upon signing for the Melbourne franchise that he was “looking forward to pressing my claims toward playing Test rugby in the future and taking advantage of my Australian eligibility.”
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