Latest news with #WorldClubChallenge
South Wales Argus
16-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Wales bring in Ben Flower to help add steel for World Cup
The 37-year-old from Abertridwr will be part of Sean Lynn's set-up for the summer training campa ahead of a two-Test tour to Australia and then the World Cup. Flower has been appointed as collision coach and has an impressive CV in that department. He played for the Dragons academy and represented Wales at under-20, 18 and 16 level alongside the likes of Dan Lydiate, Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies but then changed code after an attempt to covert him from back row forward to hooker. Flower played for the Celtic Crusaders and then the prop became a key figure for Wigan when winning three Super League titles, the World Club Challenge and the Challenge Cup, while he also won 17 caps. After hanging up his boots, he coached the South Wales Jets rugby league side and was part of the Wales Women's coaching team at the last World Cup in New Zealand. Flower said: 'Being involved with Wales is always a privilege and being asked and to have the chance of being involved with my country is an honour you don't turn down. 'Having played at a World Cup as a player and to have this chance to play a role as Wales prepare for a World Cup is an opportunity I am looking forward to.' Lynn, who is yet to enjoy a victory as national boss, believes Flower will add steel to a side whose fitness he questioned during a miserable Six Nations. He said: 'The W6N review highlighted the need to improve our collision work and dominance, both sides of the ball, as a real area we can improve on.'
The Age
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Here to entertain: Golden point on agenda for Lions series
Rugby Australia and the British and Irish Lions have agreed to use the 20-minute red card in their upcoming Test series, and, in a bid to prevent a repeat of the anti-climactic drawn Lions-All Blacks series in 2017, RA are also pushing for golden point in the three-Test series. The rule tweaks were revealed as RA boss Phil Waugh also backed the concept of a World Club Challenge tournament in 2028, but said Super Rugby participants still had to work out how it could potentially fit into an already crowded calendar. Waugh returned to Sydney on Monday after a week of meetings in Cardiff with World Rugby members, and also with Lions management, ahead of the fast-approaching tour in June, July and August. After World Rugby announced it would extend the trial of the 20-minute red card to all elite global competitions after August 1, RA and the Lions struck an agreement to use the same foul play processes in the Lions tour. Super Rugby and the Rugby Championship have used the 20-minute red card for several years, but the Six Nations only used it for the first time this year. The 20-minute red card - which allows a sent-off player to be replaced after 20 minutes and returns the game to 15-on-15 - has been strongly supported by southern hemisphere nations, to ensure a game is not ruined by an early red card. In the second Test of Lions' tour of New Zealand in 2017, Sonny Bill Williams was red-carded in the 25th minute for a shoulder charge. The Lions won 24-21. '[Wallabies coach] Joe [Schmidt] has been quite overt around the fact that one of the roles of this tour is based around entertainment and fan engagement, and he has been a big advocate for some time around the benefits of the 20-minute red card,' Waugh said.
Sydney Morning Herald
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Here to entertain: Golden point on agenda for Lions series
Rugby Australia and the British and Irish Lions have agreed to use the 20-minute red card in their upcoming Test series, and, in a bid to prevent a repeat of the anti-climactic drawn Lions-All Blacks series in 2017, RA are also pushing for golden point in the three-Test series. The rule tweaks were revealed as RA boss Phil Waugh also backed the concept of a World Club Challenge tournament in 2028, but said Super Rugby participants still had to work out how it could potentially fit into an already crowded calendar. Waugh returned to Sydney on Monday after a week of meetings in Cardiff with World Rugby members, and also with Lions management, ahead of the fast-approaching tour in June, July and August. After World Rugby announced it would extend the trial of the 20-minute red card to all elite global competitions after August 1, RA and the Lions struck an agreement to use the same foul play processes in the Lions tour. Super Rugby and the Rugby Championship have used the 20-minute red card for several years, but the Six Nations only used it for the first time this year. The 20-minute red card - which allows a sent-off player to be replaced after 20 minutes and returns the game to 15-on-15 - has been strongly supported by southern hemisphere nations, to ensure a game is not ruined by an early red card. In the second Test of Lions' tour of New Zealand in 2017, Sonny Bill Williams was red-carded in the 25th minute for a shoulder charge. The Lions won 24-21. '[Wallabies coach] Joe [Schmidt] has been quite overt around the fact that one of the roles of this tour is based around entertainment and fan engagement, and he has been a big advocate for some time around the benefits of the 20-minute red card,' Waugh said.
The Advertiser
14-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Bulldogs to headline NRL's 2026 Vegas roadshow
The NRL will attempt to capitalise on Canterbury's popularity by putting them on the plane to Las Vegas next year, alongside St George Illawarra, North Queensland and Newcastle. Head office confirmed the four men's NRL teams for the league's third Vegas extravaganza, with all teams on their maiden trip for the March 1 (AEDT) event. Newcastle will play North Queensland, before neighbouring rivals the Bulldogs and Dragons face off. Hull KR will also play Leeds in the Super League match. The NRL made no mention of a women's fixture in Wednesday's official announcement. It's expected the recent surge in popularity for the Bulldogs will help the NRL push for an increased crowd figure of 45,209 from this season. Canterbury hosted a record regular-season crowd earlier this year when 65,603 turned up for their Good Friday match against South Sydney. The resurgent club also attracted more than 24,000 for a Sunday night game against the out-of-town Knights earlier this year, to go with three straight crowds of beyond 30,000 at the end of last year. Adding to the NRL's hopes of an increased attendance is that they have been able to name the fixtures earlier, rather than in July last year and August the year before. Questions do, however, remain around the future of the World Club Challenge, after it did not go ahead this year with both Penrith and Wigan in Vegas. The Bulldogs' clear lead at the top of the ladder means they are well on track to feature in finals come September, as one of the premiership favourites. If they were to lift the trophy on October 5, it would be questionable how the World Club Challenge would fit into next year's pre-season schedule. The Cowboys also have enough strike to do damage and threaten for the premiership come September, while the Dragons and Knights would need a significant turnaround. Meanwhile, the absence of a women's match in Wednesday's announcement came after Australia trounced England 90-4 in Vegas earlier this year. NRL bosses conceded afterwards the day was potentially too long, and could be shortened for 2026. The NRL will attempt to capitalise on Canterbury's popularity by putting them on the plane to Las Vegas next year, alongside St George Illawarra, North Queensland and Newcastle. Head office confirmed the four men's NRL teams for the league's third Vegas extravaganza, with all teams on their maiden trip for the March 1 (AEDT) event. Newcastle will play North Queensland, before neighbouring rivals the Bulldogs and Dragons face off. Hull KR will also play Leeds in the Super League match. The NRL made no mention of a women's fixture in Wednesday's official announcement. It's expected the recent surge in popularity for the Bulldogs will help the NRL push for an increased crowd figure of 45,209 from this season. Canterbury hosted a record regular-season crowd earlier this year when 65,603 turned up for their Good Friday match against South Sydney. The resurgent club also attracted more than 24,000 for a Sunday night game against the out-of-town Knights earlier this year, to go with three straight crowds of beyond 30,000 at the end of last year. Adding to the NRL's hopes of an increased attendance is that they have been able to name the fixtures earlier, rather than in July last year and August the year before. Questions do, however, remain around the future of the World Club Challenge, after it did not go ahead this year with both Penrith and Wigan in Vegas. The Bulldogs' clear lead at the top of the ladder means they are well on track to feature in finals come September, as one of the premiership favourites. If they were to lift the trophy on October 5, it would be questionable how the World Club Challenge would fit into next year's pre-season schedule. The Cowboys also have enough strike to do damage and threaten for the premiership come September, while the Dragons and Knights would need a significant turnaround. Meanwhile, the absence of a women's match in Wednesday's announcement came after Australia trounced England 90-4 in Vegas earlier this year. NRL bosses conceded afterwards the day was potentially too long, and could be shortened for 2026. The NRL will attempt to capitalise on Canterbury's popularity by putting them on the plane to Las Vegas next year, alongside St George Illawarra, North Queensland and Newcastle. Head office confirmed the four men's NRL teams for the league's third Vegas extravaganza, with all teams on their maiden trip for the March 1 (AEDT) event. Newcastle will play North Queensland, before neighbouring rivals the Bulldogs and Dragons face off. Hull KR will also play Leeds in the Super League match. The NRL made no mention of a women's fixture in Wednesday's official announcement. It's expected the recent surge in popularity for the Bulldogs will help the NRL push for an increased crowd figure of 45,209 from this season. Canterbury hosted a record regular-season crowd earlier this year when 65,603 turned up for their Good Friday match against South Sydney. The resurgent club also attracted more than 24,000 for a Sunday night game against the out-of-town Knights earlier this year, to go with three straight crowds of beyond 30,000 at the end of last year. Adding to the NRL's hopes of an increased attendance is that they have been able to name the fixtures earlier, rather than in July last year and August the year before. Questions do, however, remain around the future of the World Club Challenge, after it did not go ahead this year with both Penrith and Wigan in Vegas. The Bulldogs' clear lead at the top of the ladder means they are well on track to feature in finals come September, as one of the premiership favourites. If they were to lift the trophy on October 5, it would be questionable how the World Club Challenge would fit into next year's pre-season schedule. The Cowboys also have enough strike to do damage and threaten for the premiership come September, while the Dragons and Knights would need a significant turnaround. Meanwhile, the absence of a women's match in Wednesday's announcement came after Australia trounced England 90-4 in Vegas earlier this year. NRL bosses conceded afterwards the day was potentially too long, and could be shortened for 2026.
7NEWS
14-05-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Bulldogs to headline NRL's 2026 Las Vegas roadshow alongside Dragons, Cowboys and Knights
The NRL will attempt to capitalise on Canterbury's popularity by putting them on the plane to Las Vegas next year, alongside St George Illawarra, North Queensland and Newcastle. Head office confirmed the four men's NRL teams for the league's third Vegas extravaganza, with all teams on their maiden trip for the March 1 (AEDT) event. Newcastle will play North Queensland, before neighbouring rivals the Bulldogs and Dragons face off. Hull KR will also play Leeds in the Super League match. The NRL made no mention of a women's fixture in Wednesday's official announcement. It's expected the recent surge in popularity for the Bulldogs will help the NRL push for an increased crowd figure of 45,209 from this season. Canterbury hosted a record regular-season crowd earlier this year when 65,603 turned up for their Good Friday match against South Sydney. The resurgent club also attracted more than 24,000 for a Sunday night game against the out-of-town Knights earlier this year, to go with three straight crowds of beyond 30,000 at the end of last year. Adding to the NRL's hopes of an increased attendance is that they have been able to name the fixtures earlier, rather than in July last year and August the year before. Questions do, however, remain around the future of the World Club Challenge, after it did not go ahead this year with both Penrith and Wigan in Vegas. The Bulldogs' clear lead at the top of the ladder means they are well on track to feature in finals come September, as one of the premiership favourites. If they were to lift the trophy on October 5, it would be questionable how the World Club Challenge would fit into next year's pre-season schedule. The Cowboys also have enough strike to do damage and threaten for the premiership come September, while the Dragons and Knights would need a significant turnaround. Meanwhile, the absence of a women's match in Wednesday's announcement came after Australia trounced England 90-4 in Vegas earlier this year. NRL bosses conceded afterwards the day was potentially too long, and could be shortened for 2026.
