logo
Wallabies release Reds pair Faessler and Paisami for Lions clash

Wallabies release Reds pair Faessler and Paisami for Lions clash

France 2426-06-2025
The move follows Lions chief Ben Calveley demanding that top Australian players appear for their Super Rugby sides in ensure competitive warm-up matches to their three-Test series.
"Matt Faessler and Hunter Paisami will return to Brisbane today to prepare with the Queensland Reds," the Wallabies posted on social media late Wednesday.
But six other Reds players remain with the Wallabies extended squad as they prepare for a one-off Test against Fiji in July 6, including Queensland captain Tate McDermott.
Calveley told reporters their agreement with Rugby Australia was "very clear".
"It says that Test players have to be released to play in fixtures leading into that series. That is our expectation," he said.
The Lions open their nine-game tour against Western Force in Perth on Saturday.
Force are set to field five Wallabies -- Nick Champion de Crespigny, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain and Nic White -- who have all been released from Wallabies training in Sydney.
But team-mates Carlo Tizzano, Ben Donaldson, Jeremy Williams and Harry Potter have been retained in camp by Australia head coach Joe Schmidt.
Schmidt is keen to avoid key players picking up injuries ahead of the Test series, which starts in Brisbane on July 19.
It remains to be seen whether he releases players for Lions clashes against the NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies ahead of the opening Test.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Kazakhstan hosts historic Virtus World Basketball Championships
Kazakhstan hosts historic Virtus World Basketball Championships

Euronews

timea day ago

  • Euronews

Kazakhstan hosts historic Virtus World Basketball Championships

In Astana, Kazakhstan, a crowd erupted as Australia's men's team sealed gold in the 5x5 final at the 2025 Virtus World Basketball Championships. But for athletes with intellectual disabilities, this moment was about more than winning. It was about visibility, recognition and a renewed call for inclusion on the world stage. The Virtus World Basketball Championships, held for the first time in Asia, brought together athletes from 11 countries, including France, Australia, Poland, Japan, Portugal, Spain, Venezuela, Italy, the United States and Kazakhstan. Teams competed across two formats: the traditional 5x5 and the 3x3, which is rapidly gaining popularity. Australia dominated in both formats. In the men's 5x5, Australia won gold, Portugal took silver, and Japan claimed bronze. In the women's 5x5, Australia also secured gold, with Spain taking silver and Japan earning bronze. Australia's women's team additionally won gold in the 3x3 competition. For Zach Jordin, point guard for the Australian team, the experience was unforgettable. 'It feels amazing to win. It's been a long week and it feels great to get it done in the end,' he said. 'It's a massive honour to represent my country and I think this will show what people with intellectual disabilities can do and prove that we can play this sport,' Jordin said. He now has his sights set on Brisbane 2032. The championships were jointly organised by the National Basketball Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Virtus, the global federation for athletes with intellectual disabilities, including those with Down syndrome and autism. Founded in 1986, Virtus supports elite competition in more than a dozen sports and oversees eligibility and classification systems designed to ensure fair play. Athletes compete in three classification groups: II1 (Intellectual Impairment) for those with intellectual disability, II2 for athletes with more complex impairments such as Down syndrome or cerebral palsy, and II3 for autistic athletes without intellectual disability. This championship had athletes competing in the II1. The fight to return to the Paralympics Athletes with intellectual disabilities were removed from the Paralympics following a cheating scandal in basketball at the 2000 Sydney Games. They were reinstated in 2012, but only in athletics, swimming, and table tennis. Basketball has not returned to the Paralympic program. Barry Holman, Secretary General of Virtus and a board member of the Virtus International Basketball Federation (VIBF), said that exclusion continues to hold athletes back. 'There was a team, a country, that wasn't honest about all of its players. That caused a lot of problems and challenges for all athletes with intellectual disability. They were all removed from the Paralympics. We think unfairly,' Holman said. 'We should punish people who don't use fair play in sport, but the whole class of people were removed,' he added. The VIBF is now pushing for the inclusion of 3x3 basketball in the Paralympic programme, with the aim of having both men's and women's teams compete by the 2032 Games in Brisbane. This championship is seen as a crucial first step towards that goal. Holman noted that the championship represents more than just a competition. It gave athletes the chance to demonstrate their skill and dedication to basketball, and to be recognised as experts in something they love. 'When they show how they can dribble, pass, shoot, and score, it also shows that they can be successful in life, have jobs, families, and do all the things we all want to do,' Holman shared. Portugal's results in Astana reflected years of investment. Winning two medals, a bronze medal in the 3x3 championships and a silver in the 5x5 tournament. Portugal previously competed in eight finals, winning five of them and becoming vice champions the other three times. Jose Costa Pereira, team leader of Portugal and member of the Virtus Federation, noted that the country's program extends far beyond basketball. 'Yesterday, our Down Syndrome futsal team won a gold medal in Ferrara, Italy. Three medals in less than a week.' Pereira attributes Portugal's success to its structure as they organise more than 300 events a year. 'We are part of the Portuguese Sports Federation for all disability groups. We are responsible for intellectual impairment that includes intellectual disability, Down syndrome, and autism,' he said. The host country used the event as a launchpad to expand its own efforts. Dina Temirgaliyeva, President of the Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities in Kazakhstan, said the event sent a clear message to society. 'Two years ago, we submitted an application on behalf of our federation and our country. We have been doing a lot of work to bring the World Championship to Kazakhstan,' she said. Kazakhstan laying the groundwork for change In 2025, Kazakhstan hosted two major Virtus events for athletes with intellectual disabilities: The World Tennis Championship and The World Basketball Championship. 'This is an important step because the public can see the professionalism and training of athletes with intellectual disabilities. Parents must believe in their children. They need to believe that they can be in society through sport.' Temirgaliyeva explained that Kazakhstan has now officially included intellectual disability athletes in its national Spartakiad. 'Previously, the Spartakiad was only for athletes with musculoskeletal disorders, hearing and vision [Impairment]. And now finally all this has been officially included,' she said. The country is also preparing athletes for upcoming Virtus events in swimming, athletics, and table tennis. Abay Alpamyssov, President of the Kazakhstan Basketball Federation, reflected on the long road to inclusion. 'Thirty years ago, we didn't even have a way to diagnose disabilities. So we've come a long way since then, and it was crucial for us to support and host this event,' he said. He added that this event carries a deep social significance besides sports. It also marks the formation of Kazakhstan's first basketball team for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Looking ahead, Temirgaliyeva emphasised that these developments are just the beginning. They aim to create a pathway for athletes from Kazakhstan and across Central Asia to take part in the 2026 Para-Asian Games and ultimately qualify for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

Wallaby Suaalii says Lions memories inspired his code change
Wallaby Suaalii says Lions memories inspired his code change

France 24

timea day ago

  • France 24

Wallaby Suaalii says Lions memories inspired his code change

The 21-year-old wing, who was man-of-the-match on debut for the Wallabies against England at Twickenham in November, said that playing against the Lions would eclipse his achievement of playing in rugby league's fierce State of Origin rivalry. "Yeah, that was probably the biggest carrot for myself," he told reporters ahead of Saturday's first Test in Brisbane. "These are the biggest games, they happen only every 12 years, so that was probably the biggest thing coming across." Suaalii said he had been inspired by the two tries scored by another rugby league convert, Israel Folau, in the opening Test of the 2013 series, the last time the Lions toured Australia. "I was nine. In my house, all the young kids sitting on the floor, and I just remember being real close to the TV," he said. "I remember watching (Folau), Kurtley Beale, all these different players do their thing in the game and it sparked something for myself," he added. "So to be a part of this squad, it's amazing." Suaalii played down any thoughts he might carry on a feud with Lions centre Sione Tuipulotu when they renew hostilities on Saturday. The pair had to be separated when they first encountered each other at Murrayfield last November. Suaalii had stayed down after injuring his arm in a big hit on Scotland captain Tuipulotu, who then fired off some verbals at the Wallaby. Suaalii jumped back to his feet and said: "I will see you next time," before heading off for treatment. "I feel like there's been a lot of talk around that moment but at the end of the day it's just a game of footy," Suaalii said. "I'm a big believer that whatever is said on the field stays on the field. "I'm not going to speak on it. Obviously fans want to see a rivalry and all that but, at the end of the day, it's a team sport and I'm just trying to do the best for the team." © 2025 AFP

Ireland prop Clarkson called up by Lions as front row cover
Ireland prop Clarkson called up by Lions as front row cover

France 24

time2 days ago

  • France 24

Ireland prop Clarkson called up by Lions as front row cover

England hooker Jamie George had already been called up by the Lions on Saturday after Luke Cowan-Dickie suffered a suspected concussion in the 48-0 win against a combined Australia-New Zealand XV in Adelaide. A day later, the Lions announced they would bring in more reinforcement in the front row by flying in tighthead prop Clarkson from Lisbon, where he was part of an Ireland team that beat Portugal 106-7 on Saturday. Clarkson's call-up swells the Irish contingent in the Lions squad, led by Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, to 18 players. The 25-year-old Clarkson was given his Ireland debut by Farrell in November and has won eight caps. His Ireland teammate Jamie Osborne, who can play centre or full-back, is already with the Lions in Brisbane after being summoned from Portugal as cover for Blair Kinghorn, who injured his knee last week. Scotland's Kinghorn, widely regarded as first-choice Lions fullback, landed awkwardly in the 36-24 win against ACT Brumbies last Wednesday but scans on the knee showed no serious damage. "We're hopeful that he will take some part in training (this week)," said Lions defence coach Simon Easterby of Kinghorn. "Then it will be a little bit of a waiting game in terms of whether he's available for the first Test." The Lions, winners of all five warm-up matches in Australia leading into the first Test, have already lost Welsh scrum-half Tomos Williams to a torn hamstring and English fullback Elliot Daly with a broken arm.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store