Gold medallist Charlotte Caslick has re-signed with Rugby Australia on a new long-term deal.
Former Wallabies captain Stephen Moore says Australian rugby must get to the root cause of their problems and stop looking for short-term solutions to fix the game.
Ireland’s coach Andy Farrell and captain Johnny Sexton have hit out at the Rugby Football Union’s tackle height law changes to the amateur game.
While fresh details have emerged of the night Kurtley Beale is alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman.
Here is today’s rugby news edition.
Boost for Australian rugby
Rugby Australia has received a boost on the eve of the Sydney Sevens, with gold medallist Charlotte Caslick signing a four-extension to stay in the game.
Her retention will see her head to Paris to spearhead Australia’s women’s sevens team and hunt for the program’s second gold medal.
Charlotte Caslick will headline Australian women’s rugby after signing a new four-year deal with Rugby Australia. Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
By doing so, she has emphatically shut the door on any permanent cross-code switch, having previously played for the Sydney Roosters in the NRLW.
“I’ll probably finish my career playing rugby and that’s a pretty exciting place for me to be,” Caslick told reporters on Tuesday.
“I have a really great relationship with the Roosters but for me, I always wanted to stay at rugby.
“Unless I play when I’m really old, but at the moment I think once I get to 31 or 32 or something I’ll probably be (ready to retire).”
Caslick is a former World Rugby Sevens player of the year and can lay claim to not only being Australia’s best female player, but arguably Australian rugby’s best player full stop.
Brilliant with the ball, Caslick is now world class in defence and over the ball.
It is those characteristics that will also have incoming Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, who will also oversee the Wallaroos program, interested in attempting to tempt Caslick to feature at the 2025 women’s World Cup.
Her magic was seen during the Hamilton Sevens as she conjured up a coast-to-coast try.
Gold medal-winning coach Tim Walsh said that Caslick had changed the way the game is played.
“Charlotte is undoubtedly the ‘Empress’ of the sevens game,” Walsh said.
“She has redefined perceptions of women’s contact sport with her inimitable power, skill, intelligence and ruthlessness.”
Having previously opened up on the heartbreak of missing out on a medal at the Tokyo Games, Caslick said it was a simple decision to stay in the game.
“I am really excited to have re-signed with Rugby Australia. They led the way in women’s sport when they professionalised our sevens program back in 2014 and they are committed to continually raising the bar,” Caslick said in a statement.
“It was a simple choice to commit to the sevens game. If you are prepared to embrace the hard work that comes with being part of the world’s best and most challenging high-performance program, then this is the sport to be involved in.
“We play a World Series. We play a World Cup. We play at the world’s two biggest multi-sport festivals: the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. There are easier options, but if you want to compete in the world’s best sport, this is where you need to be.
“The Australian team is made up of an amazing bunch of talented women that I love training with and genuinely enjoy playing alongside. I know my best playing days are still ahead of me – look at Sharni Williams who, at 34 years old, is an integral part of our squad and an inspiration to many. I am so thankful for the continual support of Tim Walsh, the trainers and staff, and can’t wait to see what we can achieve together over the next four years.”
Former Wallabies coach Stephen Moore says Australian rugby need to invest in the grassroots of the game and build the game up from the bottom up. Photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images
Moore’s truth bomb for Rugby Australia
It’s been half a decade since Moore hung up the boots, but already the highly decorated rugby figure says he deeply concerned by the direction Australian rugby is heading in.
The former Wallabies captain, who competed at three World Cups and led Australia to the final of the 2015 tournament, didn’t miss when he said Rugby Australia must build the game up from the bottom up.
“Australian rugby has drifted from one level of mediocrity to the next over the last couple of decades, and we’ve never been honest about that,” Moore told CODE Sports.
“We’ve never fundamentally looked at the problems, and here we are again replacing the Wallabies coach.
“Sure, there’s a lot of positivity around Eddie – and I think he’ll do a really good job – but at what point are we going to fundamentally address the issues with rugby in Australia?”
He added: “It’s disappointing. I’m really disillusioned with the game, which is a shame, and a lot of my mates who l played rugby with are in the same boat.
“I’d dearly love for it to turn around, but the things I see and hear just blow me away.”
Eddie Jones is back as Wallabies coach, but Stephen Moore says Australian rugby’s troubles extend beyond the coach. Photo: Nick Laham/Getty Images
Moore said greater planning had to be put in motion to ensure the Wallabies had multiple candidates to coach the national team and lead the team from a captaincy perspective.
While Moore questioned the sustainability of five Super Rugby franchises, the former hooker said money had to be pumped into the grassroots of the game.
“It starts with community rugby, goes up to the provincial game, the women’s game and Sevens rugby,” Moore says.
“It’s been 20 years since we’ve been fair dinkum about being the best in the world.
“At different times over the past 20 years, we’ve had mixed levels of success – a World Cup final here and there – and for a long time we have been in the top two or three teams in the world, which is great. But we’ve never been the best in the world.
“That’s where we’ve been before and where we need to get to, but there’s no real long term vision for the game in Australia that I can see.”
Moore also supported moving to a centralised system, which Ireland adopted almost two decades ago and have tweaked ever since.
“We need to be honest in saying that we need to build it back from the ground up,” Moore said.
“Changing the Wallabies coach, while it comes with some positivity, it’s not going to solve the problems in the long term.
“We need to work together a lot more, that’s really important.
“We need more alignment between the provincial unions around high performance, commercial arrangements – all that kind of stuff.
“For that to happen, the head organisation needs to be humming. We need to get our own backyard in order before asking New South Wales, Queensland and the Brumbies to sign up.”
Johnny Sexton (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Tackle height changes smashed by rugby stars
It’s fair to say Ireland’s master and commander have not missed regarding the RFU’s tackle height changes.
Farrell and Sexton were speaking at the Six Nations launch in London on Monday and the highly respected duo slammed the proposed changes, which were announced last week.
Farrell, a former dual-international turned defence coach and now head coach with Ireland, said teaching the correct technique and not fundamentally changing the tackle was important.
“I think it’s super important that what has to come with [the new laws] is the correct coaching, the correct technique,” he said.
“If you are ever just saying to a kid that ‘you need to tackle lower’, then you become even more vulnerable in my opinion. If you’re just sitting there with your arms in front, trying to wrap, with your head down etc you’re a sitting duck. [It’s an accident] waiting to happen.
“The coaching and technique of how it’s applied to tackling below the waist is absolutely crucial, otherwise we’re going to have a serious problem.”
Sexton, who suffered multiple concussions, came out strongly against the changes.
“Look, I don’t agree with it,” the 37-year-old fly-half said.
“There’s no point sitting on the fence really, is there? I just think you have tall people who play the game. It should be their decision to how they tackle.
“Of course we need to get the head shots out of the game, but the tackles we really need to take out are the reckless, out-of-control, sprinting-out-of-the-line, tucking arms, all of those types of ones.
“Hitting someone [at chest level] should be an option. It’s not like you can’t get concussed by chopping someone’s knees. I’ve seen a hell of a lot of concussions from people getting their head on the wrong side, a knee to the temple or a hip even to the side of the head. So, I strongly disagree.”
Beale’s return could be over before it started
The future of the Wallabies’ most capped indigenous player, Kurtley Beale, is hanging by a thread.
The 34-year-old was arrested on Friday for an alleged assault on a 28-year-old woman on December 17 at the Beach Road Hotel in Bondi Beach.
It is understood that Beale was with teammates on the evening of December 16. The Herald reports he was with no teammates, however, when the alleged incident is said to have occurred in the early hours of December 17.
Later that evening, Beale was charged for two counts of sexually touching another person without consent, inciting another person to sexually touch them without consent, and sexual intercourse without consent.
He was subsequently stood down by Rugby Australia.
Beale is expected to plead not guilty to the charges, with his barrister, Stephen Stanton, on Saturday telling the court his client’s phone call activity was “an admission of infidelity, no more, no less”.
Beale was granted bail on the condition that he does not contact the complainant, does not enter an airport, surrenders his passport and reports police at Waverley twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays.
His case was adjourned to Waverley Local Court on March 22.
Given that Beale signed a one-and-a-half-year deal with the Waratahs and Rugby Australia, which finishes following the World Cup in France later this year, the 95-Test Wallaby will likely struggle to be offered another contract regardless of the outcome of the trial.
St George Illawarra player Jack de Belin spent two-and-a-half-year on the sidelines as he fought sexual assault charges in court.
De Belin returned to play in June, 2021, after two trials resulted in hung juries and the Director of Public Prosecutions opted against pursuing a third trial.
On that basis, Beale is unlikely to play for the Waratahs in 2023, which would impact his ability to be selected for the Wallabies.
Scotland’s Finn Russell has been backed by coach Gregor Townsend. Photo: Paul Devlin/SNS Group via Getty Images
Scottish maverick backed ahead of World Cup
The love-hate relationship between Gregor Townsend and Finn Russell seems to be back on track, with the Scotland coach backing his star No.10 ahead of their Six Nations opener against England.
Townsend sensationally left Russell out of the end of year Tests before recalling the 30-year-old after Adam Hastings suffered an injury against Fiji.
But Russell’s scintillating display against the All Blacks and then Argentina has seen his coach warmly embrace the Racing92 playmaker, who is set to make a high profile move to Bath in the English summer.
Townsend said Russell was growing as a person, but declared him “one of the most skilful players to ever play the game” and was “coming into his prime years”.
“He’s coming into that time where physically you’re still able to compete and do what you want to do, but you have that knowledge of ten years playing at No 10 and are aware of what a defence might look like after two or three phases. So it’s a great opportunity for him – this championship, and obviously the World Cup too,” Townsend told reporters at the Six Nations launch.
Micko
Roar Rookie
What do they the next time they run out of money, sell off more of NZR's commercial revenue to PE interests?!
ScottD
Roar Guru
If NZ had approached SR with that attitude it would have dropped Auckland from the competition as they were rubbish for years so clearly that logic isn’t sound.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Incorrect because you haven’t considered a thing I said. The AFL is growing and spreading throughout Australia precisely because they don’t adopt your narrow view that success for the game is measured only through the success of one team. They measure it firstly through participation. RA needs to adopt strategies that grow access to the game and not simply look at how many games Australia (or since you mentioned them, NSW) win. The success of Australia must come second AFTER RA grow the game. Since they kept chopping and changing the strategy, the 20 year clock keeps getting restarted. I, like many other people, want to see a well planned and executed strategic plan to grow the game in Australia, that is clearly articulated. Something that has been missing for the last 30 years. What we don’t need is gormless comments from the sidelines that the only pathway to grow the game is to drop two SR teams and for NSW and Q LD to win more. That isn’t a plan. And for the record, during the two years the Force wasn’t in SR QLD and NSW weren’t particularly better and the overall participation in rugby in Australia dropped. Oh, did I also mention Australia WB’s weren’t overly successful either? It is simple, set up a strategy that grows the game at grass roots level across the whole country. Stuck with it for 20 years and we will start to see results.
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
DA Does seem to show how fragmented rugby coverage is. Cheers KP
Malo
Guest
All this focus on coaches misses the point. It’s the best players from the best domestic club comps that win world cups. Coaches do sweet fa except motivate
Double Agent
Guest
Well there was a full page article devoted to it in yesterday's Telegraph.
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Steven Moore's contribution has far too little media coverage. How to successfully turn 5 provinces into 4? Waratahs become Sydney not New South Wales. Brumbies relocate to Melbourne with catchment of all NSW country, Victoria, ACT plus SA. Cheers KP
James584
Roar Rookie
Have spent plenty of time overseas mate.
James584
Roar Rookie
Don’t have the courage of my convictions? :laughing: That’s great doublespeak mate.
James in NZ
Roar Rookie
A lot of that rings faint bells. I thought I remembered Howard promising the Walls a chuck of money. For an academy? Haven't heard much since, A few yrs back now. Having high up patrons can only help. Get the impression the old school Oz elite had more of an affinity for Union than league. Seeing elite names on the board (like Gen Cosgrove) an indicator. Now pols kissing babies on the head in all codes. Our old boy network, less under attack from league, more so from woke politics forcing quotas on our board & so on.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Damn, my bad… :stoked: I mean… umm… wow, look at that local sports team…
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Ssshhhh Paulo, I running a sting, in real life I’m a teenage girl looking for good times with a man who likes it a bit rough. I reckon I have him on the hook :silly:
Paulo
Roar Rookie
“How about you read those words back to yourself and reflect on whether that’s how grownups behave.” This isn’t the first time James has tried to call someone out for a ‘talk’ at the Wally Lewis statue. I called him out for acting childish and wanting an actual fight that time. He tried to say it was just a ‘talk’. So safe to say he won’t change, but also doesn’t have the courage of his convictions to say he actually wanted to fight. Best to try and ignore him.
SupDog
Guest
Sorry Scotty but you’ve boxed yourself into a corner there. Applying your methodology of a ‘20 year view’, the Wallabies have three years to return to be a regular top three side. Even less likely the Waratahs and Reds would need to automatically start churning out some sparkling talent and massively reverse the declining interest in the state and national sides. Oh and your comment “every player “stolen” provided an up and coming SR player that didn’t exist”. Tell that to the Reds who struggled badly for years after losing half their side including their Captain to the Western Expats. I’m also not sure you could argue Wallaby greats like Pocock and the young world beating O’Connor wouldn’t have bolstered their side’s potential to improve on their only Championship. What builds culture is when you get a lot of talented players working hard, putting the team first and realising they must take their opportunities or someone else will. Think of the Crusaders. The addition of the Farce and Rebels had Quade, Beale and JOC making extraordinary salary demands and sacrifices from their teams rather than the other way around. As the frontline Wallabies became surrounded by a sea of journeymen, standards slipped and the culture died
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Dean, honestly, league is a club game that is only played at the top level on the East Coast of Australia, as it's virtually non existent elsewhere. Australia's real home sport is another club game, that's played all over the nation. AFL. Sadly the known 'Global Game' , is seemingly to hard to take a grip of, as it's being played by other nations.
James584
Roar Rookie
I am willing to say anything I post in person. That’s how adults behave. If you aren’t, it’s you who needs to reflect.
robbo999
Roar Rookie
Say what you like about Eddie, but when was the last time that a Wallaby coach was interview on 7:30 - from Japan?
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Get Rob, you must go to Reds games, how about we meet to discuss ‘my tone’? How about you read those words back to yourself and reflect on whether that’s how grownups behave.
AndyS
Guest
I suspect far and away their biggest hurdle, more even than parochialism, is what happened the one time RA actually did get that sort of control. And probably a concern felt the more keenly by those lesser states, although I imagine even the ACT would get a very itchy feeling between the shoulder blades. I doubt there is much trust, but the States may be the smaller part of that problem.
Craig Emery
Roar Rookie
League player here who IS concerned with state of Rugby in Australia. As a small winger, who was always targeted by forwards (who don’t have to let go of the ball) I enjoyed dropping them. The first thing I was taught was tackling technique. For most of rugby’s history it’s never been a priority simply because of the rules of the game. It was/is about stopping the release of the ball…resulting in a National team that at times has a defence like wet tissues. But the few games of rugby I played 40yrs ago the instant you touched the ground you had to let go of the ball (which is why, as a back, I never took to the game). Now I see players holding it in the ruck for ages. From an outsider looking in rugby’s problems are worse and bigger than what’s being mentioned in here. When I came back to Australia as a kid and as an above average athlete I had the choice of Cricket, league, Union, hockey, athletics, swimming, soccer etc (too short for basketball). I chose cricket, athletics and league mainly because in north Qld, few schools played Union. In 80s, even though I was a league fan, I still followed the Wallabies. Yes it helped we were winning, but it was HOW the game was played that I enjoyed. It was a running game back then. Campese lost more games for Wallabies than he won…but at least he was moving. In 2003 when WC came to Oz I went to a couple of the games here in Brisbane. Watched Australia demolish an Eastern European side 100+ to nothing. Now you’d think that would still be lots of action and interest (aside from the one-sided nature)? But I fell asleep. It felt like 80% of the game was a bunch of unfit players dragging themselves from one breakdown to the next. IMO Rugby is suffering an identity crisis. It needs a serious reboot. I simply can’t watch it at all now. When an ex-Australian captain commentating on a game has no idea what a whistle is being blown for 80% of the time and when you only need to get within 40m of tryline to score points and ultimately win a game…it might as well be soccer. Union has to be one of the most over-engineered games on the planet now. For viewers who don’t live and breathe the game that’s not a good thing. My ex-in laws who were born/bred ra-ra tried to convince me it was a thinking man’s game. No sport can afford to be an island. With such reliance on media $ to survive, the game needs to really look at itself. Putting my marketing cap on, when they’ve attempted this to date they’ve looked at it as if they’re targeting themselves. They need to wake up and realise that the true rugby fan is a diminished species. AFL & soccer are both swamping traditional league and Union heartlands. But the game needs clarity and a solid identity before it can hope to attract new fans and ultimately players. And even between the 2 rugby codes, show an uninitiated yank a World Cup final or a State of Origin and ask which is the better game?? Now, be honest!!