Latest news with #NicWhite
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Western Force v British & Irish Lions: rugby union
Update: Date: 2025-06-28T09:00:21.000Z Title: Preamble Content: There's much mystique about the British & Irish Lions; chiefly born of the legendary victorious tours of the early 1970s and the 1997 outing to South Africa with it's associated documentary. This has led many to assume and expect that the Lions is about winning, but for years the tours were more about taking the notion of home country and nostalgia out to the colonies as a celebration of the putative factors that united us. Losing overall usually came in tandem with this. Handy then, that this year's tour has managed to uphold tradition and heritage by losing nice and early so all the 'invincibles' chat can be shushed. However, the loss v Argentina was not technically part of the actual tour, so maybe not. Either way, this is the first game on Aussie soil and Andy Farrell and his men will be raring to have a W on the board before they cross the country to Queensland later in the week. In the way is a Western Force side with some test experience smattered across them, not least in experienced scrum half Nic White. A quirky stat among the caps is replacement Australian hooker Nic Dolly, with his only test appearance being single game in 2021… for England. This should be a nice and comfortable opener down under for the tourists, but let's see shall we?
The Independent
5 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
British and Irish Lions vs Western Force live: Latest score and updates as tourists play first match in Australia
The British and Irish Lions face the Western Force in their first match on Australian soil in Perth as the tourists bid to bounce back from defeat to Argentina. Andy Farrell was left furious with his side's showing Dublin as they fell to a narrow loss against the Pumas, though there were signs of encouragement for the head coach as his squad continue to get up to speed. Farrell has rung the changes for this initial outing Down Under having been able to more fully integrate the Leinster contingent, and those involved in the Premiership final, after their delayed arrival into camp. It is the Western Force selection, however, that has generated more of the talking points this week, with the Lions accusing Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt of breaching the terms of the tour agreement but failing to release some of his Australia stars. There are, however, a few familiar faces on show for the Super Rugby Pacific side: scrum half Nic White is one of the game's great pests and controllers, while playmaker Ben Donaldson, a late call-up after injury struck Kurtley Beale, had a strong Super Rugby Pacific season. Lions vs Western Force live British and Irish Lions vs Western Force live The British and Irish Lions have landed in Australia and begin life Down Under with an intriguing meeting with the Western Force. It was a disappointing start for the tourists as the curtain came up on their summer with defeat to Argentina in Dublin, leaving Andy Farrell ticking - though there was plenty to encourage the Lions head coach, too. To Perth, then, for the first match of the tour proper. Kick off at Optus Stadium is at 11am BST. Harry Latham-Coyle27 June 2025 11:13
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
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Don't get injured: Nic White gets to play Lions at last
It's been 12 long years in the making, and Nic White says it will be a dream come true when he finally 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. 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's Optus 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 now truly appreciates just 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." Kurtley Beale played all three Tests against the Lions in Australia's 2-1 series loss in 2013. Beale's most memorable moment was his infamous slip while attempting to kick the match-winning penalty in the 80th minute in game one. A hamstring injury at training means Beale won't get to line up with the Force on Saturday, but he's on track to play against the Lions as part of the First Nations and Pasifika side in Melbourne on July 22. "Absolutely gutted when I found out his hamstring was no good," White said. "I'm hoping his rehab goes well and he's able to don that jersey and play the Lions again, because that would be a pretty cool story. "It's a bit more of a redemption story for him with the way 2013 went." It's been 12 long years in the making, and Nic White says it will be a dream come true when he finally 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. 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's Optus 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 now truly appreciates just 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." Kurtley Beale played all three Tests against the Lions in Australia's 2-1 series loss in 2013. Beale's most memorable moment was his infamous slip while attempting to kick the match-winning penalty in the 80th minute in game one. A hamstring injury at training means Beale won't get to line up with the Force on Saturday, but he's on track to play against the Lions as part of the First Nations and Pasifika side in Melbourne on July 22. "Absolutely gutted when I found out his hamstring was no good," White said. "I'm hoping his rehab goes well and he's able to don that jersey and play the Lions again, because that would be a pretty cool story. "It's a bit more of a redemption story for him with the way 2013 went." It's been 12 long years in the making, and Nic White says it will be a dream come true when he finally 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. 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's Optus 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 now truly appreciates just 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." Kurtley Beale played all three Tests against the Lions in Australia's 2-1 series loss in 2013. Beale's most memorable moment was his infamous slip while attempting to kick the match-winning penalty in the 80th minute in game one. A hamstring injury at training means Beale won't get to line up with the Force on Saturday, but he's on track to play against the Lions as part of the First Nations and Pasifika side in Melbourne on July 22. "Absolutely gutted when I found out his hamstring was no good," White said. "I'm hoping his rehab goes well and he's able to don that jersey and play the Lions again, because that would be a pretty cool story. "It's a bit more of a redemption story for him with the way 2013 went."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wallabies veteran White relishing 'unreal' Lions opportunity
Western Force skipper Nic White is relishing the chance to take on the Lions (SAEED KHAN) Wallabies scrum-half Nic White has been waiting 12 years to face the British and Irish Lions and on Friday called it "proper spine-tingling stuff" to finally get the opportunity this weekend. The veteran missed out on a chance to face the best of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales when they last visited Australia in 2013, with a shoulder injury shattering his dreams. Advertisement But he will lead out Western Force as skipper in Perth on Saturday in the Lions' opening tour game to finally fulfil his ambition. "It's proper spine-tingling stuff," said the 35-year-old, adding that memories of his previous injury had come back in recent weeks. "Don't get injured, that's just been going through my mind. 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. "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." Advertisement White, who has been capped 71 times by the Wallabies, is still part of the Australia squad and is set to feature in three Tests against the Lions, likely as the finishing scrum-half. Before that he has a massive job to steer Force to an unlikely victory. They were crushed by the Lions 69-17 in 2013 and failed to reach the Super Rugby knockouts this season, finishing ninth on the 11-team ladder -- the worst-performing Australian club. They are also without three key Wallabies in Carlo Tizzano, Jeremy Williams and Harry Potter. But with six other current internationals in the starting XV on Saturday, White is confident they can put up a decent fight. Advertisement "I don't think we need any extra motivation for this game," he said. "You sprinkle a little bit more extra motivation by going and telling us we're not going to be competitive and that we're no good without a handful of players. "So we're keen to show what we can do and we've certainly got some guys back that can help that cause. "And I think we've got a really, really strong side, and we look forward to testing that against the best of the North, the best of four international sides against us. It's exciting." mp/pst
