Wallabies in danger of losing Hanigan to ambitious French club just as forward enters his prime
Ned Hanigan is one of the in-form forwards in Australian rugby who looks set to finally turn promise into quality on the international stage,…
Israel Folau says he and his Wallabies teammates have rallied around devastated Western Force players leading into their clash with South Africa in Perth.
The Force’s time in Super Rugby is over after RugbyWA lost its Supreme Court appeal against the ARU’s decision to axe the franchise.
The current Wallabies squad contains five Force players: Dane Haylett-Petty, Adam Coleman, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Billy Meakes, and Curtis Rona.
Folau said the Force players were receiving plenty of support.
“It’s obviously pretty sad, this situation for the Force guys,” Folau said.
“We’ve been getting around them as best we can and giving them our full support.
“It’s a tough one. As teammates, we’ll always be there to support them and help them through.
“Especially throughout the week – making sure they’re going alright leading into the game.
“But for those guys, I’m sure their mindset is thinking entirely about the game on the weekend.”
Billionaire mining magnate Andrew Forrest has promised to set up a rebel rugby competition taking in teams from the Indo Pacific region.
Countries like China, Japan, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia could be involved in the six-team competition.
Folau, whose parents were born in Tonga, said the competition could help build the game of rugby.
“Especially for the island countries, it would be a great pathway for them to get an opportunity to play at that top level,” Folau said.
“I guess it could be a gateway for them to open up other doors in the future.”
Folau said the recent 35-29 loss to NZ in Dunedin had given the team confidence they can match it with the best.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Ned Hanigan is one of the in-form forwards in Australian rugby who looks set to finally turn promise into quality on the international stage,…
As calls grow for the entire Rugby Australia board to be overthrown, new chairman Daniel Herbert described the agitators behind the movement as hypocrites…
Three things in the world of rugby have caught my eye this week, and got me thinking very hard about the way forward, and…
Amid a week of soul-searching for Stephen Larkham’s men, the Brumbies have received a massive boost ahead of Saturday’s home clash against the ladder-leading…
Jordan Petaia may have played his last match for the Reds, with the off-contract Wallabies back to miss the rest of the Super Rugby…
Joe Schmidt has made it clear that his preference is to pick from home in 2024. His thoughts on the Wallabies’ eligibility policy could…