Latest news with #BenCalveley
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Respects paid to first Lions captain Robert Seddon
British and Irish Lions chair Ieuan Evans and chief executive Ben Calveley attended a wreath laying ceremony for Robert Seddon, the first Lions captain, who drowned in the Hunter River during the first Lions tour to Australia in 1888. Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh (left) British and Irish Lions chair Ieuan Evans (centre) and chief executive Ben Calveley (right) [Getty Images] [Getty Images]
BBC News
06-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Respects paid to first Lions captain Robert Seddon
British and Irish Lions chair Ieuan Evans and chief executive Ben Calveley attended a wreath laying ceremony for Robert Seddon, the first Lions captain, who drowned in the Hunter River during the first Lions tour to Australia in 1888.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
British and Irish Lions send 'very clear' Australia warning over releasing Test stars for tour matches
Caution: Australia head coach Joe Schmidt does not want his top stars risking potential injury before Lions Test series (AP) The British and Irish Lions have warned Australia they will be in breach of contract if they fail to release their Test stars for all tour games involving Super Rugby teams. Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt has allowed Western Force players Nick Champion De Crespigny, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain and Nic White to take part in Saturday's first match Down Under in Perth. Advertisement However, all those from the Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies, including big names such as Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Rob Valetini, will not face the Lions until the Test series. Given Australia's lack of depth, Schmidt is keen to avoid picking up any injuries while their warm-up fixture against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6, which takes place the day after the tourists meet the Waratahs, is another obstacle. However, Lions chief executive Ben Calveley has reminded the hosts of the terms of the tour contract, knowing Andy Farrell's men want to play the toughest possible opposition to provide adequate preparation for the opening Test on July 19. "We'll see a competitive fixture at the weekend and that's what we're looking for. We want to make sure our guys are battle-hardened when it comes to the Test series," Calveley said. Advertisement "The agreement is very clear - it says that Test players have to be released to play in fixtures leading into that series. That is our expectation. Warning: Lions CEO Ben Calveley wants to ensure that all their tour matches are competitive (AFP via Getty Images) "We'll play the game at the weekend and will carry on having discussions with (Rugby Australia chief executive) Phil Waugh and will take it step by step. "It's really important that these games are competitive. It's not just from a performance standpoint but it's also right for the fans, partners and broadcasters, who are all expecting competitive fixtures. That would be their expectation as well." Calveley declined to reveal what action the Lions could take if Schmidt will not be budged from his current policy, but it is clear the tourists hold all the aces given the vast revenue they generate for hosting countries. Advertisement A sold-out Aviva Stadium turned red for Friday night's send-off in a display of commercial power from the elite of British and Irish rugby, who continue to be a huge draw. Argentina won an entertaining but scrappy game 28-24 and given they are positioned three places higher than the Wallabies in the global ranking in fifth, they could be viewed as a more credible tour destination than Australia. There are also calls for France to be added to the current rotation that is completed by South Africa and New Zealand. For now, however, fixtures against other nations will be bolt-ons to existing destinations rather than stand-alone tours. "There are different teams around the world that we might be interested in playing against in future. Traditionally that's been consigned to a pre-tour element - Dublin, Murrayfield - so we'll probably focus on that," Calveley said. Advertisement "We're also interested when we go away on tour to see if we can bring in other countries like Japan and Fiji to feature in those games as we build up to the Test element. "We're open and we're flexible, but right now there are no plans to change the rotation of the tour structure." Calveley was speaking at a 'Welcome to Country' ceremony, a 20-minute First Nations cultural experience held in in Perth's Kings Park.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How to watch Western Force vs British and Irish Lions: TV channel and live stream today
Keys to the attack: Finn Russell will start at fly-half for the Lions against Western Force (Getty Images) The British and Irish Lions officially begin their Australia tour today, meeting Super Rugby's Western Force in Perth. The summer got off to a disappointing start last week as Andy Farrell's side were beaten 28-24 by Argentina in a warm-up clash in Dublin, losing their claim to the 1888 Cup. Advertisement They came back into contention after trailing 21-10 at the break thanks to a well-timed booking for Mayco Vivas, but could not get the comeback over the line. The Lions have not had long to get themselves shipshape, with a run of nine games over six weeks looming large. The tour Down Under will culminate in a Test triple-header against the Wallabies. After finishing ninth of 11 in their 2025 Super Rugby campaign, the Western Force could present a good opportunity for the Lions to get back to winning ways. They have named a strong side for the tie, though, after Lions CEO Ben Calveley warned Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt about releasing Australia players for tour matches. Advertisement After meeting the Western Force, the Lions will face the Queensland Reds, New South Wales Waratahs, ACT Brumbies and both an Invitational Australia and New Zealand XV and First Nations and Pasifika XV, in addition to their Test matches. How to watch Western Force vs British and Irish Lions TV channel: Today's match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action. Coverage begins from 10am BST ahead of an 11am kick-off at Optus Stadium in Perth. Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can catch the action online via the Sky Go app. The match will also be available via NOW TV. Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport's live blog.
France 24
27-06-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Australia and Lions yet to resolve tour sticking point
The Lions arrived in Perth last weekend with chief executive Ben Calveley warning the governing body that releasing key players was part of the tour agreement. But on the eve of their opening match against Western Force, the two sides are still at loggerheads. "It's still not resolved, but we need to work constructively to resolve it," RA chief executive Phil Waugh told News Corp. newspapers following several meetings on the issue. "We've got a very clear position on it and we're working with them to resolve it and so hopefully that'll be resolved imminently." The Force will field six Wallabies who have been released from Australia's training in Sydney. But teammates Carlo Tizzano, Jeremy Williams and Harry Potter have been held back by Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt. Only two Queensland Reds players -- Matt Faessler and Hunter Paisami -- have been released for the Lions' second game in Brisbane next week, with six others remaining with the extended Australian squad. The tourists' third match against NSW Waratahs is a day before the Wallabies play Fiji, so there is unlikely to be a slew of releases for that game. Australia are keen to avoid key players picking up injuries ahead of the three-Test Lions series, which starts in Brisbane on July 19. "Like all agreements, interpretation is a big part of them," Waugh said, noting that it was a balance between player welfare and ensuring every game was as competitive as possible. But he stressed that RA and the Lions have "a really constructive partnership alliance". "It's been strong right through from the establishment of the joint venture and the planning for the tour and so we're working constructively with them in partnership for the tour," he added. Calveley told reporters this week that the agreement with RA 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. Lions coach Andy Farrell steered clear of the topic when pressed on Thursday. "For me I've got enough on my plate making sure that we deal with ourselves, certainly at this period of the early stages of the tour," he said. © 2025 AFP
