Latest news with #BritishandIrishLions
ABC News
13 hours ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Nic White reflects on playing the British and Irish Lions as Western Force captain
It has been 12 long years in the making, and Nic White has said it will be a dream come true when he gets his chance to play against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday night. Earlier this year, White opened up on the heartbreaking shoulder injury that robbed him of the chance to face the Lions in 2013, saying it felt like his world ended. ABC Sport will have live blog coverage of the British and Irish Lions' tour of Australia this July and August. Now 35 years of age and still in the Wallabies squad, White will captain the Western Force against the Lions in the tour opener in front of more than 40,000 fans at Perth Stadium. In the lead-up to the match, there's been a common theme running through his mind. "Don't get injured," White said with a laugh. "Twelve years ago I got injured and missed that opportunity, and it's been in the back of my mind for a long time now, a bit over a decade. "To get the opportunity to play against the Lions is unreal. It's a real dream come true, words don't really do it justice." Having missed out on the chance to face the Lions as a 23-year-old, White said he appreciates how special the once-in-a-12-year opportunity is. "Once I missed that series, young and naive, I was like, 'I'm going to play in Australia and for the Wallabies for the next 10 years,'" he said. "That's just not a reality, is it? "I went overseas early, and that was always in the back of my mind that if I had an opportunity to come back to Australia around that time, I'd love to give it another nudge. "Just playing the Lions as part of a Super Rugby side is a huge deal. "It really is a pinch-me moment. A lot of people have these dreams, but for the dream to come true, it's pretty rare and pretty special." AAP
Daily Telegraph
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Telegraph
Justin Harrison-Martin Johnson feud to ignite on TV
Don't miss out on the headlines from Wallabies. Followed categories will be added to My News. The television executives who thought it was a good idea to partner Justin Harrison with Martin Johnson during Australia's upcoming series against the British and Irish Lions might have got more than they bargained for. The pair have history - including a long-running feud that has never been resolved - prompting some anxious reservations about how they'll get along when they're seated together in Stan's Rugby Heaven studio. The big hope is that things won't end up like Ian Chappell and Ian Botham, who once started scuffling in the car park, though no-one is sure how it will all play out. Most rugby fans already know the backstory to their bitter dispute, but few are aware of the last fiery exchange when Harris and Johnson nearly came to blows. Justin Harrison was a master in the lineouts. Their row initially kicked off way back in 2001 when Harrison, on debut for the Wallabies, famously stole a lineout from Johnson to clinch Australia's first and only series win over the tourists. While Harrison was proclaimed a national sporting hero and has gone to become a television celebrity, Johnson took the defeat hard, developing a deep dislike for Australians that drove him to the ultimate revenge when he captained England to victory over the Wallabies in the 2003 World Cup final. But what few people know is the pair had another fallout years later after a chance meeting at the Hong Kong 10s when Harrison was there with the Classic Wallabies. Justin Harrison bested Martin Johnson on many an occasion, whether the latter played for England or the Lions. Picture: Getty Images Goog, as he's known to his mates, is a well-known prankster who loves winding people and having a laugh and Hong Kong is the one place where rugby fans all over the world come to let their hair down and take the mickey out of each other. So when Harrison spotted a photograph in the clubhouse of him pinching another lineout from Johnson, he thought he'd have a bit of fun with it, unaware that the former Lions skipper was in the crowd that day. Like all good yarns, it starts with 'I had a few beers under my belt' but we'll let Harrison fill in the rest. Australian lock Justin Harrison was adored by fans in his playing days. Picture: AFP 'There's a lineout picture, not the Lions one but England v Australia and I'm winning the lineout against Johnson, so I take it off the wall and I'm walking around the artificial turf there at Hong Kong football club like a boxing ring girl. 'And someone goes 'Johnno's here, he's at the game, over in the VIP section.' 'So I walk over and I'm standing on the field with this photo and I see him, he's in about row six, and I said 'let's get a photo. 'I thought it was pretty funny but he goes 'f…k you' like proper serious. 'So then there's a bit of a verbal and I'm like 'c'mon on then, come here' and the crowd's into it and singing 'Johnno's a wanker' and I'm geeing them up and he keeps telling me to 'f… off.' 'But that was my last interaction with Johnno and now he's coming down here for a partnership and we're on a panel together. 'So, that's gonna be interesting, right? I better break bread with him.' Former England skipper Martin Johnson, pictured announcing his retirement in 2004, is on his way back to Australia. FORCE 'DEVASTATED' TO LOSE POTTER Western Force coach Simon Cron says losing Wallabies winger Harry Potter to the Waratahs is 'devastating'. Potter will join NSW from next season. 'Potts is a great man, a big part of our team, and it's a shame we've lost him,' Cron said. 'We'd love to keep everybody out west. But Potts has got to do what's best for him and his family and the support staff around him, so devastating to lose him. 'Great fella, great team man. But we wish him all the best. And we're supportive of what's best for Potts.' Wallabies flyer Harry Potter is in high demand. Picture: Getty Images It opens the door for the Force to poach NSW winger Darby Lancaster in what could be a straight swap. 'Obviously, we've got some players coming in there and we need to add a few more into the back three, into the middle of the field and a couple in the tight five,' Cron said. 'We're always on the hunt for the guys that will fit into our environment and the squad and add to the team.' FANS SCRAMBLE IN FLIGHT CHAOS Thousands of British and Irish Lions are scrambling to get to Australia in time for Saturday night's opening match against the Western Force after being delayed by the tensions in the Middle East. The threat of missile strikes in Iran, Israel and US bases in the Gulf region have forced massive changes to the available air routes in the region, with hundreds of flights diverted and cancelled. It has caused chaos for the rugby fans travelling to Perth with some passengers stranded at airports waiting for the next flight while others were turned around and sent home. British and Irish Lions fans are passionate and travel in strong numbers - if they can get here. RA'S MOVE AGAINST HATE SPEECH Rugby Australia has signed a landmark agreement to protect players, refs and coaches from toxic online hate speech. Working closely with former counter-terrorism expert Shane Britten, Rugby Australia has signed a partnership with Social Protect, an AI-powered social media app that detects and deletes harmful and abusive comments from a user's social media profile in real time. The move comes after World Rugby last year charged an Australian resident with sending online abuse to referees after tracking through the AI. 'We're proud to be leading the way in Australian sport and sending a clear message that abuse and harassment - online or offline - have no place in rugby,' RA chief executive Phil Waugh said. Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh. Picture: Getty Images PHILLIP'S TURNING HEADS Former Wallabies lock Matt Phillip has put himself in contention for the chance of playing against the Lions after an eye catching return to Australia. The towering two-metre tall lock has spent the last two seasons in Japan but has signed a new deal with the Waratahs and is available to play for New South Wales against the Lions at Allianz stadium on July 5. But his main goal is to get back into the Wallabies after his last appearance at the 2023 World Cup. Matt Philip last played for the Wallabies at the 2023 World Cup. Picture: Getty Images The 31-year-old has been included in the Wallabies' wider training squad and made a big impression on his comeback to Shute Shield, playing 60 minutes for Sydney University against Gordon at Chatswood Oval last weekend. 'It would definitely be my biggest achievement so far,' he said. 'It happens once every 12 years. 'I'd love to be in the national team again but obviously a lot of things have to happen again.' WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL LEAGUE TIPS OFF Australia's men's Wheelchair Basketball League tips off this weekend and it's shaping up to be the most competitive season yet. Six international imports – double last year's total – and a full squad of U23 World Championship reps, fresh from Brazil, will take to the court across NSW, QLD and WA. This includes two Paris-bound Paralympians; 19-year-old Eithan Leard and 20-year-old Jaylen Brown, both now back on home courts after playing pro in Italy. Originally published as Justin Harrison-Martin Johnson feud to ignite on TV as former rivals link up on Lions coverage
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Champion de Crespigny: Sounds like an aristocrat, plays like a gladiator
It's hard to skim past uncapped flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny's name on the Western Force team sheet. One of six of Joe Schmidt's Wallabies to be released for Saturday's fixture against the British and Irish Lions, he is known for his abrasive approach. 'A gun' is the frequently heard Australian term used to describe on will be his grandfather - Professor Rafe de Crespigny, who at 86 remains an internationally recognised historian on ancient Chinese history. However, Normandy in France is where the name originates and it was the country of his ancestors which shaped Champion de Crespigny - playing in front of nearly 80,000 in the Top14 final against eventual champions Montpellier in 2022 before returning to Australia.
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Kurtley Beale Among First 5 Selected for Indigenous Squad to Play the British and Irish Lions
The Wallaby veteran Kurtley Beale will face the British and Irish Lions on their Australian tour, though later than planned. The 95-test backline utility was slated to play for the Perth-based Western Force against the Lions in the tour opener Saturday but was sidelined with a hamstring injury and replaced by current Wallaby squad member Ben Donaldson. Instead, Beale was named Thursday as one of the first five players for the First Nations and Pasifika XV team set to play against the Lions in Melbourne on July 22. The Lions are in Australia for nine games, including tests on July 19, 26, and August 2. Beale, who hit form for the Force this year after returning from a long-term Achilles injury, played in Australia's 2–1 series loss to the Lions in 2013. For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. Rob Leota, who has played 21 tests for the Wallabies, most recently at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, was also named to the Indigenous team along with Fiji-born back rower Seru Uru. Also named were Charlie Gamble, a flanker for the New South Wales Waratahs, and Andy Muirhead, who has scored 180 points in 108 games for the ACT Brumbies since 2017. Former Australia backrower Toutai Kefu, who helped the Wallabies win the 1999 World Cup and the 2001 series against the British and Irish Lions and has been head coach of Tonga's national team, will coach the First Nations and Pasifika team. The remainder of the squad is yet to be confirmed. Lions utility back Elliot Daly knows Beale better than most of his teammates. Beale played with Daly at English club Wasps in 2016–17, and they formed a strong friendship. 'If he didn't get injured in that semifinal against Leicester in 2017, I think we would have won the title,' Daly said. 'He came at a time when we were playing attacking rugby, and he slotted in really well.' The Lions, made up of players from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England, lost 28–24 to Argentina last week in a warmup for the tour. They will play the Wallabies in tests on July 19 in Brisbane, July 26 in Melbourne, and August 2 in Sydney. The Australian section of the tour kicks off this weekend on the west coast, where Donaldson will join five other current Wallabies in the Force lineup. 'Any chance you get to play against the Lions, you probably take it with both hands,' Donaldson said.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales head to Japan seeking an end to painful run
Wales set off for Japan on Wednesday hoping the Two-test trip will see them end their painful run of international who are under the guidance of caretaker coach Matt Sherratt, will face Eddie Jones' Japan side in Kitakyushu on Saturday, July 5, with the second Test in Kobe a week suffered a 17th straight Test defeat - a record for a tier one nation - when they were hammered 68-14 at home by England in miserable stretch has seen Wales sink to an all-time lowest position of 12th in the world rankings, with Japan one position below them. Wales will arrive in Japan on Thursday for nine days of preparation as they seek a first international win since October 2023, with Sherratt's side aiming to give the chaotic Welsh rugby scene a much-needed boost. Lake leads squad featuring six uncapped players There are six uncapped players in the travelling party, while hooker Dewi Lake has been given the leads the 33-man squad in the absence of flanker Jac Morgan, who is with the British and Irish Lions in Australia along with Gloucester scrum-half Tomos captain Liam Belcher, Dragons prop Chris Coleman, Ospreys trio Garyn Phillips, Keelan Giles and Reuben Morgan-Williams and Scarlets back Macs Page are the fresh faces in second row Ben Carter, Scarlets fly-half Sam Costelow and Bath tight-head prop Archie Griffin return for Wales having missed the Six Nations due to injury, while Kieran Hardy, Alex Mann, Josh Macleod, James Ratti, Johnny Williams and Cameron Winnett have been handed number eight and Wales centurion Taulupe Faletau will provide experience alongside the likes of Josh Adams, Nicky Smith, Aaron Wainwright and Elliot Dee, who are the four survivors from the squad which went to the 2019 World Cup in Japan. Some notable absentees are Dafydd Jenkins, Adam Beard, Will Rowlands, Henry Thomas, Ellis Mee, Gareth Anscombe, Max Llewellyn, Nick Tompkins, James Botham, Evan Lloyd and Morgan Morse, who are missing due to a combination of injuries, being rested and Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Garyn Phillips, Keiron Assiratti, Chris Coleman, Archie Griffin, Dewi Lake (capt), Liam Belcher, Elliot Dee, Ben Carter, Teddy Williams, Freddie Thomas, James Ratti, Taine Plumtree, Aaron Wainwright, Alex Mann, Taulupe Faletau, Tommy Reffell, Josh Kieran Hardy, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Rhodri Williams, Sam Costelow, Dan Edwards, Ben Thomas, Johnny Williams, Joe Roberts, Macs Page, Josh Adams, Tom Rogers, Blair Murray, Keelan Giles, Cameron Winnett. Who are the coaches? Wales are still searching for a permanent successor to Warren Gatland, who left his role as head coach in February after a Six Nations defeat to coach Sherratt was asked to take charge for the final three games of that tournament and was then given the caretaker role for backroom staff will feature his Cardiff defence coach Gethin Jenkins, Harlequins duo Danny Wilson (forwards) and Adam Jones (scrum) and Gloucester's Rhys Thomas (assistant forwards coach).Wilson and Jenkins are new additions just for this trip before they return to their clubs, while former full-back Leigh Halfpenny has taken what the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) describe as a skills coach will include responsibility for kicking with the senior squad, a role occupied by Neil Jenkins for almost 20 coaches who were part of Gatland's backroom staff, including Jonathan Humphreys, Mike Forshaw, Alex King and Rob Howley, will - like Jenkins - not be involved in Japan. What about the opposition? Wales have won 13 of their 14 matches against Japan since they first met in solitary victory came in 2013, with a 23-8 win in Tokyo masterminded by Australian Jones, who is now back in charge of the Cherry return to Japan came in the wake of the 2023 World Cup, where he was in charge of an Australia side who were dumped out in the group disappointing display in that tournament included a 40-6 hammering by Gatland's Wales in have won four games and lost seven since Jones' re-appointment, and were beaten by 40 points or more by New Zealand, France and England last have not played a game since November 2024 but face a Maori All Blacks side from New Zealand on Saturday, 28 June in named a 37-strong training squad that included university student Jingo Takenoshita as one of 16 uncapped players. There was just one player with more than 50 caps in the training camp, with 87-cap back-row Michael Leitch - a veteran of four World Cups with the Brave Blossoms – likely to be a familiar face to Welsh hopes the heat and humidity in Kitakyushu and Kobe could give Japan an advantage over Wales, who have been preparing for the brutal conditions with intense fitness sessions in a heat chamber at their training base in the Vale and Glamorgan hotel. Wales v Japan head-to-head Non-capped TestsWales 62-14 Japan, Cardiff, 6 October 1973Japan 12-56 Wales, Osaka, 21 September 1975Japan 6-82 Wales, Tokyo, 24 September 1975Wales 29-24 Japan, Cardiff, 22 October TestsWales 55-5 Japan, Cardiff, 16 October 1993Wales 57-10 Japan, Bloemfontein, 27 May 1995 Wales 64-15 Japan, Cardiff, 9 October1999Japan 10-64 Wales, Osaka, 10 June 2001Japan 30-53 Wales, Tokyo, 17 June 2001Wales 98-0 Japan, Cardiff, 26 November 2004Wales 72-18 Japan, Cardiff, 20 September 2007Japan 18-22 Wales, Osaka, 8 June 2013Japan 23-8 Wales, Tokyo, 15 June 2013Wales 33-30 Japan, Cardiff, 19 November 2016.
