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Wales Online
2 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Lions to play eight different opponents on tour as two special teams formed
Lions to play eight different opponents on tour as two special teams formed From Argentina in Dublin to a string of Super Rugby heavyweights, here is who Andy Farrell's side will take on Jac Morgan and the Lions face a number of different teams in Australia (Image: 2025 Getty Images ) It is not just Australia who lie in wait this summer – the Lions will take on seven other teams as part of the tour. All the fixtures are fully confirmed, with games in Australia kicking off at 11am UK time. After Friday's match against Argentina in Dublin, the tour will begin as a host of Super Rugby sides and special invitational teams await the challenge of facing the iconic team from Britain and Ireland. Here's a look at what to expect… Argentina: Friday, 20 June (8pm KO) Visitors to Dublin for the Lions' first-ever match in Ireland this Friday, Argentina have flown under the radar of late despite having an impressive 2024/25 season. They beat South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia in the Rugby Championship, eventually finishing third, only two points behind The All Blacks. Article continues below They have stars across their 23, with recognisable names like Julian Montoya, Santiago Carreras and Juan Martín González all plying their trade in the Premiership. Los Pumas will present a tough test to start the 2025 Tour. Western Force: Saturday, 28 June (11am KO) The Lions' first opponents on tour, Perth-based Western Force, are Australia's weakest Super Rugby side. With four wins from a possible 14, they comfortably missed the Super Rugby Finals despite showing flashes of the team they could be in years to come. The Force's squad features Wallabies Ben Donaldson and Carlo Tizzano, amongst others, and could cause trouble for the Lions on their day. Openside flanker Tizzano has been in particularly fine form for club and country, leading Super Rugby in tackles in 2024 and impressing in Green and Gold last autumn. Queensland Reds, Wednesday, 2 July (11am KO) The Queensland Reds are perennially there or thereabouts in Super Rugby. Led by the likes of Fraser McReight, Tate McDermott and Harry Wilson, they play a flash brand of rugby that can be brilliant to watch at times. Jac Morgan of Wales and Fraser McReight of Australia at full time. Head coach Les Kiss's main issue is finding consistency, as they have built a tendency to let half-time leads slip and have suffered some damaging defeats late in games. New South Wales Waratahs, Saturday, 5 July (11am KO) The Waratahs have had an up-and-down season in Super Rugby but may boast the most star power of any of the Australian sides, with Joseph Sua'ali'I shining the brightest. The cross-code star phenom is a truly dynamic athlete who can often beat teams on his own. With talent elsewhere in the 23, including Taniela Tupou, Jake Gordon, and Angus Bell, the Tahs could cause the tourists problems if they find the same form that helped them beat the table-topping Chiefs in April. ACT Brumbies, Wednesday, 9 July (11am KO) With nine wins from 13, the Brumbies were the shining light of Australian rugby during the regular season and made the Finals with ease, including a statement win over the Auckland Blues at Eden Park. Their squad is packed with Wallabies, including flying full-back Tom Wright, but they were well beaten 37-17 by Waikato Chiefs in the semi-finals. The cross-code star, formerly of the Manly Sea Eagles, has scored 10 tries in 37 appearances for the Wallabies, including a hat-trick against Wales in the autumn. When he is in top form, the Brumbies usually are too. Invitational Australia & New Zealand, Saturday, 12 July (11am KO) The Australia & New Zealand invitational side is one of two wild cards on the tour. This team will likely be made up mainly of players currently playing in Japan. Such names would include the likes of Aaron Smtih, Richie Mo'unga and Samu Kerevi, so the 23 aren't to be written off. They will be led by Reds head coach Les Kiss, who will then become Wallabies head coach after the Lions tour. First Nations & Pasifika XV, Tuesday, 22 July (11am KO) Like the Aus & NZ XV, there is not yet too much indication of who will be playing for the First Nations & Pasifika. It is a combination of players from First Nation and Polynesian heritage, which opens up some intriguing options. Ardie Savea, Kurtley Beale, and Will Genia are all available for selection, with Genia sending out a 'come and get me' plea to both of the invitational sides' head coaches. The Wallabies, Saturday, 19 July; Saturday 26 July; Saturday, August 2 (all 11am KO) Article continues below As 2023 turned into 2024, before the arrival of Joe Schmidt, the Wallabies seemed to be in disarray. With the Lions tour looming, many were predicting a complete tour whitewash. Just over a year later, however, Schmidt has righted the ship, and Australia are ready to tear into the tourists. Although they finished bottom of the Rugby Championship, their performance in the autumn has raised hopes as they beat both England and Wales away from home.
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Super Rugby spin-off: new comp to fix fixture shortage
Rugby Australia have moved to fill a gaping, five-year fixtures hole by confirming a rapid-fire Super Rugby AUS tournament. The ACT Brumbies, NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds and Western Force will face off against each other over three rounds in September, with the top two teams then contesting a grand final on October 5. The national under-19 competition will run alongside it and include multiple double-headers. It comes five years after the second-tier National Rugby Championship was axed as part of cost-saving measures following the COVID-19 pandemic. That competition nurtured players like Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight, as well as coaches like Brad Thorn, before they burst onto the Super Rugby scene with the Queensland Reds. But its absence has created a troublesome gap, and lack of domestic playing opportunities compared to rival nations, that has finally been addressed. "We have worked closely with the Super Rugby clubs to identify a suitable window within our domestic competition calendar to play more meaningful, quality matches," RA high performance boss Ben Whitaker said in a statement on Tuesday. "This first iteration of Super Rugby AUS will address that need, support the ongoing growth and development of the players and high performance staff, and give rugby fans more opportunities to watch their favourite Super Rugby teams in action. "The Super Rugby Pacific season is relatively short and sharp, and the contracted players who aren't involved with Wallabies can go a long time between games at that level, especially once club rugby finals commence in August." Venues and kick-off times are yet to be finalised. Rugby Australia have moved to fill a gaping, five-year fixtures hole by confirming a rapid-fire Super Rugby AUS tournament. The ACT Brumbies, NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds and Western Force will face off against each other over three rounds in September, with the top two teams then contesting a grand final on October 5. The national under-19 competition will run alongside it and include multiple double-headers. It comes five years after the second-tier National Rugby Championship was axed as part of cost-saving measures following the COVID-19 pandemic. That competition nurtured players like Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight, as well as coaches like Brad Thorn, before they burst onto the Super Rugby scene with the Queensland Reds. But its absence has created a troublesome gap, and lack of domestic playing opportunities compared to rival nations, that has finally been addressed. "We have worked closely with the Super Rugby clubs to identify a suitable window within our domestic competition calendar to play more meaningful, quality matches," RA high performance boss Ben Whitaker said in a statement on Tuesday. "This first iteration of Super Rugby AUS will address that need, support the ongoing growth and development of the players and high performance staff, and give rugby fans more opportunities to watch their favourite Super Rugby teams in action. "The Super Rugby Pacific season is relatively short and sharp, and the contracted players who aren't involved with Wallabies can go a long time between games at that level, especially once club rugby finals commence in August." Venues and kick-off times are yet to be finalised. Rugby Australia have moved to fill a gaping, five-year fixtures hole by confirming a rapid-fire Super Rugby AUS tournament. The ACT Brumbies, NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds and Western Force will face off against each other over three rounds in September, with the top two teams then contesting a grand final on October 5. The national under-19 competition will run alongside it and include multiple double-headers. It comes five years after the second-tier National Rugby Championship was axed as part of cost-saving measures following the COVID-19 pandemic. That competition nurtured players like Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight, as well as coaches like Brad Thorn, before they burst onto the Super Rugby scene with the Queensland Reds. But its absence has created a troublesome gap, and lack of domestic playing opportunities compared to rival nations, that has finally been addressed. "We have worked closely with the Super Rugby clubs to identify a suitable window within our domestic competition calendar to play more meaningful, quality matches," RA high performance boss Ben Whitaker said in a statement on Tuesday. "This first iteration of Super Rugby AUS will address that need, support the ongoing growth and development of the players and high performance staff, and give rugby fans more opportunities to watch their favourite Super Rugby teams in action. "The Super Rugby Pacific season is relatively short and sharp, and the contracted players who aren't involved with Wallabies can go a long time between games at that level, especially once club rugby finals commence in August." Venues and kick-off times are yet to be finalised.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Super Rugby spin-off: new comp to fix fixture shortage
Rugby Australia have moved to fill a gaping, five-year fixtures hole by confirming a rapid-fire Super Rugby AUS tournament. The ACT Brumbies, NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds and Western Force will face off against each other over three rounds in September, with the top two teams then contesting a grand final on October 5. The national under-19 competition will run alongside it and include multiple double-headers. It comes five years after the second-tier National Rugby Championship was axed as part of cost-saving measures following the COVID-19 pandemic. That competition nurtured players like Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight, as well as coaches like Brad Thorn, before they burst onto the Super Rugby scene with the Queensland Reds. But its absence has created a troublesome gap, and lack of domestic playing opportunities compared to rival nations, that has finally been addressed. "We have worked closely with the Super Rugby clubs to identify a suitable window within our domestic competition calendar to play more meaningful, quality matches," RA high performance boss Ben Whitaker said in a statement on Tuesday. "This first iteration of Super Rugby AUS will address that need, support the ongoing growth and development of the players and high performance staff, and give rugby fans more opportunities to watch their favourite Super Rugby teams in action. "The Super Rugby Pacific season is relatively short and sharp, and the contracted players who aren't involved with Wallabies can go a long time between games at that level, especially once club rugby finals commence in August." Venues and kick-off times are yet to be finalised.
News.com.au
06-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Reds' Super Rugby finals hopes end in quarter finals again as Crusaders make Queensland pay
The Reds have failed to progress past the first week of the Super Rugby Pacific finals series for a fourth year in succession, with Queensland completely outclassed by the clinical Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday night. The Queenslanders were never in the contest, with the Crusaders dominating all over the park in slippery conditions to win 32-12. It was perhaps even a scoreline that flattered the visitors, who were trailing 27-0 in the 70th minute before scoring back-to-back consolation tries through replacement hooker Josh Nasser and star flanker Fraser McReight – both when the Crusaders only had 14 men on the field following flanker Ethan Blackadder being yellow carded for a swinging arm. Fittingly, it was the Crusaders who scored the final try of the game, with replacement halfback Kyle Preston crossing over out wide to send Queensland packing again. The Reds also lost at the same stage of the finals against Kiwi teams in New Zealand in 2022, 2023 and last year. 'Again we've fallen over at the quarter-finals (week one),' disappointed Queensland skipper Tate McDermott said. 'We'll continue to work out what we need to do to go forward.' The Hurricanes led 12-0 at half-time, and the margin could have been greater such was the Reds' failure to value possession and a lack of discipline. Poor handling from McReight led to the Hurricanes' first try in the 17th minute. The Reds had won a lineout near their tryline, but McReight couldn't hold the ball, allowing Crusaders lock Scott Barrett to scoop it up and force his way over the line for a five-pointer. The visitors continued to cough up possession and were again punished just before the half-hour mark when Crusaders prop Tamaiti Williams proved too strong close to the line to extend his side's lead. By half-time, the Queenslanders had already conceded six penalties compared to Crusaders' one. The Reds were also hit with an injury blow, with flyhalf Tom Lynagh forced off in the 35th after suffering another head knock and subsequently failing his concussion test. With no replacement No.10 on the bench, fullback Jock Campbell moved to flyhalf and replacement Tim Ryan, usually a winger, assumed the custodian role. The procession continued after half-time with Crusaders half-back Noah Hotham and flyhalf Rivez Reihana each scoring tries to put the game to bed. 'You've got to give credit to the Crusaders. They were all over us at the breakdown and collision area and we just couldn't get into our cycle,' McDermott said. 'They're really good at disrupting your ball and slowing you down, and they did a good job at that.'
RNZ News
02-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Ardie Savea headlines Super Rugby Team of the Year
Ardie Savea of Moana Pasifika. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea headlines a tournament team named following the conclusion of the round-robin phase of Super Rugby. Super Rugby organisers have announced an honorary team with the first-ever Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Year to officially be recognised next year. The team is formed from the top-ranked players in each position based on Player of the Year votes from across the season. The votes come from players on other teams. Savea received the most votes of any player and was recently named Player of Super Rugby Pacific. The Super Rugby Pacific statement said where players played or are capable of playing multiple positions, for Team of the Year purposes they were assigned only the position that they most played during the 2025 season. Carlo Tizzano, Fraser McReight and Langi Gleeson could not initially be separated for the third back row position, having received the same amount of Player of the Year votes (29). The Player of the Year tie-breaker was to compare the number of 'three votes' received, which saw Gleeson (4) surpassed by Tizzano and McReight (both 5). Remarkably both flankers received the same number of 'three votes', 'two votes' and 'one vote' during the season, which means they share the final back row selection. Cam Roigard of the Hurricanes celebrates a try. Photo: Masanori Udagawa / PHOTOSPORT 2025 SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC TEAM OF THE YEAR PROPS Allan Alaalatoa (ACT Brumbies, 20 votes), Angus Bell (NSW Waratahs, 14 votes) HOOKER Tevita Ikanivere (Fijian Drua, 19 votes) SECOND ROW Jeremy Williams (Western Force, 21 votes), Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues, 20 votes) BACK ROW Ardie Savea (Moana Pasifika, 46 votes), Tom Hooper (ACT Brumbies, 31 votes), Carlo Tizzano (Western Force, 29 votes) / Fraser McReight (Queensland Reds, 29 votes) HALF BACK Cam Roigard (Hurricanes, 28 votes) FIRST FIVE Damian McKenzie (Chiefs, 36 votes) CENTRES Timoci Tavatavanawai (Highlanders, 32 votes), AJ Lam (Blues, 14 votes) WINGERS Harry Potter (Western Force, 18 votes), Kini Naholo (Hurricanes, 18 votes) FULLBACK Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (NSW Waratahs, 20 votes)
