Rugby Championship

Long before the Coronavirus outbreak, long before the last Rugby World Cup, in fact, there was a time of infallibility. When a team like the All Blacks invincibility. Not as much unbeatable [yet], a side that had one of the highest ever winning percentages. Both figuratively and, in actuality. In the years after the 2011 […]

This weekend, many rugby watchers will focus on the 2021 Six Nations competition. It is holding their attention for more reasons than simply a ‘lockdown fix’. In realizing its popularity more so now than ever, why is that? By comparison, The Rugby Championship is often held up as a gold standard of free-running rugby. Watching […]

Even with a barely tolerable 50% win ratio, Ian Foster’s All Blacks gain a pass mark in the books of most fair-minded critics. Most, although the so-called ‘brutal fans’ might still struggle with the overall results of 2020. Saturday’s victory over Argentina has pushed the team just into the pass category. Not a strong season, […]

After the final siren blew time, Pablo Matera was standing proudly after leading his 2020 Los Pumas side to a famous, first-ever win over the All Blacks. More than famous. More like heartfelt, and with all the passion and intent which Argentina has shown in 30 attempts previously to defeat New Zealand. Yet at Bankwest […]

The Six Nations and the Tri Nations are being played simultaneously for the first time ever, due to the adaptation to scheduling which rugby has made for Covid-19. Less a coincidence than a rare event that is unlikely to reoccur. With the 2021 Six Nations scheduled for its more regular window of February and March […]

The rumours of the possible  Springboks Rugby Championship exit has had rugby supporters around the world watching with keen interest to see what would eventually transpire. Would they or wouldn’t they? Springboks Rugby Championship withdrawal Back in August, Ryan Jordan was sceptical that the Springboks Rugby Championship defence would happen. Some of the circumstances have […]

After the conflict of schedule, the draw has been resolved for The Rugby Championship 2020 that allays the concerns of New Zealand, and ends an ugly argument between the nations. “Rugby Australia and SANZAAR, with the support of the NSW Government, South Africa, Argentina, and New Zealand, have been proactive in putting numerous workable solutions […]

Recent Tit-for-tat behaviour and reporting of SANZAAR partners internal squabbling have been unfavourable, and to be honest, unsettling to all stakeholders. Like a trial separation where the parents are accusing the other of using the children for their own purposes, the relationship is at a low ebb. Something that has bubbled away for some time, […]

When The Rugby Championship schedule was confirmed by SANZAAR, there were polar opposite reactions. On one hand, the promoters SANZAAR proudly confirmed ‘TRC 2020 Match Schedule and Venues’ while the host Rugby Australia were delighted. On the other, New Zealand Rugby was far from amused. Why? It appears a scheduling conflict would see the All […]

In a Grand Final that saw the ACT Brumbies win Super Rugby Australia, they have secured the title over the Queensland Reds 28-23 in Canberra. Competing in a semi-final and the winner takes all final was the difference between the Australian competition versus the New Zealand one. The Crusaders were victorious over the Tasman, yet […]

With the Bledisloe Cup home tests sealed, you might assume that New Zealand Rugby were jumping for joy after announcing the two fixtures. Yet there is ‘trouble at mill’. Two matches, each uniquely scheduled for a Sunday kick-off is the bouquet. However, the trouble it took to secure those, the ignominy and frustrations caused the […]

With the 2020 All Blacks squad coming from the participants in the North v South trial game, head coach Ian Foster will select his players comprising that group on Sunday, September 6. The rescheduled fixture has been shifted to Wellington, so that players from Auckland can attend. Covid-19 restrictions limit the possibility of fans attending […]

The Rugby Championship 2020 is set to go ahead in New Zealand at the back end of the year, between 7 November and 12 December, in an attempt to catch up on a tournament that could not take place during its normal time-slot due to the COVID-19 pandemic. New Zealand’s appeal New Zealand has successfully […]

With success on home soil over a feared Coronavirus pandemic, SANZAAR will plan to look on New Zealand as a ‘safe haven’ from where to schedule and play the 2020 Rugby Championship. In a media statement that retained the place of SANZAAR in a bereft International rugby market, it stated that ‘Having successfully restarted Super […]

In the third of our series looking at the best overseas players to have appeared in England, James Barker compiles the Australia Premiership Rugby XV. This team, starting with the forward pack, features the Wallabies who’ve made the biggest impact in England. Australia Premiership Rugby XV: the forwards Julian Salvi – Bath, Leicester Tigers, Exeter […]