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Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Australia v Lions: first Test minute-by-minute live updates
Australia 0 Lions 0 10:29am: Can't remember a contest so weighted in the Lions' favour. A win is the minimum objective. In truth, Lions are 10-12 point favourites. Mick Cleary 10:28am: Ronan O'Gara wonders if the Lions are rolling the dice by not having Owen Farrell on the bench. "I think the call for back up ten had to be Owen Farrell," ROG said in his Irish Examiner column. "The Lions can't afford to lose Finn Russell early. The Wallabies will be licking their lips if that scenario arises." Lions, Ireland and Munster forward Tadhg Beirne ahead of the first Test against Australia. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan 10:27am: Nothing like the opening vibe of a Lions series. Gabba in 2001 still sends shiver down the spine, the night the Sea of Red flooded into town. Looks like a repeat show in 2025. Mick Cleary 10:26am: "Winning the opening Test is key as it keeps you in the fight to the final whistle on the last day of action," says Donal Lenihan, someone intimately familiar with the Lions. "That's the clear goal for the Lions. Given the list of injuries the Wallabies have had to cope with, Schmidt may have to settle for a competitive performance in the hope that the cavalry return next week in time to keep the series alive." You can read Donal's column here. 10:25am: We're 30 minutes from kick-off of the first of three Tests between the Lions and Australia. BRITISH & IRISH LIONS: H Keenan (Ireland); T Freeman (England), H Jones (Scotland), S Tuipulotu (Scotland), J Lowe (Ireland); F Russell (Scotland), J Gibson-Park (Ireland); E Genge (England), D Sheehan (Ireland), T Furlong (Ireland); M Itoje (England) – captain, J McCarthy (Ireland); T Beirne (Ireland), T Curry (England), J Conan (Ireland). Replacements: R Kelleher (Ireland), A Porter (Ireland), W Stuart (England), O Chessum (England), B Earl (England), A Mitchell (England), M Smith (England), B Aki (Ireland). AUSTRALIA: T Wright; M Jorgensen, J-A Suaalii, L Ikitau, H Potter; T Lynagh, J Gordon; J Slipper, M Faessler, A Alaalatoa; N Frost, J Williams; N Champion de Crespigny, F McReight, H Wilson - captain. Replacements: B Pollard, A Bell, T Robertson, T Hooper, C Tizzano, T McDermott, B Donaldson, A Kellaway.
The 42
26-06-2025
- Business
- The 42
The Irish rugby club in Perth buzzing to have the Lions in town
THERE WILL BE thousands of Irish fans travelling Down Under in the next few weeks to be part of the Lions' famous 'Sea of Red.' Given the hefty Irish representation in the Lions squad and staff, there has never been more reason to make the trek. But this tour is also significant for the Irish who call Australia home. Around 2.5 million people there have Irish heritage and more than 100,000 Irish-born people are living Down Under. We're talking about roughly 10% of all Australians being connected to Ireland. So a green-tinged Lions tour is very welcome indeed. And the Lions' first stop on tour is a case in point. Perth is a popular destination among the estimated 40,000 Irish people who emigrate to Australia annually. Mining, construction, and medical jobs are big draws, as is the chilled-out lifestyle and natural beauty on the west coast. Tralee man Brendan O'Mahony – who has been in Perth for 14 years – is a project manager with Civmec, a construction and engineering company that was involved in building Optus Stadium, the venue for the Lions' opening game against Western Force on Saturday. O'Mahony is also the president of Perth Irish RFC, who are celebrating their 10th season as a club. Lions fever has been rife among Perth Irish and they welcomed the tourists' chairman, Ieuan Evans, and CEO, Ben Calveley, down to their home at Centenary Park earlier this week. All the local senior competitions have a bye this weekend because of the Lions' visit, but Perth Irish are hosting a junior rugby carnival on Saturday morning. Optus Stadium in Perth. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Most people involved in Perth Irish will then be at the Western Force game on Saturday evening and many of them will fly to the east coast to be at one or more of the Lions' Tests against the Wallabies. 'Rugby union is struggling in Australia but within our expat circle, there's a lot of excitement around the Lions,' says O'Mahony. 'Thankfully, the Wallabies have started to pick their socks up a little bit. Two years ago, it wasn't looking good for a Lions tour, but I think they'll give them a good match now.' Advertisement Whatever about the Wallabies' renewal under Joe Schmidt, there's no doubt that Perth Irish hope to keep going from strength to strength. The club was founded in early 2016. Seamus Walsh, a Waterford man, had been bringing his son to play junior rugby elsewhere and couldn't help but notice how many Irish kids and parents there were. We could nearly start our own thing, he thought. So they did. A meeting took place at the Irish Club of Western Australia in the Subiaco suburb of Perth. Walsh and some friends formed the rugby club and took to Facebook to get the message out. O'Mahony was among a group of around 40 lads who turned up for the first few training sessions. He played in the club's first-ever trial game against Curtin University in March 2016. 'It was a tough slog for a couple of years,' says O'Mahony, 'but it was always good fun and it was all about growing the club.' The Perth Irish women's team. Perth Irish RFC Perth Irish RFC Perth Irish expanded slowly but surely and they won their first silverware in 2019 with Western Australia Championship Grade success, which remains their only title so far. The women's team was launched in 2017, another big milestone. But then Covid hit and almost killed the club. They just about clung on and launched their 'second phase' in 2022, using what tiny amount of money was left in the club account to hire an online marketing specialist to get their name out to the Perth public. Nowadays, Perth Irish have more than 100 registered adult players between two men's and one women's teams, as well as around 45 junior players. Premier Grade is the highest level of club rugby in Western Australia and Perth Irish aren't at those lofty heights yet, playing instead in the Championship Grade competition. There is a crop of Irish expats involved in the Premier Grade competition, but Perth Irish have had a few former All-Ireland League players through the club over the past decade. They even welcomed ex-Leinster number eight Leo Auva'a in for a short stint. 'You wouldn't want to be standing in front of him,' says O'Mahony with a laugh. Perth Irish are always keen to let people know that the club isn't just for those with Irish roots. They have even debated whether the name is holding them back a bit, but the message is getting out there. They've had 23 different nationalities play for the club. They currently have four Kenyan players – one of whom is among their leading lights – and they've had English, Scottish, Welsh, Australian, Kiwi, and even Japanese players at different stages. Everyone gets a good Irish welcome. Some of the junior players in Perth Irish. Perth Irish RFC Perth Irish RFC As well as the other rugby clubs in Perth, there is competition from the many other sporting codes. There are two local Australian rules teams in the AFL – both play in Optus Stadium – while cricket, soccer, basketball, netball, and field hockey are all popular. A rugby league club, Perth Bears, are due to join the NRL in 2027. Then you have the Irish competition. The Gaelic Athletic Association of Western Australia is made up of seven football clubs and four hurling teams. So the natives and expats alike have plenty of choice. Perth Irish will be hoping this Lions tour gives rugby union a much-needed boost. And they will welcome any future arrivals from Ireland with a typical céad míle fáilte. 'Perth is not a big city, it's probably no bigger than Cork,' says O'Mahony of living there. 'It's all spread out in the suburbs and it doesn't feel like you're living in a big city. It doesn't feel like a big rat race. 'It's a lot more laid-back, a good beachy vibe, you've got Margaret River down the road. It's a nice way of living. 'I do feel like there's always a preconceived notion of Australia where everybody's reference point is Home & Away, so they think we're surfing before work and at lunchtime and we go down and buy a juice off Alf Stewart and all that carry on. 'But no, we work hard over here. I reckon that the Irish at this stage probably have a better work-life balance than we do over here. 'So you do work hard but when you're off, it's a beautiful place. For nine or 10 months of the year, you don't even need to check the forecast. That makes a difference.' Having the Lions in town this week has made it even more enjoyable.
The Irish Sun
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Meet the VERY glam British & Irish Lions WAGs… including stunning blonde who underwent jaw-dropping body transformation
THEY'RE the sporting superteam made up of the finest rugby players from England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland. The 19 Nika van der Merwe and her husband Duhan van der Merwe, 30 Credit: Instagram/neeks_vdm 19 Fashion model Beth Dolling, 25, is dating English rugby player Marcus Smith 19 Emma Canning, 28, with partner Scottish rugby player Finn Russell, 32, and kids Credit: Instagram/@ec4nning 19 Emma is a former heptathlete Credit: Instagram/@ec4nning The talented squad are followed by a legendary group of fans - known as the "Sea of Red". But their biggest supporters are closer to home - and will be cheering them from the touchline as they take on the Wallabies down under, as well as playing seven pre-Test matches. Here we look at the loyal WAGS who celebrate every try alongside their very own Lionhearts. Emma Canning and Finn Russell, Scotland Former Scottish heptathlete, READ MORE IN WAGS They had a brief split in 2021 but have since patched up their relationship and now share The family currently live in Bath, but prior to moving and becoming a mum, Emma was a promising track and field athlete. Unfortunately, she suffered a stress fracture to her shin when she was just 19 which impacted her training and performance and led to an operation to put a metal plate in her leg. In 2018, she took the decision to have the plate removed because she was "training in pain" but she was forced to take a lengthy break from competing, which left her admitting she "struggled mentally, emotionally and physically." Most read in Rugby Union This year she has returned to competitive athletics and recently hit back at a troll who commented: "Must be invigorating to know your only talent is to be in a relationship with a talented person.' She replied: 'Actually – there's room for two Scottish athletes in our relationship. Lol,' accompanied by a video of her long jump competition. Andy Farrell picks Simon Easterby among British & Irish Lions coaching team Beth Dolling and Marcus Smith, England 19 Beth has 37,000 followers on social media Credit: Instagram @bethdolling 19 She has been dating Marcus since 2019 London-based fashion model The brunette beauty has appeared in campaigns for online fashion giants such as PrettyLittleThing, Missy Empire, Rebellious and more. She has 37,000 followers on Instagram and frequently shares photos of her Last month she posted a loved up snap of the couple with the caption: "5 years together with the loml! Love you with my whole heart." As well as modelling she is also budding singer, occasionally showing off her vocals to fans on TikTok. Dina Celina and Blair Kinghorn, Scotland 19 DIna Celina, 32, is a registered nutritionist Credit: 19 She is the fiancee of Blair Kinghorn Credit: Instagram Nutritionist Dina Celina, 32, is originally from Norway and is the fiancee of Scottish ruby player Blair Kinghorn, 28. The pair revealed their engagement in November last year after three years of dating. The proposal took place during a romantic break at the posh Gleneagles Hotel and the date has been set for August 25. Dina has a BSc Honours in Nutrition from Queen Margaret University with a Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr) accredition. She maintains that gut health is the main driver of health and posts videos of the healthy, anti-inflammatory meals she makes for Blair when he is in recovery from injury. The couple now live in France, where Blair plays for Toulouse. Sophie De Patoul and Josh van der Flier, Ireland 19 Sophie De Patoul is a digital marketing freelancer Credit: Instagram/@sophie_depatoul 19 The Irish beauty is in a relationship with Josh van der Flier Credit: Instagram/@sophie_depatoul Dublin born The happy bride shared a picture with the caption: "Got to marry my best friend." The pair have been together since 2019 but Josh didn't pop the question until 2021. Back in her college days, Sophie attended Muckross Park College before attaining a BA in Business and Spanish at Technological University Dublin. She also spent time studying at Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko in Spain where she brushed up on her Spanish. Sophie, who is also Belgian, worked part time as a waitress and as a sales adviser at Brown Thomas. Now, she works as a digital marketing freelancer. Nika van der Merwe and Duhan van der Merwe, Scotland 19 Nika van der Merwe has 21,000 followers Credit: Instagram/neeks_vdm 19 The gorgeous Scottish couple got married two years ago Edinburgh-based content creator Nika van der Merwe, wed As a content creator and "social media expert", Nika frequently shares work updates and glimpses into her personal life to Instagram. Nika is also the founder of social media agency, Sound Colour Social, and the women's hiking club, She Wanders. She also owns two adorable French bulldogs called Moosie and Ziggy. In the past, fans have referred to her as the "queen of the wags". Chloe Rose and Luke Cowan Dickie, England 19 Chloe loves to post fun snaps to her Instagram Credit: Instagram/chlo_rosexx 19 Chloe Rose is the wife of English hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, 31 Credit: Instagram 19 She has recently posted pics of her incredible body transformation after slimming down Credit: Instagram/chlo_rosexx The couple welcomed their son Arlo during the 2020 Six Nations, just weeks before the 2019 World Cup. Sharing the news on social media, Luke wrote: 'So this is my little man, Arlo Cowan-Dickie, and he is already my [world]. Thanks for the kind messages – him and mum are doing great.' The Chloe has recently been on her own fitness journey and often shares snaps of her herself flaunting her incredible body transformation, looking honed and toned. Mimi Fall and Maro Itoje, England 19 Mimi Fall and Maro Itoje met at a modelling shoot 19 They married just weeks ago Mimi revealed the engagement via social media captioning a picture of her shiny ring "Mrs I to be." They tied the knot last month in a glamorous ceremony in London's Mayfair, with Mimi posting: "We cried, laughed and danced - yes I had 5 outfits because life is for living." The pair, who are also models, allegedly met during a photo shoot. Today, Mimi models for W MODEL MGMT and Boom Models Agency. She is also a talented artist with her own dedicated page @mimifallart. Mimi is also a lover of food and shares artsy snaps of her dishes via her page @comedinewithmi. Katherine Egan and Dan Sheehan 19 Katherine Egan is Daniel Sheehan's, 26, long-term girlfriend 19 The pair have been together since around 2017 Irish beauty The pair have shared adorable pics together over the years with one snap dating back to 2017. . While the Dan has made his name in rugby, Katherine has sporting pedigree in her own right as a hockey player with UCD, where she also studies Medicine. Ever supportive of one another, they attended the 2022 The pair also seem to love travelling together to a variety of exotic destinations such as Bali and Santorini.
