As players have come and gone from the Reds team that watched James Horwill hold the Super Rugby trophy aloft in 2011, one man has stayed at Ballymore in the seven years which have followed. While Scott Higginbotham, Jono Lance and Ben Lucas have all found their way back to Ballymore having lined up for…
Month: September 2019
Injury blow for Hanigan and Waratahs
NSW lock Ned Hanigan will miss at least this weekend’s match with the Highlanders, after suffering a knee injury. Hanigan came off in the 54th minute of NSW’s 31-29 loss to the Crusaders with a medial ligament injury, and flew home in a brace on Sunday, attack coach Chris Malone said. “We’re still waiting on…
Super Rugby streak has NZ teams on edge
Mental warfare has become a part of trans-Tasman games, providing an intriguing backdrop to the Super Rugby season. Click Here: NRL Telstra Premiership It’s a scenario that will play out again when the Hurricanes meet the Queensland Reds. The two teams at polar ends on the form scale meet in Wellington on Friday, with the…
No preseason promises from Waratahs
The Waratahs won’t be making any grandiose statements in Super Rugby preseason, as they look to turn around recent mediocre seasons. Waratahs players have spoken plenty in the preseason about putting a grim 2017 behind them, in a new training base with a handful of new faces among the squad and in the coaching staff….
Ready to return for Reds
Outcast hooker Andrew Ready has fought his way back into the Reds 23, named on the bench for Queensland’s clash with the Jaguares. Ready has been overlooked for Queensland’s first three games this season, Brandon Paenga-Amosa taking the opportunity as starting hooker with both hands and Alex Mafi doing a fine job as a late…
Rebels vs Sunwolves: Five things we learned
A strong second half was all the Rebels needed against the Sunwolves, kicking clear to claim a big win. Here’s what we learned from the 40-13 result. 1. Hodge’s best position remains a mystery Reece Hodge started at flyhalf for the first time in his Super Rugby career and while there were a few nice…
Izzy channels inner Super Coach to guide 'Tahs to glory
Defence wins championships. That’s the mantra ringing in the ears of NSW players this week ahead of their semi-final in South Africa but it didn’t come from coaching gurus Michael Cheika, Craig Bellamy or Kevin Sheedy. It came from a quietly-spoken Waratah who played under all three, and on the biggest stages of three of…
Brumbies confirm Lealiifano re-signing
Brumbies playmaker Christian Lealiifano will return to the Brumbies in 2019 after inking a new deal with the club. Lealiifano was off-contract at the end of the season and had committed to Japanese Top League team Toyota Industries Shuttles for the 2018-19 season, but his future beyond then had been unclear. That has all changed…
Club Hub: Phipps to push World Cup claims from Shute Shield
Nick Phipps feels his World Cup chances are far from over as he prepares to return to the Shute Shield this weekend. Phipps and fellow NSW halfback Jake Gordon missed out on the Wallabies’ 34-man squad with Will Genia, Nic White and Joe Powell heading to Africa this week. The pair will be playing for…
Reds blow: Emerging half Tuttle's Super Rugby season over after re-injuring achilles
Emerging Reds half James Tuttle’s season is officially over after he re-ruptured his achilles tendon, ending the already wafer-slim chance he had of making a surprise Super Rugby return. Tuttle was forced out of Queensland Country’s NRC grand final after tearing his achilles last October, with the recovery process all but ruling him out of…