Rugby Australia

Former British and Irish Lions star to join Wallabies coaching staff

Parling played for the Rebels in 2018 and has made successful transition into coaching, engineering the Melbourne lineout over the past two years.

In Super Rugby AU, the Rebels had the best lineout success (88 per cent), ahead of the Brumbies and Waratahs (both 83 per cent).

Brumbies coach McKellar was the first target for the Wallabies, but told Dave Rennie he wanted to remain working in Canberra this year after his assistant Peter Hewat opted to take up a role in Japan.

Bledisloe Cup: Wallabies can train together in quarantine in NZ - Jacinda Ardern

The Wallabies are due to play the All Blacks in two Bledisloe Cup matches in New Zealand.

The Wallabies coach had complained about the lack of preparation time due to quarantine requirements.

Ardern told Morning Report the Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield was happy for the team to train together while in quarantine.

Training will be allowed from day three and the full squad from day six.

Hooper will take 2021 Waratahs sabbatical to play under Steve Hansen in Japan

It was last April when swingeing Covid-19 pay cut arrangements were confirmed by Rugby Australia following lengthy discussions with the Rugby Union Players Association.

To compensate for the loss of earnings, Rugby Australia agreed that a half-dozen of its top stars would be permitted to seek out six-month contracts overseas outside of the international Test window. This stipulation has now been taken advantage of by Hooper who will join Toyota Verblitz who have ex-All Blacks boss Hansen and ex-Wallabies assistant Simon Cron on their management ticket.  

All Blacks coach gives the thumbs up to Aussie competition

New Zealand and Australia have held their own editions of Super Rugby this year after the already troubled five-nation version was halted by Covid-19 travel restrictions.

Negotiations over a joint competition for 2021 have stalled over New Zealand's reluctance to involve all five Australian teams because of a perceived lack of player depth across the Tasman Sea.

Foster, however, said he had seen encouraging improvement over the course of Super Rugby AU.

Rugby Australia confirm 'Super Saturday' to sign off regular season of Super Rugby AU

Rugby Australia announced it had shifted the Melbourne Rebels’ clash with the Western Force at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle – originally scheduled for September 4 – to Saturday, September 5 at 5.05pm.

Immediately following that match, the Queensland Reds and the Brumbies will clash at Suncorp Stadium at 7.15pm.

It means the two sides that will play off in the qualifying final will have the same number of day’s preparation time.

The NSW Waratahs have a final round bye.

Wallabies faced with possibility of four-match Bledisloe Cup series to be held in New Zealand

He has, however, conceded there is a chance the Wallabies may have to try and snatch the coveted silverware off the All Blacks for the first time since 2003 while playing solely in New Zealand.

A four-match series is expected to be played between the two sides between October and November, with both nations pencilled in to host two matches apiece.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the first of the two clashes to be held in Australia would take place on October 10 in either Sydney or Perth, while the second would be held on October 17 in Brisbane.

Australia mourns death of former Wallaby captain Tooth

A premier utility of his time praised for his safe hands and hard-hitting nature, Tooth was Australia’s 41st Wallaby Test captain.

Hailing from Bombala in south-eastern New South Wales, Tooth did not take up Rugby until undertaking his studies at the University of Sydney in 1948, where he was coached by former All Black lock, Harold Masters.

A gifted playmaker, Tooth’s first representative honours came when he was selected at inside centre for the Australian Universities in a three-match series against New Zealand Universities.

Steve Hansen says New Zealand Rugby owes Australia nothing as Super Rugby debate heats up

In an interview with Stuff, Hansen said New Zealand owed Australia nothing in a week where tensions have escalated between the two nations following the revelations of findings from the Aratipu review into the future of Super Rugby.

The review has been undertaken to find ways to improve and re-shape the competition in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with one suggestion being an increase in Kiwi teams and a reduction of Australian sides in a trans-Tasman tournament.

All Blacks versus Kangaroos gets thumbs up

New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson has confirmed a hybrid rugby-rugby league match is one of several funding raising options being considered although test rugby remains its priority.

Australian media reports have suggested a 14 a side match has been pencilled in for early December and Robinson says it one of a number of options they are considering to boost their coffers.

Wallabies boss Dave Rennie open to picking players based in New Zealand and Japan

Former Glasgow and Chiefs coach Rennie is quarantining in his native New Zealand and isn’t likely to arrive in Australia until after Super Rugby AU’s July 3 restart.

Rugby’s shutdown has given him ample thinking time and he described the Giteau Law as “under discussion”.

The law allows those playing overseas with 60 or more test caps and seven years of service to Australian rugby to play for the Wallabies, a loosening of the policy that allowed Matt Giteau to play in the 2015 World Cup.